Cap hall of fame voting

ESPN's Jim Caple makes a weak plug for Bert Blyleven's election to the baseball hall of fame. It isn't strong enough. Blyleven is not a hall of famer in my mind.

Here's an idea: rather than allow revisionist history to decide who does or doesn't make it to the hall, lets cap hall of fame voting for a period of 15 years after a player leaves baseball. That gives voters 10 years to decide whether a player is worthy of Cooperstown. What better a time to deem a player hall-worthy than the 15 years following his career? His performance is still fresh in voters' minds, not faded like the yellowing papers and anachronistic yesteryear statistics voters have to mull over to elect players they've never seen.

The debates on older players like Blyleven and Ron Santo are tiresome. Let's move on.

Jagged little pill

Rob Neyer must've finally watched the Matrix after getting it stashed in his Christmas stocking. How else can he be referencing that nine-year-old film with a column on hall of fame voting? That said, I'm always the red pill type of guy.

On Santo and the Hall of Fame

A change in veterans committee voting could allow former Cubs third baseman Ron Santo to sneak into the hall of fame today.

The revamped system -- which this time narrowed the field to a finalist list before a final vote -- along with pressure on the committee to elect somebody may at last open the door for Santo to join teammates Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Fergie Jenkins in the Hall. He must be named on at least 75 percent of ballots submitted by up to 64 eligible voters.

Santo's a nice man, whom I've met, but in my estimation he's not hall of fame material. He was a good player, and a fine third baseman, but that's not enough to get you into the hall. A look at his career statistics shows he was a tough out for a handful of seasons, but not necessarily an elite player for his career. Here's wishing Santo luck, but not expecting his induction.

Joe Torre, Dick Allen, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Al Oliver, Vada Pinson, Luis Tiant and Maury Wills round out the group of ten the veterans committee had to choose from.