On the Cusp

by The Duke on Dec 25, 2008 3:16 PM EST Comment 8 comments

I opened up my presents and got a complete set of 2008 Topps cards for Xmas. Been perusing them all morning. Was looking at a couple names that you don't hear much for the HOF but have accumulated some nice career numbers.

Omar Vizquel. Slick glove. Let's assume he gets 3000 hits (2600+ right now). Only pure SS with 3000 hits. Can you keep him out?

Gary Sheffield. Pure hitter. Pretty consistent over a very long period. Had a reputation as the most feared hitter in the NL for years and always seemed pretty clutch.

Pudge Rodriguez. Never saw this guy play much but he is clearly on the cusp. Could use two more good seasons. Does he have anything left?

Andy Pettitte. Perpetually retiring and seemingly uninterested but he has a HOF career going if he work up enough enthusiasm to stick it out 2-3 more years.

Chipper Jones. Backbone of a lot of good Braves teams. Could end up at 500/3000 but will probably fall a bit short.

Jones/Sheffield go in on my ticket. I love Pettitte. He won a lot but he might be in the Hall of the Very Good. Jones. Looks like he will go. But you gotta love Vizquel. If he can keep on keeping on he'll be hard to keep out with 3000 hits. Did the Giants re-sign him?

0 recs | Comment 8 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Rodriguez and Jones would be on my ballot

I’d have to look at the numbers for sure before I could say on the other three. Am inclined to favor Vizquel over Sheffield or Pettite.

by aNdrOss on Dec 25, 2008 6:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Anyone want to make a case that Rolen still has a shot?

Space.

It's a problem we face.

So we never go anywhere.

We just stay in one place.

by hazel on Dec 25, 2008 8:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't see it.

He had a few good years but since he’s been hurt, he’s been basically an average 3B. Unless he has a 2-3 year rejuvenation, can’t see it. Hee Sop Choi did him in. Edmonds has a better shot, but I think he’s in the Hall of Very Good as well.

by The Duke on Dec 25, 2008 8:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nah.

Poor Scotty and his lousy injuries. What coulda been?

by spants on Dec 26, 2008 12:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pudge isn't on the cusp

he’s a first balloter, IMO. He was the best defensive catcher in the bigs for a huge chunk of his career, all the while also being the second best hitting catcher to Mike Piazza. He’s been hurt by playing for some horrible teams, but he’s in the neigborhood of the likes of Bench and Fisk, I would argue.

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Dec 26, 2008 12:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

Pudge is 1st ballot, no question.
Pettite – He’ll get votes, but I don’t think he’ll make it.

I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. ~Bill Veeck

by bukowski on Dec 26, 2008 8:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmmmmm

Pudge is a 1st balloter, there’s no question about that. When you are the best at your position over an entire decade you’re probably going in on the first ballot.

Sheffield is a tough one to call because he has so many players with similar career numbers at the corner outfield spots that aren’t in or are on the cusp. I would say that if Jim Rice ends up getting in, Sheffield will probably get in at some point too. I’m not saying that they are the same player, just that people will lump them in together.

If Ozzie is in the Hall, I don’t see how you can keep Vizquel out, especially if he gets to 3000 hits. He’s been the best defensive SS in the big leagues for over a decade, and always has been an average player with the bat for most of his career. Had Vizquel played more of his career in the 1980’s he’d also probably have 500-600 steals as well, but he played on some of the more power laden lineups in the big leagues during his career (early 90’s Mariners with Griffey, Buhner, and Martinez, and the mid-90’s Indians with Thome, Belle, etc.), which undoubtedly hurt his numbers when running. His career OPS+ is 83, Ozzie’s is 87. My worry is that he’s going to compared to his contemporaries like Jeter, A-Rod, etc. and that will hurt his chances because of his lack of power numbers.

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Dec 26, 2008 10:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs