Mazz: An explanation on Hall of Fame voting? I don’t have one
If the Baseball Hall of Fame wants to maintain any integrity at all, it’s hard for voters to elect anyone from the steroid era without electing the others.
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 15: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a home run against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning at Fenway Park on September 15, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
In the case of Barry Bonds, the difference was 47 votes. In the case of Roger Clemens, it was 50. That was the gap between David Ortiz, who got into the Hall of Fame, and the two most notable candidates who did not.
How do I explain that?
I can't.
At least not with any real justification.
Before we got any further, let me just say this: I’m not trying to be sanctimonious or judgmental here. (OK, maybe just a little.) The whole idea of any election is to ask for different viewpoints. The question in 2022 is how someone could vote for David Ortiz while denying Bonds and Clemens, all of whom were strongly suspected or downright guilty of using performance-enhancers. I wish I could tell you that I have a good answer for that question. I don’t.
