Easy Mac
07-26-2005, 07:40 PM
Hey, its back and the same as ever. After taking a break for no obvious reason, lets play this game again.
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. In that case, I'll think of something. So here we go. The poll choices will hopefully be obvious, but who knows. Go here (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/showthread.php?t=40156&highlight=hall+fame) to see everyone we've voted in and the amended hall criteria.
Frank Thomas: The Big Hurt is just that. He was arguably the best hitter in the 90's and probably the best first baseman in the AL at the time. If we would have asked this question in 1999, I think we all would have agreed he would be a lock. Now, the question is a little tougher to answer. Now he's 37, and it may take a miracle to get to 500 HR. Assuming he comes back, he may play bad enough to drop his average to below .300 for his career. Of course, he drove in 100 runs, scored 100 runs, hit over .300 and walked over 100 times in his first 7 full seasons. I think his best years happened before what we really consider the steroid era (if just barely, and thats debateable), so he may be spared some scrutiny. However, he's no longer that well liked in the media, so who knows. I'll say he's in the Hall, but barely.
Mark Buehrle: Obviously, its too soon to tell with him, but damn if his stats don't look impressive. He's 26 and has 80 wins right now in about 4.75 seasons. Give him at least 5 more this year, and after 5 full seasons he'll be on 85, or 17 a year. Another 10 years, and he'll be around 250. Now in the modern game, that would have to be enough to get in. He's also beginning his prime, so his ERA looks like it could hover around 2.50 to 3.50, which isn't too bad. He has a nice K/BB ratio, but he doesn't strike out too many, kind of a Greg Madduxish pitcher, which may bode well for his longevity (won't break down that those guys on the other side of the city). I'll say yes just to be different, but not a mortal lock.
Paul Konerko: ? Really no other idea for this team. He seemd to be doing well until the weird seasons back to back, but he's still 29. Could get up to 30 HR's this year if not a few more, so around 200 or so for his career by years end. Umm.... Could end up arund 350, which if he had any other discernable skill, he'd be discussed about as much as he is now. No.
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. In that case, I'll think of something. So here we go. The poll choices will hopefully be obvious, but who knows. Go here (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/showthread.php?t=40156&highlight=hall+fame) to see everyone we've voted in and the amended hall criteria.
Frank Thomas: The Big Hurt is just that. He was arguably the best hitter in the 90's and probably the best first baseman in the AL at the time. If we would have asked this question in 1999, I think we all would have agreed he would be a lock. Now, the question is a little tougher to answer. Now he's 37, and it may take a miracle to get to 500 HR. Assuming he comes back, he may play bad enough to drop his average to below .300 for his career. Of course, he drove in 100 runs, scored 100 runs, hit over .300 and walked over 100 times in his first 7 full seasons. I think his best years happened before what we really consider the steroid era (if just barely, and thats debateable), so he may be spared some scrutiny. However, he's no longer that well liked in the media, so who knows. I'll say he's in the Hall, but barely.
Mark Buehrle: Obviously, its too soon to tell with him, but damn if his stats don't look impressive. He's 26 and has 80 wins right now in about 4.75 seasons. Give him at least 5 more this year, and after 5 full seasons he'll be on 85, or 17 a year. Another 10 years, and he'll be around 250. Now in the modern game, that would have to be enough to get in. He's also beginning his prime, so his ERA looks like it could hover around 2.50 to 3.50, which isn't too bad. He has a nice K/BB ratio, but he doesn't strike out too many, kind of a Greg Madduxish pitcher, which may bode well for his longevity (won't break down that those guys on the other side of the city). I'll say yes just to be different, but not a mortal lock.
Paul Konerko: ? Really no other idea for this team. He seemd to be doing well until the weird seasons back to back, but he's still 29. Could get up to 30 HR's this year if not a few more, so around 200 or so for his career by years end. Umm.... Could end up arund 350, which if he had any other discernable skill, he'd be discussed about as much as he is now. No.