The Hall of Fame game revisited: The Noise Factor
With the recent victory for John Smoltz it not only gave him win number 200 for his career but it triggered a number of bloggers attention, prompting the question "Is he a hall of famer?".
A while back I went position by position around the horn to breakdown which guys are locks for Cooperstown and who was borderline. What we will here is go by team and use the headings "In" and "Maybe". Maybe are those considered to be borderline players or players who may have some questions to answer, if you catch my drift.
Baltimore Orioles
In: None
Maybe: Miguel Tejada - Just turned 31, he sits 24 RBI’s short of 1000 and has been widely considered one of the best shortstops in the game since the decade began. He also has an MVP under his belt, has hit over .300 5 of the last 6 seasons and has driven in over 100 runs 6 of his last 7 seasons.
Boston Red Sox
In: Manny Ramirez - One of the best hitters since 1995 who has driven in 100 runs practically all but once since then. He will reach 500 homeruns and will have a career average well over .300. No MVP’s but owns a World Series MVP.
Curt Schilling - No Cy Youngs for Curt but one of the most clutch pitchers of his time. He also has a World Series MVP with Arizona and has won 20 games 3 times. Pitched for some terrible Philly teams that probably hurt his record in the beginning but he has 211 career wins right now.
Maybe: David Ortiz - Turning 32 later this year and only has 240 homeruns for his career. Since 2003 he has been a hall of fame calibre player but it’s his late start to success that may keep him out. His clutchness is what personafies greatness, but he will need another 3 or 4 dominating seasons to push him into Cooperstown.
New York Yankees
In: Derek Jeter - He’ll reach 3000 hits, barring injury, and will also go down as one of the most clutch players of his time. He reminds me of Paul Molitor a lot. Despite questionable gold glove awards, an above average defender at shortstop. A lock for the first ballot.
Alex Rodriguez - He should reach 3000 hits as well along with 600+ homeruns. The question is how many homeruns will he have when his career is all said and done.
Roger Clemens - It’s only a matter of when he gets in.
Mariano Rivera - Best closer of our time - he will get in regardless of who holds the saves record.
Maybe: Jorge Posada - Maybe the hot start to 2007 has convinced me that he’s worthy of at least a look at Cooperstown. His .273 career average does not overwhelm anyone. He may get in years from now because he was part of the dynasty Yankee teams, but he has a lot of work to do. He has improved significantly behind the plate but must continue to urinate on his hands to get closer to the hall with the bat.
Andy Pettitte - He could hit 200 wins this year. If he pitches another 3 or 4 years people may look at his numbers and the teams he has played for and say ‘he was a true winner, he should be in’. If someone decides that, it better not be within the first 10 years of his retirement.
Hideki Matsui - If his numbers in Japan are combined with his MLB numbers, his career looks damn good. I think he needs to be more dominant with the bat on American soil before anyone takes him seriously for the Hall.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
In: None
Maybe: None (as of yet)
Toronto Blue Jays
In: Frank Thomas - Between 1991-1997 he was Albert Pujols before Albert Pujols. When you have a run like Big Hurt had, you put yourself into a great position to reach Cooperstown. 500 bombs or not he is in.
Maybe: None
Chicago White Sox
In: None
Maybe: Jim Thome - He defined the term "prolific homerun hitter" during his time. He is 22 bombs short of 500. He needs another 2 good years and he should be good to get into the Hall. But with his injuries nobody is quite sure if he can make it long enough to reach Hall of Fame credentials.
Cleveland Indians
In: None
Maybe: None (Grady Sizemore hasn’t done anything to make a case yet)
Detroit Tigers
In: Ivan Rodriguez - Dominating defender of his time at the Catcher’s position and he can hit the baseball as well. He will get in on the first ballot. He could do it all behind the dish. The final piece to his game was complete when he helped the young Marlins to a title in 2003.
Maybe: Gary Sheffield - Still 36 bombs short of 500 and he is not getting any younger. He will turn 39 this year and there wasn’t a point in time where you could have said "Sheffield is a top 3 dangerous hitter". Thomas was, Sheff was not. Plus BALCO does not help his case either.
Kansas City Royals
In: None
Maybe: None
Minnesota Twins
In: None
Maybe: Johan Santana - Barring injury he has a great look for today’s generation of pitchers. All the locks for the Hall from the pitcher’s position are all from the 80’s and 90’s. Johan could be one of those next generation guys who gets in. But he must stay healthy. His 2 Cy’s look damn good on him.
LA Angels
In: Vladimir Guerrero - A career .325 hitter who has very little protection around him yet still produces every single year. He is 31 and still needs 1100+ hits for 3000 and already has 348 bombs. If he doesn’t reach the 3000 or 500 milestones, he should still make it in.
Maybe: Francisco Rodriguez - He’s 25 years old, the closest thing to Rivera-like dominance and already has 121 saves. Give him another 10 years and how many saves could he rack up?
Oakland Athletics
In: Mike Piazza - Best hitting catcher of our time and perhaps any time. No questions here.
Maybe: None
Seattle Mariners
In: Ichiro Suzuki - If he passes 2000 hits in his career, which he should, he should be in. His major league professional baseball career statistics will look sensational when he retires.
Maybe: None
Texas Rangers
In: None
Maybe: Sammy Sosa - If the appearance at Congress hurt Mark McGwire’s chances it will hurt Sosa’s. Now Sammy’s career stats look incredible and he will most likely get in, but there is skepticism.
Atlanta Braves
In: John Smoltz - Clutch starting pitcher, dominating closer. I like those two reasons for Smoltz to get in.
Maybe: Chipper Jones - Being hurt every year is killing his chances. He was the best third baseman of the 1990’s, but will that be enough to push him in? He needs to hang around for another 3 or 4 years and pad his stats to get him in.
Andruw Jones - Longevity will get him in. He has been around for years and began his career at 19. Otherwise he has never been considered the best all-around centerfielder in baseball until recently. He will have a nice looking career when he retires.
Florida Marlins
In: None
Maybe: Miguel Cabrera - His career has begun like a Hall of Famer. He’s only 24 and he already has a career .310 average and over 100 bombs. At this pace he’ll have his plaque.
New York Mets
In: Tom Glavine - 300 wins makes you a lock, especially in this era. 2 Cy Youngs does not hurt either. Neither does a World Series MVP.
Pedro Martinez - He won’t get to 300 wins but his dominance will get him in. The numbers he put up in this era of huge offense has been nothing short of spectacular.
Maybe: Carlos Delgado - He has never been the best first baseman in the league but he has consistently put up big numbers each year. I say if he reaches 550 he should be in. One thing is for sure: He has been relatively the same size since he arrived in the bigs in 1994.
Carlos Beltran - Needs a LOT of work as he’s already 30 and doesn’t come close to the statistics needed to be in the Hall.
David Wright - If he keeps this pace up he’ll be in. But it’s too early to tell, like Cabrera.
Philadelphia Phillies
In: None
Maybe: Chase Utley - Will need to continue to be the best second baseman in the league for another few years and he will be a Hall of Famer. This guy can mash.
Washington Nationals
In: None
Maybe: None
Chicago Cubs
In: None
Maybe: Carlos Zambrano - He may not be pitching well this year but at 25 years old he has a lot of years to put up enough numbers to be one of the best pitchers of his time.
Aramis Ramirez - He has over 200 homeruns and he is only 28 years old. He has an outside shot but he needs some massive production over the next 6 or 7 years to give him a real shot.
Cincinnati Reds
In: Ken Griffey Jr. - The player of the decade (1990’s) will get in. Wonder what his numbers would have been if he was healthy.
Maybe: None
Houston Astros
In: Craig Biggio - Longevity will get him in. Getting to 3000 hits because he hung around to get it will get him in. To me he is not a first ballot hall of famer but you cannot keep him out.
Maybe: Roy Oswalt - He has over 100 wins and he has not turned 30 yet. He has also been healthy through his career with the exception of groin troubles back in 2003. Solid pitcher.
Milwaukee Brewers
In: None
Maybe: None
Pittsburgh Pirates
In: None
Maybe: None
St. Louis Cardinals
In: Albert Pujols - He’s Albert Pujols, he’s 27 and he’s already in. You know he has to have amazing numbers to have people concede his entry already.
Maybe: None
Arizona Diamondbacks
In: Randy Johnson - The most dominating lefty pitcher over the last decade and a half until Johan Santana took to torch away. He struck out over 300 batters numerous times and has a few Cy Youngs under his belt. Easy Hall of Famer.
Maybe: None
Colorado Rockies
In: None
Maybe: Todd Helton - Being in Colorado hurts his chances, otherwise he’d have a better look at Cooperstown. His career average is .333 which should get him in right? Wait and see.
Los Angeles Dodgers
In: Jeff Kent - For about 8 seasons, beginning in 1997, he was the best second baseman offensively in baseball. Sheer dominance at his position with the bat. Also a former MVP, he has all the criteria for a second baseman to enter the hall.
Maybe: Nomar Garciaparra - A dominant hitting shortstop in his prime. His problem is he’s 33 years old. Sports a career .317 career average but all those injuries has derailed what was once a hall of fame calibre career.
San Diego Padres
In: Greg Maddux - Best pitcher of the 1990’s, won 4-straight Cy Youngs and should have been the 1995 National League MVP, sporting one of the greatest pitching seasons of mankind. Enough said.
Trevor Hoffman - The All-Time saves leader has done it over and over again. Tough to keep him out with the numbers he will have after his career is done.
Maybe: Jake Peavy - Like Zambrano, he’s young (25 years old). He needs to avoid injury, and that’s obviously easier said than done.
David Wells - He has 232 career wins but his career ERA is over 4. I wouldn’t put him in but some may differ with this opinion.
San Francisco Giants
In: None
Maybe: Barry Bonds - BALCO scandal has created doubt. You may think he should be in without question, except if you ask if the voters will get him in you may have some doubt in the back of your mind. Therefore, he get’s stuck on maybe. If it were my vote? Damn, give me 5 years to think about it.
Quick NHL Prediction: Anaheim in 7. High scoring and low scoring will take place.
