Re: HoF ballot released...
Nah, good points.
I would prefer to see a guy that could do a number of things.
But, yea, some guys are expected to produce in a particular way and I won't ignore that.
Most people wouldn't see Canseco as a Hall of Famer, but by the stats you provided alone, if Killebrew and McCovey are Hall of Famers, why not Canseco? He was obviously more well-rounded then those "legends."
What I'm saying is that, while McCovey, Killebrew, and Jackson were very good or great players, it would have been nice if they were able to do other things when they weren't hitting homeruns.
It just bothers me that their value was in the homerun ball. They drove in runs primarily because they hit homeruns. They got on-base primarily because they were a threat to hit a homerun.
A guy like Tim Raines. You can't say he stole bases because he hit .295 for his career or got on-base at a .385 clip. Though, I will agree that he had the chance to steal all of those bases because he got on-base. Yet, those power hitters had very good OBP's and they were't swiping bases either. Raines was getting on-base because he had a good eye and exceptional patience. He really wasn't much of a power threat at all, so were pitchers really working around him?
Then, without the homeruns, he still drove in 980 runs and scored 1,571. I just think that's much more honorable. He was pretty much just as productive as a player without the power. He had to do it with other skill sets, other talents.
Anyway, I don't want to take away the honors given to Jackson, Killebrew, and McCovey. As you mentioned, they were expected to hit homeruns and drive in runs and they did that. I let my argument of them having one talent override my belief that guys with particular skill sets that also did amazingly well at them should be considered exceptional players. They are exceptional players and McGwire is as well, for his particular skill set.
If you asked me to name the top players of all-time, however, they would not be in the argument at all. I would go with guys that showcased talents beyond one skill set. Tim Raines is one of those players. I think he's more a Hall of Famer than the other men named in this post.
Nah, good points.
I would prefer to see a guy that could do a number of things.
But, yea, some guys are expected to produce in a particular way and I won't ignore that.
Most people wouldn't see Canseco as a Hall of Famer, but by the stats you provided alone, if Killebrew and McCovey are Hall of Famers, why not Canseco? He was obviously more well-rounded then those "legends."
What I'm saying is that, while McCovey, Killebrew, and Jackson were very good or great players, it would have been nice if they were able to do other things when they weren't hitting homeruns.
It just bothers me that their value was in the homerun ball. They drove in runs primarily because they hit homeruns. They got on-base primarily because they were a threat to hit a homerun.
A guy like Tim Raines. You can't say he stole bases because he hit .295 for his career or got on-base at a .385 clip. Though, I will agree that he had the chance to steal all of those bases because he got on-base. Yet, those power hitters had very good OBP's and they were't swiping bases either. Raines was getting on-base because he had a good eye and exceptional patience. He really wasn't much of a power threat at all, so were pitchers really working around him?
Then, without the homeruns, he still drove in 980 runs and scored 1,571. I just think that's much more honorable. He was pretty much just as productive as a player without the power. He had to do it with other skill sets, other talents.
Anyway, I don't want to take away the honors given to Jackson, Killebrew, and McCovey. As you mentioned, they were expected to hit homeruns and drive in runs and they did that. I let my argument of them having one talent override my belief that guys with particular skill sets that also did amazingly well at them should be considered exceptional players. They are exceptional players and McGwire is as well, for his particular skill set.
If you asked me to name the top players of all-time, however, they would not be in the argument at all. I would go with guys that showcased talents beyond one skill set. Tim Raines is one of those players. I think he's more a Hall of Famer than the other men named in this post.
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