I only know one name on that list, Jack Morris. I voted for Tony O though, cause we apparently share the same last name.

Bert Blyleven was born Rik Aalbert Blyleven in Holland. Naturally, he Americanized it when his family moved to Southern California.

And the clear choice.

I refuse to vote in this poll until it gives Rich Becker his due.

Tony O first...

Then Bert

wrong thread, i realize, but

quote:
A little birdie says the Kansas City Royals have offered Twins free-agent outfielder Jacque Jones a $24 million, four-year contract.
-- St. Paul Pioneer Press
/quote

can't find this in the PiPress but it's from SI:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/scorecard/11/30/truth.rumors.mlb/1.html

anyone confirm this?

this SI guy basically argues for Bert to get in, and then annoyingly verdicts no (can i verbify verdict?). on the other hand, one of the only players he wants in is Jack Morris.

Bert Blyleven, RHP (287-250, 3.31 ERA, 3,701 Ks)
He only won 20 games once, was only an All-Star twice and never won a Cy Young Award. But he's a perfect example of what's wrong with Hall voting: electors are obsessed with round numbers. Don Sutton has almost the same numbers (324-256, 3.26, 3,574), but he's a Hall of Famer because he had 300 wins -- an incredibly overrated stat. Give Blyleven a better bullpen in one game a year, and he's got 309 wins -- and we're not even having this conversation. But you have to draw the line somewhere; we can't let him in just because Sutton got in. That deuce of his should have its own spot in the Hall, but it pains me to say ... The verdict: No.

Jack Morris, RHP (254-186, 3.90)
OK, I said no on Blyleven and John. So why am I so hung up on Morris? For starters, his 162-game averages are pretty good: 16 wins, 11 losses, 3.90 ERA. (Blyleven was 14-12, John was 13-10.) Then there's his World Series heroics. And he had a 13-year stretch in which he won at least 15 games 11 times (and in one of the years he didn't he won 14). The more I think about it, the more I think Morris is a Hall of Famer. He was one of the top starters for a long time. I'm going to treat myself. The verdict: Yes.

Gary Gaetti, 3B (.255-360-1,341)
Oh. The verdict: No.

-from Mark Bechtel at http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/mark_bechtel/11/30/hof.ballot/index.html

grr @ the blyleven blurb... but i did have a hard time choosing my vote for ONE former twin! I love jack morris too.

Can't confirm that, but let me say, that's about as ridiculous as it gets.

It's like going into Binions, seeing all the highrollers playing high-stakes poker, and being all "OH YEAH?!" and then you go and mortgage your house and put all the money on #13 in roulette, just to show you can.

I like Senor Jones, but the ROYALS? Putting up that much? When they traditionally only bring in hasbeens or never-will-be's (except for a certain oft-injured first baseman they should have traded years ago)? It makes little sense.

Bly should be in. Morris I'm split on. Gaetti no.

Toliver in before Les Straker, Rick Lysander, Terry Felton or Pete Filson?

Inconceivable!!!

Me -

Don't forget Bombo Rivera...

Had to go with my heart and vote for Tony O.

BTW, the winter just got a little longer... the Sox signed Konerko... Crap. They haven't officially cut Frank Thomas, but it looks like it's just a phone call away.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2242424

I loved watching Bly pitch and he's always been a class act. That said, Tony O is the clear choice. As for Gary Gaetti, I doubt we'll see the day.

[TORII HUNTER IS MY NONSEXUAL MANCRUSH! TWINS RULE!]

Check out the official website for Bert's Hall of Fame campaign.

http://www.bertbelongs.com/

Bert. Anybody else right now is an imposter! No offense to them, it ain't there fault he's not in yet.

In the meanwhile.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5128018

I love Tony O, and he's been screwed longer than Bert, but Bert is clearly the more deserving candidate. It's not particularly close in my mind.

Didn't Kaat win like 20 gold gloves? I don't think it's so one sided for RAaB. On the other hand, there's room in Cooperstown for both of 'em.

Dear Readers,

Gary Gaetti? Huh?

Confused,
BG

LOL - Rich Becker

much love
Wonder Woman

I think I'm with you, BG. Growing up, Gary was my favorite player, mostly because he wore my lucky number. But does anyone in the rest of the country know who he is? I was a little surprised to see he was on the ballot as well.

He's on the OFFICIAL ballot.
Not the Batling ballot.

(see top of page)

Isn't anybody who is technically eligible put on the ballot (10 years, retired for 5)? So it wouldn't be odd to see G-squared. Seeing him again next year, however, would be odd. But I'd vote for him, solely for the website in his honor.

That's what's surprising.

And I voted for BlackJack, although I would say as many as 4 of them deserve consideration.

Dear BG

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't the Rat have a great playoff run with you guys in '87. Won a few GGs in the 80s too if remember. Not saying Gaetti is a HOFer, but he was okay.

more rumors:

Romero or Rincon plus maybe a pitching prospect (boof, perhaps? i'm sure not one of the un-touchables) to the Marlins for Castillo?
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5128574

Romero for Castillo? Sign me up. Fast. I'll even throw in a prospect if it means that Rincon's name is not mentioned in this trade...at all...ever.

Dear Mr. Enemy,

GG was wonderful, and BG loves him as she loves Bruno and Hrbek--she just didn't know why people were discussing him. Now she does. He's on the ballot. Not a HOFer, but dear to Minnesotan's hearts, including BG. Mmmm...Mount Crushmore.

Sincerely,
BG

Sorry batgirl -
I have to interrupt the thread -

Check out Boo's auction - the monies go to the little ones in Venezuela - there is an autographed baseball from Big Papi!!

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051128&content_id=1272646&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min

much love
Wonder Woman

I saw the Castillo rumor. I've also seen notes linking the Twins to Mike Piazza and Tony Graffinino...

Could we thrown in Balfour? I don't think this guy is ever going to do anything for the Twins.

Oh and I'd like to see Bert in the HOF. Can you imagen what his speech would be like?

Caluofmn -

oh come on - Grant smells nice please don't be mean to him =)
I read that he should be a 100% by May

Much Love
Wonder Woman

Well ok WW but I'm going to ask you to give him a stern talking to if he isn't ready to go by the start of the season. ;)

Given that Blyleven is probably the best player not currently in the Hall, and was clearly better than Morris in just about every facet of the game, I'm going to assume that people who picked Morris did it for sentimental reasons . . .

Grant most likely will not be ready at the beginning of the season, but doctors say by May, he will be. I join WW in asking that it not be Grant that's traded. He is a good pitcher, and, well, I like him, okay? (And, for the record, his official JustBeth nickname is HotUN--He of the Unfortunate Name--i.e., Grant Balfour=Allow Walk).

No trading a top pitching prospect (mitts off Mr. Baker and Mr. Liriano for sure!), but a trade would be nice.

And Tony O. and Bert for Hall. I was sad that I could only vote once. I'd love to see GG in, but well, if we can't get Tony O. and Bert in there, there's no use thinking about GG.

I was at Wrigley Field in late September 1999 for what turned out to be Gary Gaetti's 2500th game. (He retired early the next year after 2507 career games.) They had a ceremony for him when the game became official in the sixth inning, and at just about that time the wind shifted and the mild late-summer evening breeze became a cold, harsh autumn gale. It's kind of special to see the real world lay on the symbolism quite that thick. Somebody up there was sad to see the G-Man walk into the sunset.

Given that Blyleven is probably the best player not currently in the Hall, and was clearly better than Morris in just about every facet of the game, I'm going to assume that people who picked Morris did it for sentimental reasons . . .
__________________________________________________
The Hawk is the best player not currently in the hall.

Caluofmn -

Well I will gladly take on that task - no need to ask me twice!
If he is at Twins Fest again - She-ra and I will track him down and make sure he is taking care of himself.

Much Love
Wonder Woman

I am torn...I want both Rik Aalbert, and Tony O.

Jack Morris rules! But we Tiger fans get to at least split the emblem on his hat. I wonder what that would look like?

"The Hawk is the best player not currently in the hall."

Dawson is probably about the sixth or seventh best eligible player not in the Hall, and clearly does not belong. If you want to pick a position player, Ron Santo clearly outclasses Dawson.