Murray Ch-ass

This isn't the first time I'm annoyed with Murray Chass and I guarantee it won't be the last, but his most recent blogpost article rubbed me the wrong way.

In the grand scheme of things, Murray Chass and I probably agree on more things than not but when it comes to talking baseball, specifically advanced stats and/or the Hall of Fame, there is much we disagree on. 

One of those things we disagree mightily on is Jack Morris and his Hall of Fame candidacy. I don't need to go into the details of why I don't think Morris should be in the Hall of Fame but I don't think his case is strong and the reasons for his inclusion aren't necessarily structurally sound. In a recent conversation with Murray Chass, Morris blames his 3.90 career ERA on the fact that nobody told him that it's better to have a lower ERA. Seriously:

And what might Morris have done if the general manager or his manager have said they wanted him to have a lower earned run average? 

"I probably would have led the league," he said.

The jokes are endless here so I won't bog you down with sarcastic remarks but it goes to show you what has come of the Jack Morris HOF debate. How can you explain his poor ERA? He would have led the league if someone told him to! 'Nuff said.

Anywho, I'm getting a bit off track here because beyond Morris' hilarious explanation regarding his ERA, what bothered me about Chass' piece was this:

Whether or not they are members of SABR, the anti-Morris mob needs help. Expending as much mental passion and physical effort as they have in trying to block Morris' road to the Hall of Fame indicates the need for them to get a life.

There is certainly a distinction between arguing to include someone and arguing to exclude someone, one is positive and one is negative. Sure. But, I find it a little hypocritical or at the very least, a little dick-ish, to tell everyone who is arguing against Morris for the HOF that they need to get a life, in an article in which you are arguing for Morris to be in the HOF.

I don't know how many emails Murray receives in general, let alone specific to Jack Morris but maybe if he wasn't such a Chass all the time and maybe if he allowed for a comment section, he wouldn't be bombarded.

If you feel Jack Morris is deserving of the Hall of Fame, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it, but please refrain from telling others that they need a life because their opinion differs from your own.