HR's, MVP's and more HR's

Too hard... not to talk about baseball, especially at this time of year.

Three Topics: Career HR's, Homerun Derby, Early MVP predictions.

Career HR's

As of late, when you watch the baseball highlights your hearing how many career homeruns a guy has hit, everytime he jacks one. Especially when A-rod, Frank Thomas and Ken Griffey Jr. hit one.

It's pretty cool to see someone reach 500, and 600 homeruns, but when they are 20 away from 600, who cares? This whole Barry Bonds HR chase has gotten out of control. Yes I think A-Rod will most likely break the record that Bonds set, but not soon.... Are we gonna hear how many homeruns A-rod has in his career everytime he jacks one? I don't care. You can tell me that it's his 30th this season. That's fine. But for his career? Too far. When they reach a milestone like 600 or 500, thats fine, but until they get close - shhhhhh. The only chase thats worth the hype is the Bonds chase. And it's too bad that Griffey didn't have a healthy career, cause out of all the big power hitters that have a chance at Aaron's/Bonds soon to be record, it's Griffey Jr. that I wish could hold the record. He's got a sweeter swing, a competitve attitude, and seems like a good guy.

Homerun Derby

Although I will be cheering for my hometown favourite:

I think Cecil's son is going to win it.

Early Favourites for MVP:

AL: Justin Morneau

Yes, a repeat. I'm not picking him cause he's Canadian, but no one has been more valuable to their team than Morneau. The only exception may be Guerrero on the Angels. Morneau, at the end of the first half is 3rd in RBI's and 2nd in Home Runs, with a modest .295 BA - which is sure to rise in the 2nd half. And you can't say A-rod here, cause what has done for the Yankee's? He may have won a few games for them with timely hitting, but is he THAT valuable to them? If he was, and all the other stars on that team are, why are they where they are in the standings? Hence my pick for back-to-back MVP's - Mr. Justin Morneau

NL: Matt Holliday

Got to be Matt Holliday. Just look at his stats, and thats enough said. And don't give me that Coors Field bullshit - he's got good numbers period.

BA .341 (good for 2nd - 1pt behind 1st place)

RBI 69 (good for 3rd)

Hits 122 (1st)

Doubles 30 (3rd)

HR's 15 (tied for 8th)

numbers... nuff said.

It's a numbers game

So the controversey continues....

Should Barry Bonds be elected into the Hall of Fame?

I'm not going to argue that he's a cheater. I'm not going to argue that he shouldn't be inducted because of steroids. And I am not going to argue he shouldn't be inducted because he's a bit of an asshole.... ok ok... he's severely mis-understood.

My arguement here is going to be by comparison, and one very good question.

If Ty Cobb finished his career this year, would he be inducted into the Hall of Fame? OF COURSE he would right? His numbers are disgusting. In fact, he's one of the originals, one of the reasons the Hall of Fame was built. He was, as they say, a trend setter. He was one of those players that set the standard of who should be considered Hall of Fame worthy.

Has anyone seen the movie Cobb? Or read his autobiography? He was a prick. And everyone knew he was a prick. But could he ever play baseball.

Hence, lies my arguement. I do not think that Ty Cobb would be inducted into the Hall of Fame if he was to retire this year with the same numbers he retired with years ago. Why? Cause he was a jerk. It would be seen as un-ethical. That he achieved those numbers by cheating - not by taking steroids, but abusing the beautiful game of baseball. Starting fights, jamming his spikes into second baseman, etc etc. Look at Pete Rose. I've been to the Hall of Fame, and the only place that Mr. Rose exists in there, is under the Career Hits list.... at number one..... 4256. Exactly 1277 hits more then the closest active player - Craig Biggio. He's not in the hall because of gambling. If he played in Ty Cobb's time, guess who else would be in the Hall of Fame. Guess who else would be in the hall if they were players at Cobb's time?

The Numbers don't lie - if they are jerk's, liars, cheaters or not.

Career Numbers

Games Hits HR RBI AVG SLG OBP

Ty Cobb 3035 4189 117 1937 .366 .512 .433
Pete Rose 3562 4256 160 1314 .303 .409 .375
Babe Ruth 2503 2873 714 2217 .342 .690 .474
Barry Bonds 2913 2880 746 1957 .298 .608 .444

The numbers don't lie. Bonds has played fewer games than Cobb and Rose, and is only a few points below Rose (the Career Hits Leader) in batting Average.

I think, regardless of who they are, what they've done, and if they've cheated or not, if you've produced, and they let you continue to play ball, then you belong in the Hall. If Ruth played today, he might even be questioned. All the times he's probably been caught drunk driving? He'd be in Jail. When he played, the police would bring him home!

All I'm trying to say is, all of these players broke the rules. If Cobb and Ruth are there, then Bonds and Rose belong as well.

Like I said, the numbers don't lie.