The 2008 MLB Hall of Fame balloting results were announced today with dominant closer Rich “Goose” Gossage the only player elected to enter the Hall.  Former Red Sox great; outfielder Jim Rice, with a lifetime average of .298, 2452 career hits, 382 HRs and 1,452 RBIs in 16 seasons, missed by an eyelash and former Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs outfielder  Andre “the Hawk” Dawson, with a career average of .279, 2,774 career hits, 438 HRs and 1,591 RBIs didn’t miss by much.  Click here for the 2008 balloting results.

The nod this year went only to “the Goose”, who narrowly missed entering the Hall in 2007 and was perhaps the most dominant, yet durable closers in MLB history.   ESPN brings a video round-table interview about Gossage, his career and his important part in defining
the roll of closer.

Between 1975 with the White Sox thru 1977, his one season with the  Pittsburgh Pirates and 1978 with the Yankees, his innings pitched were over 130.  In 1976, the White Sox made him a starter and he finished with a 9-17 mark with 15 complete games, 224 innings pitched and a 3.94 ERA.

Gossage’s career stats over 22 seasons were 124-107, 3.01 ERA, 310 saves, 1,502 strikeouts, 732 walks in 1,809 1/3 innings pitched.  Gossage, while defining the evolving role of the closer, had the durability to not just get 3 outs in the 8th or 9th innings, as the closers do today, but to often give his team 6 or 9 outs over multiple innings.  Gossage in the game late most times meant lights-out for the opposition.

AP Baseball writer Ronald Blum describes for Yahoo sports the scene when Gossage received the news of his Hall election;

Gossage was sitting in a recliner in his living room overlooking the Rocky Mountains when he received the call. He turned to reporters in the room and said, “Oh my god, I’ve been elected.”

“A shock wave went through my body like an anvil just fell on my head,” Gossage said about his reaction. “I think having to wait makes it that much more special.”

His mother died in 2006, Gossage said with tears welling up in his eyes, and he had hoped she would live long enough to see him inducted.

Gossage was a nine-time All-Star who pitched for nine major league teams from 1972-94 and had 310 saves — 52 of them when he got seven outs or more.

The first time he appeared on the Hall ballot in 2000, Gossage received only 33.3 percent of the vote.

He will be inducted July 27 in Cooperstown, joined by five men elected last month by the revamped Veterans Committee: former commissioner Bowie Kuhn, former Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley, managers Dick Williams and Billy Southworth and ex-Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss.

Williams managed Gossage on the San Diego Padres.

“There isn’t anybody I’d rather go in with than Dick Williams,” said Gossage, who spoke with his former manager right after getting the news.

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Baseball news over the past few weeks has mostly centered around the bidding for a Johan Santana trade, the Mitchell steroids inquiry and allegations of usage against Roger “the Rocket” Clemens, Barry Bonds,  Andy Pettitte and others as well as the baseball pundits regarding the Hall of Fame Class of 2008. 

Boston slugger David “Big Papi” Ortiz, one of Santana’s closest friends  recently indicated to the media that he “doesn’t think Boston will make a deal for the pitcher.”

Meanwhile, new Yankees boss Hank Steinbrenner, upon returning to his office after the holidays and working on a possible deal, is quoted by NY Daily News sports writer Anthony McCarron as saying;

“I think the Twins realize our offer is the best one,” Steinbrenner said Wednesday in a telephone interview. “I feel confident they’re not going to trade him before checking with us one last time and I think they think we’ve already made the best offer.”

Steinbrenner said the offer “does not include two of the three young pitchers” - Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, from a group that also includes untouchable Joba Chamberlain - “but it’s still the best one. And let’s face it, we’re the best able to handle the kind of contract (extension) Santana will be after.”

Steinbrenner would not divulge the Yanks’ offer, but multiple reports have pegged it as Hughes, outfielder Melky Cabrera, pitching prospect Jeff Marquez and another prospect. Santana, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, probably would require a huge extension with his potential new team to waive his no-trade clause. Some reports have said it could be as much as six years for $120 million.

Wow, I can still remember the joint holdouts of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale in 1966 where they haggled with the Dodgers and ended up with 1 year deals for a total of roughly 1% of the projected of Santana’ projected pay for a single season.  Drysdale probably made more for his TV segments on the Brady Bunch.

Meanwhile, the Yanks senior vice president Steinbrenner has turned thumbs-down on re-signing steroids allegation-besieged Roger Clemens.  NY Daily News sports writer McCarron reports;

“I’m not signing Clemens,” Steinbrenner, the Yankees’ senior vice president, said in a telephone interview yesterday. He said the Yanks are not looking for rotation stopgaps - like they were last season - because they are so enamored of their young starting pitchers. And Steinbrenner feels the Yanks already have a strong mentor to the young arms in Andy Pettitte, whom Steinbrenner praised for his “veteran leadership.

“Andy is (signed) for one year and he’s only 35 and he knows how to pitch in the big games,” Steinbrenner said. “Roger does, too, but let’s face it, he’s going to be 46 (in August).

“Pettitte is just as good with the young pitchers, though Clemens was great with the young kids last year. I don’t think Roger is going to come back anyway.”

Hmmm, Clemens not signed for 2008?  How would “the Rocket” look in red pinstripes?  Perhaps mentoring young lefty ace Cole Hamels and spot starting instead of Adam Eaton and his nuclear mushroom ERA?  But, alas, I don’t think that the Phillies have $28M for a handful of starts.

And speaking of HGH and other steroids, I’m just bored to tears with all of the Mitchell investigations’ machinations regarding Clemens and the others.  Aside from tangently mentioning the HGH/steroids issue here, this blog steers clear of all such steriods discussion and conjecture and sticks to MLB purism.

Personally, I’d rather see a few certain “too tired” political leaders shot up with steroids — it might endow them with some strong backbone.

And here are some of the Hall of Fame 2008 class of candidates.  We once again find lefthanded starter Tommy John, imposing reliever Goose Gossage, outfielders Jim Rice, slugger Mark McGwire, Andre “the Hawk” Dawson, pitcher Bert Blyleven, shortstop Dave Concepcion and Dave Parker all vying for the Hall along  with first-time candidates shortstop Shawon Dunston and pitcher Jack Morris, base-stealer extraordinaire Tim Raines and dominant reliever Robb Nen.

Tuesday, January 8 is Hall of Fame selection announcement day.  As always, “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” should be interesting.

Finally, I’m waiting for the 2008 version of Jimmy Rollins setting the stage announcement that the Phillies are once again the team to beat in the NL East.  See ya Mets, wouldn’t wanna be ya!

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The Phillies announced on Wednesday that they have acquired both former Milwaukee Brewers free agent outfielder Geoff Jenkins and veteran journeyman pitcher Chad Durbin.

With the signing of Jenkins, the Phillies moved to compensate for the loss of centerfielder Aaron Rowand who recently signed a 4 year, $60 million deal with the San Francisco Giants.

Ticker reports on the probable Jenkins contract terms and backgound for Yahoo sports;

According to the report, the contract is believed to be worth $13 million. The deal also includes a third year vesting option on plate appearances that could increase the total package to $20 million.

Jenkins, 33, has spent his entire 10-year career with the Milwaukee Brewers. He became a free agent after this past season when the team declined his $9 million contract option.

After losing center fielder Aaron Rowand in free agency and trading speedy outfielder Michael Bourn to the Houston Astros…, the Phillies have been looking for a lefthanded bat to share time with Jayson Werth in right field.

A career .277 hitter with 212 home runs, Jenkins could be a fit for the Phillies, who play their home games at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park.

In 132 games last season, Jenkins batted .255 with 21 homers and 64 RBI.

Associated Press Writer Randy Pennell reports on how the Phillies project Jenkins’ role;

“He can play right or left field and will give Charlie lineup options on an everyday basis,” general manager Pat Gillick said, referring to manager Charlie Manuel.

ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick adds;

By signing Jenkins, the Phillies are now committing to Shane Victorino as their regular center fielder.

Also signed was veteran righthanded pitcher Chad Durbin, who finished 8-7 with a 4.72 ERA in both starter and relief rolls for the Detroit Tigers last season.   He started 19 games, had 17 relief appearances recording his one career save.

AP’s Randy Pennell reports;

In eight major league seasons, Durbin is 25-37 with a 5.75 ERA in 114 games.

With brother J.D. Durbin already on the roster from last season, the team now has a corner, a monopoly on all of the Durbins in MLB.

Phillies Nation’s Tim Malcolm reports that there are already pundits penciling in this Durbin as the Phils’ No. 5 starter.  Heaven help us all!

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The San Francisco Giants announced on Wednesday that they have acquired free agent former Phillies centerfielder Aaron Rowand in a $60 million, 5 year deal.

MLB.com’s Chris Haft outlines what Rowand’s acquisition means for the Giants;

With Wednesday’s acquisition of free agent Aaron Rowand, the Giants received a huge infusion of the “warrior spirit” manager Bruce Bochy sought for next year’s club.

“Boch’s goals, as far as the way he wants to play the game, the kind of persona he wants this team to have, really lends itself to the way I’ve gone about doing my business throughout my career,” Rowand said. “For me, it’s about bringing everything I have to the table every day and laying it all out there.”

“He’s the type of guy who’s going to hold everybody accountable to doing the same thing he’s doing — that’s playing the game right and playing it to win,” Bochy said.

Bochy plans to hit Rowand fifth, filling at least part of the void in the middle of San Francisco’s batting order. The right-handed batter, a career .286 hitter, recorded a .309 average last season with Philadelphia while reaching personal bests in hits (189), runs (105), doubles (45), RBIs (89), total bases (315) and games (161). As the roster currently stands,  Randy Winn and Bengie Molina would bat third and fourth, respectively.

As a reigning Gold Glove winner, Rowand will strengthen the outfield, thus underscoring the Giants’ renewed emphasis on pitching and defense.  Dave Roberts will move to left field and Winn will play right.

AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley reports General manager Brian Sabean’s reactions to making the deal for Yahoo sports;

When evaluating Rowand and the other available center fielders this offseason, Sabean said he met with his staff and checked off the many boxes where Rowand could help the club.

“Then it was just a matter of striking a chord with a contract,” Sabean said. “He’s a winning player. It’s a pleasure he’s coming to our organization. The timing is great. It will allow us to do other business without busting up our pitching.”

The Giants, who lack a bona-fide power-hitting clean-up hitter, had 33 homers last season from their projected 3rd and 4th hitters, so Rowand’s stats in the #5 spot will be big.

The Phils, on the other hand, will sorely miss Rowand’s numbers from last season.  It seems likely that the “Flyin’ Hawaiian” Shane Victorino will   start in centerfield unless the Phils pull deals out of the hat.  Beside him on either side will be leftfielder Pat Burrell and rightfielder Jayson Werth.  The question is, can Victorino up his numbers and stay healthy the entire season?  And can his outfield mates Burrell and Werth pick it up?  Can Burrell add about 40 points to his BA and cut his strikeouts below 100?  Will Werth’s numbers increase by playing full time than next season?

As a sideline, I happened to pass through Phillies Nation and Brian Michael has quite a thought about Tadahito Iguchi and the 3rd base situation.  What if Chase Utley moved to 3rd base leaving Iguchi at 2nd?  But however you call the hand, Iguchi said no to 3rd in November, the Phils released him and, as per the terms of his previous contract, the 15 day deadline is long-since passed.  If Iguchi wants to re-sign with the Phillies, both sides have to wait until May as the Commissioner’s office wouldn’t issue a waiver on the previous contract terms.

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Diminutive 5′ 8″ Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who walked the walk Big Time to back up the talk — his bold February prediction about the Phillies winning the NL East, was awarded the NL MVP award in a close contest with  Colorado Rockies leftfielder Matt Holliday.

MLB.com’s Ken Mandel provides the voting results and background;

Of the 32 ballots submitted by two writers in each league city, Rollins was listed first on 16, second on seven, third on four, fourth on four and fifth on one for a total of 353 points. Holliday’s breakdown was 11 first-place votes, 18 seconds, one third, one fourth and one sixth for 336 points.

The 17-point differential between Rollins and Holliday made the 2007 election the 20th closest overall and ninth in the NL since the current format was adopted by the BBWAA in 1938.

Rollins gives the Phillies their seventh MVP award, joining  Chuck Klein (1932), Jim Konstanty (1950), Mike Schmidt (1980, 1981, 1986) and Ryan Howard (2006). With Howard, the Phillies become the first club with back-to-back MVPs since San Francisco’s Jeff Kent and Barry Bonds in 2000 and 2001.

Everything Philadelphia accomplished in 2007 focused on Rollins, starting with his January boast that the Phillies were the “team to beat” in the NL East. That disregarded the  Mets, who captured the division the previous season and the  Braves, who won it seemingly every year before that.

Despite taking flack after Philadelphia’s 4-11 season-opening stumble, Rollins remained at the center of the Phillies’ resurgence. He batted .346 (28-for-81) with six homers, 15 RBIs and 15 runs in 18 games against those Mets and started all 162 games at shortstop, playing all but 17 innings. Batting in the leadoff spot for most of the season, he kept the offense churning.

He committed just 11 errors, enough for his first Gold Glove, though his fielding percentage was second to Colorado’s  Troy Tulowitzki.

When closer Brett Myers hurled his glove in the air following a called strike three against Washington’s Wily Mo Pena — securing a 13-4 finish that earned the Phillies their first postseason appearance since 1993 — Rollins’ MVP credentials were cemented.

Rollins became the first player in history to collect at least 200 hits, 25 homers, 15 triples and 25 steals in a season. Overall, the switch-hitter batted .296, with 38 doubles, 20 triples, 30 homers, 94 RBIs, 41 stolen bases, 212 hits and 139 runs scored.

The 139 runs scored and 88 extra-base hits were league records for a shortstop. He also set a Major League record with 716 at-bats, and became the third shortstop in history to have at least 30 homers and 30 stolen bases in a season, after Barry Larkin in 1996 and Alex Rodriguez in 1998.

Holliday, meanwhile, captured the league’s batting and RBI titles, and led the Rockies into the postseason for the first time since 1995. The left fielder was the focal point of the team’s 15-1 run to get there, batting .442 with five homers and 17 RBIs.

Overall, he batted .340, with 50 doubles, 36 homers, 137 RBIs, 216 hits and 120 runs scored. He also led the league in hits, total bases, doubles and extra-base hits.

The statistics only told part of the story. The voters went with the player who backed up a bold prediction. On a team with Howard and Chase Utley, who himself had an MVP campaign despite missing five weeks with a broken hand, Rollins simply was the team’s most valuable.

So now, Rollins adds the most coveted NL MVP award to his other 2007 booty; Golden Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

Milwaukee Brewers slugging first baseman Prince Fielder came in a not- so-distant third in the balloting, despite his huge 50 HRs, 119 RBIS and .288 BA, with five first-place votes and 284 points.

Jimmy, thanks for some great 2007 thrills and memories.  Let’s go in 2008 — Phillies; NL East champs and beyond.  Don’t let up!

*****

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera apparently has accepted the team’s $45 million, 3-year deal pending the standard results of a physical.  The Yankees are the only club Rivera haas played for in his  year career.

AP Sports reporter Ronald Blum notes for Yahoo sports;

Rivera, who turns 38 on Nov. 29, gets an average salary more than $4 million above what any other reliever currently makes.

Rivera was coming off a three-year contract that paid him $31.5 million. He had hoped for an extension before the start of this season, but the Yankees decided not to discuss contract extensions with any of their players until after the 2007 season was over.

“Mariano is obviously someone that we can’t live without because he’s one of a kind and he’s so unique in what he does for us,” Rodriguez said during a conference call after he won the AL MVP award for the third time. “He’s such an unbelievable force in our clubhouse. In many ways he’s kind of the voice for a lot of people in there.”

“I was certainly hopeful,” Steinbrenner said. “It’s a good offer and an offer that was made because I wanted him back.”

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While 3rd baseman Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees are apparently dotting the “i’s” and crossing the “t’s” on a new 10-year — $275 million deal to replace the remainder of the $252 million deal which his agent  Scott Boras opted him out of during the World Series,  A-Rod was the decisive winner of the AL MVP.

AP’s Ronald Blum reports on the MVP results for Yahoo sports;

A-Rod won his third AL MVP award Monday, easily defeating  Detroit’s Magglio Ordonez after compiling an astounding season at the plate. Rodriguez received 26 first-place votes and 382 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, while Ordonez had two firsts and 258 points.

There’s not very much one can say about this one;  A-Rod’s 2007 stats speak loudly for themselves; 54 HRs, 156 RBIs, 143 runs scored, .314 batting average, 24 stolen bases.  Although rightfielder Ordonez put up some mighty 2007 numbers; 28 HRs, 139 RBIs, 117 runs scored and a .363 batting average, they didn’t compare with Rodriguez.  Enough said!  The only suspense left is about who will win the NL MVP, Colorado’s leftfielder Matt Holliday or Phillies’ shortstop Jimmy Rollins.  

*****

3rd baseman and World Series MVP Mike Lowell ended his free agency today by apparently  reaching a a three-year, $37.5 million deal with the Red Sox.

If true, Boston will be positioned to try for a repeat with all their key players from 2007.

AP Sports reporter Jimmy Golden notes for Yahoo sports;

In the three weeks since winning their second championship in four seasons, the Red Sox have re-signed their two biggest free agents, Lowell and pitcher Curt Schilling, and picked up options on Tim Wakefield and Julian Tavarez.

Lowell, a 33-year-old third baseman who made $9 million this season, was seeking four guaranteed years and might have gotten it elsewhere.

Lowell hit 21 homers this season while reaching career highs with a .324 average and 120 RBIs.  Lowell moved into the fifth spot in Boston’s powerful lineup behind David Ortiz and  Manny Ramirez.

Lowell batted .400 (6-for-15) during Boston’s four-game Series sweep of the Colorado Rockies, with four RBIs, three walks and a team-high six runs to earn MVP honors.

*****

Veteran lefthander and former free agent Tom Glavine, winner of 303 career games officially bolted the New York Mets to sign a one year, $8 million deal with the Atlanta Braves for what would appear to be the final season of his career.

Glavine spent the first 16 seasons of his 21 year career in Atlanta before jumping to the Mets where he spent the 5 years between 2003-2007 and where his ERA skyrocketed to 4.45 in 2007 in a 13-8 season for the Mets who blew a big NL East division lead to the Phillies over the final weeks of the season.  Glavine got no-decisions in 2 decisive Mets’ losses to the Phils in the last month of the season.

AP Sports Writer Paul Newberry provides background for Yahoo sports;

Atlanta believes the crafty left-hander, who will turn 42 before next season, can help them get back to the playoffs after a two-year hiatus.

“Starting pitching has been our Achilles’ heel. We just didn’t have the depth we had in past years, and we wanted to address that,” new general manager Frank Wren said. “Tommy was our No. 1 target.”

This was an easy one to hit.

After turning down a $13 million option with the Mets for 2008, taking a $3 million buyout, he turned his attention toward the Braves. He gave Atlanta a hometown discount, agreeing to an $8 million, one-year deal that was the lowest he was willing to play for and wasn’t available to anyone else.

The Braves jumped on it quickly, wrapping up the negotiations in less than a week. No one else — not even the Mets — were ever in the mix.

“Sentiment goes a long way,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said, “but we all think Tommy can still win at the major league level. That’s the bottom line.”

Proving you can go home again, Glavine and the Braves got over the bitterness that accompanied their negotiations after the 2002 season.

During his 16-year tenure, Glavine had five 20-win seasons, captured Cy Young Awards in 1991 and ‘98, and helped the Braves win the first 11 of their unprecedented 14 straight division titles. He was MVP of their only World Series championship during the run, pitching eight scoreless [1 hit] innings in the deciding game of a 1995 victory over  Cleveland.

“No place I ever went to as a visiting player was ever as remotely strange as coming here as a visiting player,” Glavine said.

Which is probably why his wife teared up when he tried on his Braves cap and jersey in the training room before the news conference.

And that’s probably why [GM Frank] Wren couldn’t stop smiling when Glavine buttoned up his No. 47 jersey with “Braves” written across the front and modeled the red-and-blue hat with an “A” above the bill.

“Looks good, doesn’t it?” Wren said.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s David O’Brien adds;

Washington and Philadelphia were among a handful of teams that expressed interest in Glavine, though the pitcher told his agent, Gregg Clifton, to let teams know that he wanted to first give the Braves an opportunity to get a deal done before he considered any other offers.

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