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Bonds in the HOF? Clemens out?

If Bonds does not return to baseball, it is very likely that he and Clemens will be on the same first ballot for the HOF. An early poll by ESPN had voters split relatively equally among 3 groups: Clemens in, Clemens out, and undecided, with the 'undecided' group being slightly larger than the other two. This Mitchell report clearly affects how all HOF voters view steroids. It seems as though it is going to be impossible to exclude steroid users from the HOF, because then there will be considerably fewer members from this era.

HOF voters can't simply disqualify the few people whose names have been mentioned (Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, maybe A-Rod with Canseco's new book.) If the HOF doesn't allow those whose names have been linked to steroids, but with no proof, the entire HOF process will became a sham based purely on speculation, a few eyewitness reports, and cashed checks. I think you could make the argument that Sosa and Big Mac were not HOF players before roids, and that Bonds and Clemens were, but should the HOF process really look like this?

In my mind, which is far from made up, you have to accept all of these players. I can understand not allowing someone whose entire career revolved around juice, like a Sosa or McGwire, but even that is pushing it. I hate to bring this up, but people in the US are innocent until proven guilty, and I don't think the HOF should be put in the position of speculating guilt. Something needs to be done across the board regarding steroids and the HOF. I have no concrete ideas, but understand that their process has to change. Anyone have any better ideas?

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did
espn poll the hof electorate or did they just have a poll where everyone could answer?

by tombradylikesdudes on Dec 15, 2007 1:45 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

The poll
was of the HOF electorate. Only preliminary and didn't include everyone (from what I understand.) I don't know if there is a link because I saw it on TV.
"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Dec 15, 2007 2:47 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Five years is a mighty long time
Bonds' trial will be over at that point and we should also know a lot more about the dirt on Clemens. Basically, there is plenty of time for him to try and clear his name and/or be confirmed as a juicer.
Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Dec 15, 2007 2:57 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

what about
monument park? wasn't that how big stein sold clemens on coming back?

by tombradylikesdudes on Dec 15, 2007 3:25 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Don't put any of them in on the first ballot
Guys like Mac, Sosa, Bonds, Clemens are all HoFers for sure. But I wouldn't vote for any of them on the first ballot. It's not much, and it certainly wouldn't keep them out, but it would send a message.

As for Clemens in monument park? I'd fashion a large brass syringe.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Dec 17, 2007 10:18 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

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