Comments on: Quote of the Day: Reggie Jackson on Andy Pettitte’s Hall of Fame chances

By: BC

BC — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:15:47 +0000

Kevin Millwood for HOF!

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:50:50 +0000

Morris was only 7-4 with a 3.80 ERA in the postseason. More than a third of his starts (5 out of 13) ended with 4 or more runs allowed. Oh! But only that one game counted. I forgot that the rest of those October games weren’t “big games.” Nevermind!

By: roadduck99

roadduck99 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:46:59 +0000

I think Pettitte will get in because he was a core player on five World Champions. His other numbers are pretty solid. He’s an old-school HOF choice.

By: roadduck99

roadduck99 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:43:43 +0000

Even 1992?

By: psujay

psujay — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:46:24 +0000

What do wins matter? I think we have enough evidence to show that a player’s win/loss record has nothing to do with how he pitches. Wasn’t Clemens 20-1 one year with a 4.41 ERA? How is that impressive compared to King Felix this year? I don’t think you can take wins and losses into account. Also, if Pettite plays for not the Yankees his win/loss record is far worse, and he never gets nearly enough post season starts to be 19-9 in the post season. Is he better than Halladay, Lee, or Oswalt, Lincecum, or Sabathia simply because he has had more opportunities over the course of his career?

In short, I dont’ think win/loss is a reliable gauge of someone’s career any more than passengers in the car is a reliable estimate of driving speed.

As for if he’s in the Hall…once a cheater, always a cheater. No.

By: tmil42

tmil42 — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:29:58 +0000

I don’t know about that. I mean, he’s certainly not the same caliber player as Clemens or Bonds, but he’s been an excellent pitcher throughout his career. I think the reason he gets more of a pass is that he admitted it (at least admitted a one-time use), and that he generally has been viewed as a “good guy.” Bonds and Clemens are noted malcontents and vehemently denied using PEDs, both of which damn them in the court of public opinion.

I think those two factors (public perception, willingness to admit fault) are what constitutes the difference in the treatment between Clemens and Pettitte, rather than consider it a referendum on either of their careers.

By: scatterbrian

scatterbrian — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:07:40 +0000

excellent point, elkboy.

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 22:29:47 +0000

With a big game on the line, I would go with Morris anytime.

By: aarcraft

aarcraft — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 22:17:48 +0000

You are free to, but its a hard case to make. Morris had a higher era in a much better pitchers environment. They are extremely close in wins and strikeouts, despite Pettitte having 800 fewer IP, and the gap will close even more if Pettitte pitches one more year. Pettitte blows Morris away with winning pct. Most ways you look at it, Pettitte comes out on top.

By: elkboy

elkboy — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 22:04:31 +0000

Jackson on Pettitte’s HGH usage: “It seems like they’ve looked the other way with him,” Jackson said of the news media. “Some guys get it, and some guys don’t.”

Jackson on performance-enhancing substances in 2009: “I am starting to get affected and I am hoping that those guys that get caught don’t get into the Hall of Fame.”

This isn’t to point out Jackson’s hypocrisy, but when I read this article I thought about how much of a pass Pettitte gets in the whole steroids conversation, and I think it’s mostly because he just wasn’t all that great a pitcher; people only care about it for really good players (bonds, arod, clemens). I think the lack of attention on it is one more thing demonstrating that Pettitte is in fact, not a HOF caliber pitcher.

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:57:29 +0000

Jeff Francoeur’s got Craig’s vote.

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:56:51 +0000

For the San Francisco Giants 2010 NLCS Hall of Fame–so far.

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:43:36 +0000

Cody Ross is a shoe-in.

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:39:02 +0000

I rank Jack Morris ahead of Pettitte.

By: yankeesfanlen

yankeesfanlen — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:37:00 +0000

I kind of agree, and maybe it’s the system of the Universe because a free agent ace is always signed, and I can’t remember Andy ever being the ace of the Yanks rotation. Always a great #2, though.
Hall of Fame has never been than inclusive anyway, but I’d put Moose in first.