Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves’ News 12/1
Oct 4, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman
Chris Johnson(23) breaks his bat on a single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning of game two of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Morning Chop: Summary of Atlanta Braves’ News
Braves duo could make history with joint Hall induction
Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine were key parts to an Atlanta Braves team that won an American professional record 14 consecutive division titles.
Now they have a chance to add another achievement to their resumes.
First-time candidates for the Hall of Fame, Maddux and Glavine could become only the second pair of teammates elected to the Hall of Fame in the same year by the members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
They could join Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees, who were enshrined in 1974. Mantle was elected in his first year of eligibility. Ford was on the ballot for the second time.
There have been 18 induction ceremonies in which two players from the same organization were enshrined in the Hall of Fame. But in 17 of those cases, at least one of the inductees was elected by the Veterans Committee, meaning they had used up their 15 years of eligibility on the BBWAA ballot.
In 1946, the famed Cubs double-play trio of Joe Tinker to Johnny Evers to Frank Chance was inducted en masse, thanks to the vote of the Veterans Committee.
The most recent induction of multiple players from the same franchise came in 2000 when Tony Perez, representing the Cincinnati Reds, was elected by the BBWAA, and Bid McPhee was selected by the Veterans Committee. McPhee played for Cincinnati from 1882-99.
Braving New Territory: It’s All BABIP Fairies and Luck Dragons
Stats We’re Talking About: … Luck
There’s no real equivalent stat to what we know as BABIP (Batting Average on Balls In Play), but the idea of BABIP has been around since the start of the game.
Despite never really writing it down or throwing it in a formula, we’ve always readily acknowledged that things don’t always work out as they should. A guy pops one into No Man’s Land and gets a hit while the next guy ropes a line drive for an out. Someone hits a bomb to center, but it’s in Marlins Park instead of Citizens Bank Park. The batter smashes one into the hole, but there’s a shift on and a play is made on the ball. I could go on, but I think you get the point.
But while we’ve always readily acknowledged these points, we’ve always kind of shrugged our shoulders and assumed that everything evened out in the end. 162 games, 600 PA, and six months is a long time, and it would seem to make sense that things would even out. Sure, a hitter would get a few bloop hits, but he’s also going to hit a few ropes that end up in outs. The pitcher might have some grounders that get through the infield tonight, but on another night, he’ll get the breaks. It sounds good.
Hot Stovers banquet speakers announced
Former Philadelphia Phillies catcher Bob Boone, former Atlanta Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone and former Phillies coach Mick Billmyer will be the headliners for the 53rd annual Reading Hot Stovers Thursday, Jan. 16, at Riveredge. The event begins at 5 p.m.
Mazzone is known for his stint as the pitching coach for the Atlanta Braves. He was named Atlanta’s coach in June 1990 and held the position through the 2005 season. During that time, the Braves, anchored by a strong pitching staff, won 14 straight division titles and the 1996 World Series. Tom Glavine (1991, 1998), Greg Maddux (1993-95) and John Smoltz (1996) all won Cy Young Awards under Mazzone’s tutelage.
He was the Baltimore Orioles pitching coach in 2006 and ’07.
Hall of Fame Poll: Fred McGriff
This is the Crime Dog’s 5th time on the ballot, he’s ranged from 23.9 to 17.9%. I’m biased, but I don’t know why Fred McGriff doesn’t get more support for the Hall. 493 home runs, 1305 RBI, a 1550 RBI and 1305 walks with a.284/.377/.509 slash line. Fangraphs has him at a 50.5 career WAR.
I really liked him when he was a Jay. When they traded him, and Tony Fernandez to thePadres for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter, I told my friend that we were trading away a future Hall of Famer. 30+ homers, 100 walks a year seemed like a guy that should make the Hall to me.
Fred made 5 All-Star teams and had 3 Silver Sluggers. He was always close to the top of the league in OBP and Slugging. The top 4 players on his Similarity Score list are Willie McCovery, Willie Stargell, Jeff Bagwell and Frank Thomas.
His problem is that he played in an era where there a number of good first basemen and, of course, when steroids were all around. I don’t remember Fred being accused of using PED,
If he had those 7 more homers to get to 500……