Posted on 07/09/2007 8:28:47 PM PDT by Our man in washington
Conservatives are logical people who use data. I thought the sports fans among us could use data and general impressions to answer the following question: which active-duty players should go to the Baseball Hall of Fame? It's a good subject for argument so that we can sharpen our wits when we debate more substantial matters.
I'm ignoring the steroid issue in my opinions. I'm going on data here, but others can give their views on how steroids should affect the voting.
I'll start with my opinion so you can tell me where I'm wrong. Based on statistics alone, the following hitters should go to the hall of fame if they retired today: Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey, Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza, Sammy Sosa, Jim Thome, Ivan Rodriguez, and Omar Visquel.
The following hitters are "on the bubble." and need a few more good seasons to be locks for the Hall of fame: Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter, Vladimir Guerrero, Jason Giambi, Carlos Delgado and Jim Edmonds.
One could make a case for two others. In Todd Helton's case, how much is he helped by playing in Colorado? In Ichiro Suzuki's case, should we count the awesome numbers he put up in Japan count toward his Hall of Fame qualifications?
In the honorable mention category, Bobby Abreu is making a stealth run at the Hall of Fame.
For pitchers, all of the following should go in if they retire today: Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, Trevor Hoffman, and Mariano Rivera.
The pitchers who are "on the bubble" are Mike Mussina, Curt Schilling, John Smoltz, and Kevin Brown.
If anyone wants to add discussion of recently retired players who deserve the Hall of Fame, old-timers who are neglected, or undeserving players who got in, feel free. The active-duty rosters was enough research for me.
Bobby Ayala. Mariners fans will know who I mean...
Hmm... I don’t see Pete Rose being considered. Nothing to see here move along.
Can managers go?
My vote is for Jim Leyland simply because he’s had an amazing career. He’s beloved by fans where ever he goes and look what he’s done with the Tigers in 2 seasons.
I guess it’s the game I love, not memorabilia.
Just my 2 cents.
Jeter is a lock.
I agree. It should be on statistics alone unless there is some extremely rare occurrance that might find someone deserving to be enshrined for other reasons. It is a hall of FAME. Period. Rose should be in and Bonds should be in. To have kids go to the hall and not even hear that Rose or perrhaps Bonds ever existed would be, and is, is a greater crime than anything they may have done. /rant
Managers can go.
Leyland’s problem is that he’s lost more games than he’s won in his career. On the other hand, that’s partly because Florida purged the roster after he won the World Series. And Leyland has won manager of the year three times.
I’d say he’s on the bubble.
I'm not sure I agree. Here are his numbers: http://www.baseball-reference.com/j/jeterde01.shtml
Dwight Evans had about 200 more hits than Jeter has right now, and about twice as many home runs. Evans was also the best glove man in right field of his generation. Evans is not in the Hall of Fame. Based on current numbers, I wouldn't say Jeter has had a better career than Evans--yet.
In all probability, Jeter will surpass Evans by a considerable amount and go to the Hall easily. I'm just saying Jeter isn't quite a lock yet.
Nooooooooooooooo. Not Ayi, ayi, ayi Ayala!
Ah, yes, those were the good old days. You just knew a three-run lead wasn’t enough when Bobby took the mound...
Not even close. A .300 hitter who'll probably be around .290 when his career is through, and he only has 210 HRs in 12 seasons. Very average. Plus he can't field worth a lick.
Managers do get selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Tommy Lasorda is in. There are undoubtable more.
Jeter wlll get to 3500 hits easily if he stays healthy, and may even make a run at Rose.
:>)
Wasn’t he Pinella’s son-in-law or something?
Steve. Bartman.
John Smoltz is definitely HOF bound, not on the bubble.
I’m not so sure about Sosa to be perfectly honest.
I would tend to agree about Omar Vizquel as well, now that I’ve gotten the chance to see him play with my team (the Giants) at the twilight of his career.
Bobby Cox and Joe Torre also.
Not to mention the leadership presence that Jeter adds to club and he is a great clutch hitter and play maker in big games.
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