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Pregame Pepper
Did you know…
The total eclipse scheduled above Cleveland at 3:13 EDT April 8 will occur during the Cleveland Guardians opener — and could be the most exciting thing that happens to the team all year . . .
Benny Agbayani, best remembered for his performance with the Mets in the 2000 National League Division Series, is kvelling about his son Bruin, a lefty-hitting shortstop who will play college ball for South Carolina next year . . .
Benny boasts that his son has plus bat speed that suggests Phillies slugger Bryce Harper and offers defensive skills akin to Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, another All-Star . . .
Former Mets slugger Darryl Strawberry, whose No. 18 will be retired by the Mets this year, wants Pete Alonso to break his club home run record of 252 — but realizes he’ll need a 62-homer season to do it . . .
Another New York first baseman, Anthony Rizzo of the Yankees, has been cleared of the concussion issues that short-circuited his 2023 campaign . . .
Rizzo’s lefty swing is a perfect match with the short right-field porch of Yankee Stadium.
Leading Off
I’m Not Satisfied With Hall of Fame Voting
By Dan Schlossberg
The Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 could have been much larger than four.
The latest incarnation of the Veterans Committee picked only Jim Leyland of the four managers on their ballot, while the voting baseball writers named only newcomers Joe Mauer and Adrián Beltré plus holdover Todd Helton.
Both voting blocs could have — and should have — done better.
In the Eras Committee vote, announced at the start of the Nashville Winter Meetings in December, Lou Piniella missed by a single vote for the second time. Cito Gaston, despite consecutive world championships for the 1992-93 Toronto Blue Jays, didn’t even come close. Nor did Davey Johnson, manager of the 1986 World Champion Mets plus several other clubs that reached the playoffs.
In the “regular” election, compact closer Billy Wagner couldn’t close the deal, missing out by five votes, and Gary Sheffield’s 509 homers didn’t prevent him from falling off the ballot in his 10th and final try.
Andruw Jones, one of just five outfielders with 10 straight Gold Gloves, deserved entry on defensive prowess alone, not to mention his 434 home runs.
It’s interesting to note that during Atlanta’s 14-year title streak, Andruw led the team in WAR (wins against replacement) five times, more than such teammates as Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine.
Sure, he hit just .256 but so did Harmon Killebrew, a slugger not known for speed or defense.
The problem with the Cooperstown voting is the failure of most writers to complete their 10-person ballots. If a writer returns a ballot with one, two, or three names, it skews the entire counting process, making it virtually impossible for anyone to amass the required 75 per cent of the vote.
It seems to me that the Hall should reduce the percentage to 70 per cent (considering passing in most schools), require writers to fill in all 10 spaces, or both.
Too many deserving players, such as former MVPs Dale Murphy and Don Mattingly before Sheffield, are being overlooked.
The process won’t get any better next year, when Ichiro is a lock and CC Sabathia is a probable. That will make Wagner, Jones, and Carlos Beltrán also-rans again when all three should be safely ensconced in the gallery of plaques by now.
For the record, the four other outfielders with 10 straight Gold Gloves are Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Ichiro. All are in the Hall of Fame or on the cusp. Andruw should be too.
Former AP sportswriter Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ is a national baseball writer for forbes.com, columnist for Sports Collectors Digest, and contributor to USA TODAY Sports Weekly and the Hall of Fame’s Memories & Dreams. He’s also the author of 41 baseball books, including a forthcoming Hank Aaron biography. Email Dan at ballauthor@gmail.com.
Cleaning Up
Ed Lynch Stays in Baseball As Podcast Host
By Dan Schlossberg
Over more than 40 years, Ed Lynch has made baseball his life — as pitcher, general manager, and major-league advance scout before turning his attention to podcasting.
As someone with considerable podcast experience of my own, hosting BRAVES BANTER for seven years and TRAVEL ITCH RADIO for more than a dozen, I was intrigued by his logo’s name — Surfing Baseball With Ed Lynch — plus the quality of the guests.
He’s already hosted former Mets pitcher Ron Darling and media darling Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY and booked Terry Collins, former manager of the Mets, and Joe McIlvaine, once the team’s GM. His interview with Nightengale came during the Nashville Winter Meetings early last month.
A right-handed pitcher with the Mets (1980-1986) and Chicago Cubs (1986-87), Lynch was later an executive with the San Diego Padres, Mets, and Cubs, where he was general manager from 1994-2000. He later scouted for the Cubs and Blue Jays.
One of the brighter minds in the game, Lynch holds a B.S. in finance from the University of South Carolina and a juris doctorate from the University of Miami Law School.
The show airs on YouTube, X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Spotify, giving Lynch a listening audience superior to a packed house at Shea Stadium.
According to long-time baseball publicist Sharon Pannozzo, who once had Lynch as her boss with the Cubs, “Ed has surfed the waves of this incredible game that unites us all. Join us on the thrilling adventure of ‘Surfing Baseball With Ed Lynch,’ where we delve into the latest trends, explore rumors, and navigate the dynamic waves of player news throughout the entire baseball industry.”
The podcast features insider insights, controversies, riveting discussions, and baseball talk from people who have made baseball their livelihood.
During his eight-year pitching career, Lynch went 47-54 with a 4.14 earned run average. The 6’6” Brooklyn native was primarily a starting pitcher.
To learn more, see www.facebook.com/surfingbaseballwithedlynch or @SurfBBEDLYNCH.
Former AP sportswriter Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ covers the game for Here’s The Pitch, forbes.com, Memories & Dreams, Sports Collectors Digest, USA TODAY Sports Weekly, and other outlets. His Hank Aaron biography comes out just before the 50th anniversary of No. 715 in April. Book Dan to speak via ballauthor@gmail.com.
Timeless Trivia: The Vendor Who Turned Pitcher
One of the few Mets actually born in Flushing, Ed Glynn was the only one who went from hawking hot dogs to pitching for the team from Queens.
While a student at Francis Lewis High School in Fresh Meadow, he worked nights and weekends as a hot dog vendor at Shea Stadium — serving in that capacity when The Amazin’ Mets came out of nowhere to win the 1969 World Championship.
He later spent two seasons as a Mets pitcher, posting a 4-7 record and 3.53 ERA in 84 games, all in relief. Because he threw left-handed and stood 6’2” tall, he lasted 10 years in the majors, finishing with a lifetime 12-17 mark and 4.25 earned run average.
The Mets didn’t even exist until Glynn turned 10. Shea Stadium opened two years later.
Once he made the team, Glynn got a gift he prized: his own hot dog vendor box with his name and number painted on it. No other Met can make that claim.
Know Your Editors
HERE’S THE PITCH is published daily except Sundays and holidays. Benjamin Chase [gopherben@gmail.com] handles Monday and Tuesday editions, Elizabeth Muratore [nymfan97@gmail.com] does Wednesday and Thursday, and Dan Schlossberg [ballauthor@gmail.com] edits the weekend editions on Friday and Saturday. Readers are encouraged to contribute comments, articles, and letters to the editor. HTP reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.