Hall of Fame voting will be announced on
Wednesday. In preparation, I wanted to
share my (unofficial) ballot for this year.
Jeff Bagwell - 2315 hits, 488 2Bs, 449
HRs, 1529 RBIs, 202 SBs, 1401 BBs, 1558 Ks, .297/.408/.540
A leader for one of the great teams that
never won anything. Steroid link is
flimsy. Arguably the best all-around
first baseman of all time. One of the
greatest baserunners I've seen. Home
runs would have been in the 500s if he did not spend a majority of the his
career in the Astrodome.
Ken Griffey, Jr. - 2781 hits, 524 2Bs,
630 HRs, 1836 RBIs, 184 SBs, 1312 BBs, 1779 Ks, .284/.370/.538
A no-brainer. Was elected to the All Century Team before
the age of 30. Yes his production went
way down after going to Cincinnati, but he was basically constantly injured. Basically as good in the field as at the
plate. And for what it's worth, one of the sweetest swings you'll ever see.
Trevor Hoffman - 61-75, 2.87 ERA, 601
SVs, 1089.1 IP, 307 BBs, 1133 Ks, 1.058 WHIP
The greatest National League closer all
time. As dominant as Mariano Rivera in
his prime. No doubt in my mind.
Edgar Martinez - 2247 hits, 514 2Bs, 309
HRs, 1261 RBIs, 1283 BBs, 1202 Ks, .312/.418/.515
Sure he was a DH for the majority of his
career, he just happens to be the best at it all time. Overshadowed by bigger names on his team, he
was a steady performer. 5th highest
lifetime on base percentage post WWII.
Fred McGriff - 2490 hits, 441 2Bs, 493
HRs, 1550 RBIs, 1305 BBs, 1882 Ks, .284/.377/.509
How much did the 1994 strike hurt his
HOF chances, since he definitely would have hit at least 7 more home runs and
reached that magical number. Sure there
were a number of other great first basemen during his career, and sure he moved
around a lot, should that hurt his chances that much?
Mike Piazza - 2127 hits, 344 2Bs, 427
HRs, 1335 RBIs, 759 BBs, 1113 Ks, .308/.377/.545
Can someone explain to me why the
greatest hitting catcher is not in the HOF?
Just look at those numbers at a premium position! His 1995-1997 are three of the best in a row
for anybody.
Tim Raines - 2605 hits, 430 2Bs, 170
HRs, 980 RBIs, 808 SBs, 1330 BBs, 966 Ks, .294/.385/.425
The most confounding non-HOFer. The second greatest leadoff hitter of all
time, who just happened to play at the same time as the greatest ever. People knock him for not getting 3000 hits,
but how about the fact that he got on base more than Tony Gwynn (whom I
love)? I just do not understand people
who do not vote for him.
Alan Trammell - 2365 hits, 412 2Bs, 185
HRs, 1003 RBIs, 236 SBs, 850 BBs, 874 Ks, .285/.352/.415
Half of the greatest double play duo in
history. His numbers are virtually equal
to the more flashy Barry Larkin (who also played in a more offense friendly
era).
Billy Wagner - 47-40, 2.31 ERA, 422 SVs,
903 IP, 300 BBs, 1196 Ks, .998 WHIP
Did you know that he has the highest K
rate and the lowest WHIP in history? One
of the most electric fastballs ever on a tiny body. Does not get as much love as Rivera and Hoffman,
but just as good in his prime.
Larry Walker - 2160 hits, 471 2Bs, 383
HRs, 1311 RBIs, 230 SBs, 913 BBs, 1231 Ks, .313/.400/.565
Sure, Coors inflated his numbers. That does not take away from him being one of
the best all around players of his generation.
Nearly as good on the basepaths as Bagwell and one of the best outfield
arms of his era (probably just below Vladimir Guerrero).
If I had more than 10 votes, I would
also include:
Curt Schilling - ace with great playoff
numbers
Mike Mussina - solid starter
Jeff Kent - one of best offensive 2B all
time
Feel free to agree, disagree, and debate
with me.
Not bad. I see the years of Bagwell bashing were just to be a brother, or maybe you finally got smart, like me! You’re right on but I’d sub two Schilling and Kent, both definite HOFers for Martinez and Walker both Dale Murphy really good players. Martinez falls in at #4 for DHes behind the best David Ortiz and Paul Molitor and then second tier Frank overrated Thomas (one dimensional but still a HOFer). Those guys have the wow numbers Martinez doesn’t (3000 hits, 500 HRs) and that’s a big disqualifier for someone who did nothing but hit and for a long time. Close but no cigar. Walker was Coors Field with a great arm. His numbers away were meh and if greats like Dwight Evans (on defense alone), Ted Simmons, and Cecil Cooper (only the first two are HOFers) fell off on the ballot so early, he’s not a HOFer.; still really good, but Dale Murphy 3 time MVP and not HOF good. Trammell I’m still debating. Alomar and Omar Vizquel beat Trammell and Whitaker for me.
ReplyDeleteI won't touch the DH debate right now, but Trammell and Whitaker did it a lot longer than Alomar and Vizquel. 14 years vs. 3. That makes a huge difference.
DeleteP.S. Go Bagwell! HOF 2016!
ReplyDeleteTrue about the time difference for the dous but still. I forgot Thome regarding DH (don't know why other than he is not eligible yet-best pure slugger in the past 30 years). Miles above Martinez with an over .400 on base percentage to boot. Again Martinez was good just not HOF. Next year Bagwell!
ReplyDelete