Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

[TheLetterZ]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

Oh, I'd vote for him, but I don't think the BBWAA will. He doesn't have the necessary longevity or popularity.

[SPTO]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

I highly doubt he gets in. He didn't play the field, didn't win any MVPs, never went to the World Series, barely had 300 career home runs, and only amassed 2247 hits in his career. And perhaps most damning is that despite playing 18 seasons for the Mariners, at no point was he ever the face of the franchise.

You nailed it on the head IMO.

I'd vote for him too but to me the first true DH to enter the Hall IMO should be Harold Baines. I know we've goen through this argument before on OS so no need to rehash it but it's just my opinion on the matter.

[econoodle]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

Posada, Edgar down.
anyone else got another name to bandy around?

[Tomahawk]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

If you think Edgar Martinez is should make the HOF then what about Harold Baines? If Baines wouldn't have had several seasons interrupted by strikes he probably would have finished with over 400 homers and 3,000 hits.

[Coug00]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

If you think Edgar Martinez is should make the HOF then what about Harold Baines? If Baines wouldn't have had several seasons interrupted by strikes he probably would have finished with over 400 homers and 3,000 hits.

That's the problem with the HOF. Players are based on lifetime achievements and not necessarily how quality they are when they played. Baines isn't even in Edgar's class, IMO. He has better accumulated stats like hits and HR's because he had nearly 2,500 more plate appearances.

If you look at the numbers that measure how good they were while active and not necessarily lifetime achievement numbers, this is what you get...

Edgar Martinez
.312 Avg, .933 OPS, 1.07 BB/K ratio

Harold Baines
.289 Avg, .820 OPS, 0.74 BB/K ratio

If Edgar is borderline, Baines shouldn't be in.

[SPTO]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

The thing with Baines is that he was SOLID. He didn't have years that went far above his career numbers and he didn't have years that were total train wrecks either. He was just consistent to the point that you look at his numbers and they don't seem like much but he was VERY good at certain times when his teams needed him.

I guess he's the poster child for the Hall of Very Good but to me he gets my vote for the HOF.

[snepp]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

A DH who barely breaks the .800 OPS barrier? Not a HoF'er.

Jim Thome's career OPS+ is better than Baines' best individual seasons.

[DrJones]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

Frank Thomas will get in easily. Edgar's borderline. Baines won't make it in a million years.

It'll be interesting in about a decade when Ortiz becomes eligible. Rest assured the Boston media (including half of ESPN) will pushing HARD for Big Papi. After all, he's one of the only two clutch hitters in baseball history.

[TheLetterZ]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

Frank Thomas will get in easily. Edgar's borderline. Baines won't make it in a million years.

It'll be interesting in about a decade when Ortiz becomes eligible. Rest assured the Boston media (including half of ESPN) will pushing HARD for Big Papi. After all, he's one of the only two clutch hitters in baseball history.

My first impulse was to say that Ortiz will get in without a doubt.

But then I noticed he only has 1458 career hits. With his career on a swift decline, now I'm not so sure.

[snepp]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

After all, he's one of the only two clutch hitters in baseball history.

That's a winner.

[SPTO]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

I'm gonna throw out two names.

Carlos Delgado
Andy Petitte

Both are borderline IMO though I didn't realize how many career wins Andy had until I saw it listed while watching the ALCS this year. I believe this is his last season though so I dunno. I think he needs another couple seasons to bolster his case.

[Tomahawk]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

I didn't think Baines was HOF material but I thought I would throw him out there to see what you guys had to say. Baines to me is a lot like Dwight Evans who was very good for a long time, but I don't think I would call him a great either. Though Evans was a heck of fielder with a cannon for an arm.

[Tomahawk]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

If Delgado makes it to 500 then I think he gets in and right now he needs 27 more. If he doesn't make I'm not so sure. I think Delgado and McGriff are going to be very tough calls. I think McGriff stands a better chance because he did help lead a few teams into the playoffs.

I think Pettitte is pretty much a lock given his playoff numbers and the championship teams he has played with during his career. One more year probably wouldn't hurt, but I still think he will get the nod.

[Sportsforever]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

My problem with a guy like Edgar is that while he was a great hitter, what else did he do even well?

I think everyday players who are HOF'rs should be guys who did many thinks well...defense, baserunning, hitting, etc. If a guy wasn't a good defender or baserunner, to me he needs to have outstanding offensive numbers and to me Edgar falls short.

[Chip Douglass]

Re: Hall Of Fame: Yes Or No?

What about Fred McGriff?

His case is interesting, since he's 7 HRs short of the 500 HR club (AKA - virtual lock status), yet probably won't even get it.

His total numbers of 493 HRs and 2500 hits aren't bad, but he only had a few standout offensive seasons (led the AL in OPS in '89, 1.014 OPS in '94). Everything else was solid and consistent, but not spectacular production. He had 30+ HRs in 8 consecutive seasons and had 10 years of a .900+ OPS.

I'd say no, but it just goes to show how fragile some of these benchmarks are.

If McGriff hit 7 more HRs or doesn't have his 1994 season cut short (his best offensive year), he's in without question.