Hall of Fame Results 2019: One Insanely Satisfying Class

So...I was expecting a casually good turnout for this HOF class. But...this is unprecedented.

Not only did four people get into the Baseball Hall of Fame today, when I'd figured we'd just get a solid three, but...all four people are players I genuinely enjoyed watching, and very wholesome figures in my collection. Like, I knew we were getting into the years where i'd have a deeper connection with the inductees, but...not like this.

So let's start with the biggest surprise: Mike Mussina is now a Hall of Famer. I predicted he'd get at least like 73 percent this year, and I questioned whether he'd make it in this year, especially in a year where Halladay would probably be getting in. Apparently too much stellar pitching is never enough, and Moose got in with 76%, a close but important entry. Moose's thing was dominance, consistency, and stamina. He didn't have many down seasons, and he was very rarely injured, and he just stood there and threw fire. There's not much else to it, really. He's probably in as an Oriole, but I'd love to see him sneak in as a Yankee.

And then we have Halladay, which is one that I'm glad happened, even if I didn't think it'd be confirmed he'd be a first-ballot guy. Halladay pitched for my team and did more in four seasons than most Phillies do over an entire career (looking at you, Maikel). The no-hitters were a nice touch, but from 2000 to 2011, he was legitimately one of the most powerful pitchers in the game, and was one of the most impressive strikeout artists of his era. It's a shame he left us before he could see the results.

Edgar and Mo I saw coming, though. Edgar, because the fanbase wouldn't let him miss it this year, and because with Baines in, the era of the DH in Cooperstown had finally come. And Mo, because...dammit, he's Mariano Rivera. He's an iconic closer, and no one can dispute that. The unanimous numbers all but confirm that.

These are four names I'm happy made it to Cooperstown. An insanely deserving bunch, and a good chunk of my collection as well. I can't see the 2020 class coming especially close, even if Derek Jeter waltzes in with unanimous numbers as well.

Speechless

Goodbye to a Great

For a brief stretch of time, between 2010 and 2011, Roy Halladay was my favorite player.

There was no sugarcoating, no Yankees racing to the throne. Halladay was the king. He pitched 2 no-hitters in 2010, and still managed to be great in his four years with Philly. Even if he was a Blue Jay for most of his career, spending countless games battering down my Yankees, I came to respect him, and he became a favorite.

Last season was awful, because he sustained a pretty awful injury, which ended up cutting his Hall-of-Fame caliber career short. And that sucks, because if he had kept going there would be no 'borderline Hall' crap. There would be no 'oh, he'd be awesome had he not gotten injured' crap. If 2013 hadn't have happened, there would be 3 more seasons of Halladay pitching like a boss, and there wouldn't be any drama when he'd be inducted into the Hall 6 seasons after. Now, because his career ended early, all the haters are gonna bring that up, and that might keep him from getting in.

But I don't care. He's still one of my favorites, and he's still always going to be one of my favorites. I'm just gonna miss seeing him pitch all the time.

So yeah. Glad to see you're retiring with Toronto, Roy. Glad you ended on top.

The Long Fall from the Top

When fans of struggling teams ask each other 'hey, remember when they used to be good?', they probably have to remember back to a long time ago. For The Royals, you'd have to remember back to the mid-80's, with George Brett, Frank White, Bret Saberhagen and a nice world series ring. For the Mets, you'd have to remember the 1986 World Series, or even the 1969 World Series. For the Cubs, you might be screwed.

But most Phillies fans can still remember the 'good old days' very well. You know, unless they've died since 2011.

Today, exactly three years ago, Roy Halladay pitched a no-hitter against the Marlins, the first of two this season. He'd go on to win the Cy Young award that season. Also, the Phillies would come short of the World Series, losing to the eventual winners, the Giants.

Three years have passed. What the hell happened?

It reminds me of the movie Anchorman. No, not how overrated it is. I mean in the fact that after Ron is shunned from society, he has this very quick deterioration, and soon everything in his life turns to absolute crap, in the span of probably a couple weeks. In real life, that doesn't happen. In real life, people deteriorate slowly, and sadly. But in movie years, it just takes a few weeks.

That's what this is like. It takes most MLB teams about 5 or 7 years to go from wonderful to awful. It doesn't just happen in a year. Like, 2011 they were still a good team. And then the next season they come back and they're suddenly awful. That doesn't happen! That SHOULDN'T happen! But it did.

Now, there's more of a chance of the Phillies to BE no-hit than to throw a no hitter, and we'll be lucky if Roy Halladay ever throws like he did 4 weeks ago, let alone 4 years ago, again. And while it would be nice if the Phillies got back to the top again, it just seems like the two teams currently there won't let it happen.

But again, who knows. Maybe October will be 'Out of the Bear Pit' territory. Or you know, it could just be another round of 'Pass me another scotch Danny Trejo'.

You know. Like in Anchorman.

Custom Card of the Day: Halladay Edition

This is the fifth Roy Halladay Phillies custom I've made in his three seasons with the team, and he's deserved every one of them. He's one of the best pitchers in the league right now, and he's leading a great team to become a better one. Sure, he may be one piece of a growing rotation, but it's a good piece. Lee, Hamels and Worley are awesome in their own ways, but they ain't Roy.

I hope he stays around for a long time, and I hope he leads Philly to another great season.

Coming Tomorrow- Last year's AL MVP, hoping to establish himself as an even bigger name.

Custom Card of the Day- Halladay Edition (Again)

I know I made a Halladay custom last month, but during throwback week a few weeks ago, inspiration struck. The Phils were wearing their 1980's uniforms, so how could I pass it up. Despite the fact that the Phils later lost the game, I still game Halladay a cool custom. Matter of fact, I think it blends in with a couple other 1984 cards. I think I got the grain, and the fading right. So hope you like this Halladay- I'll probably make another one in another 3 months.

Coming Tomorrow- His contract is up next season, and his team sucks ass. But still, he's one of the more dominant shortstops in the league.

...And we're back!

I made this Roy yesterday, and meant to post it yesterday to break my slump, but Blogger, being Blogger, decided to switch off for most of yesterday. So I waited. Today, Blogger's finally back. Fitting that Roy Halladay headlines this post, because he's had a few subpar starts recently, and you can say he's waiting for a rebound, like all of us were waiting for Blogger to get back up.

Also, I'm gonna try to get back to my normal posting schedule. I fell off the wagon last time because of A)- Lack of good pictures for customs, and B)- Lack of good card-related news stories. Now, I've got a few more customs planned, and hopefully this blog'll be back to normal.

Coming Tomorrow- In Cincinatti, when you think of the big guns on the lineup, two guys come to mind: Joey Votto, and this guy.

Thanks, Doc

For 3 no hitters, a wild postseason and a Cy Young award. Philly thanks you.

Roy, meet October. October, meet Roy

I'm pretty sure this won't be the only time you two will meet. After all, if you could fire down 2 no-hitters in one season, Roy... I'm pretty sure this will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Thanks for the 2nd no hitter doc. You really deserve the Cy. (Let's see Aroldis Chapman top that!)

Who is Travis Wood?

I flipped on Comcast sportsnet a few minutes ago, just to see the Phillies. What I saw was miraculous.

Travis Wood, a player for the Cincinatti Reds whom I have never heard of, is on his way to a perfect game against the Phillies.

First of all, the obvious question- who? Travis Wood before the game is a player I've never heard of. He might be a rookie, he might be a veteran, he might be a callup. I am not a Reds fan (As Jerry Seinfeld might quip at this point "Not that there's anything wrong with that"), so I don't know all aout the Reds farm system

Second of all, the score is still zero to zero. Roy Halladay might also be on the way to a no hitter if Wood loses. It's a win-win situation. Wood gets a perfect game, Halladay gets his second no-hitter.

But I'm just watching the game, and I'll probably update you if Wood wins, or if Halladay wins.

UPDATE- CARLOS RUIZ, INTO THE OUTFIELD! BYE BYE PERFECT GAME! Roy Halladay will be credited with a shutout.

Perfect

Thanks Roy, for Perfect Game #20. Cy will take it from here.

Alright, I'm calling it

"The 2010 National League Cy Young award goes to... ROY HALLADAY!"

He's the best thing to happen to Philadelphia since the 2008 series win. Oh, man. Now, I'm starting to be really happy that they gave Cliff Lee away for this guy.

Oh...and SUPPORT YOUR BLOGOSPHERE...VOTE TODAY!

No Hitters and Shutouts

Phil Hughes has never been a favorite of mine.

I always thought he was gonna be overshadowed by Joba, and all the other pitchers.

But look at him go. He pitched a no-hitter into the 7th inning yesterday against Oakland (Okay, granted, it's pretty easy to strike out Oakland), and he just ripped them apart.

And on the other side of the world, Roy Halladay was rocking too, shutting the Braves out through 9 innings of complete mastery. He's 4-0, and the Phillies may have given people a reason to forget Cliff Lee.

Just not me.

Can't you just feel the exitement?

They're back, baby.

Custom Cards are coming...

Continuation of the worst trade day ever

Mike Cameron, why couldn't you have just stayed at home. But NOOOOOO. You had to sign with Boston.

Also, I have nothing that bad to say about Matsui, that the Angels are basically recreating the Yankees 2008 outfield. All they need is Damon.

And finally, The Halladay deal isn't final quite yet. In other news, Brian Cashman says "Exxxxxcelent"

How did all the crap in the world have to happen today?

Did Boston not learn to shut up every once in a while?

In other news, if Philly is trying to gain Halladay, but also trade Lee, then what the f--- is the point of the deal, anyway?

Edit- Yeah, I believe they followed through. What was the point of the whole deal when you're trading the aces you were supposed to keep?

Custom Card of the Day

Another one of the guys I saw play on my trip to Camden Yards. This guy's awesome. The sad part is the fact that his team's in last place, but hey, at least the Yankees aren't. This one was a bit harder than the rest, being that the card was offcentered in the first place. Still, fun to make.

About last night- ROY FREAKIN HALLADAY! What did we do to deserve this? Halladay creamed my boys, and the Blue Jays won. I'm a bit pissed, but, we're still in first place, so a bandaid could heal it.

Note- Sorry this is so late in the day. I had a %&%&% barmytzfah to attend.