Mazz: An explanation on Hall of Fame voting? I don’t have one
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.
Tony Massarotti is the co-host of the number 1 afternoon-drive show, Felger & Mazz, on 98.5 The Sports Hub. He is a lifelong Bostonian who has been covering sports in Boston for the last 20 years. Tony worked for the Boston Herald from 1989-2008. He has been twice voted by his peers as the Massachusetts sportswriter of the year (2000, 2008) and has authored five books, including the New York times best-selling memoirs of David Ortiz, entitled “Big Papi.” A graduate of Waltham High School and Tufts University, he lives in the Boston area with his wife, Natalie, and their two sons. Tony is also the host of The Baseball Hour, which airs Monday to Friday 6pm-7pm right before most Red Sox games from April through October. The Baseball Hour offers a full inside look at the Boston Red Sox, the AL East, and all top stories from around the MLB (Major League Baseball).
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