Curt Schilling is Acting like a Baby

 Ken Rosenthal made an excellent point on the MLB networks Hot Stove morning show on January 27, 2021.

Mariano Rivera supported Donald Trump.

He received 100 percent support from the baseball writers on his first election attempt to the Hall of Fame.

So political views and beliefs do not seem to be a factor in the baseball writer's decision-making process when selecting which ballplayers are enshrined in Cooperstown.

What may be a factor are bombastic statements made by a candidate that can sway writers in who they vote for.

Enter Curt Schilling. The former Orioles, Astros, Phillies, Diamondback, and Red Sox pitcher decided to issue a statement reacting to the Trumpist Domestic Terrorist storming of the Nations Capitol on January 6, 2021, by tweeting:

“You cowards sat on your hands, did nothing while liberal trash looted rioted and burned for Air Jordan’s and big screens. Sit back [shut up] and watch folks start a confrontation for [s–t] that matters like rights, democracy, and the end of [government] corruption. #itshappening.”

What baseball writer is going to want to vote for a candidate who makes comments like the above one?

Suffice it to say when the ballots were revealed for the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 26, 2021, Mr. Schilling (who seemed to be trending toward entry before publishing his statements) came up 16 votes short of enshrinement.

Did Mr. Schilling handle this result with maturity and grace?

Of course not.

The former pitcher published an inappropriate statement following his rejection. Part of it read:

"I will not participate in the final year of voting. I am requesting to be removed from the ballot. I'll defer to the veteran's committee and men whose opinions actually matter and who are in a position to actually judge a player. I don't think I'm a Hall of Famer as I've often stated but if former players think I am then I'll accept that with honor."

Curt Schilling is acting like a baby. Some could also use the words jerk or ass to describe his reaction to being rejected by the Baseball Hall of Fame by only 16 votes.

There is no doubt that, based on performance and statistical totals, Curt Schilling probably merits admission to baseball's hallowed Hall of Fame.

More so than Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds who used forbidden performance-enhancing drugs to prolong their careers and augment their achievements on the field.

However, he and his mouth/social media account are his own worst enemies.

Supporting Donald Trump is not Curt Schilling's problem.

Being a jerk and openly siding with the Pro-Trump Domestic Terrorist Insurrectionists is?

Character does count and the baseball writers who vote the ballplayers into the Hall are perfectly within their rights to factor Schilling's behavior and temperament into account when making their choice.

Schilling needs to get his act straight or he may not get voted in his last year of eligibility in 2022 or by the Veterans Committee.

Even Hall of Fame players and managers on the committee have character standards and Schilling, with his current vibrant personality and fringe views, may not be appreciated by them for the near future.