January 24, 2018

 The Athletic, Mooney: The Cubs set their sights on https://theathletic.com/220148/2018/01/23/mooney-the-cubs-set-their-sights-on-yu-darvish/

 Cubs.com, Gimenez deal indicates Cubs serious about Yu https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-strategic-in-pursuit-of-yu-darvish/c-265180858

 NBC Sports Chicago, Winter heat in I-94 rivalry: Cubs reportedly in 'active talks' with Yu Darvish after report of Brewers' offer http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/winter-heat-i-94-rivalry-cubs-reportedly-active-talks-yu- darvish-after-report-brewers-offer-free-agent-hot-stove-mlb-trade-rumors

 NBC Sports Chicago, Looking to take next step, Ian Happ hoping for more of what fueled his Cubs breakout http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/looking-take-next-step-ian-happ-hoping-more-what- fueled-his-cubs-breakout

, Cubs continue talks with free-agent Yu Darvish as looms http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-yu-darvish-20180122- story.html#nt=oft03a-1la1

 Chicago Tribune, and hometown loom large in PBS documentary on culture war http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-joe-maddon-american-creed- chicago-inc-20180124-story.html

 Chicago Tribune, 2018 MLB Hall of Fame ballot from Mark Gonzales and Paul Sullivan http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/ct-spt-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot-20180120- story.html

 Daily Herald, Why this year's Baseball Hall of Fame class could be big http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20180123/why-this-years-baseball-hall-of-fame-class-could-be- big

--

The Athletic Mooney: The Cubs set their sights on Yu Darvish By Patrick Mooney

The Cubs are setting their sights on Yu Darvish, trying to land the star Japanese who could help them get back to the .

The Cubs remain involved in the Darvish negotiations, a source said Tuesday, as ’s long winter might finally be starting to thaw for one of the top free agents on the open market.

The Cubs are also weighing how to allocate their resources as they put the finishing touches on a team that lost to Darvish and the in last year’s Championship Series.

Even factoring in benefits, roster turnover and savings for the trade deadline, insiders project the Cubs can spend in the range of $30 or $35 million more this offseason and still stay underneath the $197 million luxury-tax threshold.

While the reported Monday night that the Cubs are in “active talks” with Darvish’s camp, it’s not clear whether either side truly deactivated since their face-to-face meeting last month in Texas.

But there is a sense that the negotiations have recently picked up momentum, with Darvish’s options not limited to the teams identified publicly: the Cubs, Dodgers, , , and .

It stands to reason that there would be mystery teams, because the Cubs can’t be the only ones looking at their big board, making arrangements for spring training and wondering what kind of deals they could get with so many free agents still searching for jobs in late January.

It’s embedded in this front office and the nature of this offseason, but the Cubs have been preparing for multiple possibilities, like signing a lower-tier pitcher such as Alex Cobb, forecasting how much money might be left over to add another reliever and keeping their options open for next winter’s banner class of free agents.

Cubs president Theo Epstein, general manager , prevention coordinator and pro scouting director Kyle Evans met with Darvish and his Wasserman representatives last month at a Four Seasons resort in the Dallas area.

Jake Arrieta returning to the place that helped make him a Award winner appears to be a long shot now. But during both a free-agent hit (Tyler Chatwood) and a swing-and-miss (Shohei Ohtani) this offseason, the Cubs tried to sell a pitching infrastructure and how their combination of analytics and coaching can help optimize player performance.

That might have been part of the backdrop after an anonymous player explained to how Darvish tipped his pitches during two brutal World Series losses, where he got only 10 outs combined and gave up nine total runs.

While the years and dollars will ultimately be far more influential than a personal , a source close to Darvish said that signing Chris Gimenez to a minor-league deal doesn’t hurt the Cubs’ chances.

Gimenez paired up with Darvish in Texas, catching 12 of his starts (3.29 ERA) in 2014. Gimenez also has some experience working with Cobb during their time together with the . Gimenez even played along with a fan who compared him to , writing on Twitter “Maybe great uncle?????” instead of “Grandpa Chris.”

Maybe Darvish could never have quite the same seismic impact as ’s $155 million megadeal, but the Cubs can envision him at the front of a World Series rotation. Stay tuned to Darvish’s Twitter account for updates.

--

Cubs.com Gimenez deal indicates Cubs serious about Yu By Phil Rogers

CHICAGO -- The Cubs' headline move three offseasons ago was signing Jon Lester. It's worth noting that shortly after they got him under control, they returned to the free-agent market to pick up David Ross, Lester's personal catcher in .

That move had been discussed -- if not promised -- while they were pursuing Lester.

They've reversed the order this time around. The Cubs agreed to a Minor League deal with catcher Chris Gimenez as they try to land Yu Darvish, the top arm on the free-agent market.

Not to slight the 35-year-old Gimenez's attractiveness, but it's probably not a coincidence that the Cubs left the job backing up open until talks with Darvish got serious. A report from The Associated Press says there are "active talks" between the sides, and Gimenez just happens to be Darvish's favorite catcher.

Theo Epstein is as brilliant as he is thorough in finding advantages in recruiting and empowering players. While the Cubs have resources that most other teams envy, he doesn't count on simply money- whipping them. Epstein finds ways to let them and those around them know how badly he wants them to be part of the clubhouse family.

Gimenez is from the Crash Davis school of catching. He was drafted by the Indians in 2004 and reached the Major Leagues in '09, and he has stuck around for parts of nine seasons. Gimenez had never had more than 130 plate appearances in a season until he reached his mid-30s, stepping up his playing time on playoff teams in in 2016 and Minnesota last year, but not exactly establishing himself as essential.

Gimenez wasn't on the Indians' World Series roster two Octobers ago, and he backed up Jason Castro in the Wild Card Game last October, entering to catch the bottom of the eighth in the 8-4 loss.

If the lifetime .218 hitter has distinguished himself in any role, it's been with his willingness to pitch in blowouts. Gimenez had done it nine times in his career, including six times last year for the Twins.

Gimenez was with the Rangers in 2014, when Darvish delivered his third consecutive All-Star performance before an elbow injury caused him to be shut down in August (he had surgery the next March). Gimenez started the season in Triple-A, but he was promoted in May.

Darvish went seven to beat a loaded Tigers team in Detroit the first time that Gimenez caught him. He threw eight one-hit innings to win a ' duel at Washington the next time out.

Gimenez then caught Darvish 12 times in a stretch of 13 consecutive starts, including a shutout of the Marlins and a start in which Darvish threw eight scoreless innings against the Twins. That's the kind of magic the Cubs would love to tap into as they look to add more gravitas with in free agency and Lester entering his age-34 season.

Epstein was busy adding pitching in the early part of the offseason, with Tyler Chatwood, Brandon Morrow and Steve Cishek among eight arms he added through signings or waiver claims. But the Cubs have long been viewed as front-runners to sign Darvish or re-sign Arrieta, and they have been frustrated by their slow-to-develop market.

As much as , and the spectacular defense, starting pitching was a key to the championship season in 2016. The Cubs had a Major League-best 2.96 rotation ERA, with and Lester leading the way as Arrieta took a step back after his National League - winning performance the year before.

The Cubs' starters were fourth in the NL with a 4.05 ERA last season. They added Jose Quintana in July, and he helped them win a second consecutive division title and secure a third straight spot in the postseason. But Darvish and the Dodgers stopped them short of a return to the World Series, with Darvish's brilliant start in Game 3 the biggest blow.

It's not that the Cubs don't want to keep Arrieta. They've just known for at least two years that he wants a longer contract than they're comfortable in giving a pitcher entering his age-32 season.

Darvish is only one year younger and threw harder last season than any time in his six seasons with the Rangers; Arrieta lost two mph off his last season (he adjusted nobly, too, registering a 2.28 ERA in the second half). Most projections of future performance favor Darvish over Arrieta, but Arrieta will be eager to prove the Cubs wrong if they do sign Darvish.

A big commitment to Darvish could somewhat limit the Cubs' flexibility at midseason -- but not next offseason, when , Manny Machado and the mother lode of free agents are there to revive the free-agent frenzy that's been lacking this year.

The Cubs are more than $30 million below the Competitive Balance Tax threshold of $197 million for 2018, but they seem likely to race beyond it in '19. They would pay a 20-percent penalty on the overage if they do stay below it this season.

You know Epstein has a plan. He doesn't do anything lightly, including signing backup .

--

NBC Sports Chicago Winter heat in I-94 rivalry: Cubs reportedly in 'active talks' with Yu Darvish after report of Brewers' offer By Vinnie Duber

Yu Darvish might have more suitors than just the Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers. But a frozen offseason might finally be thawing thanks to the I-94 rivalry.

Hours after it was reported that the Brewers made a contract offer to Darvish, one of the top free-agent starting pitchers on the market, a report from the Associated Press indicated that the Cubs are in "active talks" with the Japanese hurler.

The North Siders have been connected to Darvish — and most other available starting pitchers — throughout the offseason as they seek to plug the holes created by the free-agent departures of Jake Arrieta and . So far, those efforts have yielded the signing of Tyler Chatwood and the insertion of Mike Montgomery, not exactly replacements that would be expected to fill an Arrieta-sized hole.

But Darvish would accomplish that goal. He's been stellar since coming over from Japan ahead of the 2012 season, making four American League All-Star teams with the Texas Rangers and last season helping the Los Angeles Dodgers reach the World Series after a midseason trade out of Arlington. Darvish made nine regular-season starts with the Dodgers, posting a 3.44 in those contests. He shut down the Cubs in the National League Championship Series, throwing 6.1 innings of one-run ball in Game 3 of that series. He fared much worse in the World Series, however, surrendering eight earned runs in two starts that lasted just 1.2 innings apiece against that incredibly potent Houston Astros lineup.

Despite faltering in the Fall Classic, Darvish figures to be a top-of-the-line addition to the team that eventually signs him. He has a career 3.42 ERA in five major league seasons and has eclipsed the 200- mark in three of those, including last year, when his 209 punch outs ranked 12th in baseball.

To add Darvish to a starting staff that already includes Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Quintana and the aforementioned Chatwood would perhaps once more give the Cubs the best rotation in the NL. If it's the Brewers, it could go a long way in making them a serious challenger to the Cubs, something they almost accomplished in 2017 as their rebuilding efforts moved ahead of schedule.

Cubs president Theo Epstein said during the team's annual convention earlier this month that his front office planned on adding another starting pitcher, though he made sure to point out that the addition could fit a number of different descriptions. While fans and observers both have been waiting for the team to land one of the high-profile free agents — be that Darvish, Alex Cobb or even bringing back Arrieta — Epstein cautioned that a move could be made to simply add depth, something that doesn't really exist behind Montgomery, the guy currently figuring to be in that fifth spot in the rotation.

The Cubs also made a minor move that could have an impact on where Darvish decides to play, signing catcher Chris Gimenez to a minor league deal Monday. Gimenez and Darvish played together in Texas.

--

NBC Sports Chicago Looking to take next step, Ian Happ hoping for more of what fueled his Cubs breakout By Vinnie Duber

Ian Happ knows 2018 is going to be different than 2017. That's why he's hoping it's the same.

Happ will be a big leaguer from Day 1 this season, the obvious biggest difference as he's prepared for the upcoming campaign. Happ didn't make his major league debut until May 13 last year, though he did so with a bang, homering in his first game against the St. Louis Cardinals. He burst onto the scene with a .357/.455/.786 slash line and seven extra-base hits in his first eight games.

But that was all part of proving he belonged at the major league level, something he won't have to worry about now that the calendar has turned.

After slashing .253/.328/.514 and belting 24 homers in his rookie season — one behind the 25 Billy Williams hit in his rookie season and two off the 26 Kris Bryant sent out in his rookie year — Happ's spot is safe, and that made for an entirely different offseason for the 23-year-old former Cincinnati Bearcat.

"Definitely a different offseason for me, just going through the process, getting ready to go to spring training, getting ready for the season instead of getting ready to compete and try to prove that I can be on the team," he said during the Cubs Convention earlier this month at the Sheraton Grand Chicago. "For me, definitely a more relaxed offseason.

"This offseason, just getting in good shape, trying to get ready to really enjoy spring training and mesh with these guys and see how much I can learn again. For me, going into the year, just want to help the team any way I can, same thing as last year, being as versatile as possible."

And so in the different comes hope for the same for Happ, who wants to again show the versatility that resulted in him playing five different positions in 2017.

The rookie became yet another utility man on Joe Maddon's roster full of those kinds of players. The mix-and-match manager values versatility in the field as much as anything, and he took full advantage with Happ, who played 54 games in center field, 44 at second base, 29 in left field, 14 in right field and even four at third base.

The roster, at least from a position-player standpoint, looks much the same as it did in 2017. And coming off a third straight trip to the penultimate round of baseball's postseason — and the World Series hangover that defined the first half of last season — Maddon will surely look to give his players rest where he can. Being able to plug in Happ all over the field helps in that effort.

Happ has actually been an oft-mentioned name this offseason, and not necessarily for what folks are expecting from him in 2018 and beyond. Instead, Happ has been a frequent subject of trade speculation. As of this writing, the Cubs have yet to acquire a top-of-the-line starting pitcher to replace Jake Arrieta, and the suggestion that a young position player — be it Happ, , Javy Baez or — could be moved for a pitcher has been common.

Unsurprisingly, none of that chatter has affected Happ and he's ready to go with the rest of the Cubs' current roster.

"All of the media speculation, it's part of the deal, it's part of the gig," Happ said. "For me, I'm excited with the guys we've brought in and excited for what they'll put on the field this year."

But whether it's part of his motivation or not, if 2017's performance proved that Happ belonged at the big league level, then what he does in 2018 could go a long way in proving to outsiders that he belongs in the "untouchable" category and nowhere near future trade speculation.

--

Chicago Tribune Cubs continue talks with free-agent Yu Darvish as spring training looms By Paul Sullivan

The Cubs continue talks with Yu Darvish this week as the slow-motion pursuit of the free agent pitcher appears to be picking up.

The Cubs and Brewers both are pursuing Darvish, along with the Rangers, Twins and a few others.

An Associated Press report Monday said the Cubs talks are “active.” President Theo Epstein has made no secret of the fact the Cubs would like to add another starter before the season, and Darvish seemingly is at the top of his list.

The Cubs traveled to Dallas in December to talk to Darvish, and later shot down a rumor that a deal was done.

With spring training approaching, most players want to know where they’re headed so they can make housing arrangements for themselves and their families. But plenty of free agents are expected to be signed during spring training because of the sluggish market, and there doesn't seem to be any big rush.

Chris Gimenez, a backup catcher for the Twins who signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs, told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune he had joked with Darvish recently about being a “package deal” on the free agent market. Gimenez previously caught Darvish in 2014 with the Rangers.

“He laughed,” Gimenez said. “He said, ‘Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.’ ”

But Gimenez admitted he hadn’t spoken with Darvish in a while.

--

Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon and hometown loom large in PBS documentary on culture war By Phil Thompson

You want to talk “identity politics”? Joe Maddon remembers how Hazleton, Pa., has long been an example of America’s struggles with diversity, only when he was growing up the conflicts in his hometown were between the Italians, the Irish and the Poles.

“Believe me, I was either a hunk, a wop, a dago,” the Cubs manager says in an interview for the PBS documentary “American Creed.” The hourlong film, the brainchild of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and historian David M. Kennedy, examines America’s cultural and political divides and premieres Feb. 27 at 8 p.m.

“Right now it's different in the sense of we're talking about Latin America coming here as opposed to Europe coming here,” Maddon says in a video clip. “That's the only difference. Everything else is absolutely the same.”

In many ways, Hazleton has epitomized the culture clash over immigration, which likely made Maddon and his town fertile territory for the documentary. As the city’s Latino population boomed in the 2000s, opposition to the newcomers grew with it. In 2006, Hazleton became the first locality in the nation to pass a ban against hiring or renting to illegal immigrants. The law was struck down in federal courts and the city was ordered to pay nearly $1.4 million to civil rights attorneys, though national notoriety over the legal battle helped propel the law’s chief champion, former Mayor Lou Barletta, to Congress.

Before the Road’s End Pub and Club on Broad Street closed in 2010, a sign underneath statues of “The Blues Brothers” Jake and Elwood read "ALL Legals Served."

Maddon co-founded the Hazleton Integration Project in 2011 to help bridge cultural divisions in the community through baseball and other activities, classes and social events.

“There's so much misinformation going on here. You gotta quell the madness at some point. You gotta put your foot on its neck,” Maddon says in “American Creed.” “That's why we did what we did.

“You want to make kids friends fast? Put them on the same team with the same common goal, and I promise you, color of skin, language barriers, what you like to eat, that goes away just like that. ... The moment we trust each other, at that point we can build something.”

--

Chicago Tribune 2018 MLB Hall of Fame ballot from Mark Gonzales and Paul Sullivan By Mark Gonzales and Paul Sullivan

As voting members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, Chicago Tribune reporters Mark Gonzales and Paul Sullivan reveal their ballots for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2018 will be announced at 2 p.m. Wednesday on MLB Network and at MLB.com. To be elected to the Hall, a player must be named on 75 percent of the ballots.

Players on the ballot: Barry Bonds, , , Johnny Damon, Vladimir Guerrero, Livan Hernandez, , Orlando Hudson, Aubrey Huff, Jason Isringhausen, Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones, Jeff Kent, Carlos Lee, , Edgar Martinez, Hideki Matsui, Fred McGriff, Kevin Millwood, , , , Scott Rolen, , , Gary Sheffield, , , , , Larry Walker, , .

Mark Gonzales

Vladimir Guerrero: Even with bad knees, Guerrero was a multi-threat. He had a bazooka-like arm, 10 100-RBI seasons, a .297 batting average and 40 stolen bases in 2002.

Trevor Hoffman: Fearless earned 601 saves with dominant deception — his signature — during the steroid era.

Chipper Jones: A solid defender at third base, Jones will be remembered as one of the greatest switch- hitters.

Jeff Kent: Would be a shame if he is deleted from future ballots because his production and toughness were matched by few at second base.

Edgar Martinez: Hard to leave out a player with his production (.312 average, .302 RISP, .418 OBP) who has designated-hitter award named after him.

Jim Thome: Dominant power (612 home runs) and earned extra respect from teammates by desire to improve every day.

Omar Vizquel: Few, if any, All-Stars got more mileage out of their ability than this 11-time Gold Glove Award winner, who hit 10 points higher than .

Billy Wagner: Compact left-hander earned 422 saves with 1,196 in 903 innings. Opponents’ .187 average presents compelling case.

Paul Sullivan

Vladimir Guererro: One of the greatest arms of any right fielder and a career .318 hitter with power (449 home runs) and speed.

Trevor Hoffman: Second to on the all-time-saves list with 602 but still underrated among closers.

Chipper Jones: Eight-time All-Star and one of the premier switch-hitters of all time. Led Braves to 11 postseason appearances.

Mike Mussina: Not only won 270 games but compiled a .638 career winning percentage, 41st on the all- time list, while pitching in the dominant American League East.

Jim Thome: Nice guys finish first. One of only nine players with 600 or more home runs (ranked eighth with 612) and 26th in RBIs (1,699).

--

Daily Herald Why this year's Baseball Hall of Fame class could be big By Bruce Miles

They may have to build a bigger stage in Cooperstown come July 29.

It could well be that five baseball greats will join and Alan Trammell in upstate New York that Sunday.

Our National Baseball Hall of Fame votes

Here's a recap of the Baseball Writers' Association of America votes cast by Daily Herald writers for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Writers may select up to 10 players. For more commentary, check out our Dec. 31 report at dailyherald.com.

Scot Gregor, White Sox beat writer: Vladimir Guerrero, Edgar Martinez, Jim Thome, Trevor Hoffman, Mike Mussina, Omar Vizquel and Chipper Jones.

Bruce Miles, Cubs beat writer: Barry Bonds, Chipper Jones, Scott Rolen, Roger Clemens, Edgar Martinez, Jim Thome, Vladimir Guerrero, Mike Mussina, Omar Vizquel and Trevor Hoffman.

Mike Imrem, former columnist: Barry Bonds, Chipper Jones, Manny Ramirez, Roger Clemens, Edgar Martinez, Curt Schilling, Vladimir Guerrero, Mike Mussina, Sammy Sosa and Trevor Hoffman.

Barry Rozner, columnist: Barry Bonds, Trevor Hoffman, Mike Mussina, Roger Clemens, Chipper Jones, Curt Schilling, Vladimir Guerrero, Jeff Kent and Jim Thome.

Morris and Trammell, stalwarts of the in the 1980s, were voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Modern Baseball Era Committee in December.

The Baseball Writers Association of America may elect five more players when results are announced Wednesday: Vladimir Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman, Chipper Jones, Edgar Martinez and Jim Thome.

In ballot tracking by Ryan Thibodaux -- @NotMrTibbs on Twitter -- Jones was polling at 98.2 percent, Guerrero 94.7, Thome 92.9, Martinez 77.3 and Hoffman 77.8 with 53.1 percent of the ballots known by late afternoon Tuesday.

To get in, nominees must get at least 75 percent of the vote by eligible BBWAA members. Jones, Guerrero and Thome look safe, but it figures to be a cliffhanger for Martinez and Hoffman.

Still on the outside looking in, if ever so closely, are Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens (both at 64 percent), Mike Mussina (70.7) and Curt Schilling (60.9). Former Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa is way out of the picture at 10.7 percent.

Clearly, this is now the era of the "big ballot."

In 2000, the average number of players named per ballot was 5.64. That has jumped in recent years, with it going to 8.42 in 2015. Last year the average was 8.13 names per ballot. As of Tuesday afternoon, the number of votes-per-revealed-ballot was 8.8.

Times have changed, and there probably are several reasons. From 2000-13, no more than two players were inducted by the BBWAA. It reached a head in 2013, when no players were voted in.

In recent years, BBWAA members have been required by HOF rules to register to vote each fall, and members who haven't covered the game regularly in recent years have been purged from voting rolls.

The so-called Steroid Era added another dimension, with players such as Bonds, Clemens and Sosa still on the ballot after players such as and Mark McGwire fell off.

The Hall, clearly uncomfortable in dealing with that era, has reduced eligibility time on the ballot from 15 to 10 years.

Bonds and Clemens saw upward bumps in their votes last year, following the election of former Commissioner Bud Selig to the Hall by the Today's Game Committee.

Many voters reasoned that Selig benefited handsomely from the Steroid Era, and that if he is in, so should players who have been linked to use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Over the past several years, Thibodaux has gained acclaim as BBWAA voters have made their ballots public early.

"I got especially interested in the Hall of Fame and the election process when my boyhood hero, Jeff Bagwell, came on the ballot for the 2011 cycle," Thibodaux said in an email interview. "When he wasn't immediately elected, I wanted to understand why.

"A Twitter user, @leokitty, and a writer at Baseball Think Factory, Darren Viola, already had been doing versions of vote tracking for several years at that time. I began following them closely and started helping them find ballots that had been revealed by voters.

"It was a fun way to pass the time in baseball's off-season. In 2014, I launched my own tracker that has evolved into what it is now."

No matter how the vote turns out this year, one thing remains certain: Despite its up and downs, baseball's Hall of Fame is like no other in inspiring debate and discussion.

Part of that is due to baseball's long history and tradition. Part is because of the location of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, in bucolic Cooperstown, New York.

Statistical comparisons, advanced metrics and social media also have contributed to the annual spectacle around voting for the Hall of Fame.

"I think Baseball's Hall of Fame remains so relevant for numerous reasons," Thibodaux said. "More than any other sport, part of the fun of baseball fandom is comparing players across eras and comparing numbers of current players against greats of the past.

"There's also more argument among baseball fans (and Hall voters) about what the Baseball Hall of Fame is, what it should represent and who should be in it, than any other sport.

"Not least, as someone who has visited most of the major sports halls of fame, Cooperstown is easily the most magical and awe-inspiring. I think most baseball fans who make the trek there hope to have the sports equivalent of a religious experience, and unlike many things in life, their hopes are rewarded with an unforgettable experience.

"The endless debates and controversies surrounding the Baseball Hall of Fame may grow tiresome for some, but for me and many other fans, it never gets old. I hope it never does."

--