Ken Gurnick, eh???

[clvclv]

3 questions for the guy who left Maddux off his ballot with the simple UNAVOIDABLE one word answers...

1.) Did you vote for Orel Hershiser? Yes.

2.) Did Orel Hershiser compete against Canseco, McGwire, Bonds, and Sosa? Yes.

3.) Should you give up your right to cast a ballot immediately??? ABSOLUTELY.

[Dalyn]

[bravesnumberone]

One of the things I'm most disgusted with in sports are these pompous asses that vote for the baseball HOF. Loved Chipper's quote in DOB's story.

“Some dumbass will probably leave him off the ballot because no one else has been a unanimous pick.”

[jpx7]

What a turd.

[Braves1976]

I responded to Bowman on twitter: @mlbbowman Apparently it was @kengurnick playing the "dumbass" (hat tip to Chipper) leaving Maddux off his ballot...

Former Braves pitching coach Mazzone: “You’ve got to be an idiot not to have (Maddux) as a unanimous pick."

[Hawk]

I predict 2014 will be a rough year for Mr. Gurnick. Famewhores get slutshamed.

[tululush]

This is his reasoning, "As for those who played during the period of PED use, I won't vote for any of them."

Ummm seriously? Wouldn't the fact that a lot of players were taking them make what Maddux did look that much more impressive? Unless he thinks Maddux was juicing. In which case, then he's an even bigger idiot. Not to mention he voted for Morris, who btw pitched during the steroid era. Just sayin'.

link

[jpx7]

This is his reasoning, "As for those who played during the period of PED use, I won't vote for any of them."

Moreover: as noted here, Morris' "career overlapped with nine of Greg Maddux's seasons, including three of his four Cy Young seasons."

You can't really state it much better than that same article's author: "So that either means that Gurnick thinks Maddux actually used PEDs while Morris did not or he has zero grasp on the concept of eras or what 'the period of PED use' actually was. He's making a distinction between Morris and Maddux (and Glavine and every other player on the ballot) that is not grounded in any sort of sense at all."

[tululush]

I think the guy is just an arrogant pos. He wanted to 'be that guy' and when approached was grasping at straws. Chalk it up to being a douchebag.

Moreover: as noted here, Morris' "career overlapped with nine of Greg Maddux's seasons, including three of his four Cy Young seasons."

You can't really state it much better than that same article's author: "So that either means that Gurnick thinks Maddux actually used PEDs while Morris did not or he has zero grasp on the concept of eras or what 'the period of PED use' actually was. He's making a distinction between Morris and Maddux (and Glavine and every other player on the ballot) that is not grounded in any sort of sense at all."

[Braves1976]

Moreover: as noted here, Morris' "career overlapped with nine of Greg Maddux's seasons, including three of his four Cy Young seasons."

You can't really state it much better than that same article's author: "So that either means that Gurnick thinks Maddux actually used PEDs while Morris did not or he has zero grasp on the concept of eras or what 'the period of PED use' actually was. He's making a distinction between Morris and Maddux (and Glavine and every other player on the ballot) that is not grounded in any sort of sense at all."

Exactly. Now he's saying he will never vote again, partly because wants Rivera to have a shot 100%. So I guess he's satisfied with costing Maddux 100%, but Rivera and Morris are special to him.

[CyYoung31]

I'm furious right now. This guy belongs in the same hell that guys like Eric Gregg and soon Sam Holbrook belong in.

[drewdat]

I think I agree with this guy in that unanimous votes may have less of a place in Hall of Fame balloting and seem more appropriate for something like whether to put this guy before a firing squad.

[Tapate50]

My new theory is the writers are conspiring to make Jeter the first unanimous first ballot hall of famer. They will magically "change the tradition held by the old guard that nobody deserves 100%, by voting Captain Jeter as the first ever unanimous inductee on his gold glove caliber defense alone. If anybody deserves 100%, it's Derek Jeter"

I just threw up a little.

[Millwood1Hitter]

Don't blame Maddux, if anyone deserves the blame for that fiasco it is JS.

Maddux was on the downfall of his career but still a solid pitcher in 2002. It was apparent the Glavine was on a bigger downfall after his atrocious 2002 second half and postseason, and letting him go to the Mets was the right move.

But yet JS wanted to sign Glavine to a long term deal (3 years) for less thAn the Mets. Why we didn't with Maddux who still was the better pitcher was baffling, but did offer him arbitration.

JS had to know that it could be likely because the market was soft for Maddux. It's another one of JS blunders and downright stubborneddd of not being able to negotiate with Boras after the Arod deal.

So JS cornered himself. Not only did it become more apparent that Maddux would accept arbitration closer to the deadline, JS was out wheeling and dealing and spending on mediocre pitching.

Hampton was acquired to be Glavines replacement, and for the first 3 years essentially would pitch for free for us, which is fine. You knew Hampton would turn it around in atl and be a solid starter.

It's the next two moved that are baffling and forced JS hand to deal our best pitcher Millwood as a salary dump and here him cry about the ecomics of baseball stink.

He acquired Russ Ortiz and sold high on Damien Moss. Fine, but in doing so we acquired salary we didn't need. But JS didn't stop there, he was wining and dining Shane Reynolds (who ironically ended up on the team after being cut later in the season after byrd went down to surgery), Woody Williams, & Paul byrd. And the most baffling part was signing Paul byrd for 2 years and 11 million. Bad move, and even worse after byrd hurt his elbow.

If JS doesn't sign Byrd then we don't have to move Milly.

I mean what was JS thinking?

I mean JS vision for rotation in 03 was Millwood, Ortiz, Hampton, Byrd, Marquis.

If JS doesn't panic, we end up with a much better rotation of Millwood, Maddux, Ortiz, Hampton, marquis.

But we ended up with Maddux, Ortiz, Hampton, Byrd, Marquis. Byrd would not throw a pitch for us in. 03 and was replaced with the travesty known as Shsnd Reynolds.

[The Chosen One]

I remember Sugar Shane's 2nd start with us. It was at home and I think he went 8 IP with 3 hits. After that it was a struggle for him just to get past the 4th inning. Had he not had that amazing offense to spot him runs... lol

[gilesfan]

Couldn't care less about unanimous votes, first or 2nd ballots, what have you. Like people concerned they got a 81%, when 80% is passing.

Having said that, this guy is an idiot and there are too many idiots voting for the HOF.

[The Chosen One]

Couldn't care less about unanimous votes, first or 2nd ballots, what have you. Like people concerned they got a 81%, when 80% is passing.

Having said that, this guy is an idiot and there are too many idiots voting for the HOF.

I think it's moreso that percentages and first ballots are validation to a lot of fans on how great the player was.

I think Maddux is universally respected by many fans as being one of the greatest pitchers ever especially since he didn't have overpowering stuff like Clemens, RJ or Pedro.

Many writers thought Maddux should be first unanimous, and a handful of writers are disappointed he didn't even break Seaver's mark.

[gilesfan]

He ws voted into the HOF so is considered one of the best ever. Being voted unanimously by a bunch of idiots doesn't add anything to his career. The validation is his numbers.

[NYCBrave]

Don't blame Maddux, if anyone deserves the blame for that fiasco it is JS.

Maddux was on the downfall of his career but still a solid pitcher in 2002. It was apparent the Glavine was on a bigger downfall after his atrocious 2002 second half and postseason, and letting him go to the Mets was the right move.

But yet JS wanted to sign Glavine to a long term deal (3 years) for less thAn the Mets. Why we didn't with Maddux who still was the better pitcher was baffling, but did offer him arbitration.

JS had to know that it could be likely because the market was soft for Maddux. It's another one of JS blunders and downright stubborneddd of not being able to negotiate with Boras after the Arod deal.

So JS cornered himself. Not only did it become more apparent that Maddux would accept arbitration closer to the deadline, JS was out wheeling and dealing and spending on mediocre pitching.

Hampton was acquired to be Glavines replacement, and for the first 3 years essentially would pitch for free for us, which is fine. You knew Hampton would turn it around in atl and be a solid starter.

It's the next two moved that are baffling and forced JS hand to deal our best pitcher Millwood as a salary dump and here him cry about the ecomics of baseball stink.

He acquired Russ Ortiz and sold high on Damien Moss. Fine, but in doing so we acquired salary we didn't need. But JS didn't stop there, he was wining and dining Shane Reynolds (who ironically ended up on the team after being cut later in the season after byrd went down to surgery), Woody Williams, & Paul byrd. And the most baffling part was signing Paul byrd for 2 years and 11 million. Bad move, and even worse after byrd hurt his elbow.

If JS doesn't sign Byrd then we don't have to move Milly.

I mean what was JS thinking?

I mean JS vision for rotation in 03 was Millwood, Ortiz, Hampton, Byrd, Marquis.

If JS doesn't panic, we end up with a much better rotation of Millwood, Maddux, Ortiz, Hampton, marquis.

But we ended up with Maddux, Ortiz, Hampton, Byrd, Marquis. Byrd would not throw a pitch for us in. 03 and was replaced with the travesty known as Shsnd Reynolds.

Did you just run these facts off the top of your head?? If so, wow you have a good memory lol

[bravebonebook]

Another example (in a long line of them) of why MLB is really screwed up from top to bottom. They cannot even vote for Hall of Fame without controversy...