The Crawfish Boxes - 2013 Hall of Fame Induction and the Houston AstrosAstros baseball: we've got uniforms and everything.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/11437/crawfishboxes-fv.gif2013-01-09T13:12:26-06:00http://www.crawfishboxes.com/rss/stream/36157052013-01-09T13:12:26-06:002013-01-09T13:12:26-06:00No Players Elected To HOF In 2013
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8uLRomoJjtsg-HPCKujFo8-6r0s=/0x0:1000x667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6310537/20120505_ter_ad1_381.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>For just the eighth time since voting began, the Baseball Writers Association did not elect a single person to the Hall of Fame in the 2013 class. That means both <span>Craig Biggio</span> and <span>Jeff Bagwell</span> will have to wait another year.</p>
<p>Biggio led all vote-getters with 68.2 percent of the vote, failing to make the hallowed ground by a mere 39 votes. That means all those silly people who believe in this "first-ballot" guy meant Biggio has to wait another year.</p>
<p>Jack Morris finished second with 67.7 percent, not going up or down from last year, while Bagwell once again made gains up to 59.6 percent this year. <span>Mike Piazza</span> trailed Bagwell at 57.8 percent and looks like he should get in eventually. <span>Tim Raines</span> rounded out the top five with 52.2 percent of the vote.</p>
<p>The biggest travesties are <span>Barry Bonds</span> and <span>Roger Clemens</span> falling short of 40 percent of the vote. Two of the greatest players in the history of the game shut out? That's a travishamockery if I've ever seen one.</p>
<p>It appears that Sammy Sosa will never get in, which I'm also not okay with. The man hit 600 home runs. Curt Schilling got more votes than Sosa, and I think he's got a much weaker HOF case. Was Fred McGriff a better hitter than Sosa just because he hit 30 home runs each year? Was he ever as breathtaking as Sosa?</p>
<p>I think that Sosa is now in with McGwire and even Roger Maris as men who will be famous in baseball history but not be Hall of Famers. Except I'm not sure that Sosa fits with those other two. Maybe I'm being too soft on the steroids guys, and you can certainly disagree with me.</p>
<p>Next year, though, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine go on the ballot. Everyone today said there are no questions about either of them, but how long did they play? Shouldn't we suspect them if they're going to shut out everyone else? </p>
<p>The answer is no. Maddux is as much a Hall of Famer as Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mike Piazza, Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio. Glavine is there too. The writers will not elect 10 men next summer, which means guys will have to unfairly wait year after year for a call that they should have gotten this time around.</p>
<p>It's a shame. It's a shame we knew was coming though, so there's no surprise to it. Maybe when I get a vote in 10 years, I can help rectify that. If Bonds and Clemens are still on the ballot then, I'm going to be even more incensed than I am now.</p>
<p>Here's the complete list of vote-getters from BBWAA.</p>
<p> </p>
<table id="wp-table-reloaded-id-40-no-1" class="wp-table-reloaded wp-table-reloaded-id-40" style="empty-cells: show; margin: 10px 0px 15px; border-spacing: 1px; background-color: #cdcdcd; font-size: 8pt; width: 337px; text-align: left; clear: both; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia;">
<thead><tr class="row-1 odd">
<th class="column-1 sorting_disabled" style="background-color: #999999; border: 1px solid #ffffff; padding: 4px; color: #3d3d3d !important; width: 123px;">Name</th> <th class="column-2 sorting_disabled" style="background-color: #999999; border: 1px solid #ffffff; padding: 4px; color: #3d3d3d !important; width: 84px;">Votes (Pct.)</th> <th class="column-3 sorting_disabled" style="background-color: #999999; border: 1px solid #ffffff; padding: 4px; color: #3d3d3d !important; width: 96px;">Yrs on ballot</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="row-2 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">Craig Biggio</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">388 (68.2%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-3 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">Jack Morris</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">385 (67.7%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">14</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-4 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">Jeff Bagwell</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">339 (59.6%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">3</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-5 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">Mike Piazza</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">329 (57.8%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-6 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">Tim Raines</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">297 (52.2%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">6</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-7 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">Lee Smith</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">272 (47.8%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">11</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-8 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;"><span>Curt Schilling</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">221 (38.8%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-9 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">Roger Clemens</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">214 (37.6%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-10 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">Barry Bonds</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">206 (36.2%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-11 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;"><span>Edgar Martinez</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">204 (35.9%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">4</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-12 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">Alan Trammell</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">191 (33.6%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">12</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-13 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">Larry Walker</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">123 (21.6%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">3</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-14 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">Fred McGriff</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">118 (20.7%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">4</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-15 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">Dale Murphy</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">106 (18.6%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">15</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-16 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">Mark McGwire</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">96 (16.9%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">7</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-17 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">Don Mattingly</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">75 (13.2%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">13</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-18 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;"><span>Sammy Sosa</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">71 (12.5%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-19 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;"><span>Rafael Palmeiro</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">50 (8.8%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">3</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-20 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;"><span>Bernie Williams</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">19 (3.3%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-21 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;"><span>Kenny Lofton</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">18 (3.2%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-22 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">Sandy Alomar Jr.</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">16 (2.8%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-23 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;"><span>Julio Franco</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">6 (1.1%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-24 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;"><span>David Wells</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">5 (0.9%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-25 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;"><span>Steve Finley</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">4 (0.7%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-26 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;"><span>Shawn Green</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">2 (0.4%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-27 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;"><span>Aaron Sele</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">1 (0.2%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-28 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;"><span>Jeff Cirillo</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">0 (0%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-29 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;"><span>Royce Clayton</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">0 (0%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-30 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;"><span>Jeff Conine</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">0 (0%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-31 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">Roberto Hernandez</td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">0 (0%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-32 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;"><span>Ryan Klesko</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">0 (0%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-33 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;"><span>Jose Mesa</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">0 (0%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-34 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;"><span>Reggie Sanders</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">0 (0%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-35 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;"><span>Mike Stanton</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">0 (0%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-36 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;"><span>Todd Walker</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">0 (0%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-37 odd">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;"><span>Rondell White</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">0 (0%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #dddddd; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-38 even">
<td class="column-1" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;"><span>Woody Williams</span></td>
<td class="column-2" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">0 (0%)</td>
<td class="column-3" style="color: #3d3d3d; padding: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;">1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/1/9/3855936/hof-class-of-2013-modern-players-shut-out-including-jeff-bagwellDavid Coleman2013-01-09T10:00:08-06:002013-01-09T10:00:08-06:00Roger Clemens was always a Houston Astro
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/h07jkAGlO3BDhJYRSpcHDBzBS9U=/0x0:599x399/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6171569/gyi0061344464.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Scott A. Miller</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>While his glory years may have been spent in Boston and New York, Roger Clemens has always been a Houston Astro.</p> <p>As much as it pains me to admit it, I am a <span>Roger Clemens</span> fan.</p>
<p>It feels good to get that out, and I encourage the hidden Clemens fans among you to step forward and to admit it.</p>
<p>Maybe it's because I've been watching old episodes of <i>Lost </i>on Netflix lately, but I feel like it was my destiny all along to be a fan of the man known as Rocket.</p>
<p>See, Roger Clemens and I share a lot of history. He was born in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio. In 1977 - the year of my birth - he moved to Texas. I guess there just wasn't room for the both of us in the Buckeye State.</p>
<p>In 1984, I began my first season of Little League. Okay, it wasn't actually Little League - we didn't have Little League in my little suburb. It was the Huber Heights Youth Baseball League. The year I made my baseball debut, a young 21-year-old pitcher named Roger Clemens made his debut for the Boston Red Sox.</p>
<p>In 1999, I moved to New York City, and so did Roger Clemens, who began plying his trade for the New York Yankees the same year.</p>
<p>Then, in 2004, at the age of 41, Clemens came out of an abbreviated retirement to pitch for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a>, my favorite team. That season, he was named the starter for the NL in the All-Star Game and won the second Cy Young Award in the history of the Houston Astros franchise.</p>
<p>The following season, as I made the move to the west coast, Clemens helped lead Houston to their first-ever World Series, in part by entering the deciding game in the NLDS in the 15th inning as a pinch hitter, then throwing out of the bullpen for the second time in his entire career - and the first since his rookie campaign in 1984.</p>
<p>If that wasn't enough to tie Clemens to the Astros, his son Koby was drafted by the team in 2005 and played in the Astros organization through the 2011 season. In 2011, when Clemens pitched for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters and contemplated coming out of retirement once again, it was his hometown Houston Astros who were mentioned most as his potential destination.</p>
<p>To be sure, Clemens isn't the longest-tenured former Astro on the Hall of Fame ballot for 2012. He threw fewer than 8,500 pitches for Houston. But his 2004 and 2005 campaigns rank among the greatest seasons in history for pitchers in their forties. Though the richest of his glory years were spent in revered baseball cities like Boston and New York, Clemens' mark on the Houston Astros during the twilight of his career cannot be diminished.</p>
<p>So while most fans will envision Clemens in pinstripes, or gracing the pitchers mound in Fenway Park, I will always think of him as a Houston Astro. Because destiny, it seems, had it in mind all along.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/1/9/3815004/2013-mlb-hall-of-fame-roger-clemens-houston-astroAnthony Boyer2013-01-09T08:00:09-06:002013-01-09T08:00:09-06:00Putting Biggio and Bagwell In Context
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<figcaption>Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>Correcting some of the arguments made against Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell's Hall of Fame candidacy.</p> <p>Happy Hall of Fame day to all those still paying attention to baseball a month and half out from pitchers and catchers reporting for duty.</p>
<p>We've gotten some really great articles posted the last few days discussing the Hall of Fame and our beloved Astros. Coincidentally enough we have two horses in the race for the Hall of Fame Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell, both had fantastic careers and are locks to get in in the future. A majority of writers agree with me as the<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aqc4QTMoPrdtdDQxaDYzd1lLOGpOdUdrcnNNNWNXa2c&authkey=CPyuwqIJ&authkey=CPyuwqIJ#gid=6" target="_blank"> latest ballot polls</a> show Biggio and Bagwell as the leading vote getters. Unfortunately for Biggio and Bagwell, a majority of writers writing your name on the ballot doesn't get you elected, 75% does. And while Biggio and Bagwell are the leading vote getters it appears they'll just make it or fall just short of induction into Cooperstown.</p>
<p>There are two arguments I've heard against <span>Craig Biggio</span> and <span>Jeff Bagwell</span> making the Hall of Fame that really annoy me.</p>
<p>The first, is that Biggio and Bagwell were overall pretty terrible in the playoffs:</p>
<p>Craig Biggio, .234/.295/.323 in 40 playoff games.</p>
<p>Jeff Bagwell, .226/.364/.321 in 33 playoff games.</p>
<p>Now, 185 plate appearances (PA) for Biggio and 129 plate appearances (PA) for Bagwell are a great example of the term small sample size, or SSS for short. Small sample size essentially means there's not enough data to make a definitive conclusion about a players ability. For hitters, 500 plate appearances is the ideal sample size for analysis, at 500 PA most hitting statistics have stabilized. Biggio and Bagwell for there careers have over 21,000 PA from which to analyze how good they were as players, yet, some use less than 200 PA to make an argument against their inclusion into the Hall of Fame.</p>
<p>I understand it's the playoffs and maybe we should give playoff appearances a little more weight even then there's still a huge gap in sample size. I'm all for giving extra credit to Jack Morris or Curt Schilling for 10 shutout innings or a dominating outing that includes bloody sock. It is the Hall of Fame not the Hall of Statistics, I get that, but giving extra credit doesn't mean it should define the argument for or against their inclusion into the Hall of Fame. So unfortunately Biggio and Bagwell's playoff career is a negative, that's fine because we're still only looking at one side of the argument.</p>
<p>During the Killer B era the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a> played in the playoffs:</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> five times and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a> once in the National League Division Series.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> twice in the National League Championship Series.</p>
<p>And the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">Chicago White Sox</a> once in the World Series.</p>
<p>Instead of addressing each individual series lets focus on the five times the Astros faced the Braves.</p>
<p>The first three series with the Braves (1997, 1999, 2001) Biggio and Bagwell struggled to hit for a .200 batting average which is bad, in fact it's really bad, but you have to take into consideration who they were facing. Astros hitters faced <span>Greg Maddux</span>, <span>Tom Glavine</span> and <span>John Smoltz</span><span class="sbn-auto-link"> in eight of those ten games</span>. I'm not trying to make excuses for Biggio and Bagwell, they should have hit, but when everything is taken into consideration there is a reason why they didn't hit. Taking on perennial Cy Young candidates is no east task and many hitters would not have fared much better against that trio of pitchers.</p>
<p>The two years that Biggio and Bagwell had success against the Braves in the playoffs (2004 and 2005) only John Smoltz was still with the team and he was in the bullpen. Biggio and Bagwell's playoff record should certainly be taken into consideration but only with the correct weight and context.</p>
<p>The other argument against I want to address only deals with Bagwell and has a small link to suspicions surrounding his use of PEDs. In 1990 Bagwell hit only four homruns for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> at AA New Britain. In 1991 he hit 15 homeruns in 100 more plate appearances with the Astros. Was it PEDs? Or could it have been the ballpark he was playing in? Bagwell's four homeruns for New Britain was second on the team to Eric Wedge, who hit five.</p>
<p>Bagwell's 880 OPS with New Britain led a team which was averaging a .649 OPS. Among Eastern League hitters Bagwell's 880 OPS was second in the league to Mitch Lyden's .896 OPS. All hitters in the league were averaging a .662 OPS. New Britian, and for that matter the Eastern League itself, was a pitchers haven. Bagwell was already a very good hitter and one of the league leaders offensively before he was traded to the Astros. Simply comparing Bagwell's four homeruns in the minors to his 15 in the majors and accusing him of PEDs is misguided and flat out wrong.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/1/9/3850812/2013-mlb-hall-of-fame-looking-at-craig-biggio-and-jeff-bagwells-candidacy-houston-astrosTimothy De Block2013-01-08T12:00:03-06:002013-01-08T12:00:03-06:00Jeff Bagwell, Hall of Fame Worthy
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<figcaption>Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>Reviewing Jeff Bagwell's career statistics and why he should be a Hall of Famer this year</p> <p>Before I begin, let me introduce myself. I'm Curtis Leister, and I'm a new writer on the TCB staff. I'm excited to experience the upcoming season and off season with knowledgeable fans of the team I care the deepest about. My <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Astros</a> fandom began in 2000 (I never saw a game in the Astrodome....you feel old now huh?) so I had a chance to see one of the best players to ever put on as Astros uniform firsthand.</p>
<p>2013 marks the third year <span>Jeff Bagwell's</span> name appears on the Hall of Fame ballot. Last year, he garnered 56% of the vote (up from 41.7% of the vote in 2011), a strong showing for a guy whose numbers, though Hall-caliber, don't exactly wow all of the Hall of Fame voters . The question of Bagwell's induction is almost certainly a "when, not if" case; a 56% showing in the second year is a strong indicator of future inclusion. However, Bagwell's candidacy has been the subject of considerable debate on two fronts; first, his speculated use of PEDs, and second and more simply, his statistical record. I won't get into the PED debate in this article, though Andy of the Houston Counterplot blog <a target="_blank" href="http://www.jeffpearlman.com/the-blinders-of-fools-a-defense-of-jeff-bagwell-by-andy-deshaies/">defended Bagwell on SI writer Jeff Pearlman's blog earlier this week</a>. Pearlman doesn't have a HOF vote, but he nonetheless has repeatedly implicated Bagwell (and Biggio) for PED use.</p>
<p>Based on pure memory of Bagwell's time in the majors, I was initially a bit skeptical of his career statistics when compared with other players of his time. Did he produce enough compared to the likes of Sosa, McGwire, Giambi and Griffey? Were his stats really Hall worthy when compared not just to his contemporaries, but across MLB history? After delving into his statistic record, the answer was a resounding yes.</p>
<p>Bagwell gained a reputation as a slugger through the course of his career, and rightfully so. He racked up 2314 hits and a .297 batting average to go along with his 449 home runs. He was a pure hitter, but his power numbers are still what he will be remembered by. Advanced statistics have been very kind to Bagwell's candidacy. His career OPS stands at .948, while his adjusted OPS+ at 149. Those numbers rank 22nd and 38th respectively on the career leaderboards. The modern metrics don't stop there though; Bagwell's career WPA (win probability added to his team) is 59.31, good for 19th all time. Bagwell's presence in an Astros uniform added 59 wins over the course of his career. That's a better number than Tony Gwynn, Mike Schmidt and Willie Stargell. What do those three all-timers have in common? All were first ballot Hall of Famers.</p>
<p>Career records are a great indicator of consistency of a player's career, but single season feats allow us to see just how dominant a player was in a certain season. Bagwell's 1994 strike shortened season was one of those dominant years. Bagwell posted a .368/.451/.750 line, good for a league leading OPS of 1.201 (20th best all time) and a staggering OPS+ of 213 (24th all time). And I haven't even mentioned his 39 homer runs and 116 RBI, numbers that would've been even higher had he played more than his 110 games due to the strike. Bagwell won the NL MVP that year by a unanimous margin.</p>
<p>Let's not forget Bagwell's Rookie of the Year campaign either. In a full slate of 156 games, he posted a .294/.387/.437 line, good for a .824 OPS. He hit 15 home runs and drove in 82 runs. Not a Pujols-esque rookie campaign, but enough for a near unanimous 1991 NL ROY award. (Side note: guess who got the only other first place vote? Former Astro Orland Merced, who played for the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pirates</a> at the time.)</p>
<p>Jeff Bagwell posted some monstrous statistical seasons, but consistency was always a key to his dominance. From 1996 to 2003, he hit over 30 home runs every year and knocked in 100 runs all but once. Between those seasons (which didn't even include his MVP year) he averaged 38 home runs and 119 RBI. When faced with the "did Bagwell compare to his slugging peers in the same era?" question, those averages should rightfully answer that question. He never went over 60 home runs like McGwire or Sosa, but kept a consistent pace of production that put him among the best hitters of his era.</p>
<p>Unlike a lot of players on this year's ballot, there was a lot more to Bagwell's game than hitting. He finished his career with 202 stolen bases, reaching his peak in base stealing with 31 in 1997 and 30 in 1999. He's part of the fairly exclusive 400 Home Run, 200 Steals club. He's one of thirteen other players in the club, which consists of notable names like Mays, Bonds, Griffey Jr., Dawson, Winfield, Aaron, Reggie Jackson and Frank Robinson. Again, what do those players have in common? All are either already Hall of Famers or deserve to be, and most got in on the first ballot.</p>
<p>If any of us as Astros fans, were lucky enough to watch Jeff Bagwell play, especially in his prime, I feel certain that we would call him a first ballot Hall of Famer. Unfortunately, that won't happen because this is his third year on the ballot. That future induction, however, needs to happen tomorrow. The man won two of the most coveted individual awards for single season performances by wide margins. He put together a 1994 season that should rank among the best for a hitter in history. The advanced metrics favor him, his career 76.7 rWAR is something I haven't even mentioned until now. He played sound defense, nearly hit .300 for his career, ran the base paths extraordinarily well and was a durable hitter for the best stretch of success in Astros history. I'll remember Bagwell for his unique wide batting stance, which I am guilty of emulating many a time in Little League. I'll remember those quirky pads he had on his batting gloves and that one time he stole home plate against the Pirates. But I also want to remember someday when he and hopefully <span>Craig Biggio</span> stood on the same stage as inductees in Cooperstown in July of 2013.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/1/8/3833944/bagwell-13leistomania4092013-01-08T08:00:08-06:002013-01-08T08:00:08-06:001991 and Houston's Hall of Fame Hopefuls
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<figcaption>Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>The current class of former Astros on this years Hall of Fame ballot tangle and brand their careers during the 1991 season. </p> <p>Leo Durocher, Nellie Fox, Eddie Mathews, Joe Morgan, Robin Roberts, Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton; these are names of the current Hall of Famers to pass through Houston on their way to Cooperstown. All of them chose – largely because of a longer history with another club – not to be enshrined with the Astros' moniker. This year’s ballot is filled with HoF hopefuls who, at one time in their career, represented the good guys. Oddly enough, each former Astro on this year’s HoF ballot, with the exception of Woody Williams (who will not be mentioned again in the post), can drop a milestone of their career on the 1991 season.</p>
<p>Here is the list of players in question: Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Steve Finley, Kenny Lofton, Curt Schilling and Roger Clemens.</p>
<p>It all starts with former Astros 1st Baseman, Glenn Davis. Trading Davis opened the door for Bagwell to see regular playing time. He would respond by earning Rookie of the Year Honors and hold down 1st base for the next 14 seasons. In return for Davis, Houston received Steve Finely, Curt Schilling and Pete Harnisch from Baltimore. Schilling would go on to pitch 79 2/3 innings in relief before being shipped to the Phillies at season’s end. Finley, however, would finish the ’91 campaign with a team high WAR of 4.8. Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio trailed behind in 3rd (4.1) and 4th (3.6) respectively.</p>
<p>Kenny Lofton, the player on this list with the shortest amount of service time with Houston, made his Major League debut on September 14th in Cincinnati. The game was a success for all the HoF candidates discussed thus far. Lofton lead off the game going 3-4 with a double and 3 runs scored. He was followed in the lineup by Finley, Biggio and Bagwell. Schilling came in to pitch the last of last of it, recording a 4-out save. Astros win <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN199109140.shtml">7-3</a>. With Finley firmly entrenched in center, Lofton was dealt in December to Cleveland for Eddie Taubensee and Willie Blair. It is interesting to note that a player acquired in one of Houston’s best trades (Bagwell) and shipped out in one of its worst trades (Lofton) made their debuts in ’91.</p>
<p>As a side note, I cannot think of Kenny Lofton without Michael Bourn popping into my head. When Bourn arrived in Houston, I always thought in the back of my mind that having Bourn in center was like looking into the past to see what might have been if Lofton had stayed. For all intents and purposes, Lofton was what Bourn is plus 10 homeruns a season. The way the off season is going, it seems as if Bourn is destined to bounce around like Lofton did. Only time will tell.</p>
<p>In 1991, Clemens wasn’t on the team, but still managed to take home the Cy Young award for the 3rd time in his career. Astros fans would have to wait 12 seasons to see him accomplish the feat in burnt orange pinstripes (and frosted tips).</p>
<p>I would say that I have saved the best for last with Biggio, but I think that saying I sandwiched the two best between everyone else is more accurate. So what did Biggio do in 1991? On September 30th, Biggio played his first full Major League game at 2nd base. Biggio would go 0-4 as back-up catcher Scott Servias drove in two with a single. Astros defeat the Giants <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN199109300.shtml">2-0</a>. Biggio would be the full-time 2nd baseman for Houston from 1992 to the arrival of Jeff Kent in 2003. Eddie Taubensee (acquired in the Lofton trade) would fill-in at catcher for the 1992 season, making 104 starts.</p>
<p>I would also be remised not to point that Darryl Kyle made his Major League debut on Opening Day of the 1991 season recording no earned runs on 2 hits and 1 strikeout in 1 inning. Had his career not been cut short, I have no doubt he would be concidered on this ballot as well.</p>
<p>As you can see, the 1991 season was a tangled web of career moments for former Astros on this year’s HoF ballot. So now that the best of the Killer “B”s are on the ballot, we can all get ready to break open the Champaign and party as Biggio and Bagwell get the call to Cooperstown and every son born within a fifty mile radius of Houston after the January 9th, 2013 is named either “Jeff Craig” or “Craig Jeff” from this point forward. Why not? More often than not, baseball tends to operate in parameters outside of the real world. Back in reality though, it is likely that fans will have to continue to wait before they see a member of the Astros join baseball’s elite. I wish all on this year’s ballot the best of luck.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/1/8/3832108/1991-and-houstons-hall-of-fame-hopefulsastrosblogger2013-01-07T12:28:10-06:002013-01-07T12:28:10-06:00Making A Case For Biggio To Join The HOF
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<figcaption>Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Making a case for my favorite player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame</p> <p>As much as anyone in the past 50 years, Craig Biggio has been the face of the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Astros</a>.</p>
<p>Just run down his accomplishments for a minute.</p>
<p>3,000 hits</p>
<p>World Series appearance</p>
<p>7-time All-Star at two different positions</p>
<p>4-time Gold Glover</p>
<p>5-time Silver Slugger</p>
<p>2,850 games as a Houston Astro</p>
<p>His statistical record is all we have left of Biggio as an Astro, along with highlights and memories. The stats are what will get him into the Hall eventually, but it's the memories that cement his place in my mind as one of the greatest players I ever watched.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">*<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*</p>
<p>Growing up with the Astros in the late 80's and early 90's, Biggio was my favorite player. It was a hard decision, picking between Bidge and <span>Jeff Bagwell</span>, but for some reason, I always sided with the scrappy second baseman. His was the only jersey I had growing up. I liked both players, but Bidge was a step above.</p>
<p>Why?</p>
<p>For one thing, he seemed so completely to be everything that was Right And Good about baseball. He was, again, scrappy. He made the most out of his abilities. He was an offensive player at two non-offensive positions. He transitioned out of catcher for the good of the team (and probably his career).</p>
<p>He was always dirty, which meant something. His batting helmet was just covered with pine tar from the word go every season. He got hit by pitch after pitch, literally taking one for the team. He got on base so much, setting up Baggy to drive him in.</p>
<p>He also walked up to bat to U2, my favorite band, which seemed Important.</p>
<p>In short, I was always impressed, maybe even awed, by Jeff Bagwell. But, I loved Craig Biggio.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">*<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*</p>
<p>The numbers easily show how great a player he was. Biggio had eight seasons with at least 20 home runs, and only two seasons in 20 where he didn't have at least 20 doubles. He topped 50 doubles twice and had seven seasons with at least 60 extra-base hits.</p>
<p>He stole 20 or more bases nine times and had a career stolen base percentage of 76.9. He finished with all the counting numbers you could ask for with 3,060 hits, 291 home runs, 414 steals, 1,844 runs scored and 1,175 RBIs. Only 14 players in MLB history scored more runs than Bidge did.</p>
<p>Do you know how many players since 1938 have had at least 700 plate appearances in a season without grounding into a double play? Just one. Craig Biggio.</p>
<p>Only two second basemen in history hit more home runs than Bidge's 291. Of course, some of those came with him playing other positions. Still, he's got plenty of ink showing how good he was.</p>
<p>By WAR standards, Biggio was one of the top players of his era. He tallied 70.5 fWAR, which ties him with Barry Larkin for 86th all-time. Since Biggio entered the leage in 1988, only 14 batters have more fWAR than him.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">*<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*</p>
<p>There are two halves to <span>Craig Biggio's</span> career and I've never really forgiven the Florida <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Marlins</a> for that.</p>
<p>In 2000, a lost season in Houston's run of division titles from 1997-2001, Biggio suffered the only major injury of his career. <span>Preston Wilson</span> slid into Biggio on what was definitely a cold, dark night in balmy Miami on August 4, 2000. Bidge was trying to turn a double play and just got caught up in a bad play. He never blamed Wilson or the Marlins, but I sure did.</p>
<p>Before that injury, Biggio had 1,969 career hits, 160 home runs, 402 doubles and 358 stolen bases in 464 attempts. He had a career batting average of .291 and a career walk rate of 10.7 percent with a career strikeout rate of 13.2 percent. For a middle infielder, he was an offensive force.</p>
<p>After that? Not so much. Biggio's declining years after his knee injury declined quickly. From Age 35 through 41, Biggio had 1,091 hits but the rest of his offensive stats plummeted. He hit .265/.333/.432 over his last 1,050 games and 4,602 plate appearances. That meant he had a walk rate of 6.8 percent and a strikeout rate of 15.3 percent.</p>
<p>Biggio lost bat speed, so he compensated by trying to turn on more fastballs. That led to some big home run seasons, including 24 homers in 2004 and 26 in 2005. But, the general lack of contact started in 2002, when his batting average fell to .253 and only topped 265 once in the next six years.</p>
<p>It's the end of the line Biggio that people remember most clearly now, and that split is also when I changed a bit as a fan. I remember in that 2001 season, when Biggio got his 2,000th hit, trying to figure out how long it'd take him to get to 3,000 and whether he could get there.</p>
<p>I wanted him to get that mark, because I wanted him to be a lock for the Hall of Fame. After the knee injury, though, I was very unsure whether he could get there. I cringed at some of his late-career performances, like the 2006 season when he hit 21 homers (topping 20 for the third straight season), but saw his double total fall and his contact rates also falling.</p>
<p>He hung on, maybe too long, to get his counting stats, but I certainly wasn't going to begrudge him that.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">*<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*</p>
<p>Biggio will face plenty of criticism from people who didn't watch him closely. Heck, he'll face plenty of criticism from people who did, like my boss at the News, who recently wrote that Bidge didn't deserve to get in on the first ballot because he wasn't a dominant player.</p>
<p>That raised my hackles, but it's pretty typical for the anti-Bidge HOF case. He never won an MVP, so he obviously wasn't the most dominant player in the sport and doesn't deserve to get in. He wasn't the player that Robbie Alomar was and wasn't the hitter that <span>Jeff Kent</span> was. He switched positions too much, so he was never great at any one of them.</p>
<p>I can understand that to an extent. Biggio and Alomar actually have very similar careers. Both second baseman came up in the same year (1988), but Alomar's career ended by 2004 with him short of 3,000 hits. He also didn't really suffer the kind of late-career injury Bidge did, so saw most of his decline come gradually. Still, Bidge had a higher career WAR than Alomar, and Robbie is in the Hall already.</p>
<p>Kent was the more powerful hitter, banging out 377 career home runs, but walking less than Bidge, striking out more, playing worse defense and never stealing more than 13 bases in a season. That's why he lags behind both Bidge and Alomar in career fWAR at 61.1.</p>
<p>What about Ryne Sandberg? He was probably the better defender than Bidge at second, but had a worse career walk rate, was a comparable base stealer and still totaled less career fWAR at 62.6. He, like Alomar, played fewer seasons than Bidge, thus not getting the counting stats that Bidge did.</p>
<p>Then, there's the playoff argument, that Biggio flamed out in so many big situations, he can't be a Hall of Famer. Except that Sandberg made the playoffs just twice, with his team losing both times. Alomar won two World Series, but was terrible in the first one and bad in both Baltimore's loss to the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Yankees</a> in 1996 and the O's loss to Cleveland in 1997. Sure, he hit .480 in the '93 Series, but Bidge had a .385 OBP in the '05 NLCS and had an ungodly 1.105 OPS in the NLDS win over Atlanta in 2004.</p>
<p>People are going to criticize no matter what, though. They'll state that Biggio was rarely dominant while ignoring his '98 season when he hit 50 doubles, 20 homers, stole 50 bases, batted .325 with a .403 on-base percentage and a .503 slugging percentage, but finished fifth in the NL MVP voting behind those two home run guys Sosa and McGwire who people say don't deserve to be in the Hall either.</p>
<p>No matter that Biggio and Tris Speaker are the only two players in MLB history with 50 doubles and 50 steals in the same season. Or that Biggio is the only one to hit 20 homers along with those 50 doubles and 50 steals.</p>
<p>Or that Bidge made getting hit by a pitch into an art form, finishing second all-time with 285 free passes. Only Hughie Jennings had more, and he's in the Hall of Fame.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">*<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*</p>
<p>Over the years, I've changed as a sports fan. I've become a professional sports fan, writing here and in other places about these sports I love so much. But, the passion I had for things when I was younger is already leaving. <span>Jose Altuve</span> is great and fun to root for, but he's not Important like Biggio was in his prime for me.</p>
<p>That's why one of the highlights and most terrifying moments of last season covering the Astros was seeing Biggio in the clubhouse one Sunday before a game. He was just sitting, chatting with <span>Matt Downs</span> and I just watched for a while, quietly waiting to go talk with <span>Brad Mills</span>.</p>
<p>I couldn't believe I got to be in the same clubhouse as Craig Biggio, but was terrified that I might actually be called upon to talk to him and wouldn't be able to manage anything more than a squeak. I'd turn into the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFKCM0u99II">Chris Farley Show</a> and in one fell swoop, lose any and all credibility as a working sportswriter.</p>
<p>That's why I wanted to write about Biggio today. He was and is my favorite player of all time. I'm not sure whether he will get into the Hall of Fame, and don't even know if I did a good job of making a case for him. In my head, he doesn't need a case. He's Everything That's Right And Good About Baseball. I'll tell my son about watching Biggio play.</p>
<p>None of that is rational, and I'm fine with that. I'll be rational about this year's team and everything else. Bidge is just different.</p>
<p>He should be a Hall of Famer and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/1/7/3844546/houston-astros-craig-biggio-and-the-hall-of-fameDavid Coleman2013-01-07T10:41:57-06:002013-01-07T10:41:57-06:00Monday's Three Astros Things
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/P3gg9Nm14G1b9Sw2ANAFkKjDvss=/0x49:4000x2716/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6190483/149085146.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jim McIsaac</figcaption>
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<p>Talking about the Hall, dumb made-up trades and Houston's cool, new player development model...</p> <p> </p>
<p><i>Sorry, everyone. I thought I had this scheduled for 8 a.m. this morning, but we had a glitch on the back end. Will be back with a Biggio piece in a few hours...</i></p>
<h3>1) Kicking off Hall of Fame week</h3>
<p>On Wednesday, we'll officially hear whether a bunch of former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a> make the Hall of Fame. Oh, and probably <span>Craig Biggio</span> and <span>Jeff Bagwell</span>, too. There have been a ton of conversations already on the HOF, with some great points made. My favorite so far came from Astros County, who asked a simple question: has any Hall voter asked one of the reporters who covered Houston in the 1990's about steroids in that clubhouse.</p>
<p>For the most part, that answer was no.</p>
<p>I'll get into individual Hall arguments a little bit later today with a piece on Craig Biggio, but my main problem is with the focus on steroids in the first place. Where is the moral outrage over football players using steroids and still making it to hallowed ground? Where is the outrage over many, many other transgressions that actual Hall of Famers made during their careers? Do we throw out everyone who played during baseball's segregation era, on the suspicion that they were racist, too?</p>
<p>You've heard those arguments before. My philosophy is simple, though, and it's one I'm going to keep with me as I strive to get one of those HOF votes someday. A player is a Hall of Famer if he played like one. Was he the best of the best? Does he deserve his name written into the history of the game in big golden letters? Bonds sure does, along with Clemens, Schilling, Bagwell and Biggio. I have no problem with all of them as Hall of Famers, and my opinion of current players like <span>Alex Rodriguez</span> won't change just because of PEDs. </p>
<p>If Ryan Braun keeps up his ridiculous stats for another 10 years, I'd probably vote for him despite all the intrigue last year. But my vote would be based on his performance, not his performance enhancing history. </p>
<p>I'm tired of hearing about blank ballots or guys refusing to vote for players on their first ballot. Let's hope we don't have to talk about it much more and that both Bidge and Bags get in this time around.</p>
<h3>2) Impossible Trades, Stanton and <span>David Price</span>
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<p>In case you missed it, <a href="http://deadspin.com/5973026/internet-commenters-should-probably-stop-trying-to-trade-for-giancarlo-stanton">TCB made Deadspin</a>! </p>
<p>Yeah...I always figured it'd be Tim out acting like a drunken sailor that got us there, but surprise, surprise, it was our commenters. Now, while I don't agree with the fairness of this exercise (c'mon, picking on internet commenters, Ben Lindberg, I thought you were better than that...), it did strike a nerve because it hit on something I'd been mulling recently.</p>
<p>If <span>Giancarlo Stanton</span> were really available, should a team like Houston trade for him? In fact, I talked about the same thing last winter when <span>Justin Upton</span> hit the market and the same thought came to me when David Price was said to be available.</p>
<p>Young players don't hit the market often, so teams could really pick up a lot of future contributions by making these deals. They'd absolutely help Houston and continue to help the Astros when Houston is ready to contend. Price could be an ace to lead the rotation through the upbringing of McCullers and Tropeano. Stanton could anchor the order for Singleton and Correa.</p>
<p>Every prospect in the system should be on the table for those players. But...</p>
<p>But, on the Astros end, how much could they hope to get out of these players. Say they trade for David Price. He's awesome as usual, gives them a true ace, helps in the clubhouse and increases Houston's win total by six to eight wins a year. Maybe. </p>
<p>How long would he stay with the team? He's just coming off a dodgy situation in Tampa. Wouldn't he want to hit free agency, and wouldn't Houston have a hard time retaining him? </p>
<p>That's the problem with trading for big names when Houston is in this stage of the game. It makes sense if they're on the cusp of winning or if they've started winning a little. Right now, I'm not sure it makes a ton of sense, which is a little depressing.</p>
<h3>3) Ensberg, Everett back in the fold</h3>
<p>On Friday, Houston announced the minor league field staffs, including some innovative ways it will use guys like <span>Morgan Ensberg</span> and <span>Adam Everett</span>. Ensberg will be a developmental specialist, focusing on individual areas on homestands with the team.</p>
<p>Ensberg will help infielders at Lancaster next season, so we should assume he'll be working with who? DDJ? Nolan Fontana? Jean Batista? There will be an outfield/baserunning coach at Quad Cities (for Brett Phillips and Ariel Ovando?) another infielding coach at OKC (for Villar?) and a catching specialist in Mark Bailey in Corpus (for Heineman?).</p>
<p>Nice to see Vince Coleman in the mix, but very good to see Everett and Ensberg back in the fold. Everett will spread his general awesome fielding to the major league team, turning <span>Matt Dominguez</span> into some sort of human vacuum at third and making <span>Jose Altuve</span> grow four inches, I'm sure. </p>
<p>This whole concept is a neat way to utilize some good baseball minds and is showing some of the out-of-the-box thinking Houston is doing on the player development side. Good job, Astros.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/1/7/3846600/mondays-three-astros-thingsDavid Coleman