Calling Dr. Gump, Calling Dr. Gump

Yesterday, The Atlantic ran its annual head-scratcher column with its writers explaining their Hall of Fame votes. Cooperstown would be better off with chimps deciding. How could twelve voters get it wrong so often? Go no further than the five who voted for David Wright, he of the 1777 hits and 970 RBIs. No votes, though, for Paul Konerko, despite his 2340 hits and 1412 RBIs. Third base/ first base, apples to oranges? OK, if Wright belongs in the HOF, what about Robin Ventura, with 1885 hits and 1182 RBIs? Ventura had six Gold Gloves at third vs. two for Wright, by the way. And then we come to pitching, where ten voters felt the need to cast a ballot for Felix Hernandez, with 169 wins and a 3.42. Mark Buehrle, with 214 wins and a 3.81 ERA? Buehrle mustered all of three votes. The Sox lefthander had 33 complete games and ten shutouts to 25 and eleven for Hernandez. Wait, there’s more. Baseball coverage in The Athletic, normally heavy on analytics, looks the other way with Buehrle, who has a 59 WAR according to baseball-reference.com. Hernandez? Nearly ten points lower, at 49.8. Hernandez had one no-hitter, a perfect game, to Buehrle’s two, including a perfect game. But what do I know?