Sosa to Umpires: "High Heat is soooo Reeeeeeeel"

One day after having debuting like the Orioles had hoped, getting two hits including a home run, Sosa mananged to get himself ejected from a spring training game while arguing balls and strikes. Going out to play the field for his second inning in an Orioles uniform Sosa continued to argue about a high strike three curveball and got tossed by the 2nd base umpire. Baltimore better hope that Sammy hits about 150 HR's this year because he sure seems to be on edge so far this season. About two weeks ago he began that mini war-of-words with Dusty, Woodie and some of the other Cubs. That back and forth lasted only a few days but was very productive on the unintentional comedy front. Maybe Sosa is only happy while hitting home runs now, or maybe he was just going through 'one of those couple of weeks', but either way - even if he hits .350 with 70 bombs - the team is much better off without a walking distraction for the next 8 months.


On the outside looking in...

The good news is that Ron Santo received 6 more votes than he did when the veterans committee convened two years ago, the bad news is that he still fell short of the 75% vote required to get him into the Hall of Fame. Needing 60 votes to get the 75% needed, the former Cubbie great only got named on 52 of the 80 ballots turned in. Another sad day in the life of a man where truly great days would be a blessing. Stricken with Diabetes since the age of 18 he amazingly played nearly every game each season during his 15 year career from 1960 to 1974. Now having a feat like that doesn't put you in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but how does being one of the premier players of the 1960's at a premium position not?

People make a big deal out of career stats overall, but isn't the vote for the Hall of Fame supposed to be comparing the player to his peers at the same time and position he played? If the voters of the Hall of Fame actually went by those characteristics Ronnie should have been voted in during the fifteen year period after his eligibility began. Santo was probably a victim there because of two things, he didn't praise himself while playing (or after -much like the reason why Ryne Sandberg wasn't in on the first ballot), and the foolish thinking of some Hall voters that the 60's Cubs can't have anymore Hall-of-Famers because they never won anything. Frankly, what a load of horsecrap. First and foremost Santo was the top gloveman in the National League during his time, if not the entire major leagues, winning 5 straight Gold Gloves from 1964-1968. Baseball analyst Pete Palmer has Santo as the 4th all time in his Fielding Runs stat at 168, meaning Santo saved 168 more runs over his career than the average 3rd basemen.

And Santo wasn't a slouch at the plate either. Although he was helped by playing half his game at Wrigley during his career, he managed to put up some very good stats. Four times he led the league in walks and twice in on-base percentage. And even if I don't like the Win Shares stat that Bill James has come up with to include players all-around games and their effect on teams, you cannot ignore Santo's results. He led the league in this catergory in 1967 with 38, and from 1964-67 he had over 30 each time, which is supposedly an MVP level season. Only Hall-of-Famers Willy Mays and Hank Aaron, as well as fringe HOF'er Dick Allen had more during that time. Over the entire decade of the 1960's Santo placed 6th with 249, despite playing only half of 1960 and hitting poorly during his sophomore campaign. Did I mention that he did that in the best pitching dominated decade since the dead-ball era of the early 20th century? So honestly, how can anyone keep this man out of the HOF. The only thing going against him is his last poor season and retiring at the age of 34, before serious decline could have set-in. But how can you hold that against him. Its amazing he lasted as long as he did playing with Diabetes, which back then was not nearly as controllable as it is today. So again, honestly, how the hell can anyone keep this man off of his ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame.