Comments on: NESN with Bonus Rice Coverage

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:01:07 +0000

I’ll never understand why the anti-Rice contingent really cares.

By: Classless

Classless — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:00:14 +0000

Ok, can Jim Rice go away now and stop whining? He got his stupid hat, now everyone will forget about him.

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:09:38 +0000

Trust me, I haven’t forgotten all that.

It’s just that his overall numbers fall a little bit short in some categories, such as not reaching 400 homers and, unfortunately, having his career batting average drop to below .300 in those last couple of rough years he had at the end of his career.

That’s really the main problem: his career fell of a cliff, literally, after the 1986 World Series. He showed up in ‘87 unable to catch up to a fastball anymore, at age 34.

If he had been able to cobble together a couple more .290-22-85 seasons, he would have been a no-brainer pick for the Hall.

Either way, I’m glad that he got in, because as I said before: he played hurt; he played hard; he never complained.

By: sam the butcher

sam the butcher — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:34:44 +0000

I guess we can just forget the fact that for a 12 year span, Rice led the majors in runs scored, hits, homers, rbis, slugging, total bases, extra base hits, go-ahead rbis & multi-hit games. If leading your era in those categories isn’t hof worthy, then empty the hof, and only allow the top 20 players ever.

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:06:34 +0000

Allow me to believe that Rice is probably not a Hall of Fame ballplayer, but to be happy for him anyway.

He played hard. He played hurt. He never complained. Heck, he even played one night after being in traction for a bad back on the same afternoon if I recall correctly.

By: Jon

Jon — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:26:20 +0000

…and it’s hyperbole like this that makes me just not care.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:15:03 +0000

Thus the threshold for HOF continues to be lowered. He is the classic example of a player who belongs in the “Hall of Very Good”. I’m sorry but you have to draw the line somewhere. In my mind, “the line” is just above Rice.

I’ve been a Sox fan all my life and watched his whole career, but the numbers and longevity of great play just aren’t there.

Continuing to put guys like Rice and Perez in just diminishes the gravitas of the honor.