2017 Hall of Fame Vote

Tomorrow is the date for one of my favorite debates.  Who should be in the Hall of Fame?  Clearly, more guys from the 90s should be in.  It is criminally under represented now.  I want to fix that.

First, I'm going to go through my "ballot" (remember, you can only vote for 10).  Second, I'm going to give a simple yes or no for whether each guy on the ballot should be in.

My ballot (alphabetical order):

Jeff Bagwell

            This really should be a no-brainer, and not just because I'm an Astros fan.  The only first baseman in history with 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases.  The most pure 5-tool first baseman in history.  The face of a successful franchise for 15 years.  The only reason why he's not in yet is unsubstantiated rumors that he may have taken steroids because...?

Vladimir Guerrero

            The best bad ball hitter I've ever seen (though I hear Yogi Berra was pretty good).  Tons of power, plenty of speed (though the Montreal turf destroyed his knees), a cannon of an arm.  The only knock was he was pretty bad with the glove, but who cares?

Trevor Hoffman

            Those who say "he wasn't Mariano" are stupid and have a ridiculously high bar for success.  He was the second best closer of his time, in many ways he's similar to Tim Raines (see below).  Plus, there's no beating him entering to Hells Bells (they basically invented the closer walkup music).

Edgar Martinez

            The greatest designated hitter of all time (sorry Papi), only injuries and a late start kept him from 3000 hits.

Fred McGriff

            The second greatest casualty (after the Expos) of the 1994 strike, because he fell 7 home runs short of 500.  It's crazy he doesn't get more consideration, especially since people now want to laud clean power hitters from the 90s.  (Of course he should get in just for his Tom Emanski commercial)

Tim Raines

            The second best leadoff hitter of all time, he had the misfortune of playing at the same time as the best (Rickey Henderson) in a small market and thus he has been overlooked.  As others have pointed out, he was essentially the same player as Tony Gwynn, just replacing 400 hits with walks and way more stolen bases.  And, of course, he has the greatest stolen base percentage in history.  He has to get in in his last year on the ballot.

Ivan Rodriguez

            Did he take steroids?  He's in the Canseco book.  I know, but I also know that when I watched him he was the best catcher I have seen.  Our generation's Johnny Bench.  Perhaps the most feared catcher of all time.

Curt Schilling

            Perhaps the most dominant postseason starter in the modern era, it was also unquestioned that when he paired with Randy Johnson in Arizona they were the best 1-2 punch of their time.  Anybody who doesn't vote for him because of his post-career outspokenness is an idiot.

Billy Wagner

            Closers are supposed to be dominant.  Nobody, except maybe Mariano, has been more dominant.  Only his lack of innings is keep his consideration down.

Larry Walker

            As someone else said, if you vote for Vladimir you have to vote for Larry.  They were basically the same person, but Larry was less flashy (and he played in Colorado).

So there's my 10, and it was tough to leave off 2-3 others.  So, of those who are left, who else should be in?

Casey Blake - no

Barry Bonds - blatant roid user, no

Pat Burrell - no

Orlando Cabrera - no

Mike Cameron - no

Roger Clemens - same boat as Bonds

J.D. Drew - no

Carlos Guillen - no

Jeff Kent - Yes - one of the best offensive second basemen of all time

Derrek Lee - no

Melvin Mora - no

Mike Mussina - Yes - 270 wins and a 123 career ERA+ pitching entire career in AL East (same as Juan Marichal, better than Bob Feller, Eddie Plank, Don Drysdale, Warren Spahn, etc.)

Magglio Ordonez - no (he was a jerk when I asked for his autograph)

Jorge Posada - Maybe, mostly because catchers are very underrepresented

Manny Ramirez - no - twice tested positive

Edgar Renteria - no

Arthur Rhodes - no (this guy pitched forever - proof teams are always looking for a lefty arm)

Freddy Sanchez - no

Gary Sheffield - based on numbers, yes, but no

Lee Smith - no

Sammy Sosa - no, see Bonds

Matt Stairs - no

Jason Varitek - no

Tim Wakefield - no, but I would love to give him a vote just because

So who do I think will get in?  Bagwell, Raines, Guerrero.  Hoffman will get close (around what he got last year - 67%).  Rodriguez will debut at about 50%.  Bonds and Clemens will probably both take big step ups (~60% from 45%).

Oh, and next year, the ballot adds likely first ballot guy Chipper Jones, plus Jim Thome, Scott Rolen, and Omar Vizquel (though he shouldn't-he was a terrible offensive player and overrated highlight real defensively) will get consideration.  It's just getting more crowded.