Why not just give him a paper cut and pour lemon juice in it?

Because I believe in being a good sport (I do?), I’ll say congratulations to Goose Gossage.   But I don’t really mean it.  I’m so bugged about Jim Rice being overlooked again….and you know what?   I don’t even feel like he’s being "overlooked", I feel like writers are messing with him.  "Oh, JimEd is definitely getting in this year.  He only needs a few more votes."  Build the guy up just to knock him down, why don’t you?

Fortunately, JimEd has more class than most of the yahoos who pretend they know about baseball…and obviously more than me.  🙂  This is what he had to say, according to mlb.com:

"Today’s results are obviously a disappointment. I believe my accomplishments speak for themselves, and a majority of the voters seem to agree. It is tough to come this close, but I remain hopeful for the 2009 results. I appreciate all the kind words from so many players, including Rich Gossage, and I congratulate Goose on his well-deserved election today."

 My ‘statement’ would have read something like this:

"Today’s results are obviously total bullshit. I believe my accomplishments speak for themselves, and a majority of the voters seem to agree. The rest of them can suck it. It is tough to come this close, but I remain hopeful for the 2009 results. Some of the writers who didn’t vote for me this year might kick off by then. I appreciate all the kind words from so many players, including Rich Gossage, who I’ll say nice things about since I kicked his ass when we played each other, and I congratulate Goose on his well-deserved election today. Now pardon me while I go get drunk and find a member of the BBWAA to beat up."

In an age where the Buster Olney’s of the world have no problem giving votes to players they know or strongly suspect of using PED’s it is downright upsetting to me that Jim Rice gets treated the way he does.*

I know he’s one of those players many think is on the fence.  Maybe he deserves to be in, but you can argue he doesn’t.  I don’t agree.  Never have.  For what he accomplished when he accomplished it, he deserves it.  I won’t argue this because if you don’t think he deserves to be in there, nothing I could say would convince you otherwise.  And nothing you can say, I promise you, will convince me otherwise. 

Jim Rice is a big man (shout out to Cousin Steve!) and  he’s in my Hall of Fame.  I’ll say it because Jim Rice won’t:  Suck it, 16 voters.

 *To be fair, Olney voted for Jim Rice.  But he also voted for Mark McGwire (seemingly just because others told him they wouldn’t) so I’m name-dropping today.