Easy Mac
06-23-2005, 09:31 PM
Since the original was an unequivocal success, this will continue for about the next 29 nights, more or less.
I'll give a poll of the 3 players I think are most likely to make the Hall of Fame. Of course, some (most) teams won't come close to the criteria for the hall, so most of the time it will be the 3 best career on the team. It should be an interesting discussion for some teams, pretty boring for others (See AZ). Also, as an added bonus, I may occasionally do more than 1 set of 3 players for a team. Very rare, there may be a couple of teams who have more than 3 guys who could be hall-worthy. So here we go. The poll choices will hopefully be obvious, but who knows.
John Smoltz: The one guy on the team who looks like he currently has at least a 50% chance of getting in. It all depends on how the next few years go. Had he continued to be a closer for the next 2-3 years, I would have said he's practically a lock for the hall. Currently retired from the bullpen and back in the rotation, he's currently on 170 wins and 154 saves. He's 38 years old, and he's got about 1 more season's worth of good baseball. I think he'll end up with about 20-25 more wins. In order for him to have even a realistic shot, he'd have to get either 200 wins or 200 saves, but preferably both. Missing 2000 and most of 2001 didn't help his chances, but without that injury ,he probably wouldn't be in this discussion. Unfortunately it looks like he'll stay out of the pen at all costs, so I doubt he'll make the hall. Add in the fact that he was often seen as the 3rd wheel of the Braves pitching throughout the 90's.
One thing that he has going for him is that he's a big game pitcher. He's got a career postseason ERA of 2.70 and a 14-4 record with 4 saves for a perennial underachieving playoff team. He's won a Cy Young, threw a gem of a game in game 7 of the World Series (only beaten by his idol Jack Morris). Plus he's the only non-trader of the big 3 pitchers.
I dunno, here I'll say fairly unlikely to make the Hall without a change of heart and being a closer, but I may vote yes just because I can't hate on my boy.
Chipper Jones: Arguably the best 3rd baseman of the last decade (we all saw what happened to Vinny C. after he left Coors), He should get in for fathering illegitmate children and withstanding drunk New Yorkers chanting Larry. Alas, the last year has been rough on old Chip. I think he would have had a very decent argument if he hadn't gotten bit by the injury bug, but it looks like that will be the norm for him from here on out. I think he's had a hall worthy career in my opinion, but I don't think it will last. He has a .303 average with 317 HR and a .937 OPS for his career. He has the whole MVP and bane of New York thing going for him though, so that can't hurt. I also think his D has gotten a bad rap and will adversely affect him. He was pretty much a feast or famine fielder, making the more difficult routing and the routine more difficult.
If he could somehow regain his health in the next 5-6 years, he's in the hall. That would put him around 400-450 home runs, over .300 average. I don't know if that will happen. Right now, if injuries continue to be a problem, I'd say No Hall... but in his prime he was the best real third baseman of the last 15 years... that has to count for something.
Andruw Jones: Sometime in the past month, something has clicked for this Jones. I don't know if he's finally matured or what, but I'll take it. He's looking to set a career high in HR, and he's just 28, so he has a few more years ahead of him. If he reaches 50 HR this year, he'll be sitting on 300 at the age of 28. Assuming he's in his prime now, and he'll play at least 9 more seasons (the length of time it took him to get to 300), he's looking at a Troy Glaus-like 600 HR. Very doubtful he'll get near there, but one can dream. He's also got a rep as one of the best fielders in the league. While most contend he's always been overrated, I actually think its the other way around. Center just always came easy to him. He's twice the fielder other "great" centers like Edmonds are. And while a smile won't get you into the hall, he's always smiling through the whole game.
Now the bad. He doesn't hit for average... he strikes out... he has no eye for the ball... he often plays like he doesn't give a damn. While he broke onto the scene in the 96 WS, he never has stepped up in a game that matters the past few years. Baseball reference compares him to Ruben Sierra at this age.
I think if he's finally figured out how to hit, and his fielding doesn't drop greatly, he has the best chance of the Braves to get into the Hall. If this season is just a fluke, then there is no chance. Right now, I'd say No Hall, but ask again in 3 and you may get a new answer.
Too soon:
Tim Hudson not likely unless he pulls of a Maddux-like string of 15 win seasons. A very fine pitcher, but I just don't see it happening. Julio Franco, just because I like throwing his name out every chance I get, and for the sheer freak of nature he is.
In Conclusion:
I still don't know how I'll vote. Unless the stars align pefectly, I don't know if any of the 3 will get in. I'd like to see them all, just so I can see more than just Maddux and Glavine in the hall from the 90's Braves... those are the 2 I don't want in. My mind says No hall for all, but I may vote for at least 1 of them.
Your thoughts.
I'll give a poll of the 3 players I think are most likely to make the Hall of Fame. Of course, some (most) teams won't come close to the criteria for the hall, so most of the time it will be the 3 best career on the team. It should be an interesting discussion for some teams, pretty boring for others (See AZ). Also, as an added bonus, I may occasionally do more than 1 set of 3 players for a team. Very rare, there may be a couple of teams who have more than 3 guys who could be hall-worthy. So here we go. The poll choices will hopefully be obvious, but who knows.
John Smoltz: The one guy on the team who looks like he currently has at least a 50% chance of getting in. It all depends on how the next few years go. Had he continued to be a closer for the next 2-3 years, I would have said he's practically a lock for the hall. Currently retired from the bullpen and back in the rotation, he's currently on 170 wins and 154 saves. He's 38 years old, and he's got about 1 more season's worth of good baseball. I think he'll end up with about 20-25 more wins. In order for him to have even a realistic shot, he'd have to get either 200 wins or 200 saves, but preferably both. Missing 2000 and most of 2001 didn't help his chances, but without that injury ,he probably wouldn't be in this discussion. Unfortunately it looks like he'll stay out of the pen at all costs, so I doubt he'll make the hall. Add in the fact that he was often seen as the 3rd wheel of the Braves pitching throughout the 90's.
One thing that he has going for him is that he's a big game pitcher. He's got a career postseason ERA of 2.70 and a 14-4 record with 4 saves for a perennial underachieving playoff team. He's won a Cy Young, threw a gem of a game in game 7 of the World Series (only beaten by his idol Jack Morris). Plus he's the only non-trader of the big 3 pitchers.
I dunno, here I'll say fairly unlikely to make the Hall without a change of heart and being a closer, but I may vote yes just because I can't hate on my boy.
Chipper Jones: Arguably the best 3rd baseman of the last decade (we all saw what happened to Vinny C. after he left Coors), He should get in for fathering illegitmate children and withstanding drunk New Yorkers chanting Larry. Alas, the last year has been rough on old Chip. I think he would have had a very decent argument if he hadn't gotten bit by the injury bug, but it looks like that will be the norm for him from here on out. I think he's had a hall worthy career in my opinion, but I don't think it will last. He has a .303 average with 317 HR and a .937 OPS for his career. He has the whole MVP and bane of New York thing going for him though, so that can't hurt. I also think his D has gotten a bad rap and will adversely affect him. He was pretty much a feast or famine fielder, making the more difficult routing and the routine more difficult.
If he could somehow regain his health in the next 5-6 years, he's in the hall. That would put him around 400-450 home runs, over .300 average. I don't know if that will happen. Right now, if injuries continue to be a problem, I'd say No Hall... but in his prime he was the best real third baseman of the last 15 years... that has to count for something.
Andruw Jones: Sometime in the past month, something has clicked for this Jones. I don't know if he's finally matured or what, but I'll take it. He's looking to set a career high in HR, and he's just 28, so he has a few more years ahead of him. If he reaches 50 HR this year, he'll be sitting on 300 at the age of 28. Assuming he's in his prime now, and he'll play at least 9 more seasons (the length of time it took him to get to 300), he's looking at a Troy Glaus-like 600 HR. Very doubtful he'll get near there, but one can dream. He's also got a rep as one of the best fielders in the league. While most contend he's always been overrated, I actually think its the other way around. Center just always came easy to him. He's twice the fielder other "great" centers like Edmonds are. And while a smile won't get you into the hall, he's always smiling through the whole game.
Now the bad. He doesn't hit for average... he strikes out... he has no eye for the ball... he often plays like he doesn't give a damn. While he broke onto the scene in the 96 WS, he never has stepped up in a game that matters the past few years. Baseball reference compares him to Ruben Sierra at this age.
I think if he's finally figured out how to hit, and his fielding doesn't drop greatly, he has the best chance of the Braves to get into the Hall. If this season is just a fluke, then there is no chance. Right now, I'd say No Hall, but ask again in 3 and you may get a new answer.
Too soon:
Tim Hudson not likely unless he pulls of a Maddux-like string of 15 win seasons. A very fine pitcher, but I just don't see it happening. Julio Franco, just because I like throwing his name out every chance I get, and for the sheer freak of nature he is.
In Conclusion:
I still don't know how I'll vote. Unless the stars align pefectly, I don't know if any of the 3 will get in. I'd like to see them all, just so I can see more than just Maddux and Glavine in the hall from the 90's Braves... those are the 2 I don't want in. My mind says No hall for all, but I may vote for at least 1 of them.
Your thoughts.