Green: Another Hall of a debate on horizon

After 15 long years on the ballot — nearly as long as his 16 years in the majors — Jim Rice has been elected to the Hall of Fame. Over the years, the long debate over Rice’s candidacy evolved into a partisan tug-of-war — the emotional, intractable sort of clash more common to Washington D.C. than Cooperstown.

The anti-Rice crowd claimed the writer-voters who supported him were sentimentalists who brushed aside statistical counterarguments with the simple (but darn unquantifiable) contention that Rice was the most feared hitter of his era. The pro-Rice folks argued that the writers who wouldn’t vote for him were grudge-bearers punishing a player who never liked giving them quotes. And as usual with these sorts of debates, neither side felt like the opposite camp was listening.

The debate over Rice’s worthiness won’t stop with Rice’s selection. But there are other debates to be had now — like the burgeoning controversy over Tim “Rock” Raines. Again, two distinct camps are forming, separated by more than just a difference of opinion.

According to an emerging school of political polling, if you examine people habits and hobbies you don’t need to poll them on their opinions; all you need to know is that she drinks soy lattes, likes Jack Johnson, and drives a Subaru, and that he drinks Coors, likes Alan Jackson, and drives a Suburban.  Along the same vein, if you like Bill James, haven’t had dial-up since 1997, and have an iPhone, you’ll end up supporting Raines (if you don’t already). If you prefer to read the newspaper in its dead-tree-pulp version, enjoy the witty and urbane commentary of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan, and have a BlackBerry, you probably don’t think Raines is Cooperstown-caliber.

So far, the increasingly passionate pro-Raines contingent seems to have been shouting into the wind — but that’s sure to change, as Raines has 13 more years on the ballot. And the argument over his candidacy is sure to heat up with Rice off the ballot — and with PEDs increasingly on the docket.

Steroids will likely keep Mark McGwire out of the Hall of Fame (his vote totals fell precipitously this year), and will spawn even more debate when Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens become eligible for the ballot. But Raines represents the use of a different sort of drug: cocaine, which he admitted using during games. How you view Rock’s coke use will affect whether you support him for the Hall: is it a tragic affliction that he struggled to overcome (like, say, alcoholism) or an unfair advantage in a sport in which amphetamines have long been a bigger problem than steroids?

Whether you subscribe to Baseball Prospectus and eat kale or subscribe to Sports Illustrated and prefer collard greens, remember: no Hall of Fame selection has ever — ever — been unanimous.

Sarah Green also writes for UmpBump.com and mlbtraderumors.com, and can be reached at sarah@umpbump.com.