Larry Granillo makes the case that Jack Morris‘s reputation as the pitcher of the 1980s comes more from the owners colluding to hold down free agents than from Jack’s performance during the decade.
Morris’ reputation as a winning pitcher – “the winningest pitcher” – was really set in that 1987 season, not four or five years later. That’s four more years than anyone realized contemporary writers had to watch Morris and write about (and, more importantly, internalize) his “winning nature.” Ignore that his 1988 and 1989 seasons were forgettable; all that’s important is that he finished the decade with the title that he held for five years. Winning 18 and 21 games, respectively, in 1991 and 1992 were just icing on the cake.
Jack Morris can be on the Hall of Fame ballot all the way through the year 2014. By that time, Hall of Fame voters who covered the game during the 1980s will have had nearly 30 years of the “Jack Morris is a winner” line of thinking. That, more than anything, may be responsible for Morris’ eventual enshrinement in Cooperstown. If only the owners had not colluded in that winter of ‘86…
I don’t have a problem with Jack Morris going into the Hall of Fame. People get upset that Morris might be elected and Blyleven not, but that’s not Jack’s problem. His won’t be the most deserving election, but it won’t be the worst either.
Morris pitched a lot, and that durability led to the one really positive stat I’ll cite in Jack’s defense. In the decade from 1980 through 1989, Jack faced 1256 batters in close and late situations. Those are situations where the batting team is up by one run, tied, or has the tying run on deck (save situation) from the seventh inning on. These are situations today most starters don’t face. Jack held batters to a .238/.296/.369 slash line. Those numbers are all slightly better than his overall slash line; he didn’t fade with the game on the line late. He averaged 126 batters faced per year (without weighting the 1981 strike season) in this situation. Felix Hernandez faced 122 batters in that situation this season to lead starters. Roy Halladay was the only other starter to break 100. Morris stayed in tight games and pitched well, which also helped his win total.
David, look at his peripherals and specifically his 108 ERA+ which is good, but not great and certainly NOT Hall of Fame worthy. He would be lowering the bar even more than letting Don Sutton in did. I am sorry but while he might have been the pitcher of the 80’s, he isn’t Hall of Fame material.
Jack Morris thought he could go through life stepping on whoever he wanted. When sports reporters tried to get interviews or remarks after game days, Morris treated them like dirt, unworthy of his time. Unfortunately for Jack Morris, these very same reporters vote on HOF candidates.
It is called the Hall of “FAME”, after all, and he pitched really well in the biggest games. Seems to me that when someone is on the edge of the HOF discussion, that should be a factor.