Baseball HOF Results

[TheRover]

Of the first four then-active players mentioned in that article, two play for the Cubs, one spent much of his career there and is now retired, and they've been trying to trade for the other one for months now.

ugghhhhhhhhhh...

[Los Feliz Slim]

I am not a stats guy, and therefore have no statistical argument, but Jim Rice is my favorite baseball player of all time and should be in the Hall of Fame.

[THEOSU]

How Sutter got elected above Gossage is beyond me. Look at their stats. Now ask yourself: "I am up one run with two innings to go. Who, in their prime, do I want out there?" I know my answer. Ignore awful awful use of tenses.

I don't understand how Rik Aalbert Blyleven is not in. Nor do I understand why Alan Trammell is foundering around 17% of the vote. Well, check it. I understand that one. It's a different era, so we're no longer impressed.

I'm gonna start my own damn Hall of Fame.

[Kevin]

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I can't stand the idea of relievers (read failed starters) getting into the HOF. Look at Gagne's stats as a starter befroe he went to the pen, or better still, look at the collection of 40 save Reds (Williamson, Graves) who were mediocre at best when starting the game versus finishing it.

Really cheapens the honor for teh guys like Aaron, Mays, etc.

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Starting pitcher and relief pitcher are like two different positions.

What if Roger Clemens started off as a shortstop but it didn't work out, so he became a starting pitcher? He still would deserve the Hall because he's a successful starting pitcher. He wouldn't be disqualified because he wasn't a great shortstop.

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I had a feeling that my opinion would be unpopular, but I really struggle with this as there is a constant ballwashing on the flavor of the month reliever.

On your example, I see it more as a guy, Manny Mota, or Del Unser, for example, who are good, clutch pinch hitters. They get it done consistently and a very good agent devises a stat that shows their meaningfull contribution in a stat that catches fire and over the years is severely inflated. Later, at their retirement, people are citing this bogus stat in order to get consensus on their HOF nomination and somehow, it builds momentum and they get in. Now, they couldn't get on the field as an everyday player, but because they were able to do well with this stat, they are seen as a "specialist" and therefore considered HOF worthy.

Also, in regards to Sutter always being a reliever in MLB, I totally understand and am on board - however, there had to be a point in time that he was moved to the pen (Minors?) and my guess is that it was because he could not get the job done inning 1-7. Speculation, yes, but I will attempt to do some research and find stats that include his minor league career to see where the transition took place.

JMHO and I am sure that flames will follow.

[Jack of Arcades]

Ugh, please don't let Jim Rice ever get in. It's not just that he isn't worthy (he isn't), it's that the people who are his most vocal support are idiots like Bill Simmons that think he's better than Wade Boggs.

[Triumph36]

The difference between a good pinch hitter and a bad one is marginal - I wouldn't be surprised if there are arguments that there is none at all, though I would dispute that.

However, the difference between a great closer and a bad one is far wider. Some pitchers who are great starters could never be great closers, and vice versa. Yet any hitter should be able to be a pinch hitter without a significant loss or gain in his performance. Being a great closer takes a specific skill set.

[Jack of Arcades]

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Some pitchers who are great starters could never be great closers

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I think the number of great starters who couldn't be ghreat closers is somewhere around zero.

[andyfox]

Willie fell just short again.

[andyfox]

I don't get it. Why should Sutter be in the HOF?

[Clarkmeister]

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Willie fell just short again.

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No return next year for him. Bummer. I'll still sport his jersey with pride though. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]