If you need further evidence that the Baseball Writer's Association of America has no idea what's actually going on, I think I have some clinching evidence for you. A few weeks ago the BBWAA voted to extend voting credentials to online writers but left out Keith Law and Rob Neyer, two of the better online-only baseball writers out there. The general scutttlebut was that because they were mostly stat-oriented guys, they're going to have a serious problems getting a vote. That's all well and good, but Woody Paige still has a vote. Check out some choice excerpts from his latest column about who he's voting for this year:[Goose] Gossage - During a visit to Yankee Stadium in the late 1970s, I wanted to talk to Goose, but was told he was cruel and gruff to reporters. I sheepishly introduced myself and said I was from Colorado, his home state, and he talked pleasantly for 30 minutes. We've been good friends since. I would vote for him even if he wasn't deserving.I'm not going to fisk this thing Fire Joe Morgan style (I have a feeling they'll be all over this soon), but of the nine guys Paige says he's voting for, two made the list because he's friends with them. Also, Jim Rice played over 1500 games in the outfield and just a little over 500 at DH, but Paige didn't even bother to look that up. And he's soliciting reader requests to help fill his ballot out. But because he's not a stat-head, Woody Paige still totally knows more about baseball than Rob Neyer.
Jim Rice - He has been shut out for 13 years, mainly because he primarily was a DH.
[Dale] Murphy - ... I vote for Rockies. He was who a ballplayer should be. And he always remembers my name. I'm a sap.
Via BBTF
