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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Carry That Weight - II

Today's Boston Globe column finds Shank in a tough moral dilemma:

The Hall of Fame ballot goes in the mail today with check marks next to the names of Bert Blyleven, Roberto Alomar, and Jack Morris.

We won’t know who’s in until January, but this year’s ballot has some new challenges because the Steroid Boys are stepping forward in large numbers.

The Hall has a problem and it’s going to get worse every year. Baseball scribes are asked to weigh off-the-field stuff such as “character’’ and “contributions to the game,’’ and this clause puts us in the uncomfortable position of measuring moral fiber. The character clause is what’s kept Mark McGwire out of the Hall in his first four years of eligibility and it’s going to put Rafael Palmeiro and his 569 homers on the sideline when this year’s vote is announced.
Just when you thought you've read everything! Does anyone seriously believe Dan Freakin' Shaughnessy has a problem measuring the 'moral fiber' of professional athletes, or coaches? If Shank no longer opined on 'moral fiber', about one-fourth of his columns would disappear.

Other than that laughable statement, it's a fair read.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh the hypocrisy!

Shank states: “If you care about “character,’’ snubbing guys who tested positive ……. and other players who made you raise your eyebrows?”

The problem I have with all the scribes is ….. What The Freakin Were You Doing while it was so obvious that it made you raise your eyebrows.

These “holy” scribes accepted the obvious just like the fans did.

So why is it an issue now?

g

Anonymous said...

ROIDS!!??.....WHAT'S WE GONNA DO?