Twitter Tuesday: Baseball Hall of Fame

If you love baseball and its Hall of Fame, this weekend has got to be one of the highlights of your calendar year as Sunday marks the induction of Andre Dawson, Whitey Herzog and Doug Harvey.

You can follow all the comings and goings of the newly minted Hall of Famers via Twitter at @BaseballHall.

From behind-the-scenes of the Hall itself to what all is going on in Cooperstown this weekend...you'll never be left in the dark.

Remember, the annual Induction Ceremony will be held this Sunday at 1:30 pm EDT at the Clark Sports Center, located about a mile from the Museum. You can watch it live on MLB Network or listen to it simulcast on SiriusXM and baseballhall.org.

***Do you have a suggestion for Twitter Tuesday? Leave a comment below or email The Hall of Very Good at hallofverygood@yahoo.com!***

The Hall of Fame Class of 2011

This weekend, the Hall of Fame opens its doors to some new members...Andre Dawson, Whitey Herzog and Doug Harvey.

Of course, its the inclusion of Dawson (and omission of Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar) that has everyone buzzing.

After nine years on the ballot, "The Hawk" got his mandatory 75% (77.9% to be exact) last January...and Sunday, he'll be up on the podium addressing his supporters.

One has to wonder what next year will bring. Now, I’ve been saying this for a few years and I’ll say it again…the BBWAA are poised to have their hands full.

Not only will two very popular holdovers (Blyleven received 74.2% and Alomar came in at 73.7%) be on the ballot, but also in the mix will be one guy who was found guilty of taking performance enhancing drugs and another that just about everyone and their mother thinks did.

Add to that combo a few of “good guys”, a prick or two and you’ve got the recipe for a great vote.

Buckle up.

IN.

John Franco.
Why not start with one of the “good guys”? Here’s the rub with Franco, while I believe he is most certainly Hall-worthy…I can’t put him in until Lee Smith gets his number punched. Franco compiled a huge number of saves over his 21 year career. His 424 saves rank him fourth all-time behind Trevor Hoffman, Mariano Rivera and, you guessed it…Smith. He is third in games finished behind, again, Hoffman and Smith. Franco was a four time All-Star and twice brought home the Rolaids Relief Man Award. A quiet closer, he compiled a 90-87 record (decent considering his role…Hoffman’s career mark is 61-72) and a 2.89 ERA.

Jeff Bagwell.
Here’s the deal with me and Bagwell…I always ADMIRED Bagwell, but was never a huge Bagwell guy until AFTER he hung up his spikes. I respect the Hell out of the man for leaving the game after only 15 seasons. He could have very well hung around to pad some numbers to his already bloated 449 home run and 1529 RBI totals. But he chose not to. He could have left Houston a number of times. But he chose not to. His .948 OPS is 23rd all-time and the only Hall eligible player that is higher on that list and NOT enshrined is Mark McGwire. Bagwell was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1991 and followed it up three seasons later with the National League MVP award. A career .297 hitter, Bagwell also appeared in four All-Star Games and was twice (yes, TWICE) a 30-30 man. And...he had a bitchin' goatee.

OUT (in random order).

Kevin Brown.
Brown’s 211-144 record isn’t as impressive as the .594 winning percentage it carries with it. Of course, that is only the tip of the iceberg for the hot and cold hurler. A 3.28 career ERA, 2397 Ks and 13 seasons with ten or more victories makes Brown a hard choice to NOT put on the bubble. One ring, six All-Star Games and seven Gold Gloves…sorry Brown. If David Cone can’t sniff the halls of Cooperstown…you can’t either.

John Olerud.
The College Baseball Hall of Famer and two-time World Champion isn’t going to get much love from Cooperstown. While his .295 career average and 2239 hits is impressive…he was WAY overshadowed by other great first basemen throughout his career. Here’s a fun fact…Olerud is one of only TWO players to hit for the cycle in both leagues. Can you name the other?

Tino Martinez.
Another overshadowed first baseman (and probably rightfully so), Martinez is only mentioned here because there are some out there (I’m looking your way Yankees fans) that think guys like Tino, Bernie Williams and Paul O’Neill deserve a spot up on the wall. But here’s the thing…none of them hold a candle to Don Mattingly, and last year, “Donnie Baseball” couldn’t muster more than 11.9%.

BJ Surhoff, Marquis Grissom, Bret Boone, Al Leiter, 1987 National League Rookie of the Year Benito Santiago, Carlos Baerga, 1994 National League Rookie of the Year Raul Mondesi, Bobby Higginson, Wilson Alvarez, Rey Sanchez, Charles Johnson, Jose Offerman, Ugueth “currently serving a 14-year prison sentence” Urbina, Ismael Valdez, Dan Wilson, Paul Quantrill, Cal Eldred, Kirk Rueter and Steve Reed.

ON THE BUBBLE.

Larry Walker.
Good friend of The HOVG, David Allan is going to KILL me for putting Walker “on the bubble” and Bagwell in the Hall of Fame, so here’s the deal…read what he had to say about Walker back in January and make up your own mind.

Juan Gonzalez.
Possibly the hardest player to characterize on this list is Gonzalez. I’m a fan, through and through. I always bought into the “Juan Gone” hype, the two MVP awards and the monster long balls. His 1996-1999 stretch is, arguably, one of the best of the 90s and in any other era…he’s in. But was the dude clean? Are his numbers going to go the way of McGwire and be pushed to the side in favor of steroid allegations considering some of his teammates?

Which brings me to…

Rafael Palmeiro.
Beautiful mustache or no...it’s hard to look at Palmeiro’s numbers and not get pissed off. 3020 hits, 569 home runs, 1835 RBI…all spectacular, albeit wasted, numbers. His 5388 total bases ranks him tenth all-time and the afore mentioned hits and home runs total makes him one of only FOUR players to have 3000 hits and 500 dongs. That being said, there isn’t a snowball’s chance that a guy who pointed his finger to Congress and proclaimed “I have never used steroids, period” gets in a mere six years after being found guilty of doing the opposite.

All this week, come back for a re-hash of 2012, 2013 and 2014. Also on the horizon...an all new breakdown of the 2015 ballot.

James Gammon (1940-2010)

I have to imagine that you're immediately wondering "who in the world is James Gammon?" Well, in one phrase, I can sum him up.

"You may run like Mays...but you hit like shit".

The gravelly voice, mustachioed actor was acting for decades before his legendary turn as Cleveland Indians manager Lou Brown in the 1989 release "Major League" and its first sequel, 1994's "Major League 2".

He succumbed to cancer late Friday night at the age of 70.

According to The Orlando Sentinel:

"He had cancer two and a half years ago," his wife, Nancy, said Saturday. "It came back aggressively about a month ago in his adrenal glands and liver, and he was very weak. They couldn't do surgery or chemotherapy. He decided he wanted to come home, and we did hospice."

Gammon's career came to a close with more than 135 television and screen credits to his name...ranging from his film debut in the 1867 classic "Coolhand Luke" to the afore mentioned baseball classic "Major League". On television, he had notable supporting roles on "Gunsmoke", "Monk" and as Don Johnson's father on "Nash Bridges".

Stumbling around the internet, I found a nice little piece written about Gammon back in June of last year. Take a trip on over to the site Vaguely Unpleasant and take a look at it yourself.

Friday 5: Jennie Finch

If you hit up "Jennie Finch" over at the Wikipedias...you'll find a slew of accomplishments.

2004 Olympic Gold Medalist.

2005 National Pro Fastpitch Co-Pitcher of the Year.

2008 Olympic Silver Medalist.

But of course nothing compares to this...Jennie Finch is the first female to step up and take her cuts at the "Friday 5".

HOVG: Who was your biggest influence and why?

FINCH: My parents, they are my rocks. They taught me how to play and try to live the "right" way. Giving all you have, never giving up, dealing with failure, overcoming obstacles and so many more life lessons learned through this great game. I am so grateful they have been there to help understand and become a better person and player from them.

HOVG: What is your most memorable travel experience?

FINCH: Italy was incredible! So beautiful and historic. We trained there for a month in 2004 with the USA Olympic Team gearing up for Athens.

HOVG: What is your favorite baseball term or saying?

FINCH: "Strike 3" of course!

HOVG: What is your best experience or greatest accomplishment?

FINCH: The Olympic Gold Medal in Athens, Greece. Amazing, absolutely everything and more than I dreamed of! A special group led by a special man!

HOVG: When did you know that you “made it”?

FINCH: I'm still trying to make it, but getting my first pair of metal cleats my freshman year at the Univ of Arizona was a pretty cool thing! Getting to go on Letterman is up there too!

Jennie Finch is currently knockin' 'em dead for the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch softball league. Last week against the Akron Racers, she added another perfect game to her already impressive resume.

You can connect with Jennie in a variety of different places on the web:

http://www.jenniefinch27.com/
http://www.jenniefinch27.blogspot.com/
http://www.jenniefinchstore.com/
http://twitter.com/jfinch27
http://www.finchwindmill.com/

Welcome to the Second Half...I Hope You Like Garbage!

Alright, before anyone starts banging the keyboard and sending me messages that this thing went viral months ago.

I know.

Thing is, the second half of the baseball season starts today, and what better way to kick it off than with Scott Stapp's stirring Florida Marlins anthem "Marlins Will Soar"?

There are so many jokes to be made about this thing. Marlins are fish...they can't "soar". The Creed frontman is breaking the Joe Sports Fan Baseball Jersey Wearing 101 rule "your own name isn't cool". And, of course, Scott Stapp is a douche.

So, if you've heard it before...listen to it again and thank God you're not a Marlins fan and this ear cancer is what is defining your team.

If you haven't heard it...listen to it now.

Then listen to it again.

The lyrics are terrible. It's almost as if the Marlins brass grave Stapp a glossary of baseball terms and "you know what...pick some out and make a song". Problem is, and yes there PLENTY of problems with this thing...he chose ALL the terms and decided to throw them together and create a hodge podge pile of steamy garbage.

So listen. Hate. And let me know what you think.

The HOVG Mid-Season Report

So here we are, folks…the All-Star break. What have we learned?

The Yankees, with their league-best 56-32 record are dominating their opponents. Home runs are making headlines night after night and big league umpires need, according to many fans…better glasses.

Now while you’re bound to come across plenty of first half re-caps, here are ten milestones (or stories) that The Hall of Very Good has found of particular interest.


Jason Heyward Hits Home Run in Major League Debut
With one swing of the bat, Atlanta Braves super rookie did something only 104 players had done prior to Opening Day 2010…ht a home run in his first at bat. Within weeks, three more players joined him…most notably was what Boston rookie Daniel Nava pulled off.


Mike Leake Skips Minors…Debuts in Reds Rotation
While most of the baseball world was applauding the debut of Jason Heyward and counting down the moments until Stephen Strasburg took the hill for the first time…Cincinnati starter Mike Leake was busy not playing in the Minors and taking his act to the pros, winning his first five starts in the process.


No-Hitters, Perfect and Notso Perfect Games
If one more person calls 2010 the “Year of the Pitcher” I’m going to vomit. So here we are…living in the Year of the Pitcher! Never before have we seen two perfect games (Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay), two no-hitters (Ubaldo Jimenez and Edwin Jackson) and whatever you call what Armando Galarraga pulled off…all before the All-Star break! I’m almost afraid to see what the second half of the season has in store for us.


Matt Stairs…Professional Hitter
My fascination with Matt Stairs started in his first season in the Minors…1989. More than 20 years and a Major League best 20 pinch hit home runs later…Stairs is still swinging for the fences. Matter of fact, he’s done so for more teams (11) than anyone else out there today.


Junior Retires
Fifth on the all-time home run list with 630 career bombs, "The Kid" was regarded as one of the game's premier players throughout the 1990s, nabbing ten straight Gold Gloves while playing with Seattle and being elected to start eleven straight All-Star Games. Quietly, he called it quits June 2 and made the 2016 Hall of Fame induction an easy day to schedule.


Stephen Strasburg Makes His Historic Debut
What can be written about Stephen Strasburg that hasn’t been written before? How about the fact that dude sold more jerseys (78,000) in June than any Washington National has in their history? Oh…a big thanks to those who have found The Hall while Googling “Stephen Strasburg shoe size”.


Home Run Milestones Aplenty!
Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Scott Rolen all reached the 300 home run plateau for their careers. Not to be outdone, Andruw Jones hit his 400th. The next big home run milestone on the docket? Alex Rodriguez is a mere three longballs from 600.


Jamie Moyer Becomes Home Run King
And speaking of home runs…did you hear the one about Jamie Moyer becoming the all-time leader in home runs by a pitcher. Last month, Moyer served up home run number 506 and later this month…he’ll get his AARP card. You know…because he’s old. ZING!


Jon Adkins Sets Save Record
Sure, it’s not a Major League milestone…but it IS a milestone. Good friend of The Hall, closer Jon Adkins became the all-time saves leader for the Cincinnati Red Triple-A affiliate Louisville Bats back in June. Unfortunately, Adkins won’t be able to add to his career total…the Reds released the pitcher on the eve of the Major League All-Star break Sunday night.


Goodbye, Old Friends
In a season full of memorable debuts…we’ve also seen our fair share of departures. In May, the baseball world lost both Ernie Harwell and Jose Lima. And right before the All-Star break, longtime Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard passed. But in what will be regarded as one of the top sports/news stories of the year…Yankees owner George Steinbrenner succumbed to a heart attack early Tuesday morning.


To put a cap on the first half of the baseball season, Gar Ryness, better known as Batting Stance Guy was at the All-Star Game in Anaheim Tuesday night and ran into “reputable reporter” Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.

Here’s their round up of the 2010 season so far.

George Steinbrenner (1930-2010)

Rare in sports is an owner that transcends the team.

Currently, Dan Gilbert is making news with his Cleveland Cavaliers. A couple of years ago, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was on "Dancing with the Stars".

Before either of them...New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was making headlines. Often times, BEFORE the team did.

Early this morning, Steinbrenner's family confirms, "The Boss" died. More details will be coming out I'm sure...but here is what TMZ.com is saying.

TMZ has confirmed legendary New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner died last night after suffering a "massive" heart attack.

According to multiple reports, Steinbrenner, who turned 80 years-old on July 4th, was rushed to St. Joseph's hospital in Tampa where he was later pronounced dead.

Steinbrenner, a U.S. Navy veteran, retired from running the Yankees in 2006... leaving his sons Hank and Hal to run the team.

Since Steinbrenner took over the team in 1973, the Yankees locked up 11 pennants and seven World Series titles.

Among Steinbrenner's many accomplishments, his famous "grooming policy", in which players and coaches are not allowed to sport hair past their collar ... and the only acceptable facial hair is a mustache.

UPDATE: A rep for the Steinbrenner family has released a statement saying, "It is with profound sadness that the family of George M. Steinbrenner III announces his passing. He passed away this morning in Tampa, Fla., at age 80."

The rep adds, "Funeral arrangements will be private. There will be an additional public service with details to be announced at a later date."

Here's hoping that Bud Selig and Major League Baseball does Steinbrenner right and conduct a moment of silence tonight prior to the All-Star Game.

And furthermore...can we get him into baseball's Hall of Fame?

Jon Adkins Released by Reds

Less than a month after becoming the Louisville Bats all-time saves leader, the Cincinnati Reds released closer (and good friend of this site) Jon Adkins.

Monday evening, Adkins tweeted the following:

Wanted to let all my tweeps know that Sun after the gm, the Reds released me, they need my innings so they can move guys...in WV chillin now

The Wayne, West Virginia native's history with The Hall of Very Good goes back to last winter when the 2009 KBO saves leader signed a Minor League deal with the Reds.

When Adkins hit Spring Training..."Ocho Uno" was born. A month later, he took his act to Louisville, Cincinnati's Triple-A affiliate.

A little less than a month ago, in front of 8373 fans at Louisville Slugger Field, Adkins became the team’s all-time saves leader.

“It's a great honor,” he told The Hall exclusively following the June 17 game. “A lot of great players have come through there and the team has a lot of history too. But, at the same time it means you've been in Triple-A too long as well."

Adkins isn't sure what team he'll be suiting up for next, you can rest assured...The Hall will let you know.