Pedro gets in, Piazza still on the outside

On the day the BBWAA announced their hall of famers, two former Dodgers were discussed prominently.

First, Pedro Martinez got in. The younger brother of the Dodgers’ Ramon, Pedro was a dominant whirling dervish who helped the Red Sox snap their curse. His numbers are insane. The Dodgers 1990’s mediocrity cannot be traced to any one transaction, but trading Pedro for Delino Deshields still stings.

Unlike Martinez, Mike Piazza did not get his 75 percent necessary, though he did get a little bit closer for the second consecutive year. Piazza, who is arguably the greatest hitting catcher of all-time, should get in sometime in the next two seasons if the trend continues. He was a star for the team when they didn’t really have one. His departure in 1998 coupled with the Kevin Brown signing that same year illustrated the type of team the Dodgers became for a number of years. Between 1998 and 2007 — a span of 10 years — the Dodgers won the National League West just once, made the playoffs twice, and won only one Jose Lima-fueled playoff game.

In general, I think I’ll always have two issues with the Hall of Fame voting:

1) Is he or isn’t he?

I could see a guy’s percentage changing over time, but to me, guys are either Hall of Fame material or not. Mike Piazza is a Hall of Famer. He will be a Hall of Famer. Why wait to vote for him? Will his numbers change? Will he make some kind of impact on you on the field? Of course he won’t. But he will get into the Hall of Fame. Eventually. Deservedly.

2) First ballot snubs

Were there really people who thought Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez didn’t deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? Johnson got 97 percent of the vote and Pedro 91 percent. There is never a unanimous vote. I guess this is an extension of the first point, but for people who “hold-out” despite having all the knowledge they do as baseball writers, I ask, “Why?”

To withhold your vote the first year on principal and vote the following year for a guy is one of the silliest things ever. I definitely don’t ever understand a guy changing his vote on the 9th or 10th ballot… .

Along with Martinez and Johnson, the BBWAA members selected John Smoltz and Craig Biggio. All are totally worthy candidates.

Enough has been written for now about whether to allow players with steroids hanging over their heads into the Hall. For what it’s worth, the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (of which I am a member) voted to enshrine Craig Biggio and Piazza last year, which kind of makes my point. Both are Hall of Famers. Both will eventually be in Cooperstown. It’s just a matter of time.

I just hope Piazza doesn’t do something silly, like wear a Mets hat.