EVIL~! alkeiper

In. 287 wins, and he retired as #3 on the all time strikeout list. Plus, he was an exceptional postseason pitcher (5-1, 2.47 ERA in eight games).

In. Along with the 2,600 hits, he has a .373 career OBP. Biggio was also a superior defender, and he played the vast majority of his career in the Astrodome, which severly reduced offense. He was a fantastic percentage basestealer, and he almost never grounded into a double play. At first glance, his numbers are unimpressive. But when you put them in context, he is a clear HOFer.

This series officially sucks. Well, at least we won't have to watch another documentary about it anytime soon.

After game two, we gave the Astros and Phil Garner flack for not pitching Brad Lidge. So what about the Cardinals? Should Larussa have gone with his best reliever, knowing they couldn't afford to give up another run with Lidge on the mound? Or is the Cardinals' bullpen so balanced (and Izzy is not Lidge) that it was not as crucial to use their closer in a tight game?

Easy. Pornfaq. Unban the man!!

What he said. I will be unable to attend tonight's chat, but you guys can enjoy yourselves there.

Tough pick here. Alright, Fear the Checklist~! selects Vlade Divac, of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Both were asked. Why must every baseball player decline the Blue Jays hat? I understand Rocket, but Dave Winfield didn't and Alomar will probably not do it either. Argh. Here's an interesting one; Roger Maris. Maris no. He was only a very good player for two years, and he wasn't THAT great even then.

Mike Piazza's been a HOFer for three years now. He's the greatest hitting catcher of all time.

8pm. I won't be around for the game, but I'm sure the usual suspects will run the chat in my absense.

Not a chance. He needs to be an elite closer for another decade. Not a chance. Just like Olerud and Grace, there are several first basemen who were better in this era. Helton is having a HOF career. He needs to keep it going another 7-8 years. Edgar in my view is a HOFer. I've never seen Javy as a HOFer, but his four best age 33 comps are in, so he's got a chance.

Anyone who votes against him should have his/her BBWAA membership revoked. Not a chance. As much as I'd like to endorse him, Abreu is probably not having a HOF career. Vlad Guerrero should easily make the Hall if he maintains this career path. As for Vizquel, I dismissed him in depth... http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/index.php?...0entry1576503

Unfrozen Caveman Poster. Only because he crossed paths with the Sports Forum.

Midless Agression drafted Prince the round before. Scarlet did draft Luke Jackson.

I'm sure I covered Mattingly extensively at some point. He declined too quickly. The weird thing about Wells is that he's very similar to Jaime Moyer. Both are low-strikeout low walk control pitchers in their early 40s. Wells is 212-136, and Moyer is 192-145. Wells isn't a HOF caliber pitcher, in my view.

Of that group, only Ron Guidry has any kind of argument, and he's not in.

Both guys could use 2-3 more seasons. Kent is slowly sneaking into the argument, while Sheffield is knocking on the door.

Caminiti no. Mark Grace I give the same answer as Olerud. There are several first basemen in our era who were better. Frank Thomas should make the Hall on the first ballot. .429 career OBP. In his prime, he was nearly as feared as Barry Bonds is today.

Jeter, not yet. He's similar to Trammell, who isn't close to the Hall, but should be in. Rivera will make the Hall, but I don't think he should, at least not yet. Rollie Fingers has the least innings pitched of any HOF pitcher, with 1701. Mariano Rivera has pitched about 825, including the postseason. He has less than half the innings pitched of the pitcher with the FEWEST innings pitched. I just don't see it. Olerud is out of the Hall. There are five or six first basemen of his era who have better numbers.

I don't think Juan Gonzalez has any realistic shot. Jeff Bagwell deserves the Hall. 446 career home runs. 202 stolen bases. .408 career OBP. His career OPS is 23rd all time. Ivan Rodriguez should make the Hall. His three most similar players are in the HOF. Manny Ramirez should make the Hall with 3-4 more productive seasons. Its too early to judge Garciaparra. Six of his most similar players at 30 made the Hall, and another of the top ten is Jeter. With a .322 batting average, he would make the Hall. But he needs to put together a solid career surge. Its also too early to tell on Ichiro. No one has entered baseball at 27 and put together a HOF career like this. Well, except for some pitchers. Minnie Minoso is probably a similar example, and Minoso probably should make the Hall. With Ichiro, it depends on how long he lasts. If he wins three more batting titles along the way, he'll probably make the Hall.

Shame, isn't it?

In. Alomar was the premier second baseman of our era. IN. No one with more than 262 wins has a higher winning percentage, except for Roger Clemens. Thome will probably make the Hall, given four more productive years. He's hit 40+ home runs the last four years. He's 34, and he has 423 home runs. Pettitte is nowhere near the Hall, even at his peak.

Some assorted ones.... Not even close. Delgado needs at least another five great years to merit consideration. Pedro's in. His career ERA is 67% better than the league average. The next highest on the career leaderboard is Lefty Grove, at 48%. I like both guys, but they fall just short. McGriff needed just one more good year, but he couldn't get it. Only one of Williams' comps are in the Hall

Percival I have the same response for as I did Hoffman, except that Percival ranks below Hoffman. Of Percival's comps, only Mariano Rivera has any real shot at the Hall. Barry Larkin I believe should make the Hall. He would have won a ton of gold gloves, had it not been for Ozzie Smith. He was a better player than Ozzie, and probably the best shortstop in baseball from Ripkin to Jeter. Kevin Brown is very close, but not yet. 207 wins, with a .602 winning percentage. Like Mussina, if he can get up to about 235 wins, he should make the Hall. David Cone is close, but his case just isn't strong enough to merit an endorsement. Doc Gooden isn't a HOFer. After his first three years, his career has very little to go on.

Griffey is absolutely a HOFer. He's got over 500 home runs, and he was an elite player for almost a decade. Trevor Hoffman I cannot endorse. Very few relievers are in the Hall, and Hoffman isn't the best of the rest. Larry Walker is an interesting case. He's the Chuck Klein of our generation. Win Shares removes the issue of park factors. He's got 297 win shares at this point, which keeps him out of the top 100 of batters. With his history of injuries, I think Walker falls short. Jim Edmonds isn't at this point. His similar players include only three Hall of Famers, and only one in the top five. Edmonds could reach the Hall with a late career surge, but the odds are against him.