Barry Bonds deserves a Hall of Fame exemption

At best, it’s a roll of the dice.

On Sunday, there is a vote of the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee. And there’s a chance he can do what the BBWAA failed to do 😛ut the all-time home run king from MLB to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are among eight players who will appear on the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Contemporary Baseball Era Ballot for the Hall Class of 2023.

The vote will cover players whose biggest contributions came from 1988 to 2016.

With Bonds and Clemens, Albert Belle, Don MattingleyFred McGriff, Dale Murphy, Rafael Palmeiro and Curt Schilling are candidates.

Basically, they’re players who haven’t gotten the necessary 75% of votes from writers who cover the sport on a daily basis.

Some see it as a chance for players who have been overlooked to get another chance.

In reality, it is the back door.

If Bonds gets in the way – the results will be announced at 8 p.m. – some will celebrate and be happy.

But it won’t feel the same, or prestige.

The Baseball Hall of Fame is the toughest hall of them all to date major sports to enter. And let’s be frank, the only one that fans are interested in.

So many other halls have become a laughingstock because anyone and everyone is let in these days. Baseball was also heading in this direction.

Not so long ago, the HOF disbanded the old Veterans Committee. Most players that many wonder how they got into the Hall came from the committee of former executives, broadcasters and players.

It has become a club of friends. Many former players who have become broadcasters have been consecrated. Often when fans debate who belongs to the Hall of them will use a player as an example and say if they are where their favorite player should be.

And often when you do research, you realize that the questionable player was a member of the veterans committee. And they weren’t voted on by the writers.

Players love Phil RizzutoRalph Kiner, Pee Wee Reese, Bill Mazeroski and Harold Baines just don’t belong.

That’s what’s wrong with the process.

If you can’t get in after 10 years on the ballot, you’re not a Hall of Famer.

For the record, I voted for bonds every 10 years it was on the ballot.

For sure, he was the greatest hitter I had ever seen. His career stats are stunning, including seven MVPs and 762 home runs, the most in the game.

And I’m not throwing the elephant back into the room. But Bonds was never suspended by the league. All of his stats matter. Bonds caught up to a time when many players were either on the juice or tried it. Check the Mitchell Report. It was rumored, which means Bonds was more than likely facing pitchers on the thing too. Therefore, the playing field was fairer than people care to admit..

It wasn’t like he was the lone wolf there.

Additionally, there are other players rumored to be connected to Juice who entered the room via the writers’ vote, including Mike Piazza, Jeff Bagwell, and Ivan Rodriguez. Rodriguez was even mentioned in Jose Canseco book who blew the lid off the steroid scandal. Still, Pudge went on his first ballot.

You shouldn’t be able to choose. Either no juicers go in, or all juicers go in.

We know why Bonds was reduced to trying to enter the room this way. Last winter, Bonds, and Clemens were voted out by the writers in their 10th and final time on the ballot.

Their connection to steroid use derailed their obvious first-round status inat HOF.

That committee — made up of 16 Hall of Fame players, team executives and reporters — that will vet Bonds again is considering eight nominees. A candidate must obtain at least 12 votes, or 75% of the electorate. This is the same standard set by the BBWAA for entering Cooperstown through the front gate.

Still, you can’t be convinced that Bonds’ peers will get him in. And even if they do, it won’t resonate with most. And it’s a shame.