Ain't gonna make much difference. Where was the outcry/lament from the fans when Gaylord Perry was inducted? Granted, the 'Ancient Mariner' never wagged his finger at Congress.

I do agree that the used car salesman needs to go and that if baseball were ever to recapture its place in the hearts of Americans it would have to have an independent commissioner...again and forever.

Apples and oranges, Chief. Sure, Perry was notorious for throwing a spitter, but it wasn't the only reason he earned all the wins that ended up putting him in. Hell, worrying whether he would throw it or not probably messed with enough batters' heads to give him an edge all those seasons without every having to actually toss it.

With Palmiero, just look at his numbers: he suddenly became a power hitter coincides almost to the day when he and Canseco became teammates. Before that, he wasn't considered potential Cooperstown material by anyone. Some reporter (I can't remember who, so I'm paraphrasing) called him "an Hispanic Mark Grace" before he teamed up with Jose and suddenly started blasting balls over fences.

True, however Jeff Goldstein's got a valid point as well (notably him changing his swing to more of an upper cut).

To me it comes down to this: were they or were they not testing for steroids when he (and everyone else) put up the 'big' numbers? To me, therefore, he's in the Hall.

1) Goldstein's point has some merit, but it takes as a given that Palmiero is not an arrogant asshole who thought he somehow could pull it off without getting caught. He's gone from "no steroids, period!" to "not intentionally!" and published reports have the 'rhoid he tested positive for being something that you don't find in dietary supplements or whatnot.

2) The dude has a running conversation with a mackintosh apple, fer chrissakes...that boy ain't right. ;)

If Pete Rose can be banned for shit he did totally removed from his playing days, then Raffy, RhoidBoy or any player who's admitted or been caught out using steroids deserve the same fate.

You know TC, a few years ago everyone said Pete never did anything and he should be in the hall. Now it is well he wasn't playing at the time.

There was a reason Pete was selling everything he could during his playing days. He did not come up with the 50 bucks for an autograph after he was thrown out of baseball. the guy bet as a player. the guy bet as a player/manager. the guy bet as a manager. He was a great hitter and his numbers should have punched his ticket.

But lets not pretend that he "discovered" gambling his last year as a manager.

I'm not saying that, Rob; not even hinting at the notion. But no evidence was ever found during the investigation that Pete bet on baseball during his days as a player. As I said back here, go ahead and ban him from coaching, managing, even scouting the lousiest baseball-playing outpost on the planet wouldn't bother me in the least. But as a player (who's name is on the all-time top ten lists in so many different categories it's almost ridiculous), he's being penalized for what, because he gambled? Then how come Michael Jordan wasn't held to the same standard? He was already a notoriously heavy-duty gambling junkie when he took that lark into professional baseball and the league didn't utter a peep. Hell, the NBA let him own a piece of the Wizards! (Personally, I think they finally told Mike he had to get out of the limelight because of his gambling problems, which made Rose look like a nickel and dime guy when lined up against each other.)

As a player, they never came up with anything Rose did that was detrimental to the games he played in. Raffy got busted, as an active player, for doing the same illegal steroid that cost Ben Johnson an Olmypic gold medal.

And if you've ever been to Cooperstown on a Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, when the village is lousy with HoF members doing grin and grabs (and even some not also charging for autographs) and such, you'd know the longest line is always the one of people wanting to see Rose. Three years ago I was able to spend fifteen minutes chatting with Don Larsen because he was just sitting there, in front of a bat store on Main Street, being practically ignored. Pete's joint down the block was wall-to-wall.

FREE PETE!

Even though I'm considered a Fenway Fuckwit (badge of honor, mind), I have to say, after hearing from one of my all-time favorites (Will Clark - Raffy's Mississippi State teammate) yesterday on the Dan Patrick Show, that I agree with you, TC. You look at the Thrill's and Raffy's careers. Just as Will started tailing off Palmeiro's began to 'shoot up' once he got to Texas with Jose 'The Needle Merchant of Cuba' Canseco. Clark was asked what he'd say to Palmeiro if he saw him today. His response: "You got caught, PARDNAH!"

Fenway Fuckwittiness denotes a specifically blinkered viewpoint, El Jefe, not being totally blind.

It's like me and Johnny Thunders. He's the greatest rock and roll guitar player I've ever seen perform, and when friends say "You've seen Page, Blackmore, BEck...are you out of your fucking mind?"

ME: "Johnny kicked all their asses, even when he was so stoned he had to lean on his amp to keep from falling on ass. Put any of those fuckers against Johnny on Max's Kansas City's stage and he'd beat their balls into the floor."

Ahhhhh, Thunders. For me it was Stevie Ray Vaughn one night in October, 1981. Jaw-dropping is the only way to describe it. Seen Clapton, Knopfler, Beck, Santana, Setzer, et al. Until someone tops that night he'll be numero uno for me.

Know what you mean. First time I laid eyes on Thunders, he puked on my Doc Martins at Max's upstairs bar and I wanted to beat his ass, and my sidekicks were grabbing me and pulling me back and shussing me, say, "That Johnny!"

"Fuck him! They're new boots!"

Ended up talking, and getting stupendously high--but not the Needle (shudder), and bumming around with him before Max's got shut down (and Johnny got way deep in the smack, because Hilly over at Cb's was scared shit of him).

Little prick still owes me money. But Johnny still holds the throne for, "FUCK YOU! I CAN KICK ALL YOUR FUCKING ASSES, AND JOHNNY ROTTEN SUCKED MY DICK!"

In other words, the King High Priest of American Punk.

PS: Iggy can blow me.)

Was at a B-52s/Blondie concert with the wife when Blondie played Television's "See No Evil" and NO ONE knew the song except me. Pitiful.

THIS just in...

...in other AL East news, Boston hurler Matt Clement poses for the camera after earning a shaky victory in his first game back after getting a nasty line shot off the head.......

Sorry..what was that again? A victory you said?

I know I'm oft-times a dolt, but shit, Ric, for the life of me, it's five days later and still I ain't getting the Count Chocula thing....

Is it about the beardlet? If so, toss up some Amish.