With Winter Meetings just around the corner, and the Hot Stove heating up, it’s time to talk about the Baseball Hall of Fame, specifically the eight players on the Classic Era Ballot. This year, six former major league all-stars and two Negro League legends are up for enshrinement. Each of the position player candidates has won an MVP, and the two major league pitchers combined for over 500 career wins at the big league level, not to mention stellar postseason performances. These are players who remained on the writers ballot for many years, if not the full fifteen in some cases, and they’ve been under consideration in prior ‘Veteran’s Committee’ selections. They are all worthy candidates, but the committee members can only vote for three players. As is often the case on these committees, only one or two of these great players may get inducted this year, and the others will have to wait years to get another shot. Here are this year’s selections for the Classic Era Ballot:

• Dick Allen - 1B/3B for PHI & CHW, 1972 AL MVP, 1964 NL ROY, 7X AS

• Ken Boyer - 3B for STL, 1964 NL MVP & WS, 11X AS, 5X GG

• John Donaldson - LHP/1B in ’10’s & ’20’s, 400+ W & 5,000 K

• Steve Garvey - 1B for LAD & SDP, 1974 NL MVP, 10X AS, 4X GG

• Vic Harris - Player-Manger for the Homestead Grays, greatest Negro League team

• Tommy John - LHP for CHW, LAD, NYY, 288 W, 4710 IP, redefined injury recovery

• Dave Parker - RF for PIT, CIN, 1978 NL MVP, 7X AS, 3X GG

• Luis Tiant - RHP for CLE, BOS, 229 W, most by any Cuban born player

Results of the committee will be announced on Dec 8th. In my opinion, all of these candidates are deserving, and I would have no complaints about any of them being selected. I personally would vote for Dick Allen (who missed by just one vote last time), Luis Tiant (who we sadly lost this year), and Ken Boyer (who was brilliant at an underrepresented position). Who would you pick, and who do you expect to make it in?

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

2024 World Series Game Five - Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Yankees

We head into game five with the Dodgers just one win away from their eight World Series title, and what a ride it has been. Freddie Freeman has been the catalyst for the offense, homering in each game so far (and a record six straight World Series dating back to ’21) and driving in 10 runs, just two away from tying the record set by NYY 2B Bobby Richardson in 1960. Shohei Ohtani appears to be significantly hampered by his shoulder injury, but the offense keeps rolling thanks to contributions from Mookie Betts, Tommy Edman, and both of the Hernández brothers*. The LA starters have strung together solid outings, while the bullpen has carried things the rest of the way. When it has mattered, manager Dave Roberts has pushed all the right buttons, which was not something you could say about him in previous playoffs. They weren’t able to get the sweep in game four, but they aim to finish the job here in the Bronx tonight. They know they’ll be flying home to LA, and they hope it’s with the World Series trophy in hand.

The Yankees avoided elimination in game four, thanks in large part to a go-ahead grand slam from young shortstop Anthony Volpe, but if they’re going to extend the series any longer, Aaron Judge must step up. He has been downright awful in these playoffs, but it has not really hurt the Yanks until the World Series. With everything on the line, we’ll see if he can find some redemption. It will be ace Gerrit Cole on the mound for Bronx Bombers. The $300 million dollar man was excellent in game one, but the bullpen coughed up the lead and the game. Expect manager Aaron Boone to ride his horse as long as he can. On the other side, the Yankees will get a second crack at LA righty Jack Flaherty, who cruised through game one until he got beat by the long ball. Flaherty has been known to struggle the more times he sees an opponent. Will that trend hold?

These Yankees are talented, and these games have actually been close. In fact, the differential in this series is just a single run. Part of the reason the Yanks are trailing right now? Fundamentals. There have been misplays, base-running gaffes, mental errors, and even lack of hustle on display for New York. And up against a team as talented as these Dodgers, it’s at the margins where a series can be decided. The Yankees cannot afford any more lapses, or else they’ll see their best season in 15 years come to an abrupt end.

Audio clips from MLB.tv

LAD Radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday

NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman

FOX postgame - Kevin Burkhardt

As always shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

2024 World Series - Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Yankees

Games Three and Four @ Yankee Stadium

The Dodgers head into the Bronx leading the series two games to none, taking care of business in their home ballpark against the Yankees. It took an incredible walk-off grand slam, courtesy of Freddie Freeman, and then a dominant performance from Yoshinobu Yamamoto to get Los Angeles in to this position, but they’ll certainly take it. Freeman has been the star so far, with another homer in game two. Tommy Edman and Teóscar Hernández added home runs in game two as well, but the rest of the offense has not been humming like it was in the NLCS. To add to that worry, Shohei Ohtani dislocated his shoulder attempting a steal, and while he’ll be in the lineup, it’s unclear how that injury may affect him. On the mound for Dave Roberts in game three will be Walker Buehler, who has been lights out in his previous World Series starts. The Dodgers will certainly need some length from the. Kentucky-born righty, as game four is slated to be a bullpen game.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone is under fire after the questionable game one decision to bring in Nestor Cortes, who surrendered the walk-off grand slam. It has been characterized as indefensible by many (rightly so in my opinion); however, there were other letdowns and misplays that put the Yankees in that position. You can nitpick and criticize bullpen management all you want, but if your offense isn’t putting up enough runs, especially against these Dodgers? You won’t stand a chance. Perhaps the most concerning for the Yankees faithful is the continued slump of Aaron Judge. He has been a dead spot in the order, and quite simply he needs to turn it around, or he may face the wrath of a fanbase that adores him. You can expect the Bronx Zoo to cheer for him loudly when he first steps to the plate, but if the strikeouts and weakly hit balls show up with him, do not be shocked by a chorus of boos for the MVP.

On the pitching side, Aaron Boone will turn to Clarke Schmidt in game three, and then Luis Gil in game four. Given the stakes, the leash on the two young righties will be quite short. Expect heavy usage from the likes of Tim Hill, Tommy Kahnle, Clay Holmes, and Luke Weaver. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a World Series, and no team has even forced a game five since the 1970 Cincinnati Reds. If the Yanks go down in game three, it may just be the death knell on their season.

Audio clips from MLB.tv

LAD Radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday

NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman

FOX broadcast - Joe Davis and John Smoltz

As always shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.