The case for nine men in
Bonds, Clemens staked claims pre-testing while Guerrero and more transcend stats
The result of MLB’s 2018 hall of fame balloting is set for release on Wednesday afternoon. As a BBWAA member of at least 10 years, I have had the privilege of participating in the process since 2004. Over those 14 years, I have come to realize how seriously the vast majority of my peers take the responsibility, on behalf of Cooperstown. The following column explains my nine 2018 selections.
With 75-per-cent approval required to gain entry, at least four players are expected to join shortstop Alan Trammell and right-hander Jack Morris, who were ushered in earlier by the hall’s veterans committee.
The fact that most of the 450 voters have actually seen most of the nominees play in person during the prime of their careers should be relevant to the legitimacy of the result, but seems to matter little to a large segment of fans.
There are analytics in vogue that can be manipulated to compare the careers of those already enshrined to those who would like to join them — statistics and gauges to determine greatness that didn’t even exist when some of baseball’s greatest were playing. As the iconic Willie Mays is reported to have said: “If I knew 30 homers and 30 steals was a big deal, I would have done it every year.”
Throughout history, Major League Baseball has been the most statistically aware of all major pro sports. Analytics have now added so many variables and points of comparison, between those in the hall and those on the ballot, that there will always be supporting numbers for individual players and their backers to make a case.
Ironically, the segment of the community that seems most tolerant of difference of opinion has become the writers who actually vote. The general public seems to have devolved into self-righteous and indignant railing against those who don’t meet their carefully selected standards.
Alphabetically, with much thought and all due respect to those who disagree, here are this year’s nine suggestions for the hall of fame:
BARRY BONDS
After much thought with regard to PED candidates, I chose not to vote for players who have failed tests or against whom there is convincing evidence of steroid or HGH use after 2004, when mandatory testing was initiated by MLB. Prior to that, many players were frustrated about rampant and unchallenged use of drugs around them.
Since there was no testing by baseball, they joined the club. For many, it was all about a level playing field. Through ’98, when it was visually evident that he had become bigger and stronger, Bonds already had 411 homers, eight Gold Gloves, seven Silver Sluggers and three MVPs. Sorry Joe Morgan, Bonds is a hall of famer.
ROGER CLEMENS
The same argument — pre-steroid excellence during a time when it wasn’t being tested for — also applies to the Rocket. In his final season in Boston, the 33-year-old star read that GM Dan Duquette had suggested he was washed up and his career was done. He signed with the Blue Jays and won back-to-back Cys. The suggestion is, that was where he allegedly began with PEDs. In his career with the Red Sox, Clemens was already 192-111 with a 3.06 ERA, 100 complete games, 38 shutouts and three Cy Youngs. He added four Cys later in his career. Sorry Mr. Morgan, Clemens is a hall of famer.
VLAD GUERRERO
One of the greatest five-tool talents in baseball history, the former Expos and Angels star is a classic example where actually seeing him play enhances his candidacy. He earned a 2004 MVP, nine all-star game appearances, eight Silver Sluggers and owned one of the best throwing arms of his generation.
TREVOR HOFFMAN
I am not big on enshrining relief pitchers, ever since listening to Pat Hentgen in 1996, explaining why one-inning relievers should not be considered for the Cy or the hall. However when you are one of the best at your role over the course of a career, you are an exception. Hoffman was the first to 500 and 600 saves, and tied a record at the time with 53 saves for the 1998 Padres.
CHIPPER JONES
One of the great switch-hitters in history played a 19-year-career with one organization, compiling 468 homers, 2,726 hits, a .303 career average and a .930 OPS. He was the ’99 National League MVP for the Braves and a player fans would always want their sons to be like. The biggest negative against him was when he dissed the city of Toronto during the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Grr!
EDGAR MARTINEZ
I have the same skepticism toward the designated hitter position that I have toward relievers. This is the first time out of nine years on the ballot that I have voted for the Mariners great, who played in Seattle for 18 seasons. As an NL disciple, maybe I’m just softening my stance toward men without a position.
JIM THOME
In much the same way you should not exclude someone from hall consideration because he’s a prick, conversely you shouldn’t promote the candidacy of someone such as Thome simply because he’s a wonderful human being. But we’re all only human and the 22-year veteran also ripped 612 homers and is one of five players with at least 500 homers, 1,500 runs, 1,600 RBIs and 1,500 walks.
OMAR VIZQUEL
I’m a sucker for great shortstops, great defence, great athletes and players who show imagination in their play. Shortstops are underrepresented at Cooperstown and naysayers will point to WAR and other stats as a reason not to include Vizquel, but he is MLB’s career leader in games at the position and had eight seasons of 20-plus steals. Anyone who ever saw Vizquel and Roberto Alomar share the same middle infield for the Indians was dazzled.
LARRY WALKER
I witnessed Larry Walker play every game every day of his career with the Expos, up close and personal through 1994. He did so many things that didn’t show on the stat sheet. Scott Rolen called Walker the best teammate he ever had. His 1997 season as NL MVP with the Rockies saw him post a .366 average and 49 homers. He was a seven-time Gold Glove winner and his .565 career slugging mark is seventh all-time. The perception of his career was unfairly hurt by playing at sea level in Montreal (ignored) and a mile high in Denver (ignorance).