2009 HOF Class

[skyking26]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

Rice should pave the way for Dawson. May take time, but now it is only right as Dawson's numbers are better. Look at the gold gloves too. MVP. Dawson is HOF no doubt if Rice gets in. Dawson had misfortune like Thome of playing for poor clubs...........

[AWA85]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

Class of 2010 Candidates

Alomar
Larkin
Edgar M.
Crime Dog

Dawson

Interesting group, let the DH talk begin for Edgar.

[bigtruck260]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

Don't even get me started on Ozzie, maybe one of the most overrated players of all time. Same amount of hits, but the avg. obp. and home runs are not even close to Larkin. Ozzie got in because of his glove, and Larkin was right behind Ozzie with the glove. Larkin has to be in.

Ozzie in his defensive prime vs. Larkin in his prime - I'm taking Ozzie.
Oz was also on three world series teams in the 80's...and won't even talk about the Gold Gloves.

No argument about the offense - Larkin was a better hitter hands down.

The thing about OZ is - he was the guy in the 1980's who was the top vote getter AS type. He was the guy who won games with his glove, and could bring a stadium to it's feet with a play every night. His HOF nod was simply for the hustle and drama.

I would not have voted for OZ to be in the Hall of Fame. I think that it's an all-around nod to great players who had ALL of the tools or most of them. Baseball was different in the 80's and late 70's...it was a speed era, no power really to speak of but the occasional 40 HR season. But he has his fans...and a few critics

Ozzie was 2nd in MVP voting in 1987 with ZERO homers and 75 RBI - He barely got to .300 with the BA too...only .303. That's nutty...but so were the 80's.

[skyking26]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

The one thing I think Thomas has going for him, is that for awhile he was the most feared hitter in the league. Those 93 and 94 numbers are just amazing, didn't he have an OBP above .480

We weren't talking about Frank Thomas, but his numbers are fantastic as well...

[AWA85]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

Dave- first off congrats on the baby, just read in another thread

I agree Ozzie was ahead of Larkin in the defensive side, thing is Larkin was a very good defender who wasn't miles behind Ozzie though. Did not realize that 2nd in MVP voting, pretty funny and I agree with you, fan support can go a long way.

[AWA85]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

We weren't talking about Frank Thomas, but his numbers are fantastic as well...

Sorry, I was thinking of Friks comments on Thome and Thomas.

[skyking26]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

one Thought We All Have To Keep In Mind Here - The Hof Is Supposed To Be About Greatness. The Top Of The Crop. A System Of Election By Guys That Never Played The Game On A Professional Level (sportswriters) Is Somewhat Strange To Begin With.... Their Association Is That They "wrote About It......."

[brianborsch]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

Anyone think Edgar Martinez will get in on his first try? While he was aDH most of his career, he was one of the most amazing hitters during his stay with the M's. It's too bad he had a late start, otherwise it would be more of a lock.

BB

[thomecollector]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

So if people like Thomas and Thome are padding their numbers by DHing in the AL, then those people are more deserving of a HOF spot? I mean, Bagwell was definitely a more complete player than the 500 HR club member Jim Thome.

Bet Thome gets in before Bagwell does though. Everyone that counts like him. His stats aren't that bad either.

[buc]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

I'd like to point out I'm glad everyone on here can argue a point without bias.

[frikativ54]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

Bet Thome gets in before Bagwell does though. Everyone that counts like him. His stats aren't that bad either.

The thing is that Bagwell was much more of a complete player than Thome is. Think of baserunning. Think of defense. How many MVPs has Thome won?

[earlywynnfan]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

I'd like to point out I'm glad everyone on here can argue a point without bias.

Oh, yeah, Buc?? Well I think you're a real piece of $^&$% for making comments like that!!


All kidding aside, I agree with Dawson over Rice, although Rice did have that "fear factor" that really scary hitters give off.

I view Ozzie vs. Larkin almost like Brooks vs. Schmidt. Do you take flash and a couple dozen runs saved over the course of a year? (and really, that's being generous.) Or do you take a very above-average defensive player who produces a hundred runs more per year (at minimum, in Schmidt's case.)? I want Ozzie to be my teams ambassador of publice relations, but if I'm starting a team, give me Larkin.

No, sorry, Edgar doesn't come close to the HOF. And if Dawson is on the outside, McGriff is in line behind him.

Ken
earlywynnfan5@hotmail.com

[Rob L]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

No Blyleven, unbelievable.

[Vintagedeputy]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

Blyleven and Dawson missing out is not right. They deserve it. I would have thought Raines would have scored higher too.

[chakes89]

Re: 2009 HOF Class

Thome and Bagwell shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence together let alone be compared

Thome was far and above the superior player

And as for the whole he's a DH arguement he's the breakdown;

Jim Thome has only been primarily a DH the past 3 or so seasons

His first 6 seasons with the Indians he was a 3rd basemen

And the most games he appeared as a DH while with the Indians was 48 in 2000

He has played 1,101 games at first, 527 as a DH and 492 as a 3rd basemen