(Photo: MSNBC)

Answer: You bet your sweet ass he is.

You might have noticed in ESPN's Hall of Fame 2008 section where writers "debate" the merits of borderline MLB Hall of Famers such as Mark McGuire, Goose Gossage, Bert Blylevin and HHR favorite Tim "Rock" Raines.

Mr. Baseball Peter Gammons took the liberty of going back and forth with Jason Stark (sans mustachio) on the topic of Raines.

In our very first post, we noted a story about what a major league hand job Gammons.

Each year when Hall of Fame voting rolls around, there is as much debate over the power of Baseball Writers Association of America as there is over the players on the ballot themselves. Truth be told, these writers hold in their hands the ability to control individuals' immortality, an immortality most of these writers will never know. And worse than that, they know it, and they exploit it; they flaunt it. They alone know who is and who isn't worthy of enshrinement.

Whether its Lupica, or to an extent Bob Ryan, these guys hold themselves in such high regard as the end-all, be-all of sports knowledge. None, so pompous, however, as Gammons. Yet for some odd reason, the public seems to revere him and his smug look and attitude.

If nothing else, just know that Gammons hates kids.

Oh and he is better than you. As are all the old-school baseball and sports writers who made their bones in mail and copy rooms while you were still dating cheerleaders.

Continue to worship them if you must, as that is what they insist you do. Gammons especially. He is a god. He controls destiny. He can be as big an ass to kids as he wants, know one will blink an eye. Immortals can do that. You are just a lowly man, even if you made him what he is, ego and all.