Cooperstown July 2015

[Navin R Johnson]

Just curious, how many of y'all are planning on going this summer?

My wife and I plan on being in attendance.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I am giving it some serious thought.

[Navin R Johnson]

I have wanted to visit since I was a kid.  Just never did.  About 10 years ago I decided I would go when an Astro gets inducted.  So I am all in now.  Really looking forward to it.

Think we might spend a day in NYC because I love it, then drive up and fly out of somewhere closer like Syracuse.

[NeilT]

I just tried a couple of hotels, and no vacancies.  Anyone found one?

[chuck]

I just tried a couple of hotels, and no vacancies.  Anyone found one?

Use airbnb and find a house in the Catskills.

[NeilT]

Use airbnb and find a house in the Catskills.

Oh god, the OrangeWhoopass House.  We could all stay there and talk to each other on IPads.

[Andyzipp]

There are rooms in Utica, which is about 40 minutes away.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I just tried a couple of hotels, and no vacancies.  Anyone found one?

The HoF website has a link to some package deals.

[NeilT]

The HoF website has a link to some package deals.

That seems pretty ok, except that the hotels are in Albany.  I don't remember Albany being particularly close to Cooperstown.

[subnuclear]

I'm thinking of just driving the 6 hours from DC on the day of the event, performing my drunken naked protest, and then spending the night in the local correctional facility.

[chandler44]

Thinking about road tripping it.

[Reuben]

My wife and I have been saying since Bagwell's first time on the ballot that we would go whenever he or Biggio get inducted. We have a house in the Catskills about 2 hours from Cooperstown and were planning to either day-trip it or camp somewhere; but either way, no worries because we live so close, and both work freelance, it'd be so easy.

Then 5 days before Biggio gets elected, we moved down to North Carolina and I started a new full-time job. Shitfuck.

I do still want to go though, if we can.

[Bench]

That seems pretty ok, except that the hotels are in Albany.  I don't remember Albany being particularly close to Cooperstown.

It's about two hours away, isn't it?  The drive isn't too bad, but the problem is that you always end up back in Albany.

[toddthebod]

My wife and I are going.  I also tried getting a room, but a lot of the places have the same repeat customers every year and they hold the rooms for those people.  There seem to be a lot of cheap motels where you can get rooms.  But I'm not sure I want to stay in any of those places.  Maybe I just drive up from NYC in the morning.

[Dark Star]

Isn't Woodstock around there somewhere?

We're just gonna bring a tent.

[NeilT]

Isn't Woodstock around there somewhere?

We're just gonna bring a tent.

I think I'll bring a tent and camp in Todd the Bod's yard.

[HudsonHawk]

Isn't Woodstock around there somewhere?

We're just gonna bring a tent.

Cooperstown is about halfway between Syracuse and Albany.  Woodstock isn't too far, and I'm sure there are places to pitch your tent along the way. 

[Dark Star]

Cooperstown is about halfway between Syracuse and Albany.  Woodstock isn't too far, and I'm sure there are places to pitch your tent along the way. 

I called up there and asked if we could book some rooms in Big Pink, but they acted like they didn't know what I was talking about.  WTF?

[juliogotay]

I called up there and asked if we could book some rooms in Big Pink, but they acted like they didn't know what I was talking about.  WTF?

Young whippersnappers! I was just listening to The Basement Tapes this weekend.

[Reuben]

I called up there and asked if we could book some rooms in Big Pink, but they acted like they didn't know what I was talking about.  WTF?

I can tell you where Levon Helm's studio/barn is; maybe you could crash there. Woodstock is still about 2 hours from Cooperstown though.

[MikeyBoy]

I was just there in June and lodging is definitely limited. Aside from the ceremonies, there is a 12 year old baseball tournament* just a few miles south of Cooperstown with 104 teams. There will be parents in every hotel, cabin and room to rent within miles. One tip regarding lodging is check the town of Oneota. It's about 20-25 minutes southwest of Cooperstown. We had a few parents stay there that waited until the last minute to book something. Logistically, it was cheaper for us to fly to LaGuardia and rent a bus to Cooperstown (3 hour drive) vs. the alternatives of Albany and Syracuse where we still would have had to rent a bus and drive a few hours. I am more than happy to answer questions about the area for those that are going, just message me or ask on this thread.

*For those that make it to the ceremony, if you have any down time, make your way out to Dreams Park just a few miles south of town where the annual 12U baseball tourney is held. It's a display of some of the best 12 year old baseball in the country. In the 2014 draft, 14 of the players taken in the first round of the MLB draft played in this tourney when they were 12.

[HudsonHawk]

*For those that make it to the ceremony, if you have any down time, make your way out to Dreams Park just a few miles south of town where the annual 12U baseball tourney is held. It's a display of some of the best 12 year old baseball in the country. In the 2014 draft, 14 of the players taken in the first round of the MLB draft played in this tourney when they were 12.

I cannot for the life of me see why anyone would any to watch 12-year olds unless one of them was your own.

[MikeyBoy]

I cannot for the life of me see why anyone would any to watch 12-year olds unless one of them was your own.

To each his own, the LLWS seems to draw plenty of interest.

[HudsonHawk]

To each his own, the LLWS seems to draw plenty of interest.

From friends and families and communities represented, I understand. Just don't understand why anyone would drive a half hour to see other peoples' kids play. And not even getting into what I see wrong with "showcasing" 5th graders. But whatever floats your boat.

[MikeyBoy]

From friends and families and communities represented, I understand. Just don't understand why anyone would drive a half hour to see other peoples' kids play. And not even getting into what I see wrong with "showcasing" 5th graders. But whatever floats your boat.

ESPN and ABC televise the games for a broader audience than just friends and families. It's a two minute drive, it's baseball, it's a town with not much to do. I was just trying to be friendly and offer suggestions based on my recent visit. It's 6th and 7th graders and it's not "showcasing."

[chuck]

I cannot for the life of me see why anyone would any to watch 12-year olds unless one of them was your own.

My mother watches the LLWS with an interest whose intensity is difficult adequately to convey.

[HudsonHawk]

ESPN and ABC televise the games for a broader audience than just friends and families. It's a two minute drive, it's baseball, it's a town with not much to do. I was just trying to be friendly and offer suggestions based on my recent visit. It's 6th and 7th graders and it's not "showcasing."

Again, I get the human interest side of it.  I just have a problem with "the best 12-year old baseball in the country".  They're 12. 

[Jacksonian]

ESPN and ABC televise the games for a broader audience than just friends and families. It's a two minute drive, it's baseball, it's a town with not much to do. I was just trying to be friendly and offer suggestions based on my recent visit. It's 6th and 7th graders and it's not "showcasing."

The parents of a kid I know who went this past year would call it a showcase.

[Dark Star]

They're 12.

Some of them haven't even had thier nuts drop yet.

[Bench]

They're 12.

Some of them haven't even had thier nuts drop yet.

And some never will.

[Duman]

I know a kid whose parents FLEW him from cooperstown from the tourney there so he could pitch in the LL State tourney for his team - which didn't win.  Both events are more focused on making money than on development of players.  I am not saying the the Cooperstown tourneys that are held aren't fun and a good experience (I actually like that they put the kids in barracks away from helicopter mom). But it is a money making venture.  

LL is becoming more and more focused on money as well.  They are becoming more and more liberal with geography so that teams that represent a city or a league are actually pulling from a wider area as long as the kid doesn't live in an area that has a LL program (who cares if they have Ripken or Dixie Youth or any other group...if no LL they can cross lines).  

[HudsonHawk]

I know a kid whose parents FLEW him from cooperstown from the tourney there so he could pitch in the LL State tourney for his team - which didn't win.  Both events are more focused on making money than on development of players.  I am not saying the the Cooperstown tourneys that are held aren't fun and a good experience (I actually like that they put the kids in barracks away from helicopter mom). But it is a money making venture.  

LL is becoming more and more focused on money as well.  They are becoming more and more liberal with geography so that teams that represent a city or a league are actually pulling from a wider area as long as the kid doesn't live in an area that has a LL program (who cares if they have Ripken or Dixie Youth or any other group...if no LL they can cross lines).  

They also play games with the rules around who represents the LL in the WS tournament, practices, etc.  My nephew's "Little League" team won something or other and went to the finals of the tournament to go the the LLWS.  And while the team was kids who "played" in the local league, they had picked the kids from around the area and made a traveling "select" team of them who'd been playing together all year.  They placed the kids on local league teams (only a few of which would otherwise be eligible for that league) for a few games so they could claim eligibility, but it was team put together the year before to be groomed to play in the LLWS tournament, and to hell with the kids from the local league and rules about practicing, etc.

It's like these teams in Denial League who load up on former pro players just to go the national tournaments and win.  Some local rich guy will sponsor a team, pay some former pro players (including former big leaguers) and add himself to the roster to claim it's a legit Denial League team.  They win the tournament and the guy gets all excited. 

[Jacksonian]

I know a kid whose parents FLEW him from cooperstown from the tourney there so he could pitch in the LL State tourney for his team - which didn't win.  Both events are more focused on making money than on development of players.  I am not saying the the Cooperstown tourneys that are held aren't fun and a good experience (I actually like that they put the kids in barracks away from helicopter mom). But it is a money making venture.  

LL is becoming more and more focused on money as well.  They are becoming more and more liberal with geography so that teams that represent a city or a league are actually pulling from a wider area as long as the kid doesn't live in an area that has a LL program (who cares if they have Ripken or Dixie Youth or any other group...if no LL they can cross lines).  

They are expanding geographically because they are losing kids to other organizations.  Right now USSSA is the largest organization for youth baseball in the US.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Just found out that I'm going, courtesy of an eccentric family member's generosity.  What's the current head count?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Just found out that I'm going, courtesy of an eccentric family member's generosity.  What's the current head count?

That's great! I expect a blow by blow recap with photographs and stuff. Hey wait, just how eccentric and generous is this family member?

[Reuben]

I'm hoping to go.

[homer]

I'll be there.

[WakePhil]

I will be there as well.

[Reuben]

OK, so let's do a final role call here. Who's gonna be in Cooperstown? I've got:

GreatBagwell'sBeard
Homer
WakePhil
Reuben

and a bunch of maybes. My dad and I won't be getting there until Sunday morning, but it would be great to meet all of you, and maybe even form a little OWA contingent on the lawn for the ceremony (though understandable if that sounds too hippyish for some).

We're planning to camp nearby Sunday night, and go see the Museum Monday morning.

If you'd rather not broadcast your whereabouts, feel free to site-mail me.

[NeilT]

OK, so let's do a final role call here. Who's gonna be in Cooperstown? I've got:

GreatBagwell'sBeard
Homer
WakePhil
Reuben

and a bunch of maybes. My dad and I won't be getting there until Sunday morning, but it would be great to meet all of you, and maybe even form a little OWA contingent on the lawn for the ceremony (though understandable if that sounds too hippyish for some).

We're planning to camp nearby Sunday night, and go see the Museum Monday morning.

If you'd rather not broadcast your whereabouts, feel free to site-mail me.

Of course if you don't broadcast your location, the groupies won't know where to look for you.

[Reuben]

Of course if you don't broadcast your location, the groupies won't know where to look for you.

Wait, OWA recap writers on sabbatical have groupies? I thought only Dark Star had groupies.

[NeilT]

Wait, OWA recap writers on sabbatical have groupies? I thought only Dark Star had groupies.

Dark Star has gravitational pull.  The rest of us have to announce our location.

[Reuben]

Dark Star has gravitational pull.  The rest of us have to announce our location.

You're going, right?

[NeilT]

no, I'm off to Kansas City.

eta:  you have to fight off the OWA recapper  groupies on your own.

[jaklewein]

Well, after years of saying I'd go when the first Astro got inducted, I looked at my work/monetary situation and said, "I don't need to go."  Luckily my wife looked at the same situation and said "F-it, you're going."  She surprised me with the news a couple weeks ago.  The two of us will be flying out Saturday evening, getting in late/spending the night in Albany.  I'll be driving over Sunday morning for the ceremony, then back to Albany to spend the night, then back to Cooperstown Monday morning for some sort of Roundtable discussion with all the inductees.  We fly back out of Albany Monday evening.  Needless to say, I'm stoked!

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

I'm going with my brother-in-law and his incredibly eccentric  father-in-law.  We're catching an early flight to Albany on Saturday, and flying out super early on Monday.  Going to try to make the parade Saturday and obviously the induction on Sunday.

[Mr. Happy]

Well, after years of saying I'd go when the first Astro got inducted, I looked at my work/monetary situation and said, "I don't need to go."  Luckily my wife looked at the same situation and said "F-it, you're going."  She surprised me with the news a couple weeks ago.  The two of us will be flying out Saturday evening, getting in late/spending the night in Albany.  I'll be driving over Sunday morning for the ceremony, then back to Albany to spend the night, then back to Cooperstown Monday morning for some sort of Roundtable discussion with all the inductees.  We fly back out of Albany Monday evening.  Needless to say, I'm stoked!

Good for you.

[juliogotay]

Well, after years of saying I'd go when the first Astro got inducted, I looked at my work/monetary situation and said, "I don't need to go."  Luckily my wife looked at the same situation and said "F-it, you're going."  She surprised me with the news a couple weeks ago.  The two of us will be flying out Saturday evening, getting in late/spending the night in Albany.  I'll be driving over Sunday morning for the ceremony, then back to Albany to spend the night, then back to Cooperstown Monday morning for some sort of Roundtable discussion with all the inductees.  We fly back out of Albany Monday evening.  Needless to say, I'm stoked!

You are a lucky guy. Hang on to her.

[Bench]

Well, after years of saying I'd go when the first Astro got inducted, I looked at my work/monetary situation and said, "I don't need to go."  Luckily my wife looked at the same situation and said "F-it, you're going."  She surprised me with the news a couple weeks ago.  The two of us will be flying out Saturday evening, getting in late/spending the night in Albany.  I'll be driving over Sunday morning for the ceremony, then back to Albany to spend the night, then back to Cooperstown Monday morning for some sort of Roundtable discussion with all the inductees.  We fly back out of Albany Monday evening.  Needless to say, I'm stoked!

That's so nice. 

[jaklewein]

You are a lucky guy. Hang on to her.

That I am.  Thanks.

[WakePhil]

I'm in O'Hare waiting on my flight to Albany. Doing museum stuff Saturday and induction stuff Sunday. Up for a meet up, hippie or otherwise.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

[ValpoCory]

I was thinking about Biggio and Altuve today.   

When Biggio was 25 years, 2 months, and 18 days old, he had 293 career hits on his way to 3,060.
When Altuve was 25 years, 2 months, and 18 days old (today), he had 739 career hits.  Can't wait to see how Altuve's future goes.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

I was thinking about Biggio and Altuve today.   

When Biggio was 25 years, 2 months, and 18 days old, he had 293 career hits on his way to 3,060.
When Altuve was 25 years, 2 months, and 18 days old (today), he had 739 career hits.  Can't wait to see how Altuve's future goes.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/hall-fame-flashback-craig-biggio/

*Sniff*

[MikeyBoy]

Eat at Sal's Pizza!

[BudGirl]

The Chronicle has a nice Biggio supplement in today's paper.  I don't usually like the Chron, but the write-ups are quite nice.  But we warned, JDJO wrote quite a few of them.

[Reuben]

That I am.  Thanks.

That's quite awesome. My wife had a similarly encouraging stance, although seeing as she's 6 months pregnant, I'm not forcing her to go and endure the 10-hour car ride.

By the way, tickets for the Monday roundtable thing are sold out, I discovered the other day to my dismay.

[Bench]

Eat at Sal's Pizza!

And get breakfast at the Short Stop Diner!

[jaklewein]

That's quite awesome. My wife had a similarly encouraging stance, although seeing as she's 6 months pregnant, I'm not forcing her to go and endure the 10-hour car ride.

By the way, tickets for the Monday roundtable thing are sold out, I discovered the other day to my dismay.

Yeah, got tickets to the roundtable through some sort of a package thing she bought.  I'm sure I'll be wide-eyed when I see next month's credit card statement, but 5, 10, 15 years down the road I'll be happy she did what she did.  Who am I kidding?  I'm already there...

[Reuben]

GreatBagwell'sBeard +2 dudes
Homer ?
WakePhil
Reuben +1 dad
Jaklewein +1 awesome lady

What time is everyone planning to get to the Clark? I spoke to someone at the HoF who said you can go stake your spot on the lawn basically when the sun comes up. She said if we get there around 9 we'd still be able to get very good spots, so that's kinda what we're aiming for (will allow us to break up our drive with about 5-6 hours' sleep).

Anyone else going?

[homer]

homer +1 awesome lady

We are going tomorrow to the museum and back Sunday for induction. We are staying in verona. We will probably arrive around 1030-1100 tomorrow and 900 on Sunday. Wed love to meet up. On either day.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

At our layover at BWI, and who's that mustache? It's Rex Jones!

[homer]

Dierker holding court in the lobby

[jaklewein]

GreatBagwell'sBeard +2 dudes
Homer ?
WakePhil
Reuben +1 dad
Jaklewein +1 awesome lady

What time is everyone planning to get to the Clark? I spoke to someone at the HoF who said you can go stake your spot on the lawn basically when the sun comes up. She said if we get there around 9 we'd still be able to get very good spots, so that's kinda what we're aiming for (will allow us to break up our drive with about 5-6 hours' sleep).

Anyone else going?

We'll get there sometime early Sunday morning and may try and hit the museum before the ceremony. I would love to meet up as well but will have to play by ear as I don't know area and not sure about our schedule. Let's post here if any of us are at a specific place at different times before or after the ceremony and maybe we can meet for a bit. I will stop by this thread here and again during my stay to see who is where, etc. look forward to maybe meeting a few of you this weekend.

[homer]

We are stationed in front of the Cooperstown General Store for the parace.

[juliogotay]

Tomorrow is the big day and when our guy gets his dues and we think about his accomplishments on the diamond, also remember these things that he has done to bring some joy to those that really needed it. http://cw39.com/2015/07/24/biggio-makes-a-hall-of-fame-impact-on-sunshine-kids-charity/

[Bench]

According to Footer Cooperstown is about 60% Astros fans, which is wonderful and I'm very glad the BFT is well-represented too.

McTaggart is gathering the troops at Cooley's for the game tonight. 

If you see Caminiti's kids who are there this weekend as Biggio's guests give them a big karmic hug from all of us.

[jaklewein]

We are stationed in front of the Cooperstown General Store for the parace.

Enjoy. Looks like rain tomorrow.

[Reuben]

We are driving through Virginia still. Still planning to try to get to the Clark by about 9am tomorrow to stake our claim on the lawn. I'll be wearing an orange circa 1980 Astros t-shirt. I look like a clean-shaven Caucasian male in his mid-30s. Cell is 336 601 98 oh three if that's easier to get in touch.

[Reuben]

It'll be more like 10-10:30 before we're there.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Toll booth worker said that Astros fans outnumber Sox fans 10-1 today. 

[jaklewein]

Just walked in museum. Will look yall up when I get to induction site.

[Reuben]

We have arrived. Squeezed in against the green picket fence, almost straight back from the center aisle.

[hostros7]

Gammons: most notable thing about the weekend has been the strong Houston turnout.  He estimated that 80% of fan jerseys that he's seen were Houston.  Well done.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[subnuclear]

The 1998 Astros should have won the world series and it should be 3 members of that team going into the hall today.

[Reuben]

Eatin' sushi. Biggio's speech kicked ass. Pedro's was hilarious.

[Limey]

I'm going with my brother-in-law and his incredibly eccentric  father-in-law.  We're catching an early flight to Albany on Saturday, and flying out super early on Monday.  Going to try to make the parade Saturday and obviously the induction on Sunday.

Wait!  Isn't your brother-in-law's father-in-law your father?

[roadrunner]

Any reports or stories back from the weekend?  Did Astros fans really dominate as much as Twitter led on?

[Bench]

Wait!  Isn't your brother-in-law's father-in-law your father?

And Robert is your mother's brother?

[HudsonHawk]

Wait!  Isn't your brother-in-law's father-in-law your father?

Only if you're married to your sister. 

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Only if you're married to your sister.

It's quite simple:  I'm married to his sister, and this is his wife's dad.  No blood relation for any of us.

We had five HOF'ers on our flight home: Yount, Cox, Glavine, Bench and Blyleven.  And Jeff Foxworthy.

[homer]

Any reports or stories back from the weekend?  Did Astros fans really dominate as much as Twitter led on?

No stories, but i guess a few comments:

-Yes, Houston fans absolutely dominated the attendance. The gift shop was sold out of most Biggio merchandise early on Saturday while the other inductees still had plenty to choose from.
-A local told me that the estimate was 55,000 fans in attendance which is the most he could remember for an induction weekend. The other largest he could remember was 40,000 for Cal.
-This was my first time to Cooperstown and the festive atmosphere for the weekend was great. However, the museum was absolutely packed which meant you generally shuffled from one exhibit to the next.
-The town is small, but managed the crowds well. Parking, shuttles, signs and other information were all well done.
-What is not printed on their site, but seems to be common knowledge to those in the town, is that you can go the day before the induction and setup your chairs or blankets on the lawn and no one will bother them. That meant that we were able to arrive a little past noon on Sunday, wade through the crowd and find our chairs where we left them.
-There were several autograph sessions of former players on the streets throughout the day put on by local shops.
-The parade on Saturday let each player (and spouse) off in front of the hall of fame onto a red carpet. Some of the players (including Cal and Rickey Henderson) graciously stopped to sign autographs before they went in for their function.

[HudsonHawk]

It's quite simple:  I'm married to his sister, and this is his wife's dad.  No blood relation for any of us.

Yes, if it's your sister's husband, his FIL is your father.  But if it's your wife's brother, there is no relation...unless your wife is married to her brother. 

We had five HOF'ers on our flight home: Yount, Cox, Glavine, Bench and Blyleven.  And Jeff Foxworthy.

Jeff Foxworthy is a HOFer in my book. 

[Bench]

No stories, but i guess a few comments:

-Yes, Houston fans absolutely dominated the attendance. The gift shop was sold out of most Biggio merchandise early on Saturday while the other inductees still had plenty to choose from.
-A local told me that the estimate was 55,000 fans in attendance which is the most he could remember for an induction weekend. The other largest he could remember was 40,000 for Cal.
-This was my first time to Cooperstown and the festive atmosphere for the weekend was great. However, the museum was absolutely packed which meant you generally shuffled from one exhibit to the next.
-The town is small, but managed the crowds well. Parking, shuttles, signs and other information were all well done.
-What is not printed on their site, but seems to be common knowledge to those in the town, is that you can go the day before the induction and setup your chairs or blankets on the lawn and no one will bother them. That meant that we were able to arrive a little past noon on Sunday, wade through the crowd and find our chairs where we left them.
-There were several autograph sessions of former players on the streets throughout the day put on by local shops.
-The parade on Saturday let each player (and spouse) off in front of the hall of fame onto a red carpet. Some of the players (including Cal and Rickey Henderson) graciously stopped to sign autographs before they went in for their function.

How was the crowd at John Rocker's booth where he was selling "SPEAK ENGLISH" shirts?

[homer]

How was the crowd at John Rocker's booth where he was selling "SPEAK ENGLISH" shirts?

At least one person was talking to him. I'm not sure what language.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

How was the crowd at John Rocker's booth where he was selling "SPEAK ENGLISH" shirts?

He wasn't really, right?

[Craig]

It's quite simple:  I'm married to his sister, and this is his wife's dad.  No blood relation for any of us.

We had five HOF'ers on our flight home: Yount, Cox, Glavine, Bench and Blyleven.  And Jeff Foxworthy.

They should have made Glavine ride outside on the wing.

[MusicMan]

They should have made Glavine ride outside on the wing.

Looked like it was right where his ticket agent set up.

[Bench]

He wasn't really, right?

He certainly has in the past. 

[WakePhil]

Jeff Foxworthy is a HOFer in my book.

Walked past him on main street not long before the parade. The street was packed and he was mobbed with people trying to take a picture with him. He seemed to be graciously accepting every request.

Great weekend. Was sorry I couldn't catch up with anyone else there. We went through a tour that had us stationed in Albany. Was nice to have everything organized, and to have a ticket and seat at the induction on Sunday, but the commute from Albany isn't a great deal of fun and would have appreciated a little more freedom in arrival/departure times to Cooperstown.

Great to see the turnout though. Flights, hotels, streets, ceremony, everywhere you looked there were Astros fans. It also made me appreciate more the change in color scheme. The prominence of orange really helped everyone standout and looked so much better than the Braves and D'Backs jerseys floating around.

Loved that RJ gave a shout out to the Astros in his speech and also loved that it was met with the loudest cheer. The fact that he was so clearly uncomfortable up there made me love his jokes even more.

Was anyone else there tempted to buy the RJ paintings on the way to Doubleday field? Hilarious.

[chuck]

I would seriously buy one of those Speak English shirts.

[Bench]

BBWAA changed the voting rules now requiring voters to be "active members" covering games, which means that someone who hasn't actively covered baseball? MLB? in TEN years can't vote.  That's all well and good, I guess, but I am waiting to see who that actually disqualifies and how recent ballots would have been affected by the existence of the rule.

[NeilT]

BBWAA changed the voting rules now requiring voters to be "active members" covering games, which means that someone who hasn't actively covered baseball? MLB? in TEN years can't vote.  That's all well and good, I guess, but I am waiting to see who that actually disqualifies and how recent ballots would have been affected by the existence of the rule.

When?  That seems like a very good change.

[Bench]

When?  That seems like a very good change.

Yesterday

[juliogotay]

When?  That seems like a very good change.

I'm not sure I'm sold on this. Bagwell, for instance, has been retired ten years. Some guy that covered him or saw him play a lot for most of his career may have retired around the same time or his beat was changed and is now disqualified for the voting. However, some younger guy that has been doing baseball for a handful of years can vote and doesn't know Bagwell from the man in the moon. Most guys on the ballot have been retired for ten years or more except for the obvious shoe-ins. I understand what they are trying to do but are they throwing the baby out with the bath water?

[HudsonHawk]

I'm not sure I'm sold on this. Bagwell, for instance, has been retired ten years. Some guy that covered him or saw him play a lot for most of his career may have retired around the same time or his beat was changed and is now disqualified for the voting. However, some younger guy that has been doing baseball for a handful of years can vote and doesn't know Bagwell from the man in the moon. Most guys on the ballot have been retired for ten years or more except for the obvious shoe-ins. I understand what they are trying to do but are they throwing the baby out with the bath water?

They are trying to get rid of the voter who says "I watched Mickey Mantle play, and Jeff Bagwell couldn't carry Mantle's jock".    I know we like to keep pumping Bagwell for the HOF, but it's time Astros fans start coming around to the fact that he's gotten all the support he's gonna get.  Half of the writers have voted for him, and half never will under any circumstance. 

[moriartp]

They are trying to get rid of the voter who says "I watched Mickey Mantle play, and Jeff Bagwell couldn't carry Mantle's jock".    I know we like to keep pumping Bagwell for the HOF, but it's time Astros fans start coming around to the fact that he's gotten all the support he's gonna get.  Half of the writers have voted for him, and half never will under any circumstance.

I don't think that's true. And I think many of the writers who refused to vote for him will no longer be eligible under the new rules. He has a shot.

[Andyzipp]

I don't think that's true. And I think many of the writers who refused to vote for him will no longer be eligible under the new rules. He has a shot.

I think the next vote is the telling one.  If the percentage is in the mid 60's, I think he eventually gets in.  If not, well...

[moriartp]

I think the next vote is the telling one.  If the percentage is in the mid 60's, I think he eventually gets in.  If not, well...

That's fair to say. I hope I'm not being too optimistic about the effects of clearing out the ex-writers.

[subnuclear]

That's fair to say. I hope I'm not being too optimistic about the effects of clearing out the ex-writers.

Since most of the non-votes deal with PED suspicion, I'm not sure it will matter much. 

[Bench]

I'm not sure I'm sold on this. Bagwell, for instance, has been retired ten years. Some guy that covered him or saw him play a lot for most of his career may have retired around the same time or his beat was changed and is now disqualified for the voting. However, some younger guy that has been doing baseball for a handful of years can vote and doesn't know Bagwell from the man in the moon. Most guys on the ballot have been retired for ten years or more except for the obvious shoe-ins. I understand what they are trying to do but are they throwing the baby out with the bath water?

I think the younger baseball writers mostly support Bagwell's candidacy based upon the numbers alone, whereas the damn the whole '90s/'00s offensive generation/if he wasn't a cheater himself he covered up for cheaters/I don't know how to evaluate anyone from that generation because I don't know who didn't cheat voter is an older crowd. 

[moriartp]

Since most of the non-votes deal with PED suspicion, I'm not sure it will matter much.

Yes, but my hunch is that a lot of the voters less involved with baseball are the ones who vote with that mentality. I hope so, anyway.

[Mr. Happy]

Yes, but my hunch is that a lot of the voters less involved with baseball are the ones who vote with that mentality. I hope so, anyway.

I agree. Some of the problems are former writers who have an ax to grind and are seeking publicity, i.e., their annual 15 minutes of fame.

[WakePhil]

I'm not sure I'm sold on this. Bagwell, for instance, has been retired ten years. Some guy that covered him or saw him play a lot for most of his career may have retired around the same time or his beat was changed and is now disqualified for the voting. However, some younger guy that has been doing baseball for a handful of years can vote and doesn't know Bagwell from the man in the moon. Most guys on the ballot have been retired for ten years or more except for the obvious shoe-ins. I understand what they are trying to do but are they throwing the baby out with the bath water?

I don't know. The hypothetical "new guy" still has to have 10 years in the BBWAA qualify to vote in the first place. I'd guess these "new guys" would be roughly in their middle to later thirties. That would seem to be the ideal age for a Bagwell voter.

Edited for my poor math skills. Guy could have started with BBWAA the year Bagwell retired and be just now getting a vote. Assuming his baseball knowledge started from zero at the start of his career (and doesn't look back) he would have zero knowledge of practically any HOF candidate in his prime. He'd have to do research of any candidate and I suspect would be more tolerant of the pro-Bagwell arguments.

[JimR]

They should have made Glavine ride outside on the wing.

and let him out at least a foot past the edge of the red carpet.

[Mr. Happy]

and let him out at least a foot past the edge of the red carpet.

Well played, sir.