Earlier today, Stephen A. Smith spoke on his podcast about the reason so many black NFL head coaches were being fired is because of “racism.” Now without being too political because that’s not what I want this to be about, I just think it is one of the silliest things he has said recently. Marvin Lewis, Vance Joseph, Todd Bowles, Steve Wilks were all fired this past Monday as well as Hue Jackson earlier in the season. That leaves the NFL without only two black head coaches still with jobs. Mike Tomlin and Anthony Lynn of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the LA Chargers, respectively. The combined record of the coaches who were fired? 174 wins with 232 losses. Marvin Lewis was responsible for 131 of those wins. Take his stats away and you’re looking at a combined record of 43 wins and 110 losses. That’s a 28.10 winning percentage! The only one with a winning record is Marvin Lewis who kept his job for 15 years despite never winning a playoff game. That’s what ultimately ran him out of Cincinnati. That’s not gonna keep you your job whether you’re a black, white, yellow or pink coach in any sport,besides your kids little league team and that’s cause they have no choice to keep you on as coach cause your company sponsors the team! The combined record of Mike Tomlin and Anthony Lynn? 146-78-1 with a winning percentage of 64.89 percent! The NFL is one of the ultimate meritocracy’s. You either win or you get ran out of town on the rails. That’s how it always been and hopefully will be. You can make damn near anything about racism and some things certainly are racist and bigoted, but when you try and make things like NFL football coaches being fired because of their race and not their losing record? That’s when you ultimately cheapen and overshadow more real urgent aspects of racism and bigotry.

As long as Mike Tomlin has been the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers we’ve all heard that the “standard is the standard.” The Steelers standard is among the highest in professional sports; not just the NFL. 6 Super Bowl rings, 22 division championships, 16 AFC championship appearances and one of the most impressive winning percentages in NFL despite being perennial losers for nearly the first 40 years of their existence. The Steelers standard is not just success in the regular season, but the postseason as well. Mike Tomlin has a regular season record of 125 wins with 66 losses, the best record in the league since he came into it, with the exception of Bill Belichick.

Sadly the standard no longer seems to be the standard. A well publicized pissing match with Le’Veon Bell last off-season that carried into the beginning of this year. Continued issues with Antonio Brown and now trade rumors despite the season ending less than a week ago. Not to mention the epic meltdowns that have occurred on the gridiron. Starting with the fucking tragic loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the divisional round of the playoffs last year continuing to week one tie against the Cleveland Browns who hadn’t won a game since 2016. They rallied with a 6 game winning streak and at one point were in the conversation for the number one seed in the playoffs before commencing one of the worst collapses, if not the worst in Steelers history. I mean on November 18th they were 7-2-1 and seemingly running away with the division only to fall apart completely, losing to the Broncos, Chargers, Saints and the Oakland Raiders who finished an abysmal 4-12.

Now I bleed black and gold and I may be slightly biased, but this team was just too damned talented to not make the playoffs. A Hall of Fame quarterback, the best wide receiver tandem in football, Pro bowl offensive line and a nearly 1,000 yard rusher and yet they still missed the playoffs. Sure there were some plays left out on the field by the players, and some questionable calls by the refs, but to me this disaster of a season falls on one thing and that’s coaching.

I’m sorry but for years we’ve seen Mike Tomlin screw up time management and challenges. Burning timeouts when he shouldn’t and not calling him when he needed to stop the clock. THE MAN HASN’T A CHALLENGE IN TWO SEASONS. I mean at what point do you admit something has to change with your system and that it’s not working. Blowing timeouts on stupid challenges on whether it’s 4th and 1 or 4th and inches is not something a great coach does. For too long, Tomlin has let his pride or stubbornness come ahead of what’s best for the team. The Steelers need to hire a quality control coach to handle timeouts and challenging plays. Whether Tomlin likes it or not that’s what this team needs. He’s been known to be an emotional coach which I have no problem with, but it seems to negatively effect his ability to control or manage the clock. Put somebody up in the booth who’s only job is that; challenges and time management. I’ve always thought that’s an aspect of coaching you should get better at with experience. You may instinctively be drawn to offense or defense, but has a head coach you must get better at time management and Mike Tomlin has not. Not to mention the complete lack of discipline shown by the team in recent years, especially this past season.

The standard used to be Super Bowl trips and victories. Lately it just seems like we have become content with regular season wins and early playoff exits. I’m not saying Mike Tomlin should be fired because I don’t think he should be. He has easily earned the right to correct the ship and reassert disciple and control over this team. They were the 5th most heavily penalized team in the league this year. Dumb penalties are a result of players knowing they can hurt the team without consequences from their sidelines.. Changes need to made; Danny Smith should be fired,the Steelers led the league this year in special teams penalties at 25. There were times it seemed the players had no idea what to do on the field. Getting stupid penalties because of poor position. It has been a horrendous disaster all season. Not to even mention Chris Boswell’s struggles. Our return game has struggled all season, Ryan Switzer has developed into a better receiver than returner, unable to break any significant long returns. Players need to be punished for on field stupidity. Darius Heyward-Bey was hit with a costly illegal shift penalty on a punt, negating it landing at the one yard line against Tampa Bay then got hit with another 15 yard penalty for arguing with the ref. And you know what happened when he got to the sideline??? Absolutely nothing! Not a thing! This is at a point when the Steelers are struggling and are 1-1-1 seeing the season potentially slip away so early in the year. He should have been cut right then and there. Tomlin could have reasserted his control, by cutting a veteran player who has been known for knuckleheaded plays and told the team and league that there will be no more of this selfish play on his team. Instead nothing happens to DHB and if he can get away with such stupidity then why would AB or Bell feel they’re not able too? If a mediocre special teams player can act up why can’t two legitimate superstars?

Tomlin needs to reassert control to save the rest of the guys in the locker room and make the most of the next couple years. As long as we have Ben, we have the talent and chance to make a deep playoff run to the Super Bowl potentially. Make no mistake as soon as Ben is gone, the Steelers are in rebuilding mode in a division where two of their rivals have two of the best young quarterbacks in the game. If they don’t get back to “the standard is the standard” and treat all players under those same standards then Steelers fans may be looking at a bleak future.

I follow the Pittsburgh sports media religiously. After all, even if I don’t agree with them, they have the insider information that I lack. I can’t call up my buddies in the Penguins front office, mainly because I don’t have buddies in the front office. I can’t text Marcus Gilbert to get the locker room scoop for the Steelers because I don’t know him or have his number. I can’t knock on Starling Marte’s door and ask him what is up with the Pirates because I don’t speak Spanish nor do I know where he lives.

I follow Bob Pompeani, Josh Yohe, Seth Rorabaugh, Colin Dunlap, Andrew Fillipponi, Rob Biertempfel, Jesse Marshall, and the list goes on. Do I like Poni? No. Do I respect what he does for a living? Yes. Do I respect Rossi? No. Do I respect what he does for a living? Yes. The fact is sports reporters are only as good as their sources, knowledge, and gut. Just like I am only good at my job because of my sources, knowledge, and gut.

Hell, I followed Dejan for YEARS. Respected him, followed each other on Twitter, had interactions; I respected his opinion. I had no idea he was a horrible boss. I had no idea he treated Katie Brown and Sara Civian like shit. Then again, that is their side of the story. There has to be a reason why Taylor Haase, Matt Sunday, and Benstonium have stuck with him. That is neither here nor there though. This isn’t a hit piece on Dejan.

What this is is a looking into Mark Madden. I understand the abrasive behavior, its a tactic that gets listeners. He does a ton for charity around Pittsburgh, I’ve met him and he’s a nice dude. What I have an issue with is his biased reporting and seeming hit pieces on local athletes. I have a problem with Mark Madden being racist.

We get it that he doesn’t like JuJu Smith-Schuster. I’m fine with that. Maybe JuJu blew Madden off, maybe they don’t get along. It happens. This isn’t the case though. Tweets like “does anybody care to guess why the Steelers players voted JuJu MVP over Ben” or “they [Steelers teammates] obviously like JuJu better. I wonder why? It’s definitely a “like” thing. Or maybe a “lit” thing.” or “I love to hear the ***king reasoning for that. But I think I already know.”.

What do you know, Mark? That The Steelers’ roster is predominately not white? Just come out and say it. You think that JuJu only gets respect because he is “like” (his word not mine) his teammates. Give it up. We get you’re speaking to your fan base and that is frankly insulting. Is MM is insinuating that Western PA is full of white black-haters? I think so.

I have an issue with an article that Madden wrote about JuJu as well. I’m not linking it, I don’t want it to get views. I’ll pull some quotes and paraphrase from it though. Madden keeps referencing, and making sure the readers know, LIT isn’t it. This quote though really stood out to me “we used to say the Steelers did things different and were more professional”. Try and find the hit piece that Madden had about Ben when he was accused of multiple rapes. It doesn’t exist. Look up the article where Mark Madden says that convinced woman beater Slava Voynov has “paid his debts” and should be inserted back into the NHL. You’ll find that. Look at the article calling for Joey Porter’s firing after he was arrested on the South Side, you’ll find that. Where is the article bashing Todd Haley about his Tequila Cowboy incident? You won’t find that either. You’ll see him bashing him for his coaching, just not his off the field antics. There’s an article where Madden calls the antics of the Steelers “toxic group” “embarassing”. In this he calls out Antonio Brown, Bud Dupree, and Le’Veon Bell. Why not call out Ben? He was fine with making jokes about Jeff Reed when he had his paper towel incident,

I think its fine that WDVE follows ESPN 1250 and the WCW and let’s Madden go. His incoherent rants about one of the top 5 receives in terms of stats in the NFL are personal and racially motivated. I’m tired of the praise of white athletes and the negative outlook on black athletes.

As we all know our beloved Steelers blew another game yesterday and we are now on the outside looking in. It pains me to admit it and I can go on ad nausem on why the Steelers lost, which I just may on another occasion. Watching a talented team like this blow game after game erodes my heart and soul. This season has been as tormenting as any other I’ve ever seen. Either way the Steelers are potentially and most likely out of the playoffs barring two things.

1. The Steelers win against the hapless Cincinnati Bengals(far from a foregone conclusion knowing this team)

2. We put our hope and faith during this Yuletide season in one man to beat the Baltimore Ravens. One jock grabbing, Sooner flag planting, Heisman Trophy winning, first overall draft pick, Baker Mayfield. And I believe in Baker Mayfield.

In the past I would have broken it the tequila bottle immediately after the Steelers lost and mourned a lost season. One of the few left with Big Ben, but not this year. This year we have reasons to believe. At any other point since the Browns came into the league I’d have zero faith in them to win. I mean with Hue Jackson as their head coach they went 3-36-1…..who would believe in them? Yet since firing Hue and promoting Gregg Williams, they’re 5-2. They’re talented and I believe. From an outsiders perspective it seems as if with Baker and Williams there has been a culture change within the organization. They’re determined to go from laughing stock to contender and I believe. Are the Ravens still a good team especially with Lamar Jackson at QB? Yes, but I believe. Baker has the most swagger in a rookie quarterback that I’ve ever seen. You can see his teammates want to win for him and trust him to lead them to victory. I’ve loved Baker since he planted Oklahoma’s flag on the Ohio State University’s 50 yard line after beating them. He’s a gamer and a gun slinger, a lot of people have compared him to Johnny Manziel for their cockiness, winning the Heisman Trophy and being drafted by the Browns. Thats where the similarities end. Baker is grit personified and mentally tough, he left Texas Tech, walked onto Oklahoma and left with the Heisman Trophy. He’s had to work for everything he has and knows it. I love everything about the way he plays down to grabbing his crotch at the Kansas sidelines, defending himself from Colin Cowherd or calling out Hue Jackson for going to work for the Bengals after being fired by the Browns. He’s taken the reins of his team from day one and it shows on the field and off. If there’s any one man who can lead the Cleveland Browns to victory next Sunday, it is him. I believe in Baker Mayfield.

So next Sunday all of Pittsburgh will place their faith and hopes in the mistake on the lake. We will watch the Browns-Ravens game with as much interest as we will the Bengals- Steelers game later in the day. The Steelers have let this season slip away like so many others and we are forced to hope and pray for a Brownies victory. Baker Mayfield has this Pittsburgher believing we may get another chance to make a run at the Super Bowl.

Every year the Baseball Writers’ Association of America vote on up to 10 candidates to be immortalized in Cooperstown forever. The selection committee can vote however they want with no criteria being required. If someone really wanted they could vote based on the color uniform of each player wore most often. Some players are in for one big achievement (Bill Mazeroski) and some players get snubbed in a big way (Don Mattingly). You have some who are against juiced players and some who just don’t care. Some who don’t think a “closer” is a real position or that only awards and World Series rings should count. You also have some players who make the ballot once and never see it again. I mean really, is Freddy fucking Sanchez even deserving of being on the list? A batting title and All-Star selection – simply because the Pirates had no one else doesn’t cut it. Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose aren’t members either and played a HUGE role in the history of the MLB.

The Hall of Fame should be a museum. I don’t think every player should get in. If you cheated, you’re out. *

The ballot is below, my picks in bold.

• Rick Ankiel – Ankiel is likely a one-and-done’er. I think it’s pretty impressive that he was able to both pitch, play the field, and hit in the MLB, however that isn’t enough. The only award hunt he was in over an 11 year career was runner up ROY in 2000. Really that was only because he batted .250 as a pitcher. His pitching stats were mediocre. Rafael Furcal won that year, though my vote would have went to either Juan Pierre or Lance Berkman – two others who are on this list.
  

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• Jason Bay – Another one-and-done guy. Though, I think he is better than how people remember him, but that might be the homer in me talking. 1200 hits, 222 home runs, and 754 RBI’s over an 11 year, injury riddled career toward the end, aren’t bad numbers. Add a ROY, 3 All-Star games, including one with Boston, a Silver Slugger, and was in MVP consideration three times. He won’t make it, but I honestly think he would be a fringe player.
  

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• Lance Berkman – As an NL Central follower this guy haunted my dreams. I think he is in the same ballpark as Bay though. A pretty good player, who doesn’t quite meet the eye test but his stats are decent. I think a big contract and going to New York over inflated his greatness though. He has the 6 All-Star games and some MVP votes to cement his legacy, not a plaque in Cooperstown.
  

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• Barry Bonds – FUCK BARRY BONDS. He could have been the greatest MLB player eve and he was well on his way there. I might still honestly say he is one of the best ever. He never had a juice. He never had to be an asshole to the media. He never had to be an asshole to his teammates. The cheating factor just ruins it for me here. I could write a whole blog on why Barry Bonds is a disgrace to the MLB.
  

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• Roger Clemens – Another juice head who had a great career but is now tainted. In nearly every category he is surround by guys who are enshrined. I even enjoyed watching him on Yankee’s teams that I hated. I’m a purist though and for that reason, Roger is also out.
  

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• Freddie Garcia – I’ll be honest with you, I thought his was Freddie Gonzalez until I just looked up his stats. Two AllStar games over a 15 year career just doesn’t do it f or me. He had an ERA OVER 5.00 three times. Never had a CGSO in the last 13 years of his career. Had a ton of injury filled seasons. If you compare his stats he is most like Aaron Sele or Chris Carpenter, guys who will never see The Hall. The highlight of his career was being part of two packaged trades which took Randy Johnson to Houston (I didn’t know Randy Johnson played in Houston) and only getting a starting spot in a rotation due to AJ Burnett being traded and Pettitte breaking his leg.
  

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• Jon Garland – Another who? One All-Star game a HORRENDOUS 4.37 ERA. We can compare him to Jason Marquis and Esteban Loaiza. I don’t know how guys get on the ballot, but Jon Garland is just a head scratcher.
  

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• Travis Hafner – Hafner is a guy will get dinged because he was a DH, 7/12 seasons he played less than 100 games, never made an AllStar trip, never earned a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and really only had one good year in 2006. I guess he is on the ballot due to name recognition, but other than that I’m not sure.
  

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• Roy Halladay – I don’t think many have his a first ballot guy, but Halladay deserves a spot in Cooperstown. I think he may get some sentimental votes but he as a dominate pitcher on bad bad bad bad bad teams. An 8 time All-star, 2 Cy Youngs, has the 20th best winning percentage of all-time ON BAD TEAMS, lead the league in complete games 7 times, shut outs 4 times, and is comparable to future HOF’ers Justin Verlander and Jon Lester. He probably should have grabbed a few more Cy Youngs; if he was playing in New York or Los Angeles he would have. I’ll ignore the 10.64 ERA in 2000. Doc is in.
  

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• Todd Helton – Helton benefited from playing a 17 year career at Coors Field. 5 All-Star games along with three Gold Gloves are pretty damn good. However, the batting title and four Silver Sluggers are definitely, in part, due to the altitude in Denver.  I think there is something to be said about a guy who plays 17 years in the same city though, never being linked to steroids, and being a Roberto Clemente Man of the Year nominee twice. He only had two seasons cut short due to injury, and has comparables to HOF’ers Bagwell and Vlad and future HOFer Miguel Cabrera. While the altitude thing kind of makes me want to be iffy on Helton, I can’t deny the dude had an excellent career. Helton gets my vote but likely won’t get in his first time around
  

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• Andruw Jones – Jones had an illustrious career in Atlanta before bouncing around four big league teams in his final five years. Five All-Star games, a Hank Aaron Award, once Silver Slugger, and TEN, YES TEN Gold Gloves should put him among the all time greats. Let’s not forget he broke into the MLB at 19 and played for 17 more seasons before hanging up the spikes in 2012. However, in 2018 he only received 7.3% of the HOF votes. Why? I think the last five years of his career hurt him. OH YEAH. HE BEAT HIS FUCKING WIFE. I can’t support a wife beater. Though, how knows how many athletes do it and never get caught. I really want to vote for Jones, but my morals are in the way. I also drafted Tyreek Hill, Joe Mixon, and had Josh Brown on a few NFL fantasy teams back in the day. Jones gets in. Barely.
  

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• Jeff Kent – One of the best offensive second basemen ever? Maybe. Getting my HOF vote? No. You have to look at the era he played in. Everyone was hitting the shit out of the ball. Just because you’re a hard hitting second basement doesn’t mean you’re one of the best hitters of the era. Its not hard to be a better hitter than Mike Benjamin, Pokey Reese, and an aging Jay Bell. Google the opening day second basemen in 2000, Jeff Kent’s MVP year. They were HORRIBLE. I don’t really even know many of them. He’s good, but just shy of the HOF.
  

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• Ted Lilly – Another guy that’s a head scratcher but I know him since he played in the NL Central. Two All-Star games does not a HOF’er make. An inflated ERA of 4.42 and comparables of Jason Schmidt and R.A. Dickey aren’t enough to even consider putting Lilly on the ballot. His claim to fame being that he refused to give John Gibbons the ball once.
  

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• Derek Lowe – A pitcher, by using the eye test would all into the same category as Ted Lilly for me. Also boasting two All-Star games but this time with comparables to John Burkett and Kevin Millwood, WHO? His 8 years in Boston were arguably his best. I wonder what Carrabis over at Barstool has to say about him.
  

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• Edgar Martinez – I never saw Martinez play and to be frank I only really know of him due to this being his 10th year on the ballot. 7 All-Star games, 5 Silver Sluggers, playing 18 years in Seattle and never being linked to ‘roids is pretty impressive. He played DH though, so can half a player make it into the hall of fame? I think so, Papi is a sure first ballot in my eyes. I’ll give Martinez the nod here, reading up on him experts seem to think he is deserving, so why in the hell not.
  

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• Fred McGriff – another guy on his last year of eligibility. I knew of him at the end of his career and by playing MLB games on my PlayStation. 5 All-Star games, an MVP award, 3 Silver Sluggers, oh, and he was never juiced that we know of. The comparables are flooded with HOF guys: McCovey, Stargell, Thomas, Bagwell, Ortiz (future HOFer for me). He wasn’t a great fielder which may hurt him. A 19 year career is nothing to shake a stick at. He must have been doing something right. I think his power is enough to power him in.
  

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• Mike Mussina – Mussina was a guy I thought benefited from playing on the Yankees. Then I saw that he was actually better in Baltimore than he was New York. 5 All-Star Games, 7 Gold Gloves, and few Cy Young and MVP bids should be enough to get him in, right? What hurts him though is never winning a ring, never winning a Cy Young, only having 270 wins. I think Mussina might make it, just not this year. I think there are a few more players who deserve the vote. Don’t write Moose off, just not this year isn’t his time.
  

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• Darren Oliver – Another who? Oh pitcher Darren Oliver who apparently played in 20 MLB seasons. He spent his years in and out of the starting rotation, notching 229 games started in 766 appearances. No awards to speak of, no midsummer’s classic, not even a ring. He hit a ton of guys and a ton of guys hit off of him. Sorry Darren, this will be your first and last year on the ballot.
  

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• Roy Oswalt – I think his name is bigger than his stats. Injuries hurt Oswalt’s career, limiting him to 13 seasons and 163 wins. He was a dominate NL pitcher and was awarded with three All-Star games, an NLCS MVP trophy, and received votes in Cy Young and MVP races. Had Oswalt been healthy and played longer I think he would be a shoe-in. He just doesn’t make the cut with this list of 35 players.
  

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• Andy Pettitte – First ballot guy who put needles into his ass. Which is a shame because he had a pretty damn good career with an eye test. 4 World Series rings, an ALCS MVP award, 3 All-Star appearances and 42nd in career wins and strikeouts. I say that’s pretty damn good. I would vote for him except he juiced. Sorry Andy, a needle means no.
  

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• Juan Pierre – As Jay-Z once said “I used to run base like Juan Pierre”. I don’t think Juan ever sold drugs, but he was a demon on the base paths. Over his 14 year career Juan racked up 614 stolen bases which is good for 18th all time, played in a full season 5 times, lead the NL in hits and plate appearances twice and singles 6 times. I like Juan, I really do, I traded for him on every MLB game I owned and batted him at the top of my lineup. No hardware and no All-Star appearances sour his career for me though. He was a one tool player who never got hurt and for that, he should be remembered. If he sticks on the ballot he may get consideration later down the line, just I don’t think he is deserving now.
  

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• Placido Polanco – Another first ballot guy who had a long career. Two All-Star games, a Silver Slugger, and three Gold Gloves are about all of the recognition Polanco needs though. He was never a GREAT player, just one who was serviceable for quite a time. No real speed or strength to speak of, he hit for contact and was good at it. He was able to play second and the hot corner and did his job. Thanks for the career Placido, but you aren’t worthy of The Hall.
  

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• Manny Ramirez – One of my favorites and one of the all time greats. He gets in. Oh, wait, that’s right. STEROIDS. CAUGHT MULTIPLE TIMES. A multiple time cheater has no spot being honored. Loved you in Boston, don’t love you in Cooperstown.
  

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• Mariano Rivera – Is there anyone that is going to keep Mo off of their ballot? His resume speaks for itself. 13 All-Star games, World Series MVP, a handful of Reliever of the Year awards, 4th all time in games played, first in career saves, first in career adjusted ERA. Mariano, get the speech ready.
  

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• Scott Rolen – One of the best pure third basement ever behind Chipper. Though, he only has 58Gold Glove awards over a 17 year career ;). Don’t forget though he cleans that up with being the 1997 Rookie of the Year, 7 All-Star appearances, a Silver Slugger in 2002, and MVP consideration in a few seasons. His defensive wins above replacement is goo for 45th all time and 20th best fielding percentage at third base all time. He also played all 17 years at the hot corner, never making an appearance anywhere else on the diamond. An anomaly is that he never lead lead a hitting category, EVER. I’ll look past that and put Rolen in for his defense alone.
  

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• Curt Schilling – I LOVED Curt Schilling. I grew up a Pirates fan first and a Red Sox fan second. I followed him even when he wasn’t on Boston. Anklegate, right in the middle of the HGH crisis but never was founded of juicing, he was DOMINATE on ever team he played. Though, his mouth got him into trouble. I think the fact that was so so unliked by the masses is the reason he doesn’t have more hardware. I won’t let that come between him and the HOF though. Over his career he is 85th all time in wins, ahead of HOF’ers John Smoltz, Stan Coveleski, and Dennis Eckersley to name a few. 65th all time in career WAR. 52nd in career WHIP. 5th in career SO/BoB. He probably should have won a Cy Young over his time. Curt gets in.

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• Gary Sheffield – Playing for an impressive 22 years in the big leagues is a huge accomplishment. He had all of the ohhhs an awes of being one of the best players of all time. Except, he threw it away, much like Bonds, because he was selfish. Let’s not forget his famous quip of Derek Jeter not being “all the way black” or he said Latin players were in the MLB because they were “easier to control” or he FOUGHT A FAN, or that he pumped steroids into his body. There is just too much baggage with Sheffield. He was never liked by fans or teammates, he never played by the rules, and he is a horrible role model to young baseball players. Its a shame really, he had a GREAT career and tarnished it.

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• Sammy “Mikey” Sosa – I guess this ballot is one full of cheaters. I won’t beat a dead horse here. Just go back and read Bonds or Sheffield or Pettittee. Corked bats, steroids. He denies the use and I don’t buy it, neither do HOF voters. My fondest memory of Sosa is Salomon Torres hitting him in his head and his helmet exploded.
  

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• Miguel Tejada- Tejada played for the better part of 16 years. He earned himself an MVP trophy in the American League and one in the All-Start Game, 6 All-Star appearances, 2 Silver Sluggers, and quite a few AL leading titles including games played, doubles, RBIs, and sac flies. He also sits 125th overall in career hits, 91st in career doubles, and 135th in career home runs. Side note, if you think Miguel Tejada is actually 44 you’re out of your mind. I’m mixed on where to slot Tejada. He was dominate for a long time, serviceable in many capacities, but he was just missing something in his game. I think Tejada should be remembered but not in Cooperstown.
  

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• Omar Vizquel – Over a 24 year career, its hard to imagine that he isn’t more of a house hold name especially since he played until 2014. People don’t really remember Gold Gloves, which he as 11, I guess. Combine that with 3 All-Star games, a 9th all time ranking in defensive war, and 17th all time in career at bats, Vizquel should be more known than he is. Maybe it’s a curse of playing on bad teams, but that didn’t stop Halladay from getting recognition. Defense is what got Scott Rolen where he is, so what’s up with Vizquel. I’m not sure, nothing I can find points to him being a locker room cancer, a cheater, or disliked in any other way. Vizquel’s defense alone should get him into Cooperstown.

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• Billy Wagner – A guy on his fourth year of eligibility who’s career survived with 7 All-Star appearances and a Rolaids Relief award in 1999. He is 6th all time in saves, 38th all time in games played, and was an all around decent player. It’s hard for a closer to make it. He doesn’t have the recognition of Hoffman or Rivera though. He’s a borderline HOF guy. I can’t jump and say yes and I can’t jump and say no. I think he is deserving, just not this year as my 10th selection is yet to come.
  

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• Larry Walker – Just hit copy and past on Todd Helton. Seriously, everything I said about Helton stands here too. 5 ASGs, 3 Silver Sluggers, 7 Gold Gloves, 3 batting titles, an MVP award, and a slew of impressive career stats that stack up against some of the greats. He never juiced, won two gold medals at the Pan American games playing with Team Canada.
  

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• Vernon Wells – Vernon Wells is one of those players who everyone knows but really had one really strong season and rode the coattails of that for the rest of his career. 2003 was his best year by far making the All-Star game (along with two others), his sole Silver Slugger, and leading the league in hits, total bases, and doubles. 2003 was Vernon’s year. That is his claim to fame.
  

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• Kevin Youkilis – Youk was a great player in Boston just not enough to get into Cooperstown. A three time all star and a Gold Glove is all that Youk has to boast in a 10 year career. I don’t think he played long enough or well enough to be enshrined. I wouldn’t be shocked if this was his first and final year on the ballot. In terms of career all times there is nothing to write about, except a 104 hit by pitches which is good for 80th all time. Comparing him to Trot Nixon or Corey Hart is accurate and neither of those guys are going to make it.
  

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• Michael Young – Aside from being a great player at Pitt. Oh, that’s Sam Young. Michael Young played infield for the Rangers for most of his career. Making a surprising 7 All-Star games, winning a Gold Glove and a batting title. Young is much better than I remember but not good enough to make the hall. A weird comparable list as well: Joe Mauer and Joe Torre but then also BJ Surhoff. I think Young was solid, just not Hall of Fame solid.

This is a tough year with many players in the steroid era. I think dominate pitchers are more likely to make The Hall but players who never juiced should get recognized as well.