Day 313: Red Sox Hall of Fame Class of 2014

The Boston Red Sox named its most recent Hall of Fame selections and I can honestly say one of those choices, I don't agree with at all. I understand this isn't Cooperstown, but the panel of 16 judges that include club executives, print and broadcast media members, booster club representatives, and historians, may need to get their heads out of their asses. The group elected Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra and Roger Clemens to the team's Hall of Fame.

Now do you see my problem? Roger Clemens? Really? Roid boy Roger? The cheater.

I'm sure they're all sticking to the argument that there was no proof that the Rocket was on the juice during his 13 seasons in Boston. If you're just looking at his accomplishments with the Red Sox, he was mostly likely already Cooperstown-bound. He is tied with Cy Young with the most career wins (192) and most career shutouts (38) as a member of the Red Sox. He is the all-time franchise leader in strikeouts with 2,590 and he won three Cy Young Awards. Clemens also had two 20-strikeout, no-walk games in 1986 and 1996.

Well, that's all well and good but the dude cheated. He most likely will never be voted into the national Hall of Fame because of this so why did this bunch of wind bags vote him in? And how much Pedro and Nomar be feeling about their classmate? Oh well... it's done and there's nothing I can do about it but be bitter and annoyed and I have no interest in discussing that jackass more than I have to.

Red Sox shortstop from 1996-2004, Nomar Garciaparra has the fourth-best career batting average (.323) and fifth-best slugging percentage (.553) in the team's history. In 1997, he led the AL with 209 hits and 684 at-bats, and a 30-game hit streak—the same year he won the Rookie of the Year award. He batted .372 in 2000 which was the fourth-highest for a single season in club history. It was such a big surprised when Nomar was traded mid-way through the 2004 season, but who knows if his presence would've changed the outcome of that season. Regardless of his absence from that Championship run, he deserves a spot in Red Sox history.

Pedro Martinez won two Cy Young Awards and was named an All-Star four times in his seven seasons with the Red Sox. He played a huge role in the World Series run in 2004—his last season in Boston. Pedro finished his time with the Sox with a 117-37 record making him the club's all-time leader with a .760 career winning percentage. He had 72 10-strikeout games and his ERA with the Sox was a stingy 2.52—the seventh lowest in team history, but the lowest since the early 1900s. There were few pitchers more dynamic and fun to watch than Pedro. I remember the one time I was supposed to see him pitch in person, he was scratched just minutes before the game started. I was crushed.

Red Sox radio broadcaster, Joe Castiglione, was also inducted. He has spent the last 31 season as their play-by-play announcer. Castiglione became a household name for his call of the 2004 World Series win where he said, "Can you believe it?" He's been my beach buddy for years because there's not much that makes me happier in the summertime than sitting on the beach with the Sox game on the radio.

So other than that one mistake, looks like a pretty solid and deserved Hall of Fame class for the Red Sox in 2014. I just feel bad that Nomar, Pedro and Joe have to share the stage with that douchebag.