Newbies on the 2010 Hall of Fame Ballot

by erik on Nov 28, 2009 11:00 AM EST in Visuals Above Replacement

We've hit that (not so) fun time of the year when the weather starts to get really cold and the Hall of Fame debates start to heat up. These are some of the new guys on this year's ballot, some of these players are solid choices, others...not so much. Take heart Crime Dog, Jim Rice set a whole new standard! 12 years from now, you too could be Cooperstown bound.

My inclination was that Alomar would have been the best candidate out of the five but as it turns out, I was wrong. Larkin will probably get overlooked initially no thanks to injuries; hopefully he gets more support than Alan Trammell has received in the past. Both are worthy, in my opinion.

As for Edgar Martinez, I thought that whole non-position positional adjustment would have really hurt, but he has a solid case for the Hall, DH and all. If relief pitchers can get elected, why not Gar?

Finally, since we're nearing Festivus, I would like to air a grievance that has been aired by many a Tiger fan. Lou Whitaker has more career WAR (70) than any of these players, and yet was bounced in his first year of eligibility. Where's the flippin' justice, man?!?!

Thanks to Justin for the template for this graph, and Rally for his WAR database.

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From what I've read across the nets, McGriff and Baines will get way too much support.

And Edgar and Ventura will be underappreciated.

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by Sky Kalkman on Nov 28, 2009 6:27 PM EST reply actions

Baines

would set the bar so low even Jim Rice would have to cringe.

godfather of futureredbirds.net

by erik on Nov 28, 2009 7:26 PM EST up reply actions

Watch McGriff get in

based on the “Well, he has almost 500 HR and everyone else who has almost 500 HR is in…” argument. On that day, I will shake my head.

He did have a great nickname, although if you said “The Crime Dog” to a 12-year-old now, he’d give you a blank stare and wonder why that was funny.

by pizzacutter on Nov 28, 2009 11:23 PM EST up reply actions

Take heart in knowing a 16 year old gets the joke.

@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Nov 29, 2009 10:38 PM EST up reply actions

I am worried;

Larkin may be passed over, and forgotten, like his predecessor.

by Eastwindquinn on Nov 28, 2009 7:44 PM EST reply actions

Kurt Stillwell?

by pizzacutter on Nov 28, 2009 11:26 PM EST up reply actions

Sarcasm? Concepcion?

by Eastwindquinn on Nov 29, 2009 4:01 PM EST up reply actions

I loved The Crime Dog growing up.

And someone get Trammell and Sweet Lou in, please!

Fire Jim Leyland

And now at Beyond the Boxscore and Project Prospect!

by Mike Rogers on Nov 29, 2009 2:19 AM EST reply actions

it'll take the Veterans committee for Sweet Lou to get in now.

sad

godfather of futureredbirds.net

by erik on Nov 29, 2009 2:25 PM EST up reply actions

Trammell and Whitaker belong in the HOF

Trammell was fundamentally perfect as a shortstop. Whitaker was an excellent second baseman with good obp and power, both have similar or better stats than several middle infielders already enshrined in cooperstown.
Trammell and Larkin have comparable stats.

by KalineCountry on Nov 29, 2009 5:19 PM EST up reply actions