January 13, 201115 yr Disagree. I think his numbers warrant 1st ballot selection, and the fact that he's considered one of the nicest guys in the game will help as well. Since 1936 32 players have been 1st-ballot HOFers.
January 13, 201115 yr 1500+ Rs, 2300+ Hs, 450+ 2Bs, 600+ HRs, 1700+ RBIs, 1700+ BBs, and .280+ avg. If those aren't 1st ballot numbers, than no one deserves it. If someone has to make an argument to me for a player based upon numbers, they do not belong... especially on the first ballot. When I hear the name Puljos, I know 1st ballot. Could not tell you anything about his stats. Same for Mo Rivera. I look at Thome as a solid player with good power that played for a long time. Nothing more, nothing less. Just because he hung around it does not elevate him. Not a transcendent type talent or elite player of his generation.
January 13, 201115 yr I agree with most of your list except: Halladay - way too early on him. He doesn't even have 200 wins yet. He needs about 4 more years like the past one to start feeling solid. Pettitie - Very iffy, at best. I saw an article discussing his Hall possibilities and I believe they stated he would have one of the highest ERA's of any Hall pitcher if he made it. He also has the steroids cloud around him. If it took Blyleven 14 years to get in, no way Pettitie gets in IMO. Santana - Not even in the discussion at this point in his career. Way too much work ahead of him to start thinking Hall. Is Roy Oswalt hall potential? Compare their stats and you might remove Santana from your list. I did not mean to put Santana on there. My bad.
January 15, 201115 yr If someone has to make an argument to me for a player based upon numbers, they do not belong... especially on the first ballot. When I hear the name Puljos, I know 1st ballot. Could not tell you anything about his stats. Same for Mo Rivera. I look at Thome as a solid player with good power that played for a long time. Nothing more, nothing less. Just because he hung around it does not elevate him. Not a transcendent type talent or elite player of his generation. I laugh when people make statements like this. Are you kidding. You can't accumulate HOF numbers if you don't hang around. Do I think he's first ballot? Probably not. Do I think he's HOF? Without question. He's 8th alltime in homeruns. Those guys ahead of him: Bonds, Aaron, Ruth, Mays, Griffey they all hung around longer than Thome has. Slugging % - 19th alltime On Base % - 49th alltime maybe he isn't just a power guy. Runs Scored - 57th alltime Total bases - 45th alltime
January 15, 201115 yr If someone has to make an argument to me for a player based upon numbers, they do not belong... especially on the first ballot. When I hear the name Puljos, I know 1st ballot. Could not tell you anything about his stats. Same for Mo Rivera. I look at Thome as a solid player with good power that played for a long time. Nothing more, nothing less. Just because he hung around it does not elevate him. Not a transcendent type talent or elite player of his generation. I laugh when people make statements like this. Are you kidding. You can't accumulate HOF numbers if you don't hang around. Do I think he's first ballot? Probably not. Do I think he's HOF? Without question. He's 8th alltime in homeruns. Those guys ahead of him: Bonds, Aaron, Ruth, Mays, Griffey they all hung around longer than Thome has. Slugging % - 19th alltime On Base % - 49th alltime maybe he isn't just a power guy. Runs Scored - 57th alltime Total bases - 45th alltime RBI - 30th alltime Runs Created - 25th alltime Extrabase hits -23rd alltime Times on base - 44th alltime Scoff at numbers all you want. But those are not the numbers of a solid with good power. And there are a whole lot of lesser players in the Hall.
January 17, 201115 yr Someone mentioned Thome being 8th in HRs. HR numbers don't carry as much weight as they used to. It's one of those stats where the era matters greatly.
January 17, 201115 yr I laugh when people make statements like this. Are you kidding. You can't accumulate HOF numbers if you don't hang around. Do I think he's first ballot? Probably not. Do I think he's HOF? Without question. He's 8th alltime in homeruns. Those guys ahead of him: Bonds, Aaron, Ruth, Mays, Griffey they all hung around longer than Thome has. Slugging % - 19th alltime On Base % - 49th alltime maybe he isn't just a power guy. Runs Scored - 57th alltime Total bases - 45th alltime RBI - 30th alltime Runs Created - 25th alltime Extrabase hits -23rd alltime Times on base - 44th alltime Scoff at numbers all you want. But those are not the numbers of a solid with good power. And there are a whole lot of lesser players in the Hall. I am not saying numbers should be dismissed completely, but when your entire argument for a player is based strictly upon numbers, something is deficient in their credentials. In the case of Thome he has always been above average, but not exceedingly great compared to his contemporaries (even during the height of his career) which counts for a lot in my book.
January 18, 201115 yr Scott Rollen will be in HOF. No chance whatsoever. A lot of the names on the OP list is pretty much a stretch and based on certain numbers either recently or during a short time period. We'll be lucky to see 2/3 of the list make it.
January 18, 201115 yr I laugh when people make statements like this. Are you kidding. You can't accumulate HOF numbers if you don't hang around. Do I think he's first ballot? Probably not. Do I think he's HOF? Without question. He's 8th alltime in homeruns. Those guys ahead of him: Bonds, Aaron, Ruth, Mays, Griffey they all hung around longer than Thome has. Slugging % - 19th alltime On Base % - 49th alltime maybe he isn't just a power guy. Runs Scored - 57th alltime Total bases - 45th alltime RBI - 30th alltime Runs Created - 25th alltime Extrabase hits -23rd alltime Times on base - 44th alltime Scoff at numbers all you want. But those are not the numbers of a solid with good power. And there are a whole lot of lesser players in the Hall. If that's not a 1st ballot Hal of Fame player then I don't know what is. Those numbers are absurd. If he was a Yankee or Red Sox for most of his career then this wouldn't even be a question
January 28, 201115 yr Just read in a newsletter from the Baseball HOF that 60 years ago this week Jimmie Foxx was elected-on the 7th try! Foxx was a 3 time MVP who won the award in back to back seasons. He was also the second player to reach 500 home runs. That same week Mell Ott was elected on his third try.
January 28, 201115 yr Someone mentioned Thome being 8th in HRs. HR numbers don't carry as much weight as they used to. It's one of those stats where the era matters greatly. I am not saying numbers should be dismissed completely, but when your entire argument for a player is based strictly upon numbers, something is deficient in their credentials. In the case of Thome he has always been above average, but not exceedingly great compared to his contemporaries (even during the height of his career) which counts for a lot in my book. A couple things to consider.... Thome, along with Griffey, is widely considered one of the more definite "clean" power hitters from their era. That will go a long way with the committee. Even more importantly, Thome is considered one of the "good guys" of the game, that everyone universially loves. The impact of that with the writers can't be overstated. Thome is a no-doubt HOF'er, and most likely a 1st ballot one at that.
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.