Just links today. More Hall of Fame stuff, Russell Branyan, college baseball, and Kevin Towers in Oregon. Enjoy…
- Rating 2006 Hall Candidates by Win Shares (Scout.com). This appeared toward the end of December on a site that covers the Cardinals. From the article: “Despite receiving 66.7% of the votes last year, Sutter will not get the necessary 75% because many writers will realize he is not the most deserving relief pitcher on the ballot.” Personally, I am still trying to figure out what Sutter accomplished between 2000 and 2006 to get his share of the vote up from 38% to nearly double that.
- Ray Lankford Wing of the Hall of Fame Inductions (Beyond the Boxscore). Speaking of the Cardinals, Marc Normandin has created “a place for the ‘no real shot at the Hall of Fame, but a great career nonetheless’ players, like Lankford.” Two players were inducted this time, one of which had a better claim than the guy who got inducted into the actual Hall of Fame.
- Writers’ baseball awards are at risk (Pioneer Press, via XM MLB Chat). Of the Hall of Fame vote: “It’s almost a rite of passage for a ball writer… You earn that right.” I’ve been enough of a hater already; anyone else want to take a shot at this one?
- No need for changes in Hall voting process (FOXSports.com, via Baseball Musings). Ken Rosenthal offers his thoughts on the matter. He makes some good points, and actually most of my complaints with the process don’t concern conflict of interest.
- The MLB Misery Index (ESPN, via 6-4-2). Padres check in at #10, tied with the Detroit Tigers.
- Brewers DFA Branyan (Transaction Guy). You know, I think I could have gotten behind trading Brian Lawrence for TTO.
- Clippers Award Reese Top Honor (OurSports Central). Former Padres farmhand and USD alum Kevin Reese gets a little ink. Go Toreros!
- NCAA Changes Start Date for Baseball to Late February (LA Times). This applies to the 2007 season, so get out there early and often this year. From the article: ” ‘Speaking just for me, I’m disappointed,’ USC Coach Mike Gillespie said.” Actually, coach, I think you speak for a lot of us.
- Fond memories (Mail-Tribune). Padres GM Kevin Towers returned home to Medford, Oregon, to speak to a “gathering of baseball enthusiasts” at a new field being constructed there. I know it’s kind of fluffy but I’m a sucker for these stories.
- The Cuba Conundrum (Voice of San Diego). The latest on the World Baseball Classic. From the article: “If the IBAF withdraws its sanction, the tournament would most likely be cancelled altogether because any nation that participates in an event without IBAF sanctions could be banned from Olympic baseball and any other international baseball event.” Sigh. Can’t we all just get along?
- Padres, Mariners tickets will go on sale Saturday (Arizona Republic). Spring training tickets, of course.
Okay, that’s enough for now; have an excellent weekend!
As a fan of college baseball and living North of the Mason-Dixon Line, I love the fact the NCAA has stabilized starting dates for baseball. It brings a level of equity in a sport that requires it.
But I can totally understand how those in the warmer climates would want to play every day.
Yeah, it’s probably the right thing to do. I’m just cranky because I’ll have to wait another 4-6 weeks or so to see a real live game.
Geoff,
Just had to take a moment and say…Ducksnorts rules. Thanks so much for all the goodness you provide. May the baseball gods smile upon you (and the Friars). Greatly appreciated!
Without getting TOO political, I’m glad the Dept. of Treas. has denied Cuba entry to the U.S. for the WBC.
Castro has impoverished the nation, denied basic heathcare to its citizens, disallowed public religious worship and political free speech.
And any monies generated by the Classic for “Cuba” would only go fund Castro & his buddies’ pockets.
I’d hate for the Bush Administration to bow to pressure from MLB owners and allow the WBC with Cuba just because us fans would enjoy the games.
Kennedy and his Admin. were right to establish the Cuba embargo back in ’61 and Bush would be wrong to break it now.
Agreed.
I’d disagree on the health care part. Cuba doesn’t have the high-tech medical options available in the First World, but basic health care is free and universally available. There are millions of Americans who would love to have access to that level of care.
Why do we have an embargo against Cuba but not mainland China? China is far more repressive, but supposedly trade and other contacts will help ameliorate their excesses. With the Cold War over, it’s time to take the same approach to Cuba.
If the Cuban refugee bloc in South Florida was less politically powerful, the embargo would have been lifted 10 years ago.
TW, it’s not. There is a free hospital on the island, but only policos and “guests” of the island are able to visit. Most local people have to try to set up appointments with the local “doctors” (you wouldn’t want them touching you) and appointments can’t be made within times that would actually benefit the patient.
And the Cuban refugee bloc isn’t strong. If they were so strong, why did the Cuban boy get sent back dispite protests otherwise? Why didn’t Roberto Gonzeles get confirmed (for whatever position he was going for – I forget).
As for China, I can’t say – I wish we wouldn’t have “normalized” relations with them. But watch for a USSR-type fall in the next 5-10 years. They are bringing in the International media and that media will talk 1st and apolagize 2nd. The govt. does not want the general population knowing how repressed they are…
…I digress, I promised not to get political… Sorry Geoff (and TW), but some things are even more important than baseball…
Peter, if you think the Cuban refugee vote isn’t strong in Florida, there’s not much point in continuing this. They’re amazingly strong in Florida.
No US Senator from Florida has been elected in the last 40 years without kowtowing to them. No governor has been elected without pledging absolute solidarity to their cause. Every serious presidential candidate goes to them and states his unconditional support for the embargo.
Elian Gonzalez was sent back. Bill Clinton won 30% of the Cuban vote in 1996. It was the first time since 1976 that Florida had gone Democratic. In 2000 the Cubans turned out en masse for Bush. I seem to recall Florida being somewhat pivotal in that election.
Are you talking about Alberto Gonzalez, the current Attorney General? Confirmation battles are fought in the Senate, where 98 other Senators can overpower the 2 from Florida. But if you want Florida’s electoral votes as a Presidential candidate, or you want to get elected as a Senator from Florida, or you want to be a Congressman from South Florida, you say what the Cubans want to hear.
There are scores of free hospitals in Cuba. Their life expectancy and infant mortality rates compare favorably to the industrialized world. The US actually has a higher infant mortality rate, but that’s only because we’re so good at handling “marginal” pregnancies. So anyway, if their health care system was as you describe, they’d be dropping like flies, not living to be the same age as Germans.
China has a booming economy, something the Soviets didn’t have, and they don’t have an empire to worry about. They’re not falling in the next 2 decades, let alone 1. If they collapse, we’re pretty well screwed. We owe them more than $300 billion.
Tom,
I got the impression Peter was saying the Cuban refugee bloc isn’t powerful nationally. I assume that based on the fact that we’re discussing a national issue, not one that is purely a Florida issue.
The power of the Cuban refugee bloc has made itself felt in every presidential election since Castro came to power. They really hit their stride after the 1960 campaign.
There are two reasons why the embargo is still in place.
One, it’s easy. Cuba doesn’t grow or manufacture anything important and they don’t have the cash to buy anything we want to sell. So we can keep up the embargo even though we’ve traded with far worse regimes in the last 45 years, often citing trade contacts as a “liberalizing” force.
Two, any presidential candidate or Senator from Florida who supported the lifting of the embargo would face catastrophic political damage. It could be handled; Nixon went to China, after all. Bush could do it now, his right flank is secure. Clinton could have done it in 1996, knowing he didn’t need Florida to beat Bob Dole, or soon thereafter, hoping that the fallout would diminish before the 2000 campaign.
I think Cuba should be in WBC. Hey, if the Orioles could go to Cuba, why not Cubans to San Diego?