On the latest episode of The Fenway Rundown podcast, MassLive’s four BBWAA members debate how they would vote for this year’s Baseball Hall of Fame class. Chris Cotillo, Jim Pignatiello, Chris Smith and Matt Vautour get together to discuss the candidacies of David Ortiz, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Curt Schilling and others in advance of next week’s announcement.
Click here to listen to the full episode. You can subscribe to the show on Spotify and iTunes.
Here are some highlights:
Matt Vautour on not voting for presumed PED users:
“It’s tough because there is no clear line because there was no testing for a long time. It has certainly come out with (Mark) McGwire. When you look at (Barry) Bonds, there were so many ties to BALCO, the cream and the clear, all of those things. There were enough ties there. You look at his body’s physical changes over that time... maybe it’s not fair but there becomes a ‘How much smoke do you have to see before you assume there’s fire?’”
Jim Pignatiello on other candidates he would vote for:
“The one I’m really interested in and keep taking another look at is Andruw Jones. Was he the best defensive center fielder of all-time in his prime? You could certainly make that argument. And then he hit 434 home runs. His prime WAR is outstanding and he has a 62.7, I’m looking at the Baseball Reference numbers. I think that’s a fascinating one because I would say, five years ago when he came up on the ballot, I probably would have been like, ‘He was like a really good player who got hurt too early and it’s probably not a Hall of Fame career.’ Then you actually look at it and maybe he actually is a Hall of Famer.”
Related links:
Curt Schilling stays on Hall of Fame ballot: Former Red Sox pitcher’s removal request rejected
Ad Choices