Colorado Rockies: My (hypothetical) Hall of Fame ballot

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 30: Todd Helton #17 of the Colorado Rockies stands at first base in the ninth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on August 30, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies beat the Reds 9-6. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 30: Todd Helton #17 of the Colorado Rockies stands at first base in the ninth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on August 30, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies beat the Reds 9-6. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
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Barry Bonds
SAN FRANCISCO – AUGUST 07: In this handout image supplied by the San Francisco Giants, Barry Bonds #25 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates his career home run #756 with Willie Mays during the Major League Baseball game against the Washington Nationals at AT&T Park on August 7, 2007 in San Francisco, California. With his 756th career home run, Barry Bonds surpasses Hank Aaron to become Major League Baseball’s all-time home run leader. (Photo by Missy Mikulecky/San Francisco Giants via Getty Images)

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I thought I would change on Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens but I haven’t. Some people say that they should be in because they were Hall of Famers before they took steroids and really, next year, in their last year on the ballot, that’s the only way I can see myself flipping.

The argument that having the two of the best players not being in the Hall doesn’t make it a very good Hall, in my opinion, is total BS. Their careers haven’t been flushed down the memory hole and they have memorabilia in the Hall of Fame, but not a plaque. It’s an honor and a privilege to have a plaque there, not a right.

And also, spare me the “well, there weren’t any rules saying that they couldn’t take them in the 1990s.” Two wrongs by a commissioner and owners turning a blind eye to it to get revenues back up from the 1994-95 strike don’t make a right. If there’s no posted speed limit sign on a road, are you going to go 140 MPH? No. And if you did, you knew that it was wrong but you did it anyway. It’s the same concept.

If they don’t get elected, they shouldn’t be receiving any tears shed from anybody.

As for the other steroid guys, they are a definite no more me. Sammy Sosa wasn’t that good before steroids and Manny Ramirez failed two tests. Gary Sheffield is a more intriguing case, in my opinion, but I’m still a no on him, at least for now.

Omar Vizquel was my favorite player growing up as a Cleveland Indians fan in northern Ohio. Favorite player? Yes. Hall of Famer? No. Look at the numbers. Torii Hunter is another first-timer that was close for me but he didn’t have strong enough numbers, in my opinion, to warrant getting a vote.

Let us know what you think of my ballot and, later today, the FanSided vote on social media.

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