This is a joke, right?

Of course Pat Hentgen only had a one-Hentgen career. Bert lapped him once and then did another half-Hentgen.

The reason...one has become (for some reason) the darling of the writers and the other is named "Pat Hentgen".

Which is why Blyleven went into the Hall with nearly 100% of the vote.

Maybe because one pitched really well for a long time, and the other pitched well on occasion? Maybe because Cy Young awards and all-star appearances, taken by themselves, are a rotten measure for who belongs in the HoF?

I'm a huge Pat Hengten fan, and even I'm assuming that this is some sort of joke.

Read what he wrote about Blyleven.

-- MWE

Please stop, you're only encouraging Jesus and Repoz...

Please stop, you're only encouraging Jesus and Repoz...

Yes, for Repoz, Jesus is always the reason for the season.

Read what he wrote about Blyleven.

From TFL:

I won’t even mention the fact that there were TWELVE American League pitchers with 20 or more victories in 1973.

I absolutely hate it when people do this. I mean, you did just mention it, did you not?

but Rik Aalbert Blyleven pitched longer than Christ walked the Earth.

Too bad Jason Christianson doesn't have a borderline HOF case.

Yes, for Repoz, Jesus is always the reason for the season.

Yes, but it is possible to title a blog post "Jack Morris For The HOF" and not get him to byte.

Here's something that needs a link: The Book blog's discussion of the decade's best defenders. Interesting stuff...

Read what he wrote about Blyleven.

Awesome. He's arguing against him, and still manages to attempt a ridiculously incorrect point in his favor:

Blyleven’s career total resides at 287. And say what you want, had there not been a strike in 1981 or had he not been hurt in 1982, Blyleven might have gotten to 300.

I'm slightly skeptical that Blyleven would have won 13 games in the missing third of the '81 season, but maybe it's just me.

Hentgen had a nice career. A good pitcher who had a couple of top years. Leading the planet in innings, complete games, and batters faced two years running may have broken him.

I understand Pat Hentgen has a book about ZIP Codes coming out soon. We should discuss that.

It's kind of a shame he had to drop that Blyleven comparison in.
I was looking forward to a nice trip down nostalgia lane.

Here's something that needs a link: The Book blog's discussion of the decade's best defenders. Interesting stuff...

Nah, that's not BTF-worthy. Even though it's mgl, it's not something that will infuriate people (like some of his stuff does, for whatever reason.)

From the writer's Alomar blurb:
Even, Alomar’s OPS+ (a stat that I am not that high on, but some people are) of 116 is smack dab in the middle of the pack when you look at those already enshrined. For the record, Sandberg’s was 114. Joe Morgan...a surprising 132.

Earlier he argues that Alomar might be ahead of Morgan as the best post-war 2B.

Even though it's mgl, it's not something that will infuriate people (like some of his stuff does, for whatever reason.)

I don't think it's his stuff that infuriates people, but his general mglness. I'm not in that camp, however, even if I do think his "I'll bet you a million dollars" fallback argument was monumentally silly.

Here's something that needs a link: The Book blog's discussion of the decade's best defenders. Interesting stuff...

Nah, that's not BTF-worthy. Even though it's mgl, it's not something that will infuriate people (like some of his stuff does, for whatever reason.)

You know, there's this super-awesome "submit" feature on the front page....

Alomar even slugged .347 in back to back World Series victories for the Blue Jays

That's, um, not very good.

He doesn't vote for Blyleven, who he calls a compiler, that was never dominant in the league and played forever...and then he votes for Harold Baines?

He doesn't vote for Blyleven, who is one of 5 members of the 280 W/3700 K club...and then he votes for Dawson because he's one of 16 in the 2700/400 club?

The logic is hurting my brain.

Do they have ZIP codes in Canada? I can't see how they would help, as none of the sled dogs, penguin drivers, or polar bear postmasters can read.

What's funny is that whenever I remember Hentgen as a player, it is remembering watching him pitch against the Twins. The first thing that pops into my mind is the way Bert Blyleven absolutely slobbered over Hentgen's willingness to complete his starts. Blyleven LOVED Hentgen.

Do they have ZIP codes in Canada?

Postal codes, rather than ZIP codes.

I can't see how they would help, as none of the sled dogs, penguin drivers, or polar bear postmasters can read.

You'd be surprised just how intelligent our native wildlife can be. Those polar bears really know their stuff.

My last few submissions haven't made it - not sure why. Anyway, I was kinda hoping to hijack this one anyway.

Postal codes, rather than ZIP codes.

I've always wondered, what does ZIP mean and/or stand for?
It annoys me to no end online when I need to enter my ZIP code to register for something it refuses to accept letters. I usually end up just mashing integers until it tells me it's good.

I've always wondered, what does ZIP mean and/or stand for?

Zone Improvement Plan. Not sure why.

This thread has the possibilty of turning into Flypaper.

No real surprises in MGL's list. The closest for me were Neifi Perez as #5 SS and I didn't realize UZR loved Andruw Jones THAT much (+20 runs per 150!).

It still surprises me that actual competent, competitive teams let Mark Grudzielanek toil for the Royals.

Zone Improvement Plan. Not sure why.

They wanted mail to go to the right Springfields and Portlands. Around the same time they assigned states those two letter abbreviations. I'm sure the William Safires of the world were thrilled about that.

I wish I had more to say.

I'm glad he doesn't.

Hentgen had a decent year as a veteran anchor for the Orioles; 245 IP, 104 ERA+. Unfortunately, he spread it over three seasons.

Around the same time they assigned states those two letter abbreviations.

Zip Codes predated those awful abbreviations by quite a few years, if I'm not mistaken.

Whiskeypedia says the changes were concurrent with the intro of Zip Codes.

Whiskeypedia says the changes were concurrent with the intro of Zip Codes.

How about that? But widespread usage surely trailed well behind. It seemed sometime during my grade school days (I recall a teacher instructing us of the fact) when the post office was actually pushing the use of these two-letter abbreviations over the ones most of us were familiar with (Mo., Mich., Mass., etc.)

How old are you, SoSH U? Two-letter abbreviations forever!

He can still recite all 48 old abbreviations!

How old are you, SoSH U? Two-letter abbreviations forever!

42. I vividly recall an elementary school class where we encouraged, when sending letters, to replace the traditional abbreviations with those soulless postal ones. Maybe it was just a local thing.

Zone Improvement Plan. Not sure why.

Because previously, each ZIP code didn't represent a distinct geographic area.

As we now know, that problem has been fixed.

Hentgen had a decent year as a veteran anchor for the Orioles; 245 IP, 104 ERA+. Unfortunately, he spread it over three seasons.

I'm pretty sure, but too lazy to check right now, that Hentgen retired after--I mean, like literally right after--a game when the Yankees just abused him. I always respected him for that.

I'm pretty sure, but too lazy to check right now, that Hentgen retired after--I mean, like literally right after--a game when the Yankees just abused him.

You are correct. They just teed off on him.

Pat Hentgen's Wikipedia page is currently sporting an interesting note on his non-baseball related employment in his career section. I'm curious to see how long it stays up. I'm also curious as to what would inspire someone to vandalize Pat Hentgen's page.

Pat Hentgen's Wikipedia page is currently sporting an interesting note on his non-baseball related employment in his career section. I'm curious to see how long it stays up.

Given that he only gets paid 10 cents an hour, Hentgen better hope it stays up for a long time.

SoSH U - I thought we were roughly in the same demographic (and are), I'm 36.
***
Any response I have to Ryan will get me in trouble with somebody.

Given that he only gets paid 10 cents an hour, Hentgen better hope it stays up for a long time.

See, I'm not even sure he still has that job. The note is in the past tense, so he must not have been carried over into the new administration. Who knows what he's doing now?

You are correct. They just teed off on him.

Oddly, I remember that as a day game (it was the summer I didn't work, but before I had YES so I listened to a lot of day games) but I obviously got the important details right.

See, I'm not even sure he still has that job. The note is in the past tense, so he must not have been carried over into the new administration. Who knows what he's doing now?

I'm guessing he left the post voluntarily. Even the Obama administration is smart enough to know it's difficult to find a deal that good.

You are correct. They just teed off on him.

I read this is "They just peed on him"
Which I think could really catch on as euphamism for getting beat badly.

I read this is "They just peed on him"
Which I think could really catch on as euphamism for getting beat badly.

So Tosca came to the mound in the third and sent him to the golden showers?

They wanted mail to go to the right Springfields and Portlands. Around the same time they assigned states those two letter abbreviations. I'm sure the William Safires of the world were thrilled about that.

Wait... I think this makes me old because I can remember as a kid, being told we were no longer able to use "Rural Route numbers" - and had to use actual street addresses when mailing letters in our sleepy little burg.

I'm guessing he left the post voluntarily. Even the Obama administration is smart enough to know it's difficult to find a deal that good.

Good point. Maybe Pat's hoping that his new HOF eligibility will raise his profile a little so he can charge a better rate. Although with the economy the way it is, the demand may not be there.

Good point. Maybe Pat's hoping that his new HOF eligibility will raise his profile a little so he can charge a better rate. Although with the economy the way it is, the demand may not be there.

I'm pretty sure if you paid him enough Pete Rose would be willing to provide that service. Probably while simultaneously apologizing for betting on baseball.

You are correct. They just teed off on him.

Threw 67 pitches, gave up 8 runs, and had a game score of 8.

I think you can go get him now.

Threw 67 pitches, gave up 8 runs, and had a game score of 8.

On 7 hits, 4 walks, a HBP, no Ks, and only 8 outs. It was a slaughter.

I've always wondered, what does ZIP mean and/or stand for?

Szymborski Projection. I control the mail.

You control information?

That's weird.
I can't see any sponsorship on Hentgen's page.
Was it removed? What did it say?

Hentgen was my favourite player at one point. I'd be thrilled if he had some kind of Hall of Fame case. He doesn't. But he had a career that he can be proud of and I'm glad I got to watch it.

That's weird.
I can't see any sponsorship on Hentgen's page.
Was it removed? What did it say

It was on the wiki page, and not B-R. You can see the recently removed line here.

Wait... I think this makes me old because I can remember as a kid, being told we were no longer able to use "Rural Route numbers" - and had to use actual street addresses when mailing letters in our sleepy little burg.

I'm not 40 yet, and I remember writing letters to my grandmother with her "RR" address. As late as when I was applying to college, I had no number at all for my house, which caused NYU and some others no end of trouble in actually comprehending such a fact.


It was on the wiki page, and not B-R. You can see the recently removed line here.

Whoa. Let's hope that doesn't show up on any of the papers SteveM or Vaux will be checking for plagiarism.

Oh my...it's good to see that after two long years, you folks still peruse The Hall of Very Good. I mean I see where the traffic comes from and all (thank you), but man...I almost forgot how shallow the water was at this end of the pool.

So...let me answer some questions and respond to some comments.

"This is a joke, right?" I'm not sure what the joke is/was...but I would suspect the line "one will garner little to no attention on this year’s ballot" in regard to Pat Hentgen would mean that he is not a viable Hall of Fame candidate.

"Which is why Blyleven went into the Hall with nearly 100% of the vote." Yeah...this one confuses me. I'm not sure of the math that is being used, but given...wait, nevermind. This is just a stupid, stupid comment.

Maybe because one pitched really well for a long time, and the other pitched well on occasion? Maybe because Cy Young awards and all-star appearances, taken by themselves, are a rotten measure for who belongs in the HoF? Awards and All-Star appearances might be a rotten measure, but unfortunately, they do get looked at when people measure the success of a player. One 20 win season (and a 20-17 one at that) isn't any more of an indicator of worth, however.

I absolutely hate it when people do this. I mean, you did just mention it, did you not? Yup...I did bring up Blyleven's 1973 season. The fact of the matter is this...to everyone who brings up Blyleven's lack of run support or the quality of teams he played on, I'll bring up Steve Carlton. Carlton won games and won Cy Young Awards by (A) not being a compiler and (B) in spite of playing for some terrible, terrible teams. It CAN be done, gang...Blyleven just couldn't do it.

"I'm slightly skeptical that Blyleven would have won 13 games in the missing third of the '81 season, but maybe it's just me." As am I...and that is precisely why I also mentioned the 1982 season where he missed all but FOUR of his starts. Nice try, Eric J.

"It's kind of a shame he had to drop that Blyleven comparison in. I was looking forward to a nice trip down nostalgia lane." Sorry. Anyone who knows me, knows I have a hard time with the sudden support Blyleven has been getting. Hence...the reference.

"Earlier he argues that Alomar might be ahead of Morgan as the best post-war 2B." Tell me he isn't. And the minute you mention OPS+...you lose.

Yawn. It's late...thanks for the support.

The Hall of Very Good

but Rik Aalbert Blyleven pitched longer than Christ walked the Earth.

Well at least that is true.

Hentgen's 2004 was painful to watch ... Probably the most obvious a pitcher was "done" that I've seen. Threw 84MPH with no movement and no control. It was sad. That whole season sucked so many christmas balls.