Marvin Miller punks the Hall of Fame, Derek is angry, K’s vs. home runs, and other tales…

Former GM Pat Gillick making the Hall of Fame was well deserved. Gillick put together some great teams in his career, including the World Champion Blue Jays in the early 90’s, the Oriole teams that won the AL East a couple of times later in the decade, and the 116 win Mariner team of 2001. He also laid the groundwork for the current Phillies.

The bigger news was about two men that didn’t make it. George Steinbrenner was denied, but he’ll make it someday. No offense, but it’s not like The Boss is still with us, and for the record, I think he has to go in (and will) as an owner that had an enormous impact on how the business of baseball has changed.

George will get his due, but Marvin Miller, the man who was much more responsible for the changes in the game misses again, this time by one vote. I can make a very good argument that after Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson, Marvin Miller has had the biggest impact on the game in the last 100 years.

Anyone interested in really understanding what happened to baseball once Miller began his tenure as the player’s counsel and negotiator should read John Helyar’s excellent book, "The Lords of the Realm."

(If you’d like to read the text of Marvin Miller’s response to not being voted into the Hall of Fame, read the post prior to this one.)

Moving on, Derek Jeter sounded a little testy today.

Jeter didn’t like that many of the details about his contract negotiations had been made very public. Hey, I don’t give a crap, Derek. I have all the respect in the world for you as a player, but take your 51 MM and shut up.

If you didn’t like that the details were splashed all over, I have to know first if you really asked for so much more? Even if you didn’t ask for 23-25 MM a year for 6 years, take a frikkin’ contract that no one else would give you half of, stop whining, and prove us doubters wrong.

Better still, thank Marvin Miller, because without Miller, maybe Jeter makes $75,000 as a charity salary for this coming season with NY?

Arizona finds a closer?

JJ Putz signs with the D-Backs – 2 years for 10 MM. I’ve always liked the guy, and maybe he’ll solve what was a horrible problem for AZ last year? Arizona has been busy, signing Melvin Mora (from Colorado - the hot weather will be good for his old bones) and trading Mark Reynolds to Baltimore for some random scrub pitchers, including Kam Micklio. I don’t think much of Micklio - I just like saying his name.

Reynolds is an interesting player. In the last 3 seasons he’s had 1982 at bats, and struck out 767 times! He has also hit 121 homers in those 3 years, but only hit .198 in 2010. Those K’s are the stuff of legend. I remember when Bobby Bonds set the new MLB record for K’s back in 1969 with 187. Proving it was no fluke, he fanned 189 times in 1970.

Did you know that Joe DiMaggio only struck out 369 times in his entire career? DiMaggio only played 15 seasons, and had 6821 at bats. He almost had as many homers (361) as strikeouts.

Another point of reference is that Henry Aaron had 12,364 at bats, and 755 homers

If Reynolds had Joltin’ Joe’s pace, he’d have 750 homers in three seasons, and be right behind Henry for second place in homers on the all-time list, and Barry Bonds another few at bats away.

In other news, Ty Wigginton signed with Colorado for 2 years and 8 MM. Wiggy keeps on doing it, doesn’t he? I am guessing he finds 450-500 at bats, and hits 25+ homers, while playing all over the place.

Stay warm my friends, the Winter Meetings are in full swing, and pitchers and catchers report in 68 days.