Changing of the guard for MLB
Goot
Posts: 3,496
in Sports Talk
I was thinking about it, and in these next few years we will all see some of baseballs finest leave the game and the new crop of talent emerge.
Good or bad, you have guys such as Clemens, Bonds, Griffey Jr., Smoltz, Maddux, Glavine, Biggio, Frank Thomas, Schilling, Piazza, etc. all leaving. Not to mention the Dodgers leaving Dodgertown and the Yankees leaving the house that Ruth built in search of more money.
Right now we have the problem of almost no one truly being up to hall of fame standards but in the coming years, greats will have to wait a year or two because their HOF classes will be so strong.
I know that there are obviously the new guys coming up to fill their shoes like Wright, Crawford, Pujols, Arod, Verlander, Peavy, Santana,Kazmir, Beckett and the like. Maybe it's not that big of a deal to you guys since most of your childhood stars have probably been retired for years but for me it's tough because these are the guys I grew up watching. Anyone else noticing this sort of changing of the guard about to take place?
Good or bad, you have guys such as Clemens, Bonds, Griffey Jr., Smoltz, Maddux, Glavine, Biggio, Frank Thomas, Schilling, Piazza, etc. all leaving. Not to mention the Dodgers leaving Dodgertown and the Yankees leaving the house that Ruth built in search of more money.
Right now we have the problem of almost no one truly being up to hall of fame standards but in the coming years, greats will have to wait a year or two because their HOF classes will be so strong.
I know that there are obviously the new guys coming up to fill their shoes like Wright, Crawford, Pujols, Arod, Verlander, Peavy, Santana,Kazmir, Beckett and the like. Maybe it's not that big of a deal to you guys since most of your childhood stars have probably been retired for years but for me it's tough because these are the guys I grew up watching. Anyone else noticing this sort of changing of the guard about to take place?
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Comments
Pujols, Arod etc. have been around for more than a few years lol.
Im glad to see Bonds leave the game, he has become a serious embarassment and a stain on the game. i will miss Smoltz, Madduz and Glavine (though all THREE are pitching this year
I still have Jim Thome to cheer for (hopefully for 2-3 more seasons)
p.s. some of the guys you mentioned arent going to make the HOF,so no need to worry about a crowded class.
<< <i>" the new guys coming up to fill their shoes "
Pujols, Arod etc. have been around for more than a few years lol.
Im glad to see Bonds leave the game, he has become a serious embarassment and a stain on the game. i will miss Smoltz, Madduz and Glavine (though all THREE are pitching this year
I still have Jim Thome to cheer for (hopefully for 2-3 more seasons)
p.s. some of the guys you mentioned arent going to make the HOF,so no need to worry about a crowded class. >>
True about Pujols and Arod. haha.
But who up there won't make the hall? I think all have very good shots.
Bonds especially. Just like McGwire.
Schilling is on the bubble for the HOF, kind of reminds me of Jim Bunning, who is def. borderline for the Hall.
Off that original list though, Biggio is not a HOFer, I know he got 3000 hits but to me he doesn't belong. I'd also say because Thomas was primarily a DH, he's on the bubble too, which is why I feel he doesn't want to retire until he's up in the 550-600 homer range (to have a better chance at the hall--and you better believe he's playing right now to get into the hall).
Jay
<< <i>I disagree that Thomas should hang it up, I think he could continue to play and hit .250ish with 25 bombs and 90 walks until he was old and grey.
Off that original list though, Biggio is not a HOFer, I know he got 3000 hits but to me he doesn't belong. I'd also say because Thomas was primarily a DH, he's on the bubble too, which is why I feel he doesn't want to retire until he's up in the 550-600 homer range (to have a better chance at the hall--and you better believe he's playing right now to get into the hall).
Jay >>
He got the 3000 hits though. That has been a benchmark for anyone and to not include Biggio would be a slap in the face to him. Whether he feels like one or not probably won't matter.
I know for Palmeiro that he'll never get in because of lying to Congress, but at a certain point benchmarks change. I mean realistically you're going to see maybe 1 or 2 pitchers every 20 years from here on in reach 300 wins, so that will go down. But more and more guys will hit 500 homers, and I believe that will no longer be a bench mark. All it takes is one guy not getting in with a certain amount of HR, HITS, K's, and things change. I know if I was voting, he would not get my vote.
Jay