Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- The Eiffel Tower lit up in the colors of the South African flag in memory of Nelson Mandela

- The Boston Celtics have to feel pretty good right now. They have Brad Stevens as coach (the anti-Jason Kidd) and then there's this coming up the next couple of years (speaking of Jason Kidd)

- This Iron Bowl call is pretty funny

- As a child of the 80's when you think Nelson Mandela you think Apartheid and then you think Artists United Against Apartheid and Sun City

- Is Jack Morris a Hall of Famer? The folks at Baseball-Reference.com don't think so.

- Awesome - Benedict Cumberbatch recites R Kelly lyrics

- Forgotten history - when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were on the lunar surface - the Russians crashed into the moon

- Heh heh - Clint Eastwood riding a miniature pony

- Spontaneous street pillow fights - fantastic!

Jack Morris vs Dave Stieb Hall of Fame Debate

Very interesting argument that Dave Stieb and not Jack Morris was the "best pitcher of the 80's." The argument that Jack Morris was the best pitcher of his era is what most of his apologists fall back on when Morris' pedestrian numbers are exposed.

I also agree that neither pitcher deserves enshrinement.

I will also add that Luis Tiant belongs in the Hall way before Jack Morris. Tiant had a 3.30 ERA to Morris' 3.90 and a 114 ERA+ to Morris' 105.

Is Andy Pettitte a Hall of Fame Pitcher?

Is Andy Pettitte a Hall of Fame Pitcher? The answer to that is - no he is not.

Pettitte has 240 wins, a career ERA of 3.88 (ERA+ of 117) and just 2,251 strikeouts. Those are not Hall of Fame numbers.

His supporters will point out that he has more post season wins than any player in history. His detractors will point out that he also had the most post season starts. They will point out that Jack Morris had a better post season ERA and is better known for his post season exploits but that isn't helping Morris into the Hall.

His Yankee supporters will point out that he was great for the Yankees. His detractors will point out that Mike Mussina had a better career and if Mussina isn't in the Hall five years from now what chance does Andy have?

His supporters will say Andy was one of the nicest and most humble men in baseball. His detractors will point out that he was also a steroids cheat.

Today there is a groundswell among his supporters that Andy is a Hall of Fame player. The bottom line is five years from now the reality that he is not will have set in.

Top 5 - Baseball Players from Minnesota

I was listing the top 5 players from each state but some reason I stopped after doing Wisconsin almost a year ago. It seemed like an interesting diversion - so today I am resuming the series.

Here are who I consider the top 5 players born in Minnesota.

1. Dave Winfield - Hall of Fame slugger who many forget was also great in the field - winning 7 Gold Gloves
2. Paul Molitor - Hall of Famer who is 9th on the all-time hit list with 3,319
3. Chief Bender - Hall of Fame pitcher with 212 wins and a career winning percentage of .625
4. Jack Morris - 254 career wins with a number of legendary post season victories
5. Ken Hrbek - over 1,000 RBI playing his whole 14-year career for the hometown Twins

Honorable Mention:

Roger Maris - most folks think he was North Dakota but he was acually born in Hibbing, MN (birthplace of Kevin McHale)
Joe Mauer - a hometown boy playing for the Twins who may make the Top 5 some day