Tag: MLB Hall of Fame

“DEREK JETER BABYYYYY!!!!” (DTS Podcast – #84)

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Derek Jeter was voted into the MLB Hall of Fame on Tuesday with 99.7% of the vote.

Yes, that means that 1 of the 397 voters DIDN’T vote for Derek Jeter.

And no, we don’t need to know who he/she is.

Exposing them for the fraud that they are gives them exactly what they want….FREE PUBLICITY!!

Don’t out them. Wait 6-8 months. Privately strip them of their vote.

PROBLEM SOLVED.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!

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“The MLB Hall of Fame is an ABSOLUTE JOKE!!” (DaveTalksSports Podcast – Ep. #23)

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Congratulations to Mariano Rivera, but he shouldn’t have been the 1st unanimous MLB Hall of Fame Inductee.

The MLB Hall of Fame is really really really REALLY STUPID!!!!

Congrats to Shane Lowry on winning The Open Championship!!

Enjoy the whiskey, and guinness, and whiskey.

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MLB Hall Of Fame Grows By 4

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

It’s the highest honor a professional athlete can receive. It’s the culmination of a life’s work. It’s validation.

The greatness of 4 individuals was recognized Wednesday evening, as they were elected to the MLB Hall of Fame:

Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome, and Trevor Hoffman.

This Hall of Fame class is strong, with 4 players being elected for just the 4th time (1947, 1955, 2015).

Chipper Jones, 3B/OF, Atlanta Braves (1993-2012 – 97.2%)

Chipper Jones played his entire 19-year career with the Atlanta Braves. As a switch-hitting third baseman and outfielder, Jones was part of the Braves’ dynasty that won 14 consecutive NL East Division Titles. Mets fans know what I’m talking about.

Jones’ career was filled with numerous accolades, including 8 All-Star Game appearances, 1 MVP, and 1 World Series. Jones ranks 3rd all-time in home runs by a switch hitter. As the #1 overall pick in the 1990 draft, Jones lived up to expectations, finishing 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting in 1995 (Hideo Nomo). Consistency and longevity could have been his nicknames, as he drove in at least 100 runs 9 times and hit at least 20 homes runs 14 times.

Check out his stats here.

Few are more deserving than Chipper Jones, and he can now smile knowing he’s been immortalized amongst the greatest to ever play the game.

Vladimir Guerrero, OF/DH, Montreal Expos/Los Angeles Angels (1996-2011 – 92.9%)

Has there ever been a scarier hitter?? No, he’s not the best hitter of all-time, but his ability to hit ANY pitch made him one of the toughest outs in MLB history. I once saw Vlad hit a homerun off of 1 knee. Vlad possessed a rare power, batting average combination. He hit over .300 in 14 of his 16 seasons, hit 25 home runs 12 times, and drove in 100 runs 10 times. I’m still trying to figure out how he didn’t make it in on his 1st ballot….

Check out his stats here.

Vlad also had the best arm I’ve ever seen. When you can throw the ball from the right field wall to home plate, on a fly, off your back foot, you have a GREAT arm!!

Jim Thome, 1B/3B/DH, Cleveland Indians (1991-2012 – 89.8%)

Jim Thome had 1 job, and he did it VERY well. His job was to hit the ball over the wall. He did that 612 times (8th all-time). That’s a lot of times!!

Allow me to put that into perspective. Thome hit at least 40 homes runs 6 times. Only 8 players have hit 40 home runs more times than Thome. And his slugging percentage (.554) ranks 23rd all-time.

Check out his stats here.

Oddly, Thome wore 6 different jerseys throughout his 22-year career. Thome, along with Jones, became a 1st ballot Hall of Famer Wednesday evening.

Trevor Hoffman, RP, San Diego Padres (1993-2010 – 79.9%)

Trevor Hoffman is in elite company. He’s just the 6th reliever to be elected to the Hall of Fame. While he ranks 2nd all-time in saves (behind the almighty Mariano Rivera), he is a controversial selection for Cooperstown. Hoffman was known for 2 things: his strikeout ability, and his propensity to blow big games.

Check out his stats here.

Hoffman’s shortcomings won’t show up all over a stat sheet, but I don’t think he’s worthy of the Hall of Fame. It should be the Hall of Great, not the Hall of Very Good.

 

Do you agree with the Hall of Fame selections?? Is Trevor Hoffman a Hall of Famer?? Tell me everything you think in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

Roy Halladay, Gone Too Soon

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

roy-halladay

It is a sad day in the sports community. Harry Leroy Halladay III, aka Roy “Doc” Halladay, passed away Tuesday afternoon, at the age of 40, in a plane crash. It’s being reported he was the lone passenger on his single-engine, two-seater plane that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico at approximately noon on Tuesday. As a child, Halladay dreamed of flying a plane because his father was a corporate pilot. Halladay’s dream came true upon retiring from Major League Baseball, as his contract prohibited piloting a plane.

The outpouring of love has been tremendous from countless people from many walks of life. The baseball community recognizes Halladay as one of the best pitchers of his generation. His personal community acknowledges the work he did with those in need through his foundation and charity work. And his family mourns the loss of a loving husband and father of two.

On the field, Halladay’s work ethic was 2nd to none. Former Philadelphia Phillies’ teammate, Chase Utley, shared the recollection of the day he met Halladay:

“It was 5:45 a.m. on the first day of spring training when I arrived. He was finishing his breakfast but his clothes were soaking wet. I asked if it was raining when he got in. He laughed and said, “No I just finished my workout”.”

Halladay was a consummate professional. And it showed on the mound….

Halladay’s Career (16 Seasons):

203 wins

3.38 era

1.18 whip

2,117 strikeouts 

2 Cy Young Awards, 8 All-Star Selections, 1 Perfect Game, and 1 Postseason No-Hitter

Halladay is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2019.

Halladay’s influence reached farther than the 60 feet, 6 inches of real estate he worked in for 16 years. He was an active member of his community, donating time, money, and energy to the betterment of society. He and his wife would invite children and their families from the Hospital for Sick Children to his personal suite at Rogers Centre to enjoy Toronto Blue Jays’ games. This wasn’t done for notoriety, as press was not allowed in the suite. He also had an annual donation of $100,000 to the Jays Care Foundation written into his contract.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, which had a personal relationship with Halladay, reported the crash. Halladay donated a police dog to the Sheriff’s Office, which they appropriately named “Doc”. You can’t sum up a man in 1 or 2 sentences, but Sheriff, Chris Nocco, did his best:

“You wouldn’t know what Roy did because Roy wouldn’t tell you what he did,” Nocco said. “And that’s the legacy of a great man.”

Halladay is survived by his wife Brandy, and their two sons, Ryan and Braden.

 

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

One-Liner Fridays!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 3 Comments

espn 8 the ocho

Happy Friday sports fans!! It isn’t a mirage. Friday is actually here. I’m going to get your weekend started a little early with an oldie but a goodie. This is a segment I like to call, One-Liner Fridays. Today, I give my take on the week of sports in One Line and One Line only. “We’re gonna to skate to One song and One song only!” Enjoy!!

 

“Pudge” Rodriguez has taken his nickname, and apparently his eating contests, too seriously.

Voting Tim Raines into the MLB Hall of Fame, after 10 years, is like that bad decision you make right as the lights come on at last call — I get it, she was the only girl left in the bar.

Putting Bud Selig in the MLB Hall of Fame is like asking Adrian Peterson to babysit tonight.

Nothin’ says, “Welcome to New York Sonny Gray” like the Yankees committing 3 errors behind him, in the 1st inning.

I know Pete Rose isn’t in the running for Humanitarian of the Century, but did a woman really come out of the shadows, and accuse him of a crime from 30 YEARS AGO?!

Nice try lady.

Stephen Curry took some time out of his busy, make fun of Lebron James schedule, to play in his 1st professional golf tournament (Ellie Mae Classic).

It appears, Steph Curry (who shot a 74) is now better than Tiger Woods at golf.

House, no — Cars, no — Travel the world, no — Put my kids through college, no — Invest, no — Purchase Neymar Jr., YES!!

I literally couldn’t think of a better way to spend $262 Million either.

I love how Dolphins fans are distraught today after seeing Ryan Tannehill go down with a knee injury in practice yesterday — Yeah, because NOW your season’s over.

At least it’ll keep the Colin Kaepernick conversation going, so we’ve got that goin’ for us.

We saw more punches thrown on the 1st day of New England Patriot’s Training Camp than we will see in the entire Mayweather/McGregor fight.

Thank you Paul Malignaggi, for leaving the “Circus”, as you called it, of McGregor’s camp, and daring McGregor to go public with their sparring video — which would allegedly show what really happened.

And in case you somehow didn’t notice, yesterday was Tom Brady’s, not to be confused with Jesus’, 40th birthday….

At least ESPN didn’t replay every minute of every game of Tom Brady’s career….

Speaking of ESPN, fantasy will become reality when ESPN U morphs into ‘ESPN 8, The Ocho’ for one day, August 8th.

That’s awesome!!

Cotton McKnight:
“In 23 years of broadcasting I thought I’d seen it all, folks, but it looks like Peter La Fleur has actually blindfolded himself.

Pepper Brooks:
“He will not be able to see very well, Cotton.”

 

If you have a One-Liner of your own, please post it below in the comment section.

Enjoy your weekend everybody!!

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

2017 MLB Hall of Fame Inductees

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

hall of fame

A small class of distinguished gentlemen will take their place amongst the all-time greats. The 2017 MLB Hall of Fame Inductees represent the wealth of talent that rounded the bases in the 1980’s and 1990’s. This year’s Inductees include:

  • Ivan Rodriguez (1st Ballot)
  • Jeff Bagwell (7th Ballot)
  • Tim Raines (10th Ballot)

Let’s start with “Pudge”. Ivan Rodriguez is regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of all-time. He was an absolute wizard behind the plate, winning 13 Gold Gloves over a 21-year playing career. Playing the majority of his career for the Texas Rangers, he also made stops with the Marlins, Tigers, Yankees, Astros, and Nationals. “Pudge” was voted in on his 1st ballot (76%), becoming just the 2nd catcher to share that honor (Johnny Bench). I was a fan of “Pudge”, especially when he jumped on the special sauce and decided to hit 35 Home Runs with 113 RBI’s and 25 SB’s in 1999. Oh, he also hit .332 while winning his only MVP. And now, his nickname makes more sense than ever. Anyway..Congratulations!!

Pudge’s Stats: 2,844 Hits, 311 Home Runs, 1,332 RBI’s, 127 SB’s, .296 AVG.

Jeff Bagwell made a name for himself in the 1990’s, as the most powerful member of the “Killer B’s”. Bagwell now joins his former teammate, Craig Biggio, in the Hall of Fame. Bagwell graced the staged at Cooperstown on his 7th Ballot, garnering 86.2% of the vote. Bagwell’s career is absolutely Hall of Fame worthy. He won Rookie of the Year in 1991, MVP in 1994, and played all 15 of his MLB seasons with the Houston Astros. It’s a shame he had to wait 7 years to get in, but good things come to those who wait, right?? We can ask our next guest about that….

Bagwell’s Stats: 2,314 Hits, 449 Home Runs, 1529 RBI’s, 202 SB’s, and .297 AVG.

And then there’s Tim Raines. The man who waited 10 whole years to receive his invitation to Cooperstown. After playing 23 years in MLB, what’s another 10 right?? Raines received 86.0% of the votes required to get in. While I’m happy for Raines, I’m not sold on his Hall of Fame status. I believe it is the Hall of Greatness, not the Hall of Very Good. Raines was a phenomenal base stealer, who hit for average, but is the perfect example of a player who didn’t know when to ‘hang ’em up’. While there is something to be said for longevity, he stuck around for 3/4 years too many.

Raines’ Stats: 2,605 Hits, 170 Home Runs, 980 RBI’s, 808 SB’s, .294 AVG.

MLB inducted 2 other individuals into the Hall of Fame on Sunday:

  • Bud Selig
  • John Schuerholz

Bud Selig was the Commissioner of MLB for 22 years. Over that span, he oversaw many changes to the game. He was vital in implementing the separation of each league into 3 divisions, interleague play, and revenue sharing. Despite heading up the league during the “Steroid Era”, Selig left MLB in better shape than he found it.

And last but not least, John Schuerholz. Schuerholz is regarded as one of the top General Manger’s baseball has ever seen. He spent 26 years working for the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals. His resume speaks for itself: 16 Division Titles, 6 Pennants, and 2 World Series. Case closed.

And what’s a Hall of Fame Induction ceremony without a little Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds conversation?! As I’ve stated many times before, they should absolutely be voted into the Hall of Fame. Well, each year, both Clemens and Bonds’ votes continue to rise. This year, they each received approximately 54.0% of the vote (with 75% required to get in). This is up nearly 10% from last year. It is inevitable, so what are we waiting for?? Let them in, let them all in.

 

What do you think of the 2017 MLB Hall of Fame Class?? Are they all deserving??

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

Big Unit Headlines 2015 Hall of Fame Class

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

big unit

They are part of forever.  Despite all the controversy, and all the rhetoric, and the convoluted voting process, their individual accomplishments can never be second guessed again.  Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, and Craig Biggio were voted in to the MLB Hall of Fame on Tuesday, and they will be officially inducted on July 26th in Cooperstown, NY.  These inductions mark only the third time at least four players have been voted in to the Hall of Fame in one year (the last was 1955).  Also, for the first time, three first-ballot candidates were voted in in consecutive years.

Randy Johnson, regarded by many as the best left-handed pitcher of all-time, garnered 97.3% of the votes (the 8th highest percentage of all-time).  The “Big Unit” is one of only two pitchers to win four consecutive CY Young Awards, the other being Greg Maddux.  Johnson was a strikeout machine, as he is still the all-time leader in K’s per nine innings (10.6).  Standing 6’10” tall, Johnson was an intimidating force, playing on six different teams during his 22 year career.  Most impressively, Johnson is a member of the 300-Win Club (303).  Pedro Martinez, a three time CY Young Award winner, received 91.1% of the votes.  Martinez had one of the most dominant stretches of any pitcher during his prime, finishing in the top four of the CY Young Award in seven out of eight years.  He also helped the Boston Red Sox win the World Series in 2004.  John Smoltz had a unique, 21 year career.  He is the only pitcher ever to record 200 wins and 150 saves.  Playing almost his entire career with the Atlanta Braves, he was a staple in their pitching staff, along side fellow Hall of Famers, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine.  That Braves dynasty won a record 14 straight National League East titles.  And last but not least, Craig Biggio will enter the Hall of Fame in his third year of eligibility.  Biggio is a member of the 3,000 hit club, playing multiple defensive positions over his 20 year career.  While playing second base, outfield, and catcher he won four gold gloves.  He is the only player in Major League history to have 3,000 hits, 600 doubles, 250 home runs, and 400 stolen bases.

It is wonderful to see these great players honored for their achievements, but a dark cloud still remains, constantly hovering over Major League Baseball. No, that cloud isn’t filled with water vapor, it’s filled with steroids. And every time we have this conversation, it serves as an annual reminder of all the cheating and accusations that surround baseball’s best players. My opinion of these players is simple. It is impossible to know who did or did not take steroids. Therefore, in order not to falsely accuse innocent players or unknowingly allow cheaters into the Hall of Fame, we must view everyone on an even playing field. Barry Bonds existed. Barry Bonds broke numerous records and is one of the greatest baseball players that ever lived. Personal opinions aside (I for one can’t stand the guy), baseball is doing itself a disservice by not allowing Bonds in to the Hall of Fame. As for Mike Piazza, here is a guy to feel bad for. While he will most likely get in to the Hall of Fame next year, it is absurd that solely rumors are keeping him on the outside looking in. He is the best offensive catcher of all-time. The voting system is not a fair system at all. Instead, it is a group of ego maniacal sports writers, who think this process is a platform for settling personal vendettas. Yeah, not so much. The writers need to stop pretending an entire era didn’t exist, and they need to put em’ all in!!

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!

How do you feel about this years Hall of Fame inductees? Did the committee get it right? Should accused steroid users be allowed in to the Hall of Fame?

Let me know how you feel in the comment section below.

If you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. Also you can follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!