Jean-Jacques Taylor's resume for the chronicle.

[dirty steve]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/jtaylor/stories/071207dnspotaylor.3792f93.html

the coup de gras:
"...That brings us back to Biggio.
Is he going to get into the Hall of Fame? Probably. Should he? I don't think so.
Biggio has had a terrific 20-year career.
He has more than 400 career steals, has been an All-Star at catcher and second base and leads the National League with 52 leadoff homers. No right-handed batter has hit more doubles. And I'm sure Astros fans will find another 50 statistics that further illuminate his ability.
But I just don't think Biggio is a great player.
He has hit better than .300 only four times, none in the last eight seasons. While he has played in seven All-Star Games, he has only one 200-hit season, and he has never finished among the top three in the MVP voting.
Biggio is in the Hall of Very Very Good. There's no shame in that.
He's never been a dominant player like Ryne Sandberg was. The point is not to diminish Biggio's career, but when we're talking about greatness, we must split hairs.
We must make tough decisions to preserve the Hall of Fame's exclusivity...."
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why isn't he as good as sandberg? because he didnt play in chicago?  didnt play on a team whose entire was covered by a nationwide network?

[SeanBergmanRules]

Biggio's problem is he tailed off at the end of his career.  The greats like Sandberg never did.  They rode their horses into the sunset at the apex of their talent.  Sandberg rocked OBPs of .312, .316 and .308 his last three years.  Biggio can't compete with that.

[dirty steve]

so does Biggio "hanging around" diminish the greatness he displayed in 1990's?
*edit*
biggio OBP
2007- .297
2006- .306
2005- .325
2004- .337

sandberg last three years OBP = .312.
biggio (including 2007) OBP = .309.

dont know if OBP is the best barometer to measure sandberg's greatness at the end of his career as opposed to biggio.

[I'm Richies Dad]

Taylor covers football for the DaMN and he has nothing else better to do right now.  Consider the source.

[Arky Vaughan]

so does Biggio "hanging around" diminish the greatness he displayed in 1990's?
*edit*
biggio OBP
2007- .297
2006- .306
2005- .325
2004- .337

sandberg last three years OBP = .312.
biggio (including 2007) OBP = .309.

dont know if OBP is the best barometer to measure sandberg's greatness at the end of his career as opposed to biggio.

I think you should check the settings on your sarcasm meter.

[Arky Vaughan]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/jtaylor/stories/071207dnspotaylor.3792f93.html

the coup de gras:
"...That brings us back to Biggio.
Is he going to get into the Hall of Fame? Probably. Should he? I don't think so.
Biggio has had a terrific 20-year career.
He has more than 400 career steals, has been an All-Star at catcher and second base and leads the National League with 52 leadoff homers. No right-handed batter has hit more doubles. And I'm sure Astros fans will find another 50 statistics that further illuminate his ability.
But I just don't think Biggio is a great player.
He has hit better than .300 only four times, none in the last eight seasons. While he has played in seven All-Star Games, he has only one 200-hit season, and he has never finished among the top three in the MVP voting.
Biggio is in the Hall of Very Very Good. There's no shame in that.
He's never been a dominant player like Ryne Sandberg was. The point is not to diminish Biggio's career, but when we're talking about greatness, we must split hairs.
We must make tough decisions to preserve the Hall of Fame's exclusivity...."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
why isn't he as good as sandberg? because he didnt play in chicago?  didnt play on a team whose entire was covered by a nationwide network?

There is no question that hitting 500 home runs has become a less rare achievement than it was 20 or 30 years ago. To mindlessly translate this into meaning that getting 3,000 hits has also become "easier," however, is pure, unadulterated ignorance. It's the kind of ignorance that you can't argue with, because to have an argument, you must assume common levels of knowledge, common rules of logic, common reliance on reason. It would be no different than trying to have an argument with someone who doesn't speak the same language, without the benefit of a translator. No matter how meritorious or unmeritorious your arguments, they simply can't be grasped by the other person as a result of a fundamental incomprehension of what you're saying.

[chuck]

There is no question that hitting 500 home runs has become a less rare achievement than it was 20 or 30 years ago. To mindlessly translate this into meaning that getting 3,000 hits has also become "easier," however, is pure, unadulterated ignorance. It's the kind of ignorance that you can't argue with, because to have an argument, you must assume common levels of knowledge, common rules of logic, common reliance on reason. It would be no different than trying to have an argument with someone who doesn't speak the same language, without the benefit of a translator. No matter how meritorious or unmeritorious your arguments, they simply can't be grasped by the other person as a result of a fundamental incomprehension of what you're saying.

I believe I can translate this: Taylor's a fuckwit.

[Kent's Moustache]

Taylor covers football for the DaMN and he has nothing else better to do right now.  Consider the source.

Richie's Dad is correct.  JJT actually does a pretty respectable job of covering the Cowboys and the NFL, but he's out of his element here (or in anything other than pro football or heartwarming puff pieces).

The day that the Morning News excised Kevin Blackistone and Gerry Fraley was a great day for the Dallas sports fan.  Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks has been that the Morning News has asked/allowed JJT to venture outside his comfort zone, with mostly regrettable results.