Edgar and the Hall

Heading down to Safeco to watch future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson throw out the first pitch in a game where future Hall of Famers Ken Griffey, Jr. and Ichiro Suzuki will be suiting up for the home nine!

Do you want to know what they all have in common?  They all played with Edgar Martinez!!!

Oh, and did I mention that the field where those three Hall of Famers play is on the corner of First and Edgar Martinez Drive?

It’s a Hall of Fame day and I’m in a Hall of Fame mood.  Now enjoy the game!!!

All right!  Now that Opening Day is here, I’m filled with baseball fever which got my ol’ bloggin’ fingers twitchy.

While today is a day to root for Felix, and Ichiro, and Guti, and Junior, and all the 2010 Mariners, I do want to throw out this one Opening Day thought:

How come Edgar Martinez hasn’t had his number retired by the Mariners?

The M’s should do everything they can to foster Edgar’s Hall of Fame case.  Since the organization kept him in Calgary until he was 26, even though he hit .350 for three straight years and all.

Can you think of anything that would help his case as much as retiring #11?  Because I sure can’t.

We all know that #24, #51, and #11 should be retired.  The M’s know it too.  So, what are they waiting for?

With that seed planted, enjoy the game!!!

I dropped my lappy.  It’s now living at the repair shop.  I’m on Blackberry power.

As a result, the blog posts have dried up.  I feel like I’m failing Edgar.  Lucky thing the Hall of Fame vote is over 300 days away.  I can get this back!  I can!

Anyway, I jumped on a friend’s computer to put this up.  Edgar will be appearing at Mariners FanFest this weekend!  Go see him!

He’s appearing on Sunday!

Tell him he’s a Hall of Famer in your book!

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Edgar Martinez coverage, with an important message for Jack Zduriencik:

FELIX!!!!!   YEAH!!!  WOOOOO!!!!!

JACK Z IS A GOLDEN GOD!!!

Thank you, Jack.  Thank you so, so much.

Today I’m going to start a new project.*  A project in a project.  It’s kinda like Stephen Colbert’s “Better Know a District!“  It’s called “Better know the Hall of Fame voters!”

*I’ve decided that posting “every day” about Edgar Martinez and his Hall of Fame chances is crazy.  After a week, I’m now planning on posting every weekday.  We’ll see how I feel next week.  How does every new moon sound?

I find that Hall of Fame voters fall into two camps.  I call them the “Good Guys” and the “Bad Guys”.  Clever, right?  First up, Larry Stone of the Seattle Times!  May as well start locally.  Think Globally, Post Locally!  Here’s what Larry had to say about Edgar in his Hall of Fame column:

There are numerous stats to choose from, but for the purpose of space, I’ll point out his .312 career average, .418 on-base percentage and .515 slugging percentage. Only 20 players in history have the .300/.400/.500 combination, and of the 12 eligible for the Hall of Fame, only Lefty O’Doul isn’t there (which is an outrage worthy of another column).

Martinez’s .418 career on-base percentage is surpassed only by Barry Bonds, Mickey Mantle and Thomas by retired players since 1945 with at least 7,500 at-bats. His career OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .933 ranks 32nd all-time.

Yeah, Larry’s definitely one of the good guys.

On his blog, Larry also compiled a mini-list of Hall of Fame voters and whether they voted for Edgar.  As the purpose of this blog takes shape, I am going to take a cue from Larry.  I’d like this blog to be a clearinghouse of Edgar-facts.  One stop shopping for people who are interested in Edgar’s Hall campaign.

So, thank you Larry.  It’s nice to know that the baseball columnist for the Seattle Times is in Edgar’s camp!

Tomorrow, we’ll take a look a the vote of the Seattle Times beat writer!  Should be fun!

I was at Game 5.

Yep, I was there.  In the third deck down the right field line.  It was bedlam.  It was amazing.  It was seminal.  But, honestly, I barely remember it.  It was all a blur.  No.  My most vivid memory of Game 5 came nearly five years later, on the morning of March 26, 2000, on a stranger’s floor in Washington D.C.

Here’s the story.

I moved to D.C., from Seattle, in October, 1999, after graduating from law school.  I was a brand-new baby-lawyer at the Department of Justice and I didn’t know a soul.  Well, I did have a friend from the fraternity house at the University of Michigan who lived there.  But this was it.  I was on my own for the first time.  It was exciting and challenging, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss home.

Six months after starting work, I’d become friends with some of the new lawyers who’d started at Justice around the same time.  I was out drinking with a group of Justice newbies on the night of Saturday, March 25, and we all ended up at some random stranger’s apartment early Sunday morning.  As people snatched up spare beds and couches, I was left with the living room floor.  There was no chance I could sleep.

So, instead, I turned on the TV.  And, to my everlasting delight, ESPN Classic* was airing the “Best games ever played at the Kingdome”, in anticipation of the Kingdome demolition later that morning.

Apparently, they’d been playing games all night long, but I tuned in right as the 1989 NCAA Basketball Championship between Michigan and Seton Hall was tipping off.  According to ESPN, it was the second best game ever played at the Kingdome.  Hell yes!  Go Blue!**

*According to Wikipedia, the Kingdome implosion was the first live event ever covered on ESPN Classic.  Fun facts!

**I was a senior in high school when this game was played.  My dad is a Michigan alumni and I had just received my acceptance letter to Ann Arbor.  Dad and I had traveled to a few Rose Bowls together as I was growing up, but this was something special.  Michigan wins a National Championship in overtime at the Kingdome on two foul shots by Rumeal Robinson.  Unreal.  A great memory.  But ESPN had it right.  It was only the SECOND greatest game ever played at the Kingdome.

I was hungover.  I was sleep deprived.  But as the adrenalin from the swish of Rumeal Robinson’s second free throw eased my throbbing head, I remember saying to myself, “The best game ever at the Kingdome has to be Game 5.  Doesn’t it?”

As Michigan celebrated and Brent Musberger signed off from the Kingdome, Brent Musberger introduced the audience to Game 5 of the 1995 American League Division Series at the Kingdome.  In my mind, Santa Claus sounds exactly like Brent Musberger.  Have you ever seen those two in a room together?  Hmmmmm. . . .

Anyway, you know how it plays out.***

***If you don’t, listen to this dude.  I titled this blog post “The Resonance of Game 5″ for a reason.  It ain’t just me, people.

Lying on that floor, I watched the game again for the first time.  Extra Innings.  Randy Johnson out of the bullpen.  “Black” Jack McDowell.  Stupid Randy Velarde.  Yankees take the lead.  Joey Cora bunts and slides around Mattingly.  Junior’s line drive single.  Runners at the corners . . . .

Up comes Edgar . . .

Then this.

Then this.

Wow.  Things were changing in Seattle.  Edgar’s double led directly to the demolition of the Kingdome.  Safeco Field was open.  The next year, that beautiful new stadium would play host the 2001 All-Star Game, a rookie named Ichiro, and a winning streak the likes of which no one had ever seen.

And one drunk M’s fan, lying on a stranger’s floor three-thousand miles away, felt like he was home.

I had a post go straight off the rails last night.  It had to do with PEDs and aging patterns and charts and, long story short, it’s a total mess.  It’s wheezing in my draft folder.  It’s on life support.

So I decided to turn today’s post over to David Schoenfeld and let him lay out the case for Edgar.  By link, I mean.  He’s not like actually blogging here.  Why would he do that?  He writes for ESPN.com.  I assume they pay him.

Anyway, here’s the topics Schoenfield addresses, in his own words:

There are, I suppose, four primary arguments against Edgar’s Hall of Fame case:

1. He was only a designated hitter.
2. His career was too short.
3. His statistics aren’t good enough.
4. He wasn’t famous enough.

Let’s take these, one by one, examine them, expose their flaws, deconstruct their weaknesses and in the process extol the greatness of Edgar Martinez.

After acknowledging the arguments against Edgar, Schoenfield proceeds to lay waste to them.  If you’re an Edgar fan, it’s a fun, fun read.  If you’re a Hall of Fame voter (like any of them read this blog.  Ha!), it’s a must read.  Just read it.  Because he nails it.

Hi!  Have you heard about Mark McGwire?  Apparently, he’s in the news.

My blog, my thoughts!  Here goes!

I’m disgusted by the thought of athletes using performance enhancing drugs.  It sickens me.  Not so much morally, or legally, or ethically.  No, I’m more disgusted visually.  Because, as far as I’m concerned, all Mark McGwire’s confession did was subject us all to another media cycle where reporters argue about whether Jose Canseco actually stuck a needle into Mark McGwire’s ass.

See what I mean?  It’s horrifying.  Pin the tail on the donkey!

Anyway, I figured I’d use McGwire’s confession kerfuffle as an opportunity to market the ol’ blog!  I created a twitter account and sent Edgar-related posts to some of my favorite sportswriters who were twittering about McGwire.  You know, in an effort to get them to send some traffic this way.

I mean, what happens if Jack W. gets hit by a bus or something?  Who’ll read me then?*

My twitter strategy went down like so.

@jposnanski tweeted this:

Watching early McGwire reaction reminds me: People SAY they’re forgiving but apologies never seem to go far enough for them.

I replied like this:

@JPosnanski McGwire got you down? How ’bout an Edgar-hug? I fawn all over you, Joe! Big fan: http://bit.ly/8pPJmO

I know.  Gross.  I’m a kiss-ass.  I don’t care.  This blog ain’t gonna read itself!  Next up . . .

@robneyer tweeted this:

It’s a shame that G-d, in addition to that natural power and incredible hand-eye coordination, didn’t also give McGwire a healthier body.

I replied like this:

@robneyer The cure for McGwire-fever? More Edgar! With Neyer-attribution!: http://edgarandthehall.com/2010/01/the-quantifiability-of-fear/

You get the picture.  Me puckering up.  Anyway, later that day, the most exhilarating, yet slightly dispiriting, thing happened!  Someone replied to one of my tweets!  YES!!!  A baby twitter-bird learns to chirp.

*Whle we’re speaking of twitter, I have my first twitter-follower!  You should check out @marinersmaniac if for no other reason than the twitter wallpaper.  And the bio that says: “I-CHI-RO !!!! and E-dgaaaarrrrrr!!”  I wholeheartedly agree!! Hey, Jack W.!  Feel free to jaywalk again!

So, the merciful souls who responded to my pathetic plea for attention are the fantastic authors of the best fan-created blog on the whole entire Internet, the USS Mariner.  I’m not joking about that.  Those guys are smart and they’re necessary reading for any Mariner fan.  They’re like the total opposite of this blog.

Here’s how it went down:

@ussmariner tweeted this:

McGwire’s punishment for hitting so well through steroid use is to teach players how to hit well. This will go great.

I replied like this:

@ussmariner Totally agree on McGwire. Know who would be a GREAT hitting coach? Edgar! http://edgarandthehall.com/ Or Lee Elia. Him too.

So, here’s what was going through my head when I sent that tweet:  1) I hope the USS Mariner guys get that I’m referencing the HILARIOUS Mariner commercial where Lee Elia watches Edgar take batting practice,* 2) I hope I get a response, and most of all, 3) I hope they check out the blog!

*Do yourself a favor.  Stop reading this drivel and go check out Edgar’s batting practice commercial.  It’s funny ’cause it’s true.  Edgar was such a natural.  He’s like Tommy.  He hit by sense of smell.  Edgar didn’t need a stupid hitting coach.  Hitting coaches are for guys like Willie Bloomquist.  Or Rob Johnson.

Here’s what wasn’t going through my head:  “I hope the USS Mariner guys don’t take me seriously about wanting Edgar to be a hitting coach.”  Of course, here’s the response I got from @ussmariner:

@EdgarandtheHall part of the problem with truly great hitters as coaches though is that they can’t teach inhuman reflexes and coordination.

Mmmmm.  That sounds sincere.  Sincerity isn’t as fun as sarcasm.  Or the ironic acknowledgment of my whimsy.  I do like the “inhuman reflexes and coordination” part.  Nice turn of phrase.  (Shrug).

Oh screw it!  I’m just psyched they replied!  It’s not their fault I wasn’t able to convey my unabashed appreciation of their work, my earnest desire for them to check out the blog, and the proof of both my cleverness and Mariner-fan bona fides in the form of a “wink-wink” reference to Lee Elia in Edgar’s 13-year-old batting cage commercial.

Of course, I’m not to blame either.  It’s twitter’s fault.  140 characters.  Who came up with that bright idea?

Well, this is a rambler.  How did this post begin again?  Oh yeah.  Mark McGwire.  Steroids.  (Sigh).

Personally, I can’t work up much outrage over the use of performance enhancing drugs. I guess I agree with Bill James.  Or not.  Whatever. I wish players didn’t use steroids. But I’m not going to wring my hands over it.  I like baseball, because it’s fun!  I don’t like chemistry, because it isn’t.

However, since this is a blog about Edgar’s Hall of Fame chances, here’s my take on that:

Edgar has never been linked to any PED use.  Thankfully, this means that Edgar’s Hall of Fame candidacy will not be derailed by morality concerns like what is happening with Mark McGwire.  McGwire’s Hall of Fame candidacy is now all about contrition and honesty and morality.  Yawn.  Not interested.  Thank God that Edgar’s case is just about the numbers.  Numbers are fun!

No, the steroid issue could affect Edgar’s candidacy in a different way.  Edgar runs the risk that his greatness will somehow get swallowed by the inflated power numbers posted during the Steroid Era.  But, here’s the thing.  I don’t think that’ll happen.  I really don’t.  Even in the context of the Steroid Era power surge, Edgar’s numbers are good enough to put him in the Hall of Fame.  Edgar Martinez doesn’t need discounts.  He’s nobody’s charity case.  He’s earned his Hall call.  Honestly.

Chicagoland reader and friend of the blog, Mr. Jack W. (no relation, I SWEAR), responds to yesterday’s post (did you find the hidden message yesterday?  Here’s a hint):

Nice work Weav.  Couple of questions - I would research these myself but you have the bug up your ass:

1. You have two paragraphs that list a stat for Edgar (i) (300/400/500…) one of twenty players and (ii) another stat where Edgar is one of eight players.  What percentage of the “other players” are in the Hall or headed there?  Could bolster those paragraphs nicely if the facts are on your side.

2. Would Edgar be the first majority-of-career-with-Seattle-team athlete in any sport to make it to a Hall of Fame?

First off, I have a reader!  Boy, is my guidance counselor’s face red.  Look at me, Mr. Bone!  Top of the World!

All right, down to business.  Let me address Jack’s second question first, because I think I know it right off the top of my head.  I believe the answer is that there’s only one Hall of Famer in any sport who played the majority of his career for a Seattle sports franchise:  Mr. Steve Largent of the Seattle Seahawks.  Mr. Gary Payton of the dearly departed Seattle SuperSonics (don’t get me started) is going to eventually make the Basketball Hall of Fame, I’m sure.  But he’s not in yet.  So, for now, it’s just Largent.

If you’ll permit me a brief aside . . . I freaking love Steve Largent.  He was, without a doubt, my favorite athlete until Ken Griffey, Jr. came to town.  (Don’t let the fact that I first loved Junior in any way diminish your perception of the depths of my love for Edgar.  When it comes to Seattle sports legends, I’m this.  That’s right.  I’m a Big Hunk of Love).

Anyway, when Mr. Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy himself, asked for readers’ contributions for his Vengeance Scale, I wrote in about #80.  Ol’ Billy, King of the Internet, was kind enough to print my submission.  It reads a little something like this:

6.5 – Steve Largent’s revenge on Mike Harden.

(Reader C. Weaver explains: “In 1988, Harden knocked out two of Largent’s teeth with an illegal hit and put him on the IR for a bunch of games. The next time Seattle played Denver, Harden picked off a pass intended for Brian Blades and looked like he was going to score, but Largent scorched his way across the field and just destroyed Harden with a devastating and perfect-form tackle. Largent hit him so hard that the ball came loose and Largent recovered it. The hit was so nasty that it was a part of NFL telecast montages for years afterwards. Later, Largent called it the favorite play of his career. And this guy is in the Hall of Fame. Whenever sports vengeance is mentioned, that hit stands out for me. Totally legal and totally bloodless.”)

That was my first time on the Internet.  Now look at me!  Hey, Mr. Bone, who’s “clinically simple,” now?!

With that background, I’m pretty confident in my answer to Jack’s Seattle sports Hall of Fame question.  I’m not even going to look it up.  That’s your answer:  Steve Largent.

Until Edgar joins him, of course.

Now to answer Jack’s first question last.  According to Dan Shaughnessy, Edgar is one of twenty baseball players with “slash stats” of over .300/.400/.500 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage).  So, who are those other 19 guys?  To Google!

Ooooh, wouldn’t you know it?  The answer is provided by the best sportswriter on earth, Mr. Joe Posnanski.  If you’re reading this, you really should stop and go read Joe Posnanski instead.  He is, in all seriousness, the absolute best.  (Full disclosure:  I thought Joe Po was the best sportswriter in America even before he submitted his Hall of Fame ballot.  Now I think he’s the best sportswriter in the WHOLE WORLD!).

Anyway, here’s what Joe had to say about the members of the .300/.400/.500 club:

Only 14 men in baseball history have played 2,000 games and pulled it off.

These include many of the usual suspects — Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Stan Musial, Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, Tris Speaker, Mel Ott. Harry Heilmann is on the list. From more recent times, you have Frank Thomas and Manny Ramirez and, you may be surprised to know, Edgar Martinez, who is one of the more underrated hitters in baseball history.

And then there’s one more [Chipper Jones].

Well, Jackie, those are your fourteen names.  Looks like Joe P. used a 2000 game cut-off that means that Edgar is in even more exclusive company than the curly-haired boyfriend was willing to acknowledge.*  Shaughnessy!!!  Anyway, let’s look at those names:

Babe Ruth:  Mmmm . . . let me check.  OK.  Yes.  He’s in the Hall of Fame.

Ted Williams:  Heard of him.  The Kid is in.

Jimmie Foxx:  Check.

Lou Gehrig:  He’s the luckiest man on the face of the earth.  And he’s in.

Stan Musial:  He’s The Man.

Ty Cobb:  Ty is in the Hall.  But he’s out in Iowa.

Rogers Hornsby:  Roger for Rogers.

Tris Speaker:  In.

Mel Ott:  In.

Harry Heilman:  Aaaaaand he’s in.  (Full disclosure:  I’ve never heard of Harry Heilman before this very moment.  There are better sportswriters out there.  Seriously.  But they all happen to agree with me on Edgar.  That’s how you know they’re great.).

Anyway, those ten are in.  Which means that there are four members of the .300/.400/.500 club that aren’t.  Let me look into my crystal ball and see what the future holds for these gentlemen:

Frank Thomas:  Not yet eligible.  Will be in on the first ballot.  Lock city.

Manny Ramirez:  Not yet eligible.  Will be in on the first ballot.  Lock city.

Chipper Jones:  Not yet eligible.  Will be in on the first ballot.  Lock city.

They’re ALL Hall of Famers.  Every one.  What else can I say?  That’s pretty overwhelming stuff.

Oh, and the Elite Eight, who have hit .300/.400/.500 with 300 HRs and 500 doubles?

Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, Manny Ramirez, Todd Helton, and Edgar.

By my count, that’s 5 INNER-CIRCLE Hall of Famers and another one on the way in Manny.  I guess the most surprising thing that this ridiculously long blog post has taught me is this:  Todd Helton has had an AWESOME career.

* In honor of Joe Posnanski, my first pozterisk!  Sweet.  Anyway, I found 8 other .300/.400/.500 hitters who didn’t meet Joe’s 2000 games played threshold.  That makes 22 total.  God knows where Shaughnessy came up with 20.  Lazy bastard.  Anyway, here are a VERY interesting list of names: Larry Walker (1988 games), Ed Delahanty (1835 games), Todd Helton (1812 games), Dan Brouthers (1673 games), Albert Pujols (1399 games), Hank Greenberg (1394 games), “Shoeless” Joe Jackson (1332 games), and Lefty O’Doul (970 games).  That makes three more Hall of Famers (Brouthers, Greenberg, and Delahanty), one ridiculous freak of nature, sure-fire Hall of Famer, who may end up the best player in baseball history (Pujols), two very interesting, yet Coors Field-aided, Hall of Fame candidates who are not yet on the ballot (Helton, Walker), one legendary pariah who would be in the Hall of Fame except for the fact that he’s forever banned from baseball for throwing a World Series (Shoeless Joe), and a guy who only played in 970 games and who I’ve never heard of (Lefty O’Doul).

Wow.  I think the .300/.400/.500 club may actually be cooler than the Hall of Fame.

Thanks for the questions, Jack.  That was fun.

Edit:

Edited because loyal (only?) reader Jack W. found the Largent hit on YouTube.  It’s even sweeter than I remember!

Check it out right here!

Kindly lend me a few minutes of your time, as I attempt to pay homage to certain giants on whose broad shoulders I now feebly attempt to stand.

Enter one Mr. Dan Shaughnessy . . . .

Naysaying sports columnist of the Boston Globe who recently penned an anti-Edgar piece for SI.com.

Class act, great numbers, but Edgar Martinez is no Hall of Famer.

That’s right.  I agree.  Huh?  The curly-haired boyfriend now has the floor.  Allow him to explain.

Baseball’s 2010 Hall of Fame class will be announced on Wednesday, and I’m betting that Edgar Martinez comes up short in his first year of eligibility for Cooperstown.

Right you are.  Shouldn’t be betting, though.  Betters can’t be choosers.

Edgar presents voters with a unique choice because he is the first candidate who compiled virtually all of his resume as a designated hitter.

Edgar did indeed spend the majority of his time at DH.  However, in the 2003 games in which he played, 563 were spent at third base and 28 at first base.  Quibbles.

In 18 seasons, all with the Seattle Mariners, Edgar batted .312 with an on-base percentage of .418 and a slugging percentage of .515.  This makes him one of 20 players in hardball history with lifetime numbers over .300, .400 and .500, respectively.

May I remind you, this is an article about why Edgar SHOULDN’T be in the Hall of Fame.  If I tried this technique on my junior-high debate team, my coach, Mr. Ogilvie Homeperm, would have hit me with an eraser and yelled “Fail!” as I brushed the chalk dust out of my puffy red eyes.

He has a higher on-base percentage than Stan Musial, Wade Boggs and Mel Ott.  He is one of only eight players with 300 homers, 500 doubles and the aforementioned .300/.400/.500 line.  He won a couple of batting titles and was an All-Star seven times.

Eraser in the air!  Duck!  Edgar has a higher OBP than Stan the Man, Wade Boggs and Mel Ott?  “Uhh, Mr. Homeperm, the ‘Pro Edgar’ debate team hereby cedes its time to the man with the Boston accent and the pretty ringlets.  We have nothing more to add.”

He stayed with the same team for his entire career, so there would be no controversy regarding which logo to put on his Hall cap.

Now here we go. That cutesy line marks the transition from begrudging acknowledgment of Edgar’s credentials into the hard-hitting analysis on the topic of why he doesn’t belong.  Shaughnessy’s a pro.  There’s a reason he’s been at the Boston Globe since the Cretaceous Period.

The Mariners have campaigned madly for Edgar and it pains me to withhold my vote, but I just can’t bring myself to put him in Cooperstown alongside Ted Williams, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

Don’t tell me “it pains you.”  It pains you?  Then vote for him!  Doesn’t that feel better?  I’m so glad.  As for your refusal to put Edgar alongside Ted Williams, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, I’ll turn it over to ESPN senior blogger-type of note, Rob Neyer:  “It’s funny . . . When you don’t like a candidate, you say he doesn’t measure up to Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and Rogers Hornsby.  When you do like a candidate, you say he was better than Tony Perez and Luis Aparicio and Orlando Cepeda.  It’s an odd way of thinking.  But I guess you can’t beat the hours.”  As we used to say in study hall, after Mr. Homeperm’s class . . . ooooh, BURN!

I just don’t think he’s a Hall of Famer, and that doesn’t make him less than great.

Oh!  You don’t THINK he’s a Hall of Famer!  Color me convinced!  Silly of us Edgar fans to ask you for those, oh what are those pesky things called now . . . pleasons?  Kneasons?  No that’s not it.  Oh wait, reasons!  Yeah, reasons.  From the root word “reason” meaning “explanation or justification based on logic”.  Something this post sorely lacks.  Lacks.  Hmmm . . . that word rhymes with something.  What is it now? FACTS!  Haven’t seen any of those either.  Well, at least not in the “con” part of the article.  Plenty of facts in the “pro-Edgar” paragraph.

It doesn’t take away his numbers.  I like Dwight Evans, Dale Murphy, Alan Trammell and Andre Dawson, but I don’t think they’re Hall of Famers, either.

Usually people who “think” things, base those thoughts on something.  It’d be cool if you’d let us know what those somethings are.  You know, since you’re writing an article about it and all.  Oh, and I’m sure Edgar is thrilled to hear that your thinking won’t take away his numbers.  What a relief!

Each Hall voter applies his own standards, and mine often references the famous line that Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart applied to pornography.  Stewart argued that he might not be able to define what was pornographic, “but I know it when I see it.”

So perhaps I’m out of my element here, but I’m going to address this comment to Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart:  “Dear Justice Stewart:  Your ‘but I know it when I see it’ opinion represents the laziest, embarrassingly conclusory, horseshit legal analysis in the annals of American jurisprudence.  Because of your lofty and respectable job title, your laziness is now adopted by sportswriters who can’t be bothered to do any research before submitting their Hall of Fame votes.  Shame on you, Mr. Potter.  There’s a reason they named that old grinch in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ after you.”

It was different with players like Eddie Murray and Jim Rice.  They were feared.

Candidly, this was the line that prompted me to write this response.  Eddie Murray and Jim Rice were feared? How so?  Were they Al Qaeda operatives?  The argument that someone was “feared” as a hitter is the hoariest sportswriting cliché in the ol’ cliché bag.  It’s not quantifiable.  It can’t be tested.  It’s the rankest example of a “non-fact”.  In other words, it’s bullshit.  Wanna know what kills me the most?  It’s that I wholeheartedly disagree with Shaughnessy’s assertion of this non-fact.  From my vantage point, Edgar was WAY more “feared” than Jim Rice.  But do you know what?  You shouldn’t care about my opinion.  Just like you shouldn’t care about Shaughnessy’s.  You should demand proof.  Like Edgar was intentionally walked 113 times in his career and Jim Rice was intentionally walked only 77 times (hat tip: Rob Neyer).  Facts are fun, right?  So are opinions supported by evidence of some kind!

Murray got into Cooperstown in his first year of eligibility (thanks to 500 homers, no doubt), while it took Rice 15 years to finally get the required 75 percent of votes.  Both were feared sluggers who spent a lot of time in the field before becoming DHs as elder statesmen.

One more fact:  Edgar Martinez’s career OPS+ is 147.  Eddie Murray’s is 129.  What’s OPS+ you ask?  I could tell you that it’s an advanced metric that adjusts a player’s hitting ability for the park and league in which he hits, allowing for an easy shorthand comparison to hitters from other eras.  I could also tell you that a 100 OPS+ is set to be a league average hitter.  Or that Edgar’s career 147 OPS+ is exactly the same as Alex Rodriguez, Mike Schmidt, and Willie Stargell.  But I’d hate to be labeled a “stat-geek, get-a-lifer, who is sucking the joy out of the national pastime.”  Words hurt, you know.

A lifetime .312 average is impressive and Edgar’s OPS puts him in an elite class.

Mr. Homeperm?  Care to comment?  Swwwwwissssssh-thwack!  (the sound of an eraser hitting a lazy sportswriter right in his curly head).

But he wasn’t a home run hitter (309),

Except for the 309 that he did hit, of course.

he couldn’t carry a team,

Bullshit alert!  Google “Edgar Martinez 1995 ALDS” sometime.  It’s the pièce de résistance of team-carrying.

he didn’t scare you

Again with the non-facts!!!

and (sorry) he rarely played defense.

Clearly, the fact that Edgar was a DH is going to prove a challenge to his Hall of Fame candidacy. I intend to talk about that at length in this blog, but, for now, I’ll just say that Jim Rice wasn’t exactly a “feared” defender out there.  Maybe he should have DH’d a little more himself.

The stat geeks, those get-a-lifers who are sucking all the joy out of our national pastime, no doubt will be able to demonstrate that Edgar was better than Lou Gehrig and Rogers Hornsby. I’m not buying.  Stats don’t tell the whole story.  A man can drown in three feet of water.

Kick to the groin!   I knew citing OPS+ would come back to haunt me.  Well played, Danny Boy!   Except for that “A man can drown in three feet of water” line.  I mean, that’s just gibberish.  What does that have to do with Edgar or the Hall of Fame?  Makes no sense at all.  Although . . . . drowning is something to be feared.  Like Jim Rice!   Got it now.  My bad.