MY IBWAA VOTE & WHY PEDs DON'T MATTER

So there I was a few days ago thoroughly enjoying BYB senior writer Steve Skinner’s excellent read MY IBWAA VOTE & WHY IT'S IMPORTANT. In it, he shared his Hall of Fame ballot and explained his strict no-PED voting philosophy. And as I came to its conclusion in which he graciously sought alternative viewpoints (and even more graciously complimented a recent piece I wrote about the hot mess the BBWA has made of the official hall of fame voting process), I felt compelled to respond. So here it goes...

Let me say at the outset that as a fellow IBWAA member, I applaud Steve’s stance on the importance of a transparent ballot. That’s why I published my IBWAA Hall of Fame ballot choices last year on my own blog accompanied by an explanation of my somewhat more flexible voting philosophy in a piece entitled My IBWAA Hall Of Fame Ballot - And Why PEDs Weren't A Factor In My Voting. Check it out.

For those who don’t care to read the long version, here's the gist;

I don't believe in penalizing suspected or proven PED users too heavily, simply because PEDs have always been part of the sport, ever since the beginning of time. In the 100-plus years of major league ball, before free agency when players were essentially rented equipment from year to year and either played or weren’t paid, they routinely dabbled in some form pharmaceutical help to get them on the field, to overcome pain and injury and to extend their careers to keep their paychecks coming.

(In Photo: a frustrated Mickey Mantle)

Whether it was the early powerful legal opiates or the later plentiful 'greenies' and 'red juice' that helped see them through – all performance- and stat-enhancing in their way, all incentivized by a paycheck, all now illegal -- the Hall is already “tainted” in some respects. So, to suddenly pretend at this late date it possesses any sort of pharmaceutical purity or statistical virtue untouched by drug use is incorrect in my opinion.

Further, the place has inducted quite a few rogues out there who have broken other rules of the game (not to mention of society), committing far more egregious sins up to and including conspiring to keep men of color from taking the field (and possibly their jobs), so that invoking the Hall’s oft-cited “character/integrity” qualification against anyone for simply juicing is, in comparison, frankly doesn't rise.

Lastly, although it’s pretty clear the juice can help add some distance to a great slugger’s dingers or to a great pitcher’s velocity if they work hard in the weight room to take maximum advantage of it, what has become equally clear since testing began is it CAN'T help a bad hitter become a good hitter or a bad pitcher become a good one.  

For every great player that has been busted for juicing since testing began, there has been at least a dozen nobodies who desperately tried and failed to join their ranks.

With that said, I’d like to thank Steve for inviting dissenting opinion to his great piece, and I’m pleased to report that, as you'll see here, even with our differing philosophies on PEDs, we still found common ground on three players on this year’s ballot. I wish I could say we agreed on four players but, as he pointed out, his Mattingly write-in isn’t allowed under IBWAA rules.

And as much as I love the Hitman...

that would be cheating. 

 --Barry Millman
BYB Writer
Follow me on Twitter:  @nyyankeefanfore

  

MY IBWAA VOTE & WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Every year (since 2010), registered Internet baseball writers are sent their own version of a Hall of Fame ballot to be completed and returned. Once tallied, the IBWAA announces the inductees into its virtual Hall of Fame. No bronze plaques are created, and no official player speeches are given, but it’s still interesting and fun. We often see that the Internet writers induct players into their Hall of Fame that have yet to be inducted into the more well-known counterpart located in Cooperstown. 

Lately, the baseball writers who vote for the Cooperstown Hall are being challenged to be transparent with their ballots. Players who seemingly should be on everyone’s ballot are being left off or ignored, and fans (along with other writers) have called upon the voting participants to be accountable for what they’ve cast.

With that in mind, I’ve just completed my IBWAA ballot and will gladly share it with you. 

The names I highlighted in yellow are the players I am voting for. Don Mattingly is a write-in with the clear understanding that the IBWAA does not accept write-in candidates.

I did it as a matter of principal. 

Anyway, you’ll notice that some stat-worthy names have not been selected. Guys like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Magglio Ordonez, Manny Ramirez and Ivan Rodriguez did not get my vote, and probably never will. 
 

(Paul Kitagaki Jr/Sacramento Bee/MCT)

They are names commonly associated with the Steroid Era of baseball. Bonds in particular could be considered the poster child of the era – with Clemens not far behind. Other writers may look at it differently; the argument being that “everyone” during that time was using one form of PED or another. I simply don’t buy it. 

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

I cannot believe that Cal Ripken, Mattingly, or even Fred McGriff – all of which played during the height of that dark period – used anything more than their God-given talents to put up their numbers. None of them had dramatic spikes in their numbers, and none of them had dramatic physical changes. I refuse to make them collateral damage of the cheaters.

(Sept. 20, 2011 - Source: Jim Rogash/Getty Images North America)

Anyway, who did I vote for? For starters, wild-swinging Vladimir Guerrero. “Vlad the impaler” had one of the longest reaches in baseball, and used it to crush balls well outside of the strike zone. In 16 seasons he hit 449 home runs and batted .318. Most amazing to me is the fact that, in spite of being such a free-swinger at the plate, he never struck out more than 95 times in any season. Not once did he crack the 100 strikeout mark. If he was going to swing, the man made sure he connected.

(March 4, 2013 - Source: J. Meric/Getty Images North America)

Next, I voted for the “Crime Dog”, Fred McGriff. He is one of those being held accountable for the sins of his brethren by the Baseball Writers Association. How else can you explain someone with 19 years of service, 493 home runs (he missed a season due to the baseball players’ strike), a .280 batting average, and who hit 20 or more home runs in 15 of those 19 seasons being left outside the doors of the Hall of Fame? In the post season, McGriff hit .303 – including .438 in the 1995 NLCS against Cincinnati which eventually led to Atlanta’s World Championship over the Indians. During his prime, Fred McGriff was truly one of the most feared hitters in baseball. The BBWAA might ignore him, but we won’t.

(Sept. 18, 2008 - Source: Chris McGrath/Getty Images North America)

Someone else that I feel has been overlooked is “the Moose”, Mike Mussina. While pitcher Tom Glavine has his plaque hanging on the wall in upstate NY, Mussina has been given the cold shoulder. Let’s take a look at their numbers:

While Glavine played 4 more years than “Moose”, he actually averaged less wins, had fewer strikeouts, had a higher WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched), had less complete games, less seasons of 17 or more wins, and for the stat geeks, had a lower WAR. Mussina managed to either put up comparable or better numbers on worse teams and in a shorter time span than Glavine, yet he remains on the outside of Cooperstown. It is my hope that we can give him some consolation with a virtual plaque in our Hall of Fame.

My last two choices are both career-long Yankees, and some of you will certainly consider them to be “homer” picks by this author, I assure you that both have very good arguments for residing alongside the immortals of baseball.

Jorge Posada was the primary backstop for one of the Yankees most “golden” of eras. He was known as one of the “Core four” that brought multiple championships back to the Bronx. Posada owns 4 rings, and put up numbers well worth consideration for entrance into Cooperstown. I’ll be writing an article later in the week explaining my reasoning. Just be aware that when placed alongside some who have already gained entrance, Posada’s numbers don’t back down. In addition, there are some intangibles like grit and heart that can’t be put into a spreadsheet. His importance to the great teams he played on is primarily why he has my vote.

Don Mattingly is one of the greatest players I have ever seen play. During the peak of his career, he was the best player in the game. I’ve written an article in the past explaining why he belongs in the Hall. If players like Kirby Puckett, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor have been voted in, then it is a crime that Mattingly has not. I’ll write his name on every one of my ballots, always.

So there you have it. I’ve voted for five players I consider worthy of baseball immortality. What do you think? Do you discount the PED users like I do, or do you think their numbers are deserving of induction – regardless of how they were achieved? We’d love to hear from you! 

By the way, if you haven't seen it already, be sure to check out a great piece about the Hall of Fame vote by newbie BYB writer Barry Millman.  Check out PLEASE DON'T BLOW THIS YEAR'S HOF VOTE. It's terrific.

 
    
--Steve Skinner
BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1

COMPARING SANCHEZ WITH THE PROUD LEGACY BEFORE HIM

(Aug. 25, 2016 - Source: Adam Hunger/Getty Images North America)

As the snow flies here in upstate New York, and baseball awaits its turn back at the forefront of the American sports focus, I found myself looking in awe at the 2016 season Baby Bomber Gary Sanchez offered up.

(Sept. 15, 2016 - Source: Jason Miller/Getty Images North America)

In just 53 games, he thrust himself into the discussions for Rookie of the Year; eventually finishing second to the Tigers’ Michael Fulmer.  Sanchez nearly carried the Yankees into the post-season.

In his first month with the “grown-ups” (August), Sanchez slugged 11 HR and people kept waiting for the drop-off.  Instead, Gary followed that up with 9 more HR in September.  Just as impressive was Sanchez’s handling of the pitching staff behind the plate.  As the last month wore on, it became clear that he was the primary choice at catcher for the team. 

At the age of 23, Sanchez provides a long, bright future for the Yankees at backstop.  It’s obvious the organization has faith in him as they traded away Brian McCann just this past week... read  BYE BYE, McCANN! for more.

I wondered how Sanchez’s rookie campaign compared with some of his predecessors.  After all, the Yankees do have a very distinguished lineage when it comes to the men with the masks. 

To keep things level, I looked at the first season of eligibility for the ROY award for Thurman Munson, Jorge Posada, Sanchez, and the great Yogi Berra.  Here is what I found:

Of the four players, only Munson (for complete transparency, he’s my all-time favorite player) actually won the Rookie of the Year (1970).  He was the first catcher to do so.  Ironically, of the four, he also played the most – 132 games. Yogi was the only other player in the group to play more than half a season.

The statistics I chose to look at are the primary ones I felt best gave us an overview of performance : RBI, Runs, Home Runs, batting average, slugging percentage, On-base percentage, stolen bases, walks, strikeouts, how they hit with Runners in Scoring Position, their fielding percentage, caught stealing percentage and, for the stat-geeks, Wins Against Replacement.

What I found was that Sanchez certainly rates favorably with the others in many categories.  In particular, his batting average, slugging percentage, Home Runs, On-base percentage, caught-stealing percentage and WAR are among the top two in spite of playing in the fewest games.

(Sept. 17, 2016 - Source: Rich Gagnon/Getty Images North America)

The numbers also show that Sanchez is the free-swinger of the group.  He is highest in strikeouts, and is by far the worst among them at the plate with runners occupying prime real estate (look at Munson’s average there...).

Even with those areas where the Baby Bomber needs work, it is quite clear that he does well in representing the Yankee catching legacy.

Going forward, Gary Sanchez is on the way to establishing himself as the face of the franchise.  Given his maturity behind the plate, and prowess while standing at it, he may one day be known as our captain.

For me, Thurman Munson will always be “the guy” as far as Yankee catchers go.  I grew up watching him lead the team to back-to-back titles.  However, I can’t help but get the feeling I may be witnessing the next truly great Yankee catcher.  So many intangibles that Sanchez brings to the table (maturity, durability, intellect) remind me of Munson.  Now, with the path clear for him to be the Bombers’ regular backstop, he is only going to get better.

Hitch your wagons to Sanchez Yankees fans, he’s going to be something special.

 
    
--Steve Skinner
BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1

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NEW ADMINISTRATION: MAKING THE YANKEES GREAT AGAIN

With the Presidential election finally concluded, America can concentrate on what truly matters: focusing on what the Yankees do this off-season.

The possibilities are endless now that the organization finally has a top-rated minor league system - thanks to some “win-win” trades Brian Cashman and his staff made in the second half of the 2016 campaign. 

(Getty Images)

One school of thought has the team following the model it created during Cashman’s tenure - utilize the farm system as bartering chips in bringing in established stars, then sign those stars to exorbitant contracts they cannot possibly live up to. One rumor along those lines has the team trading multiple baby Bombers to the Angels for Mike Trout. Read COULD THE YANKEES GO FISHING FOR TROUT? for more.  

While that certainly has its appeal, the last time I checked, Mr. Trout can’t pitch. Why make a deal like that for the sole purpose of making a deal like that? Why “outsource” when we have so many possibilities already under our umbrella?  I think Cashman thinks like I think. That's why he just flipped McCann to the Astros for young arms.

I’ve been screaming for years that it’s time for a new business model. The current one has managed to bring just one world championship to the Bronx. Even that one could be credited to “even a blind squirrel will find a nut once in a while”. We have an opportunity to see the fruits of our own garden ripen. Just think of the team we can put on the field next year without losing a single member of our farm system.

At first base we will have a healthy Greg Bird. When last the Yankees were able to get a glimpse of the 24 year-old in action, he pounded 11 home runs and drove in 31 over 46 games. That translates to 39 HR and 109 RBI over a full season. The last time a Yankee first baseman put those numbers up was in 2011 when Mark Teixeira hit 39 dingers and drove in 111. 

At second base, 26 year-old Starlin Castro was solid for us. He hit .270 and pounded out 21 home runs in his first season as a Yankee.  At shortstop, 26 year-old Didi Gregorius improved upon his first season in pinstripes and hit .276 with 20 home runs and 70 RBI while flashing his sparkling arm and glove in the field.

The hot corner appears to be the only position where the Yankees will be stuck with more of the “same old, same old” for at least another season. At 33, Chase Headley will be the senior member of the infield. In 2016, he reduced his errors from 23 the previous year to 10 and hit a respectable .253.

If he can’t stay consistent, manager Joe Girardi has shown he won’t hesitate to turn to 24 year-old Ronald Torreyes (.258) or 25 year-old Rob Refsnyder (.250) who has never been given a fair shot at a regular slot in the order.

(Courtesy: YES Network)

In the outfield, the potential for the Yankees is without a ceiling. Yes, 33 year-old Brett Gardner actually had a slight improvement in the second half of 2016, and yes he won a gold glove, but let’s face it, Gardy is never going to give us more than what we’ve already seen – a batting average somewhere near .260, about 20 stolen bases, 80 runs and an on-base percentage around .345. He is what he is. 

(Sept. 7, 2016 - Source: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America)

25 year-old Baby Bomber Tyler Austin hit .323 at AAA Scranton and in a brief stay with the Yankees, put 5 balls over the wall and drove in 12 while seeing time in 31 games. That translates to 26 homers over the course of a season, and he played flawless in the field as both and outfielder and backup first baseman. His versatility and potential may result in him breaking camp with the team for Opening Day 2017.

Mason Williams is another farm system call-up that has the potential to open next season in the Bronx. After hitting .296 with Scranton, he was called up to the Yankees and hit .296 in 12 games. At 25, he’s just starting his peak years and still has his best yet to come.

(Sept. 5, 2016 - Source: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America)

Aaron Judge hit .270 with 19 home runs in 93 games at Scranton last season. When called up to the Bronx late in the year, he promptly homered on his first at-bat (as did Austin). At 6’ 7” and 275 lbs, he dwarfs everyone else trotting out into the field with him and the only thing bigger than his immense frame is his potential. He is one of the gems in the minor league system (along with Gary Sanchez) that the Yankees consistently refused to deal, and now would seem to be the time for the team to garner the rewards for holding onto him. The 24 year-old strikes out a lot (42 times in 27 games with the Yankees in 2016), but it is something he’ll be working on this off-season. Right field is wide open now that Carlos Beltran is gone, and Judge has to be considered one of the favorites – if not the favorite for that position in 2017.

Along with Jacoby Ellsbury and a cast of minor league outfielders like Jake Cave, Dustin Fowler and Clint Frazier, the Yankees depth in the outfield leaves them with many options when they break camp in 2017. It's exciting.

(Sept. 17, 2016 - Source: Rich Gagnon/Getty Images North America)

Last, but not least, the backstop of 2016, and the backstop for the foreseeable future in the Bronx is Gary Sanchez. The runner-up for Rookie of the Year (only because he played in just 53 games) showed that along with a golden arm (he gunned down 41% of runners trying to swipe a bag), he has a golden bat (.299, 20 hr, 40 RBI in FIFTY THREE GAMES). At just 23 years-old he is already the face of the franchise. He is the best move that Brian Cashman never made. In addition to his incredible physical talents, he showed a maturity beyond his years at managing a game from behind the plate. He is scrappy, and resilient. Who’d have thought that the Yankees next “Jeter” would be a catcher? After watching him play in 2016, Gary Sanchez has certainly made a believer out of me.

It has been quite a while since the Yankees future has burned so bright. It’s so close now that we can taste it. The new era is upon us, and we just need our management team to believe in the youth it has already under its control. 

(Nov. 3, 2016 - Source: Dylan Buell/Getty Images North America)

It’s time for the new model – the model that Theo Epstein used in both Boston and Chicago and the model that San Francisco and Kansas City have used to hoist their trophies. 

“Outsourcing” is quickly fading, and the pieces are in place to make it obsolete altogether. Let’s use what we have to bring a championship back to New York.

I'm back folks!  How am I doing?

 
    
--Steve Skinner
BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1

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HEY BRIAN... YOU GOT IT RIGHT

Many times in the past I’ve disagreed with what General Manager Brian Cashman has done.  I’ve criticized his business model of ignoring what we have in house – personnel he himself drafted – and bringing in veterans past their prime who perform either at the same level, or lower, than the youngsters who’ve seemingly earned their turn in the Bronx.  With each off-season, I wait for our GM to proudly announce his latest reclamation project at the expense of baby Bombers who, in brief September call-ups, flashed potential stardom the season before.

Only this time I think that, for the most part, Brian’s moves have been correct.  Namely, he really hasn’t made any significant moves – again, FOR THE MOST PART.  Sure, I think that trading away Justin Wilson for two mid-level pitching prospects was foolish and short-sighted, and I believe that even if they won’t hurt the team, the acquisitions of Aroldis Chapman and Starlin Castro were not necessary.  In spite of those, the fact that Cashman refrained from throwing major dollars at starting pitching, outfield, or other free agent infielders was the best move of all. 

All winter I’ve heard or read others (either media or fans) scream about the Yankees needing rotation, outfield, and infield help.  I’ve watched as many lamented big name free agents signing record contracts with other teams.  Yet, I haven’t been of the same opinion as the naysayers this time.  To me, the lack of deep-water diving into the market by the Yankees represents a potential return of trust in the talent we have in our minor league system.  

It tells me that there might actually be plans for young hurlers like Bryan Mitchell (age 25) and Vicente Campos (age 24), or outfielders Slade Heathcott, Mason Williams and Aaron Judge.  Perhaps the team is going to depend on the youngsters if – or rather when – the aging veterans fall.  If that truly is the case, then I have opinion that Mr. Cashman has finally got it right.  

We don’t need David Price, Justin Upton or Yoenis Cespedes.  Our last great era was built upon the shoulders of young players we trusted our system to produce, and our next great era needs to have the same evolution. 

We have a rotation that contains potential – both for tremendous success or shocking collapse.  Starters Masahiro Tanaka, Nathan Eovaldi, Michael Pineda, and Ivan Nova all have shining promise, and have given us flashes of greatness in their young careers, but all also teeter on the brink of failure due to injury.  CC Sabathia is showing that the wear and tear of shouldering a massive load in the past is finally catching up with him.  Clearly, he’s on the slide into the completion of a great career.  Ironically, our youngest starter – Luis Severino, age 22 – may be our best and most dependable. 

Only, he’s going to be on an innings limit (or so it is rumored).  Rather than panic and spend most of our available funds on short-term fixes, Brian Cashman has refrained from yielding to temptation.  I can respect that.  He, and his team, must believe that we have depth in our system to handle any setbacks to the front-line starters.  That kind of trust in his system, gets me excited to see what our youngsters will show this season.

It has been a few years since I’ve been looking forward with great expectations for the Yankees new season.  I truly believe that avoiding the “big splash” in the free agent market actually makes this team better, if for no other reason than it means our baby Bombers may finally get their chance.  You don’t hear this from me nearly enough: Brian, you got it right. 

    
--Steve Skinner, 
BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1

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