From 38 Pitches, HOF question, and legitimacy of 'heart and soul' guys

12/29/08 Schilling Mini-Mailbag:

• "Question (Carlson): Are you a Hall of Famer?

• Answer (Schilling): No

• (RB (Rob Bradford): Yes — Curt, not me.
• Post-season success is the difference-maker)."***

12/25/08 Schilling, "A Second look at a few things:

• (Rob) Bradford: When referencing this potential move (signing Teixeira), some have cited the Yankees decision to go with high-priced talent in the early 2000’s instead of the “heart and soul” guys that were on the championship teams.
• Is that kind of chemistry/clubhouse influence
• overstated?

• Me (Schilling): No, no and a million more times no.

• The easiest way to figure that out is to play fantasy baseball right?

• Take the 2004 Yankees on paper, play them against ANY other 2004 team and play a 5×5 league. How do they fare?

• I’d expect REAL well and pretty dominating?

There is so much that happens outside the 3-4 hours of games each day that impact and influence teams in a way

• no statistician or ‘expert’ can ever hope to define or quantify.

• It affects wins and losses, it affects clubs state of mind,

• it affects everything."

(***Of note, a BBWAA member recognizing post season success as qualifier for HOF (which it obviously is and should be to anyone of conscience). Baseball media in recent years has deliberately downplayed legitimate post season work. The idea they're pushing is it discriminates against players who weren't 'lucky' enough to be in the post season. Denying someone's life work is pretty serious, but the BBWAA is pretty serious about whose record they want to polish up (or down) for their awards. Documented numerous times on this blog.) sm

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