Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="SU94, post: 5243489, member: 202"] My ballot in order of worthiness: Ichiro Suzuki Alex Rodriguez Billy Wagner Andruw Jones CC Sabathia Ichiro: Was well above average at everything with the exception of power and taking walks. Elite hitter, baserunner, defender, arm strength. Hideo Nomo was the first and very important, but Ichiro normalized the migration of top talent to MLB. His career hit total 3089 will always fascinate me for many reasons, while acknowledging he also had 1278 hits in the Japanese League. A-Rod: Still torn. He's a brilliant idiot. Why did he do it? This is the first year I would put him in for this honor. I also think I am ready to go on Bonds too. Billy Wagner: To me, he's an obvious choice. i have him as the 4th-best reliever of all-time and arguably the most dominant. Please, ... not an affront on Mariano, but Wagner was the nastiest of them all. He had 23 more K's than Rivera in 380 fewer innings. Yes, I have #42 as the best ever, but Wagner was perhaps the purest filth MLB has ever seen. Amazingly, Billy Wagner, for those that do not know the story, was born as a righthanded thrower. A broken arm as a youth changed the course of history. Andrew Jones: A five-tool force for a decade+ on an iconic Braves team. He surprisingly fell off considerably from there, but not enough for me. He's an easy "yes" for me, likely as the best defensive CF of all-time. Okay, maybe Mays. But he was a gazelle out there. Rarely had to strain to cut off the gaps. Smoltz and Glavine should offer to pay for his flight, lodging and meals in Cooperstown. CC: Not in love with this pick. 251 wins. Consistent force. I suppose this signals the lowering of my own standards and that baseball is to some small degree broken. That's not fair. Let's just say the game has been manipulated to the point where pitchers like CC now stand out. I also acknowledge i have to seriously think about Pettitte. Not this year on my ballot, but his time seems likely to come for me. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?