And I misspelt write. I meant right. My mistake.

You have the write to vote as you please, and I would never question that. But you used the phrase about McGwire’s arrogance, not anyone else.

Whether you didn’t vote against McGwire, or simply didn’t vote for him is a matter of semantics?

So, I’m curious, why not? If you’re going to have the privilige of voting, then you should vote the issue, not your personal likes or dislikes. So is there a particular reason?

Because of his arrogance?

Because of the the steroid issue? And will you be consistent with all the others?

Because you don’t think he’s a Hall of Famer?

Because you don’t personally like him?

There’s a difference to all of those.

I don’t think that Ron has stated my position correctly. Here is part of my answer to Mike’s question: “He [McGwire] certainly would have helped his case if he had not performed so arrogantly before Congress, but that’s just one aspect of his situation.”

In truth, I think my position on McGwire is a bit more nuanced than Ron has suggested. It is my understanding that some BBWAA voters think that McGwire does not belong in the Hall of Fame based on his numbers. Their reasoning, as I understand it, is that we had inflated offensive numbers during the so-called steroid era. I have some sympathy with that view. Some voters believe that McGwire used performance-enhancing drugs and should not be inducted for that reason. I have some sympathy with that view, too. McGwire’s statements before Congress add a little bit here, but they are, to my mind, not definitive. One voter I know said, in essence, “If McGwire does not want to talk about the past, then neither do I, and I will not vote for him.” Again, as I said to Mike, I did not vote against McGwire. I simply did not vote for him. There is a difference. McGwire got only 22 percent of the BBWAA vote and, if I remember correctly, about 42 percent of the Seamheads vote, so perhaps I am not alone.

He thinks McGwire was arrogant in front of Congress, so he won’t vote for him. That proves the arrogance of the voter, not the player.

What McGwire, or any of the others did off the field, shouldn’t have any bearing on their candidacy.

He won’t come out and say openly he won’t vote for McGwire because of steroids, but bases his vote on a situation that should have never happened.

I’m glad he voted for Dawson, but this guy is no more qualified to vote than anyone else, and should have the privlige pulled until he can be fair and objective. Not petty.