who do you think is on pace for a HOF career?

[Emmz]

Helton is a HOF'er, but I think he would be less likely to get in if he didn't play at Coors Field all the time. His home stats are significantly higher than his away stats.

[SCM33]

Clemens, Bonds, Maddux, Glavine, Griffey, Pedro, Hoffman, Piazza, I-Rod, F.Thomas, Biggio, Randy Johnson all get in pretty easily. Probably Schilling too.

 

Manny, Sheffield, Sosa, Ortiz, and McGuire will all remain out of the HOF.

 

If Clemens and Bonds are locks, then you cant say Manny, Sheffield, Sosa and McGwire will remain out. If anything, I think you have it opposite. Bonds and Clemens are disgusting human beings and the people who have the authority to vote them in continue to rip them in the press.

 

 

I don't think Ortiz gets in with 500 DH'd homers and a PED concern. His first 6 seasons yielded just 58 home runs which will hurt him on a couple levels. Plus I think he'd have to play through the 2015 season to hit 500 homers anyway.

 

Ortiz will not be in the HOF, and it is not because of steroids. The greatest DH of all time (Edgar Martinez) might make it, but many "experts" go back and forth with it because he was a DH. Martinez finished with a career OPS (on base + slugging, probably the most important offensive statistic since you dont know what it is six4three) of .933. Ortiz currently has a career OPS of .922. Ortiz doesn't have a chance.

[Six4Three]

I picked Bonds and Clemens because they're so off the charts numbers-wise. Both would have made the Hall with 75% of their stats. I hate to say it but the same goes, or will go, for A-Rod. Voters will not however say the same about the other 500-600 homer guys that have been linked to PED's.

 

OPS? Oh my, I feel a bit faint, your fancy computer words are making me dizzy. We agree on Ortiz though. Sweet.

[seabeachfred]

yeah, he won't get in based soley on his Major League career, I think he has a chance of getting based soley on that just as much as the Pirates have a chance of winning the world series next year, actually the Pirates have a higher chance of winning the world series.

 

 

 

he suffered a freak injury, when he was injured last year, he had a higher WAR than Cano at the time, & it was a career year for Cano, he was on pace for a 7 WAR season, a mix of his rookie year & MVP year is enough to get him 3,000 hits, 200 HRs, 1,800 runs, 200 steals, & 1,800 BB, he also has one of the highest BB:K ratio in the league, he's almost impossible to strikeout, he has a pretty good chance of making it, unless he really does decline, which he showed no sign of last year.

yeah maybe we're wearing Red Sox goggles, but I don't think its impossible for him to reach the career marks I mentioned earlier, in fact, if he just continues to play his career norms, nothing like his MVP season, he still has a very high chance of reaching those milestones.

 

EDIT: his 3.3 WAR in 75 games last season was better than 80% of the Major leaguers that had a full season.

 

I was in San Francisco last June when Pedroia got hurt. When that foul ball went off his foot I could see he was not just in pain but terrible pain. It was a freak occurance and in no way proved to me that Pedey is injury prone. As far as a Hall of Famer my money would be on Adrian Gonzales if he stays healthy. He performed majestically with the Padres when he hit with power in an airport and had no backup in the lineup. I can see him lighting things up big time for the Red Sox-again, if he stays healthy.

[Taz]

Surely Wakefield will be heading to Cooperstown in due course. His work both on & off the park are impeccible.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I don't think he will. And don't call me Shirley.

[seabeachfred]

It's really all conjecture which Red Sox player makes the Hall of Fame and right now it's too early to tell on many of them. Wakefield I don't think makes it; Papi would need five or six more big years in my opinion before he is given consideration due to the fact that the only thing he does is hit. He would really have to light up the boards with numbers to get in as a DH. Again, my bet goes to Adrian, but he would have to have seven or eight more big seasons as well.

[Spitball]

I think Adrian Gonzalez is a good bet to put up HOF numbers, win a couple of MVPs, and play on a few championship teams. He is the right player, on the right team, playing at the right time.

 

He appears capable of putting up Pujols type numbers without the steroid cloud of doubt. When he retires, that should be huge.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Adrian Gonzalez is ready for the HOF right now, if, (as I assume), HOF is an acronym for Hall Of f***ingawesome.

[Emmz]

I think Adrian Gonzalez is a good bet to put up HOF numbers, win a couple of MVPs, and play on a few championship teams. He is the right player, on the right team, playing at the right time.

 

He appears capable of putting up Pujols type numbers without the steroid cloud of doubt. When he retires, that should be huge.

 

Not.a.chance.

 

Pujols is the greatest hitter we will ever live to see unless he's linked to steroids.

 

He could hit 500 homers, he could drive in lots of runs, he could hit over .300, he might have a .900 OPS lifetime, or close.

 

Pujols has a chance to retire with an OPS well over 1.000.

 

Pujols is the best offensive player since Ted Williams, you can look at any stat that you want, Pujols is doing things unheard of in the modern era for a clean player. When Pujols slumps, he still has over .800 OPS, and is an elite defensive first baseman.

 

Gonzo is very good, Pujols has a chance to be considered the best of all time.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

There will never be a g.o.a.t in baseball. Not unless I play of course.

[Emmz]

well I agree, I should have said one of the greatest, but certainly the best since Ted Williams. You can count Barry Bonds, buuut, steroids=big fat no.

 

No sports really have a greatest of all time except for basketball.

[Spitball]

Gonzo is very good, Pujols has a chance to be considered the best of all time.

 

Saying anyone has a chance to put up Pujols type numbers is simply hyperbole...but a Gonzalez-type talent in a deep and talented line up, moving from a Petco-type ballpark...the potential is there.

[SoxSport]

Pedroia of the current Red Sox will make the HOF with a half dozen more Pedroia seasons. He is recognized as a great ballplayer and 2nd baseman--and the Red Sox team leader (why isn't he team captain or co-captain? a FO failure which may tell you something about the Red Sox).

 

The other sure guy is Pedro--the planet's best pitcher when he was in Boston.

 

The other guy who should be in the HOF is Luis Tiant. No question. Something is remiss there. I could say Dom Dimaggio, too, but I suppose that's arguable. When Dom was eligible, Baseball was pre-occupied with putting a lot of the old Negro League guys into the HOF. Some justified, certainly. But others questionable. Not enough attention was paid to deserving Major Leaguers like Tiant and Dom.

Another overlooked great LHd pitcher was Mel Parnell. He was as good as the Yankee LHd pitchers in the HOF--and he didn't have Yankee stadium to pitch in.

[Emmz]

Saying anyone has a chance to put up Pujols type numbers is simply hyperbole...but a Gonzalez-type talent in a deep and talented line up' date=' moving from a Petco-type ballpark...the potential is there.[/quote']

 

The potential to do great things, but not to put up Pujols production. No one is capable of that currently.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Pedroia will not be a HOFer. He's a good player, but I doubt he'll get into the hall of fame. Sox fans tend to really overrate him.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Pedroia will not be a HOFer. He's a good player' date=' but I doubt he'll get into the hall of fame. Sox fans tend to really overrate him.[/quote']

 

One of 9 players in MLB history to win ROY, GG, MVP, and a WS. Obviously that's not going to get him in, but he's an elite 2nd baseman. I say he gets in if he has a couple more Pedroia-type years.

[Dojji]

I don't think the little guy's going to have the longevity to get in. He's gonna get hurt too much, just because of the way he throws his body around.

[Six4Three]

A couple? He needs a dozen more.

[a700hitter]

Pedroia of the current Red Sox will make the HOF with a half dozen more Pedroia seasons. He is recognized as a great ballplayer and 2nd baseman--and the Red Sox team leader (why isn't he team captain or co-captain? a FO failure which may tell you something about the Red Sox).

 

The other sure guy is Pedro--the planet's best pitcher when he was in Boston.

 

The other guy who should be in the HOF is Luis Tiant. No question. Something is remiss there. I could say Dom Dimaggio, too, but I suppose that's arguable. When Dom was eligible, Baseball was pre-occupied with putting a lot of the old Negro League guys into the HOF. Some justified, certainly. But others questionable. Not enough attention was paid to deserving Major Leaguers like Tiant and Dom.

Another overlooked great LHd pitcher was Mel Parnell. He was as good as the Yankee LHd pitchers in the HOF--and he didn't have Yankee stadium to pitch in.

Yaz has said that in his opinion, Tiant was the best big game pitcher that he had played with or against. Tiant has been unfairly overlooked. If Catfish Hunter and Drysdale are in Tiant should be in.

[Emmz]

Pedroia will probably get a shot if he hits close to .300, and has close to .800 career OPS, on top of playing stellar defense.

 

As for old players who should get in (TY FOR FINALLY GETTING BLYLEVEN IN, TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH) there should also be a space for Jim Kaat and Tony Oliva, just a couple of Twins off the top of my head.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I don't think the little guy's going to have the longevity to get in. He's gonna get hurt too much' date=' just because of the way he throws his body around.[/quote']

 

He rarely gets hurt. The only time he's been hurt, it was because he fouled a ball off his knee. That's not from diving around. Guy plays all out, but that doesn't mean he's not going to have longevity.

[seabeachfred]

Pedroia of the current Red Sox will make the HOF with a half dozen more Pedroia seasons. He is recognized as a great ballplayer and 2nd baseman--and the Red Sox team leader (why isn't he team captain or co-captain? a FO failure which may tell you something about the Red Sox).

 

The other sure guy is Pedro--the planet's best pitcher when he was in Boston.

 

The other guy who should be in the HOF is Luis Tiant. No question. Something is remiss there. I could say Dom Dimaggio, too, but I suppose that's arguable. When Dom was eligible, Baseball was pre-occupied with putting a lot of the old Negro League guys into the HOF. Some justified, certainly. But others questionable. Not enough attention was paid to deserving Major Leaguers like Tiant and Dom.

Another overlooked great LHd pitcher was Mel Parnell. He was as good as the Yankee LHd pitchers in the HOF--and he didn't have Yankee stadium to pitch in.

 

Being chosen for the Hall of Fame usually revolves around numbers and years. Usually it means at least 15 years of top quality play and if you're a hitter, a 300 average or better during that time or less than 300 but hitting over 450 homers and driving in around 1200 runs. Pitchers usually have to have at least 250 wins, though some like Don Drysdale got in with about 210. Of course, I am not talking about the juicers because they most likely aren't getting in during their lifetimes if at all.

 

Interesting you bring up Parnell's name. When I was a kid living in Queens, in 1953 the Yankees announcer Mel Allen, one of the biggest homers around, was muttering all season about Mel. That year he shut out the Yankees four times. Too bad he couldn't have used one of them that last two game series in '49 when the Sox went into YS with a one game lead and lost both of them. We most likely wouldn't have heard about any curse because in my opinion the Red Sox would have beaten the Brooklyn Dodgers in the WS since my childhood team was still pretty young for the most part and inexperienced in Major League years.

[Spitball]

Pedroia will probably get a shot if he hits close to .300, and has close to .800 career OPS, on top of playing stellar defense.

 

Second basemen seem to get little love when it comes to recognition, but Pedroia already has an MVP to his credit. I believe he still needs a string of six or more "Pedroia-like years" (Morgan/Sandberg-type .800 OPS) and then six years of league average production at the position (must stay in Boston imo) to make the HOF. He will have to make adjustments to his hitting approach when his bat speed starts to decline.

 

Off the top of my head, I can think of Nellie Fox, Joe Morgan, Rod Carew, and Rhyne Sandberg as second basemen who have made the Hall in recent memory. Pedroia plays for a high profile team which will help.

[Emmz]

Being chosen for the Hall of Fame usually revolves around numbers and years. Usually it means at least 15 years of top quality play and if you're a hitter, a 300 average or better during that time or less than 300 but hitting over 450 homers and driving in around 1200 runs. Pitchers usually have to have at least 250 wins, though some like Don Drysdale got in with about 210. Of course, I am not talking about the juicers because they most likely aren't getting in during their lifetimes if at all.

 

Interesting you bring up Parnell's name. When I was a kid living in Queens, in 1953 the Yankees announcer Mel Allen, one of the biggest homers around, was muttering all season about Mel. That year he shut out the Yankees four times. Too bad he couldn't have used one of them that last two game series in '49 when the Sox went into YS with a one game lead and lost both of them. We most likely wouldn't have heard about any curse because in my opinion the Red Sox would have beaten the Brooklyn Dodgers in the WS since my childhood team was still pretty young for the most part and inexperienced in Major League years.

 

Six4Three?

[BigPapiEnFuego]

He rarely gets hurt. The only time he's been hurt' date=' it was because he fouled a ball off his knee. That's not from diving around. Guy plays all out, but that doesn't mean he's not going to have longevity.[/quote']

 

Wait until he gets older. I'm betting when he get's to be on the other side of 30 he'll start to break down. Not to mention his swing. He's got a long slow swing that won't be too good when he starts to get older. He won't be getting to many pitches he is now.

[Spitball]

Wait until he gets older. I'm betting when he get's to be on the other side of 30 he'll start to break down. Not to mention his swing. He's got a long slow swing that won't be too good when he starts to get older. He won't be getting to many pitches he is now.

 

He will have to make adjustments to prolong his career. I remember watching him early on and being concerned about his batting style. Hitting is difficult and aging can slow down the physical responses of the body. I had similar concerns about Bret Boone and Marcus Giles. Boone bulked up and probably used steroids. Giles fell by the wayside. Now, HOFer Joe Morgan made the adjustments. He cut down on his swing and played six or seven years as an average performer. It helped pad his career numbers, and he was a first time inductee.

[Emmz]

The thing with Pedroia is that he's known more for his work ethic, competitiveness and intelligence than he is for his freakish talents. Those types of players can have a lot of longevity, because that's something that as long as the player wants it to be sustained, it will not diminish. It can't be quantified, but there are certain players who obviously are not as talented, but are still as productive as those who are freaks of nature.

 

I think Pedroia could play at this level for quite some time.

[Six4Three]

Six4Three?

 

 

??

[example1]

Pedroia seems like the most obvious candidate. Two major awards, multi-time all-star, one of the most respected players of his era, great on both sides of the ball, cornerstone of a (potentially) perrennial contending team in a very prominant market. He's got a certain Derek Jeter (intangable) or Yogi Berra (small, funny, outspoken) quality to him.

 

I could re-write what I wrote earlier, but it still seems relevant so I'll just repost it. The guy is an iconic player on arguibly the best team of the decade. If he plays another 10 years I think he will have the universal respect that will get him in. In his case, the subjectivity of the voting should play in his favor.

 

Phil Rizzuto got in with .273/.351/.355/.706 career, 1588 H, 38 HR, 239 2B. Pedroia is at .300/.370/.451/.822, 59 HR, 180 2B and should have a great shot. Pedroia's defense is exceptional and very consistent. Given their roles on their respective teams I think Rizzuto is a decent comp.

 

Rizzuto had a total of 3 seasons with an OPS+ above 100 (i.e., better than league average regardless of position). He averaged 201 TB per 162 games.

 

Pedroia has 5 seasons above OPS+ 100, and averages 288 TB per 162 games.

 

I realize there is a difference between SS and 2B it isn't so significant that Pedroia's numbers don't stack up, especially if the Sox manage to win a few more WS in his career.