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Peter Gammons Proposes BWAA Panel for Baseball HOF

Peter Gammons: Panel of experts could be solution to current Hall of Fame system

January 10, 2014 by Peter Gammons 1 Comment

Mike Mussina, former Orioles & Yankees pitcher, was not elected to the HOF this year.

It is nearly 11 months until we begin submitting Hall of Fame ballots, and while everyone seems to agree there can be a better way than the system we now utilize, stomping our feet and staging “hell, no, we won’t go” protests accomplish little.
I get it. I get frustrated when a Ted Simmons or Luis Tiant falls between the cracks, or a huge chunk of voters ignore the actual records of Mike Mussina or Tim Raines. But rather than screaming, why not allow Jeff Idelson and Jack O’Connell to assemble a panel of experts from a number of sides, experts who genuinely care about the game and respect the important institution that is The Hall, and have a weekend think-tank. Not a righteous candlelight service. A thought process.
Go to the Otesaga in April, or the first weekend in May. Bill James should be there. Jay Jaffe. John Thorn. Brian Kenny. Jayson Stark. Tom Verducci. Vin Scully or Jon Miller. Jim Kaat, Tom Seaver, Joe Morgan and Al Kaline. Bill DeWitt and Jerry Reinsdorf. All suggestions welcome.
It can be a board or ten, it can be twenty, people who understand what it means to those men who are inducted as they sit on the porch and look out at the lake, people who legitimately care that as best as possible, the right people are elected.
There will never be a perfect solution, and we will always have arguments about Jack Morris vs. Curt Schilling or Tim Raines vs. Lou Brock, but they can be civil and respectful, not loud and angry.
We can work it out.

NFL News Seattle Prepares for New Orleans in NFC Divisional Match up

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Pac 12 2014 football schedule released

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Bill Plascke on Brett Hundley returnuing to UCLA

Brett Hundley's true-to-blue loyalty is great news for UCLA football

Brett Hundley's decision to return in 2014 carries risks for quarterback but could carry championship and Heisman implications too.

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UCLA sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley is expected to return to the Bruins next year. (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images / November 30, 2013)

By Bill Plaschke

January 5, 2014, 10:12 p.m.

Just when UCLA fans thought they had seen their breathtaking quarterback take every possible twist and turn in his two-year romp through the Bruins' increasingly florid football landscape, Brett Hundley showed his greatest move yet.

By standing still.
In a decision that will have Westwood cheering until it's powder blue in the face, UCLA's charismatic field leader will announce Monday he is foregoing a chance to be a high pick in this year's NFL draft to remain as the UCLA quarterback for a 2014 season that can now be decorated in shades of championship potential and hints of a Heisman.

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Less than one week after a dominating Sun Bowl performance against a renowned Virginia Tech defense, Hundley has apparently decided that a potentially high spot in the draft is not as valuable as a chance to polish his game, cement that spot, and complete a legacy.
Walking off the Sun Bowl Stadium field in El Paso after the Bruins' victory last week, Hundley explained the attraction of that legacy.
"We could put together, hopefully a [national] run, maybe a Heisman," he said. "That's one thing I always wanted to do. That would be cool."
This is the coolest thing to happen to UCLA football in, well, about a month? First, the Bruins give Jim Mora enough money and promises for a new football facility to keep him from bolting to Washington or Texas. And now Mora's most vital player decides to stick around for the ride. UCLA athletics hasn't had this many big victories in one winter since Jim Harrick was on the basketball bench.
In some ways, the Hundley decision is even more impressive than the Mora decision. It's one thing to convince a guy to stay by paying him millions. It's another thing to convince a guy to stay even though he would be forsaking millions, which Hundley could have reaped after a couple of scouts reportedly thought he might even be the first quarterback selected.
Hundley is remaining at UCLA because he thinks it can make him a better quarterback, and because he thinks it can make him a champion, and when is the last time the football program received such a resounding endorsement?
This is a program that hasn't won a national title in 59 years, hasn't won a Rose Bowl in 28 years, and hasn't been close to any sort of title game since the Bruins were stunned in Miami in the final regular-season game of 1998, a loss that kept them out of the first BCS championship game. The Bruins once were among college leaders in producing NFL talent, and have five former players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but their talent level has greatly diminished in recent seasons, to the point that, somewhat incredibly, there were no UCLA players taken in two of the last five drafts.
The program reached its recent nadir with a 50-0 loss to USC in the 2011 regular-season finale, but the ending was actually a beginning. Watching that game as a redshirt freshman was Hundley, who had been recruited by Rick Neuheisel. Soon after that game, Neuheisel was fired, clearing the path for the hiring of Mora.
The combination of Mora and Hundley has entertainingly brought the program back into the conversation these last two seasons, with consecutive wins over USC, a spot in last season's Pac-12 title game, and this season's 10-win flourish.
It seemed like the coach and quarterback were destined for even greater success together until the 42-12 victory over the Hokies in El Paso on New Year's Eve, when it appeared Hundley might have just played himself to the NFL. Before the game, Hundley was leaning toward staying in school, but then, against the nation's fourth-ranked defense, he accounted for four touchdowns, 161 yards rushing and 226 passing.
Afterward, he admitted wondering whether he had accomplished enough at the college level, saying, "Right now, I feel pretty confident where I'm at as a quarterback."
The Bruins were chilled by those words. With about three-fourths of the starters due to return and a favorable 2014 schedule in which Oregon, Stanford and USC come to the Rose Bowl, UCLA was counting on Hundley's return for a top-10 ranking and possible title push.
"We support Brett in whatever he does, he's been a great asset to this university," Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said at the time. "But if he stays, we have a chance to do something really special."
By staying, Hundley was probably agreeing with many football folks who believe that with the extra year under Mora, he could also personally become more special. Hundley still needs to work on his downfield decision making. He still needs to make better reads. He still has yet to win a truly big game under pressure.
By staying, he is obviously taking a big risk. This same sort of column was written two winters ago when Matt Barkley stood in front of a glowing Christmas tree and announced he was remaining at USC for one more season. His final season was one long Grinch and he dropped to the draft's fourth round.
But the extra season is more than likely to lift Hundley's career to a different level. Anybody watch Andrew Luck lead the Indianapolis Colts' amazing comeback this weekend? Luck chose to stay at Stanford one more season even though he probably would have been the No. 1 overall pick. It turned out he was top pick anyway, and the extra year helped him quickly become an NFL star.
Maybe Hundley will never become that kind of player. But he is betting his career that the Bruins will help him become that kind of player, which is one of their biggest football victories in recent memory
Is there such a thing as a 16-clap?
bill.plaschke@latimes.com
Twitter: @billplaschke

Copyright © 2013, Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-brett-hundley-plaschke-20140106,0,7227501.column#ixzz2peCpzzIf

Vincent Lombardi Jr Outside Pitch story on Hearing impaired baseball player film of his life

OPSN Interview with Director/Producer David Risotto

DA-­COR PICTURES, LLC

Vincent Lombardi Jr. had the pleasure of interviewing Director/Producer David Risotto. David wrote, directed and produced the documentary “I See the Crowd Roar” The story of William “Dummy” Hoy.
Hoy, one of the first deaf players, played from 1886 to 1903 and introduced the hand signal for strike and ball which are still used today. The documentary has been recognized by MLB.com as one of the top ten indie baseball films to see.
David is responsible for the planning and management of DA-COR PICTURES, LLC and has 25 years managerial experience and 30 years in the entertainment industry as an actor, writer, director, editor and producer.
Vince Lombardi: How did you find about Dummy Hoy?
David Risotto: While I was working on one of my other films in 1995, a friend of mine that works with the Deaf mentioned to me that I should do a film on one of the first Deaf Baseball players. I asked what is the story behind him?
She told me that he over came many obstacles to become one of the greatest players of his time and that he also introduced hand signals to the game. As I did research on Dummy Hoy, I found Steve Sandy, who has been a Dummy Hoy researcher since 1989, in Columbus OH…
Steve and I spoke several times before he sent me two large binders full of information. Through that information I, with the help of Steve, wrote the script.
VL: What are some of Hoy’s on the field accomplishments?
DR: Dummy Hoy was a celebrated “flyhawk,” a great centerfielder, on a par with Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, and Tris Speaker.
During his rookie year in the majors (1888), Hoy led the National League with 82 stolen bases, a record that tops those of some of the most celebrated Hall of Famers (Ty Cobb stole no bases during his rookie year, Babe Ruth  had 10). His career total: 597 to 607 stolen bases (depending on which account you read).
Hoy had a respectable .288 (.292 according to some counts) lifetime batting average, and 2,054 hits. He once hit .357. He had 1,004 walks, and played in 1,798 major-league games. As baseball historian Nicholas Dawidoff has noted: “He was always among the league leaders in assists, totaling 318 in his 14 years, including an astounding 45 in 1900 while with the Chicago White Stockings. Over the course of 137 games Hoy, who was then 38, had 337 putouts and a .977 fielding average to go along with his 45 assists. It was the only time an outfielder has ever led the majors in all three categories.”
An ill-fated fly-ball batted by Hoy in 1894 was responsible for the league-wide ban on uniform breast pockets— a ban that is still in effect.
Hoys own proudest achievement was throwing out three base runners at home plate in one game— an unprecedented and seldom equaled feat.
There are numerous accounts of Hoy’s exploits, and many of these can be verified from contemporary newspapers. One popular story from his Oshkosh days tells how Hoy chased and caught a fly ball while balancing on the shaft of a buggy parked inside the stadium. Some versions have Hoy leaping astride the horse to catch the ball! This catch helped clinch the Pennant.
VL: Hoy is credited with introducing the safe and out hand signals, how did this come about?
DR: Hoy first introduced the signals for STRIKE and BALL. When he began his professional career in Oshkosh, all umpires’ calls were shouted. While at bat, Hoy had to ask his coach if a ball or strike had been called. The opposing pitcher took advantage of Hoy’s distraction, quick-pitching him—sending out the next pitch before he was ready. (He batted only .219 during his first season.) Around 1887, Hoy wrote out a request to the third-base coach, asking him to raise his left arm to indicate a ball, his right arm for a strike. Hoy could follow the hand signals after each pitch, and be ready for the next. And the umpires and other players found these signals so useful that they became standard practice—they’re still used everywhere. Hoy later adapted the “out” and “safe” signals from ASL.
VL: What did Hoy do after his baseball career?
DR: Dummy Hoy bought a 24-acre farm in Cincinnati. He worked for Goodyear during the Great War in the Blimp department and as a personnel director and the plant. He helped his nephew Paul Hoy Helms start the Helms Bakery in California which has a great history.
VL: How did Hoy feel about the nickname Dummy?
DR: Dummy Hoy embraced his nick name. In fact he asked his teammates to call him that.
VL: How important was it for you to use deaf actor Ryan Lane in your documentary?
DR: It was very important to me to have Ryan Lane portray Dummy Hoy because not only does Ryan resemble Dummy Hoy, I feel that it would be hard for a hearing actor to really feel what it is like to be Deaf. The emotion that a deaf person gives out when signing is amazing. I searched for a long time and when I saw Ryan, I knew he was my Dummy Hoy.
VL: Hoy is a member of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and not in the Baseball Hall of Fame, what are some of the things you are doing to get him in the Hall?
DR: My documentary was an Official Selection for the 2nd annual National Baseball Hall of Fame Film Festival in Cooperstown. While I was there I had a meeting with Jeff Idelson, the President of the Hall of Fame, who suggested we work on getting Dummy Hoy into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a Pioneer. So that’s what we are doing. We ask everyone to send a letter to the Hall of Fame asking to induct Hoy into the Hall of Fame. I am working on getting more MLB members informed about Dummy Hoy and get them involved.
VL: Hoy’s story still needs to be told to more, what are your future plans?
DR: I am working on getting the funding for the feature film on Dummy Hoy. I believe the film will inform millions and get Dummy Hoy recognized for his accomplishments.
Follow Outside Pitch Sports Network CEO Vince Lombardi Jr. on Twitter for more updates @Vlombardijr

Dallas Faces tough Salary Cap Decisions for 2014 courtesy ESPN Dallas

Cowboys face tough cap decisions in 2014

January, 6, 2014

Jan 6

8:00

AM ET

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

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IRVING, Texas -- Now comes the fun part for the Dallas Cowboys.

With their projected salary cap of $127.6 million in 2014, they have to find a smart way to shave nearly $25 million to get under the cap. Preferably they would cut more than that in order to have room to sign players in free agency.

The task might seem daunting, but with a couple of clicks on a computer, they can get that $25 million pretty easily.

[+] Enlarge

AP Photo/James D. SmithHow to handle DeMarcus Ware's contract looms as a big decision for the Cowboys in the offseason.

The question is how much money do they want to push into the future on veterans?

“We’ll have extensive personnel meetings in regards to (the cap),” coach Jason Garrett said. “When you put that together with the financial part of it, the salary cap part of it, we think it’s really important to do the football evaluation thoroughly independent of that. And then you add that as an element. It’s an element that’s alive and well in the National Football League. Money matters in the salary-cap era we’re in right now. But I do believe the football evaluation is primary, and then you add that element into it, and then you make your best decisions for your team in regards to that player and how he fits in your team.”

The Cowboys will restructure the contracts of Tony Romo and Sean Lee. Those two moves will create about $13.4 million in salary-cap relief, while also increasing the cap numbers on those players in future years. However, when the Cowboys signed these deals, this was their only option.

In the past the Cowboys have restructured DeMarcus Ware's contract with no questions asked. He was putting together Pro Bowl seasons, and it was worth it. Now coming off a six-sack season and turning 32 in July, is it worth it to do it once more?

He is to count $16.003 million against the cap with a $12.25 million base salary. If they simply restructure his contract again, the Cowboys would gain nearly $8.6 million in cap space. But they have to factor in future cost, age and performance when making the move. Ware has said he would restructure, but clarified his “pay cut” stance after the season. If the Cowboys choose to cut Ware, they would free up $7.4 million in room.

The Ware decision looms as the Cowboys’ biggest of the offseason, especially if he does not take a pay cut. They do not have an in-house candidate to take his spot, and could gamble that he returns to form in 2014.

Brandon Carr will have a $12.217 million cap number. Restructuring his deal made sense before the season started, but might be a question now because of how he played in 2013. If they redo his deal like they did in 2013, then they are adding to his cap figures down the road, which would make it harder to release him.

The feeling is they will bite the bullet and re-work the deal, creating about $4.7 million in room.

Restructuring Jason Witten's deal will create $2.6 million in room.

If you look at Romo, Lee, Carr and Witten, that is nearly $21 million in room. The decision on Ware could create as little as $7.4 million, and as much as $8.6 million.

Wide receiver Miles Austin figures to be a June 1 casualty, which will open up $5.5 million in space, but would carry more than $5 million in dead money in 2015. Most of that money will be used to sign the draft picks.

The Cowboys have other avenues to create space (Doug Free, Mackenzy Bernadeau, Kyle Orton) in varying ways.

Getting under the cap will not be an issue. Getting under the cap enough to be able to make upgrades in free agency is another story.

Teams have to overpay in free agency. Signing Carr to a five-year, $50 million deal two years ago is proof, but that was the going rate for a top cornerback on the market. It is rare to get the on-field value to match the contract in free agency.

The Cowboys would be better served to be bit players in free agency and keep their own, like a Dez Bryant, Tyron Smith and Dan Bailey, with longer-term contracts.

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