The Second Annual Hall Of Hate Fan Vote

It's that time again boys and girls. Metstradamus is headed off to vacation...which is different from where I usually am: out to lunch. I'll be off the mainland until July 11th, which gives the legions plenty of time to vote for this season's inductions for the Hall of Hate.

For those who are relatively new to the site, first off...where the hell have you been? And second, the Hall of Hate was invented by me, which was a derivative of my daily hate list. Now before you read this season's nominees and wonder: "Where's this guy?" "Where's that guy?", the original members of the hall were chosen by me, and five deserving new inductees were voted by you the fans, in August of last season, and was a rousing success. This season, there will be many of the same candidates, and a few new ones. I for one, am excited. We have a great bumper crop of candidates so let's get right to it:

The candidates:

Pete Rose: Picked a fight with a man half his size because his team was getting it's Big Red Tails kicked in during the 1973 NLCS. Received 37 votes in 2005 and was sixth in the voting.

Jeff Torborg: Managed the 1993 Mets, who exposed him as a managing fraud. (Also managed the 2003 World Champion Marlins, but only during the beginning of that season when they stunk.) Received 34 votes and was seventh in last year's voting.

Joe Torre: From "Clueless Joe" as a Met, to a hall of famer (and Roger Clemens apologist) as a Yankee. Was ninth in 2005 with 26 votes.

Richie Hebner: Wanted no part of the Mets, and played like it at third base. If I'm correct, he set the standard for giving baseball fans the finger. Received 20 votes in 2005 and was tied for tenth in the voting.

Jim Duquette: Traded Scott Kazmir while GM of the New York Mets. Then found religion refused to trade highly touted Adam Loewen as part of the Kris Benson deal as the assistant GM of the Orioles. Was tied with Richie Hebner last season with 20 votes.

Tony Fernandez: Was successful at every major league stop he made, except Shea Stadium, where he had maybe three hits in half a season, and blamed gallstones. Tony received 19 votes in 2005 and finished 12th in the voting.

Eddie Murray: The first baseman of the worst team money could buy, the 1993 Mets. Is it really a compliment when you're the leader of misfits? Eddie was 14th in last year's voting with 15 votes.

Anthony Young: Lost 2,587 games in a row in 1993. A.Y. received 9 votes in 2005.

Gene Walter: In the Kevin McReynolds trade, this left handed specialist was the deal breaker. Did nothing as a Met...nothing! Despite doing nothing, Walter only received 6 votes in 2005

Alejandro Pena: A large contributor to the 1988 Dodgers, who broke the Mets hearts in the NLCS after going 1-11 against the Mets during the regular season. Then joins the Mets and becomes as useful as an umbrella in a hurricane. Pena received 5 votes and finished dead last in the voting (Pena can't even win at losing).

Guillermo Mota: Mota beaned Mike Piazza in spring training, then publicly wondered why Piazza went after him and not Roger Clemens (maybe the fact that Piazza was flat on his back had something to do with it). Then after hitting Piazza the following season again, ran away as Piazza followed him to the dugout, the clubhouse, his house, Los Angeles, then to San Pedro de Macoris. This is Mota's first appearance on this year's ballot.

Mel Rojas: Was traded to the Mets as part of the Turk Wendell deal. The reason it's called the Turk Wendell deal is because Rojas was about as useful as Manute Bol on ice skates. Rojas gave up a home run to Paul O'Neill in 1997 that finally landed in 2002. Rojas' greatest transgression was his final act as a Met, which was bringing back Bobby Bonilla in a trade. Rojas is making his debut in this year's balloting.

Steve Phillips: Made very shrewd moves from 1997-2000. But then brought in the likes of Mo Vaughn, Roger Cedeno, and Robby Alomar. Traded Jason Bay for Steve Reed. But worst of all, embarrassed himself with these stupid mock press conferences as the GM of the Red Sox, Cubs, and Yankees as an ESPN analyst. Phillips makes his debut on this season's balloting.

Mike Francesa: The larger half of the "Mike and the Mad Dog Show" has always been known as a pompous egotistical Yankee elitist. But this year's diatribe on why Billy Wagner should give up Enter Sandman as his entrance music, and his petty complaint about how Xavier Nady pronounces his name is proof that nothing will get in his way when it comes to Met-bashing. Francesa makes his debut this season.

Dick Young: The New York Post columnist who basically ran Tom Seaver out of town while writing for the Daily News. With one column, Young destroyed an agreement between Seaver and the Mets, causing Seaver to be traded as part of the "Midnight Massacre" on June 15th, 1977. Received 32 votes as part of the general voting in 2005 and finished eighth.

Now remember, the vote will take place on the top of the sidebar, where the poll usually is. You may only vote once per computer, but you may vote for multiple candidates at once. To keep the hall of hate from being flooded, this year the top three vote getters will be inducted, rather than five like the first season. For the third year, there may be two or even one inductee...we'll see.

You may also write in your vote in the comment section if you feel I've forgotten anybody. But please, before you wonder about a certain player's whereabouts, refer here for the existing members. Voting ends at 11:59PM ET on July 13th, so don't delay!