19th Greatest Pitcher

[AstrosFan]

I have a situation here. I have 14 full ballots to work with, and Juan Marichal leads that group by eight points. But if I use partial ballots, Sandy Koufax takes a two point lead on the strength of several first place votes. I am using more input in the latter, but it seems to me that full ballots should be given more weight. If the extended ballots precluded the possibility of a Marichal comeback based only on those who had cast any ballot, I would use that format, but the race is too close for that. Any thoughts? I mean, besides pitching for your choice between the two.

[ItsOnlyGil]

Dump partial ballots. This is a voting thread.
No vote = no vote.

Since Bill announced that we have 10 ballots, I am the only one to have voted (in this thread), how did we get to 14 full ballots?

Wait, I know.
People who previously voted, who may now be in another dimension, a member of a different species, a spy from competing boards sent here to screw up our ballots, or worse.

[Bill Burgess]

I'm gonna let my technician, AstrosFan, take some responsibility here. I've been carrying the load for a long time. Time to let some others shoulder some of the payload.

He's been flying as my wingman for bout 2 years or more and I'm sagging under the weight, guys. We started by hanging in for 20 votes, but we couldn't get them.

So, we'll be relaxing the tight reins and go with the flow. It'll be over when AstrosFan thinks we can't get any more votes. So, if someone wins with only 15 votes or less, what's the difference?
It's not like we're changing history here.

We're just a lot of nice people, trying to have some relaxation expressing our opinions on the National Game. It's all fun and good.

[AstrosFan]

Fname		Lname		First	Second	Third	Fourth	Fifth	Total
Juan		Marichal	4	3	1	1	0	37
Three Finger	Brown		2	2	3	1	0	29
Sandy		Koufax		3	2	1	0	3	29
Robin		Roberts		2	1	0	2	2	20
Phil		Niekro		1	1	2	1	1	18
Nolan		Ryan		0	1	2	3	1	17
Gaylord		Perry		1	2	1	0	0	16
Whitey		Ford		0	0	2	0	0	6
Mariano		Rivera		1	0	0	0	1	6
John		Clarkson	0	1	0	0	1	5
Addie		Joss		0	0	1	1	0	5
Al		Spalding	0	1	0	0	0	4
Charles		Radbourn	0	0	1	0	0	3
Tim		Keefe		0	0	0	1	0	2
Carl		Mays		0	0	0	1	0	2
Amos		Rusie		0	0	0	0	2	2
Johan		Santana		0	0	0	1	0	2
Rube		Waddell		0	0	0	1	0	2
Hoyt		Wilhelm		0	0	0	1	0	2
Roy		Halladay	0	0	0	0	1	1
Eddie		Plank		0	0	0	0	1	1
Ed		Walsh		0	0	0	0	1	1

[AstrosFan]

I think I'm just going to follow a certain method from now on. Unless things pick up, this needs to be more than a voting thread. Participation is low enough that we need any kind of kick we can get. That includes previous full and partial ballots. So I'm going to follow this:

1. Full ballots will be counted, regardless of whether they are posted or come from a previous ballot. For those posting, a next five after your votes helps immensely.
2. There will be a three week voting period.
3. After three weeks, I will add in the partial ballots. I have two separate charts for this. The leader after partial ballots have been counted will only win if he has an insurmountable lead. Otherwise the title goes to the winner of the full ballot list.

Following that method produces the chart you see above, making Juan Marichal the winner. I'll run through the other threads to see what results I get.

[ItsOnlyGil]

It is not as simple as our founder envisions it. Although at the onset our intentions may have the simplicity which was stated, the fact is that we have become a reference source which is cited. So hitch up your britches friends, we are on the ride.
What do you want for your autograph? What are your groupie preferences? Do you have a "game used" pocket protector?

[AstrosFan]

A couple more points.

1. I will post the chart based on the full ballot in all cases.
2. If it comes to it, and we have waited too long, I will break a tie first through first place votes. If that is also tied, well, I'm still thinking about it.

[Bill Burgess]

Sounds good, brothers. I'm on board.

[Bill Burgess]

Sounds good, brothers. I'm on board.

This poll has been called. I will get the next round up this weekend, if not before.