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MLB

The Dugout: Meet Your 2009 Hall of Fame Candidates, Part Two

This coming Hall of Fame ballot only features one Hall of Fame lock. Beyond that is a rabble of jerks who will be laughed out of future consideration, and beyond that is a selection of Tommy John-caliber guys. These guys shouldn't be forgotten, but there's the creeping feeling that if we let them in, we risk lowering the bar a little. We must all remain pragmatic and cynical. If we don't, the 2022 induction ceremony will feature David Eckstein and, like, Joe Crede.

In this installment, The Dugout applies this sort of cynicism toward Jay Bell, Don Mattingly, Ron Gant, and Mo Vaughn. For further reading, check out Part One of this series.

The Dugout

**OnlineHost** Next!

Jaybellwocky: hullo

**OnlineHost** Rick Moranis?

Jaybellwocky: pfft i wish, i'm jay bell

**OnlineHost** All right, let's hear some Hall of Fame credentials.

Jaybellwocky: well i had a career OPS+ of 101, which means i was just barely above average at the plate

Jaybellwocky: and i won a gold glove one time

Jaybellwocky: and i achieved this mountain of accomplishments despite looking like your grandma

**OnlineHost** Great! Awesome! Get the Hell out of here!

Jaybellwocky: shucks

/hobbles out with conjoined twin

AreYouJeffKingKiddingMe: ugh i'm too tired to walk

Jaybellwocky: don't even try that excuse, i've let you use the pancreas all day

**OnlineHost** Next!

Donald_Baseball: No introduction is necessary. I'm Don Mattingly.

Don. Freaking. Mattingly.

**OnlineHost** That was an introduction.

Donald_Baseball: And you know why they called me "Donnie Baseball"?

**OnlineHost** Because your name is Don and you played baseball.

Donald_Baseball: No doubt.

**OnlineHost** Well, since you're not playing baseball anymore and you're just some dude now, I'm just going to call you "Donnie Human Being."

**OnlineHost** And sorry, no dice. You had four really awesome years and then turned into Jeff Blauser.

Donald_Baseball: Nuh-uh! I won nine Gold Gloves!

**OnlineHost** Do you have any idea how irrelevant Gold Gloves are? The other day I took a dump and found three of them in my poop. Next!

RonGantswer: Hi, I'm Ron Gant. I am on the Hall of Fame ballot.

RonGantswer: /sits down

RonGantswer: pffft

hahahaha

**OnlineHost** ahahahaha

RonGantswer: HAHAHA

**OnlineHost** HA

RonGantswer: /leaves

**OnlineHost** that f***in guy cracks me up

**OnlineHost** Next!

MoVaughn.org: /waddles in

**OnlineHost** Credentials, please.

MoVaughn.org: Well, I was one of the better hitters in the game for a few years, but I fizzled out early. My career stats don't really merit induction.

MoVaughn.org: BUT

I have eaten several major league players. I don't know how stats work, but I think it's only fair that I should absorb a guy's statistics if I eat him.

**OnlineHost** Well, who have you eaten?

MoVaughn.org: hmm

I ate a few utility infielders, but they tasted too gritty. Oh, and I ate Candy Maldonado. That's like 150 home runs right there.

**OnlineHost** Tell you what. That's still a borderline case, but you can always take the next year or so to bolster your resume. Cannibalize Kelly Gruber or somebody, then we'll talk.

MoVaughn.org: Fair enough.

/attempts to exit chat room

/is too fat to exit chat room

MoVaughn.org: ugh

**OnlineHost** Need some help?

MoVaughn.org: yeah, thanks

**OnlineHost** /shove

MoVaughn.org: urrrrrgggh

**OnlineHost** All right, let's try again. On three.

**OnlineHost**
on
e
two
three
/shove

MoVaughn.org: URRRRRGGGH

**OnlineHost** Mo Vaughn has been shoved out of the chat room.

Photos link to player info. WordUpThome.com Photo Credit: Getty, Creative Commons

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