2010 HOF Candidates
jaxxr
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in Sports Talk
Enough about Henderson and Rice, what about next year ?
For 2010, new first timers will include, Roberto Alomar, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, and Fred McGriff.
Probably no sure-fire locks for first ballot entry, however all have some worthy features, and might eventually get in.
Edgar Martinez is the most interesting possibility. A fine hitter, with some impressive stats indeed, several league leading seasons in the popular triple crown batting numbers, give him some lasting fame, as well.
Does a DH belong in the HOF ? Since part time performers like closers are now felt to be potential HOFers, do DHs deserve the same consideration ?
Manny Mota, Smokey Burgess, and other pinch hitters, are never mentioned in HOF talk, should a full time pinch hitter be ?
Does a DH need to excell much more than a regular position player, probably yes, however the question is really, how much more ?
If Edgar had played in LA or NY, perhaps, his popularity would have been larger, and his HOF viability larger also. He will be the very first true DH, getting HOF consideration, and there really are no DH comparisons to try and use.
I am somewhat undecided as to how I might vote regarding Edgar.
Some comments and views from others would be appreciated.
For 2010, new first timers will include, Roberto Alomar, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, and Fred McGriff.
Probably no sure-fire locks for first ballot entry, however all have some worthy features, and might eventually get in.
Edgar Martinez is the most interesting possibility. A fine hitter, with some impressive stats indeed, several league leading seasons in the popular triple crown batting numbers, give him some lasting fame, as well.
Does a DH belong in the HOF ? Since part time performers like closers are now felt to be potential HOFers, do DHs deserve the same consideration ?
Manny Mota, Smokey Burgess, and other pinch hitters, are never mentioned in HOF talk, should a full time pinch hitter be ?
Does a DH need to excell much more than a regular position player, probably yes, however the question is really, how much more ?
If Edgar had played in LA or NY, perhaps, his popularity would have been larger, and his HOF viability larger also. He will be the very first true DH, getting HOF consideration, and there really are no DH comparisons to try and use.
I am somewhat undecided as to how I might vote regarding Edgar.
Some comments and views from others would be appreciated.
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He was a malcontent but Alomar deserves to be in the HOF, McGriff and Larkin, too...Blyleven, too. I'd say Alomar, McGriff, Larkin,, Blyleven and Raines are all worthy of serious consideration and votes...
Re Martinez: I have a problem voting first ballot for a guy who only played one way for the majority of his career...not saying I'd never consider it, but...
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<< <i>A very impressive freshman crop of players there..
He was a malcontent but Alomar deserves to be in the HOF, McGriff and Larkin, too...Blyleven, too. I'd say Alomar, McGriff, Larkin,, Blyleven and Raines are all worthy of serious consideration and votes...
Re Martinez: I have a problem voting first ballot for a guy who only played one way for the majority of his career...not saying I'd never consider it, but... >>
I would agree on pretty much all counts here Grote.
What is going to end up happening is that Dawson will be voted in next year. Blyleven may possibly make it.
Of the new comers Alomar has the greatest chance to make it next year on the first ballot. I think the others will end up being bantered about for a few years. Alomar has the ability, and a great playing reputation. His fielding reputation is probably greater than his actual fielding contribution, but that does not matter to the voters.
next year the Hawk might get in.... and Blylevn too!
Who is eligible for the first time in 2011?
He is a definite HOFer, but will likely wait a year or two for entry.
Larkin should make it eventually. Blyleven and Raines deserve it.
Edgar will be interesting. Great hitter. If he had been a poor fielding first baseman 150 games a year, he would have done less to help his team than he did at DH and increased his chances of being inducted (which is, obviously, kind of dumb).
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2011: Wilson Alvarez, Carlos Baerga, Jeff Bagwell, Bret Boone, Kevin Brown, Cal Eldred, John Franco, Juan Gonzalez, Marquis Grissom, Bobby Higginson, Charles Johnson, Al Leiter, Tino Martinez, Raul Mondesi, Jose Offerman, John Olerud, Rafael Palmeiro, Paul Quantrill, Steve Reed, Kirk Rueter, Rey Sanchez, Benito Santiago, B.J. Surhoff, Ugueth Urbina, Ismael Valdez, Larry Walker, Dan Wilson
Bagwell and Walker head the class.
For 2010 I would agree with Hoopster except I think Mcgriff is going to be on the outside looking in for while.
For 2011... again, not sure there are any first timers. I can't believe Mondesi has been retired that long.
<< <i>I was just looking at Barry Larkin's lifetime stats, and they were pretty damn impressive. Why he doesn't get the recognition he deserves is beyond me. >>
You got me. He played on some bad teams but he has 9 Silver Sluggers, 11 All Star Teams and an MVP Award and a WS Ring (1990). He's as big a lock as locks get.
You had to see Alomar to appreciate him, be he's also a lock. That guy could get to any ball seemingly.
Blyleven is in my opinion a hall of very good guy. Only 27 games over 500 in his career - never finishing in the top 2 in Cy Youngs.
He has a nice career WHIP (1.19) and good K/BB (almost 3 to 1) but other guys have similar numbers to those. It's not like he suffered on a losing team fr his whole career like Carlton did for many years. He moved around and was in the playoffs 3 times.
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The remarkable story about Larkin, who was born and raised in Cincy, grew up idolizing the Big Red Machine, and made it his goal to replace Dave Concepcion (another player who should be given serious Hall consideration), was the fact that he did it. He was by all accounts, a classy individual and a fierce team leader who played his entire career with one team.
Robert
You had to see Alomar to appreciate him, be he's also a lock. That guy could get to any ball seemingly.
Blyleven is in my opinion a hall of very good guy. Only 27 games over 500 in his career - never finishing in the top 2 in Cy Youngs.
He has a nice career WHIP (1.19) and good K/BB (almost 3 to 1) but other guys have similar numbers to those. It's not like he suffered on a losing team fr his whole career like Carlton did for many years. He moved around and was in the playoffs 3 times.
I agree with you about Alomar and Larkin, but not about Blyleven...
In a 22-year career, Blyleven made the playoffs a total of three times, including once as a 19-year-old rookie, and once as a 36-year old SP when the Twins won the World Series in 1987. The other 19 seasons he played for mostly below average clubs and would have easily won well over 300 games if he had been on a few better clubs.
Steve Carlton, on the other hand, played for a total of EIGHT postseason clubs, and though the 1972 Phillies were definitely god awful, many of the Cardinals and Phillies teams he was on were actually quite good, and there is no question that he played for much better teams over the course of his career than did Blyleven. The most misleading stat on a pitcher's line is his W-L record, and Blyleven was a much better pitcher than his winning pct inducates: 5th all time in strikeouts and 9th all time in shutouts (which is probably as good an indication of any of a pitcher's dominance). His career ERA is also a very impressive 3.31. If you have guys like Catfish Hunter, Rich Gossage and Brice Sutter in the HOF, there is no reasonable explanation to keep Blyleven out, IMO.
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