The following is a list of all the players I would enshrine in Cooperstown, starting from scratch. The years represent the year of final season.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Friday, December 13, 2013
Post-Winter Meetings MLB Power Rankings
- Detroit Tigers
- Boston Red Sox
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Oakland Athletics
- Colorado Rockies
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Atlanta Braves
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Texas Rangers
- Washington Nationals
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Kansas City Royals
- Cleveland Indians
- Cincinnati Reds
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Seattle Mariners
- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Baltimore Orioles
- San Francisco Giants
- Milwaukee Brewers
- New York Yankees
- Philadelphia Phillies
- San Diego Padres
- New York Mets
- Miami Marlins
- Minnesota Twins
- Chicago Cubs
- Chicago White Sox
- Houston Astros
Saturday, December 7, 2013
My (Hypothetical) 2014 BBWAA Hall of Fame Ballot
Barry Bonds - Yes, he used steroids. But if we assume he was clean through 1998, he would still have over 400 HRs and 400 SBs just through age 33, along with a 164 OPS+ and 99.6 WAR. In other words, Bonds was already an inner-circle Hall of Famer even before he (likely) began using steroids.
Roger Clemens - Essentially the same argument as Bonds. He had already reached 60+ WAR through age 29, at which point he had 3 Cy Young awards.
Greg Maddux - 355 wins. 3371 strikeouts. 104.6 WAR. 4 Cy Youngs. Enough said.
Mike Mussina - While he doesn't have the glitz and glamour of some of the other candidates, no pitcher with 250+ wins and 2500+ strikeouts has ever been left out of the Hall. 270 wins, 2813 strikeouts and 82.7 WAR easily makes the cut.
Tom Glavine - Perhaps a bit overrated, but nonetheless a tremendous pitcher. 305 wins, 2607 strikeouts, 74.0 WAR and 2 Cy Young awards is more than enough.
Frank Thomas - Stands as probably the greatest "clean" hitter of the Steroid Era. 521 home runs matches McCovey and Teddy Ballgame. A 156 OPS+ and 73.6 WAR place him in elite company. The 2 MVPs are just icing on the cake.
Curt Schilling - Tremendous postseason resume (11-2, 2.23 with 3 rings) backed up by a great regular season career. Win total is a bit low, but 3116 strikeouts and 80.7 WAR is fine by me.
Jeff Bagwell - Suspicion is the only reason he's not already in. 449 home runs and 1529 RBI are elite in any era. 79.5 WAR places him just outside the top-5 among first basemen.
Mike Piazza - Likely suffers from same problem as Bagwell. 427 home runs and a 143 OPS+ leaves him as unquestionably the greatest hitting catcher ever. Even with horrendous baserunning and porous defense, he still comes in with 59.2 WAR, a fantastic number for a catcher.
Alan Trammell - Should have gotten in a long time ago (see comps to Barry Larkin). 70.3 WAR and a 110 OPS+ are Hall of Fame level for a shortstop. Beats out Tim Raines for final spot due to fewer years of eligibility left. Would also put in (given larger ballot): Larry Walker, Edgar Martinez, Craig Biggio, Rafael Palmeiro.
Roger Clemens - Essentially the same argument as Bonds. He had already reached 60+ WAR through age 29, at which point he had 3 Cy Young awards.
Greg Maddux - 355 wins. 3371 strikeouts. 104.6 WAR. 4 Cy Youngs. Enough said.
Mike Mussina - While he doesn't have the glitz and glamour of some of the other candidates, no pitcher with 250+ wins and 2500+ strikeouts has ever been left out of the Hall. 270 wins, 2813 strikeouts and 82.7 WAR easily makes the cut.
Tom Glavine - Perhaps a bit overrated, but nonetheless a tremendous pitcher. 305 wins, 2607 strikeouts, 74.0 WAR and 2 Cy Young awards is more than enough.
Frank Thomas - Stands as probably the greatest "clean" hitter of the Steroid Era. 521 home runs matches McCovey and Teddy Ballgame. A 156 OPS+ and 73.6 WAR place him in elite company. The 2 MVPs are just icing on the cake.
Curt Schilling - Tremendous postseason resume (11-2, 2.23 with 3 rings) backed up by a great regular season career. Win total is a bit low, but 3116 strikeouts and 80.7 WAR is fine by me.
Jeff Bagwell - Suspicion is the only reason he's not already in. 449 home runs and 1529 RBI are elite in any era. 79.5 WAR places him just outside the top-5 among first basemen.
Mike Piazza - Likely suffers from same problem as Bagwell. 427 home runs and a 143 OPS+ leaves him as unquestionably the greatest hitting catcher ever. Even with horrendous baserunning and porous defense, he still comes in with 59.2 WAR, a fantastic number for a catcher.
Alan Trammell - Should have gotten in a long time ago (see comps to Barry Larkin). 70.3 WAR and a 110 OPS+ are Hall of Fame level for a shortstop. Beats out Tim Raines for final spot due to fewer years of eligibility left. Would also put in (given larger ballot): Larry Walker, Edgar Martinez, Craig Biggio, Rafael Palmeiro.
Friday, November 8, 2013
My 2014 Expansion Era Committee Ballot
Even though I don't have an official vote, here's who I would vote for if I did:
Bobby Cox - 4th all-time in wins, 5 pennants, 1 World Series title, more playoff appearances as a manager than anyone else
Tommy John - 288 wins, 2245 strikeouts, 62.3 WAR, revolutionized the ability to repair pitching injuries
Tony LaRussa - 3rd all-time in wins, 6 pennants, 3 World Series titles
Marvin Miller - a true baseball pioneer, transformed the MLBPA into a powerhouse
Joe Torre - 5th all-time in wins, 6 pennants, 4 World Series titles; as a player: 57.4 WAR, 129 OPS+
Bobby Cox - 4th all-time in wins, 5 pennants, 1 World Series title, more playoff appearances as a manager than anyone else
Tommy John - 288 wins, 2245 strikeouts, 62.3 WAR, revolutionized the ability to repair pitching injuries
Tony LaRussa - 3rd all-time in wins, 6 pennants, 3 World Series titles
Marvin Miller - a true baseball pioneer, transformed the MLBPA into a powerhouse
Joe Torre - 5th all-time in wins, 6 pennants, 4 World Series titles; as a player: 57.4 WAR, 129 OPS+
Monday, September 30, 2013
2013 End-of-Season Awards
National League
MVP: Andrew McCutchen, PIT
Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw, LAD
Rookie of the Year: Jose Fernandez, MIA
Manager of the Year: Clint Hurdle, PIT
Reliever of the Year: Craig Kimbrel, ATL
Comeback Player of the Year: Hanley Ramirez, LAD
Hank Aaron Award: Paul Goldschmidt, ARI
American League
MVP: Mike Trout, LAA
Cy Young: Max Scherzer, DET
Rookie of the Year: Chris Archer, TBR
Manager of the Year: Terry Francona, CLE
Reliever of the Year: Greg Holland, KCR
Comeback Player of the Year: Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS
Hank Aaron Award: Miguel Cabrera, DET
2013 MLB All-Rookie Team
C: Josmil Pinto, MIN
1B: Matt Adams, STL
2B: Jedd Gyorko, SDP
SS: Jose Iglesias, BOS
3B: Nolan Arenado, COL
OF: Yasiel Puig, LAD
OF: Juan Lagares, NYM
OF: A.J. Pollock, ARI
RHP: Jose Fernandez, MIA
LHP: Hyun-Jin Ryu, LAD
RP: Alex Torres, TBR
1B: Matt Adams, STL
2B: Jedd Gyorko, SDP
SS: Jose Iglesias, BOS
3B: Nolan Arenado, COL
OF: Yasiel Puig, LAD
OF: Juan Lagares, NYM
OF: A.J. Pollock, ARI
RHP: Jose Fernandez, MIA
LHP: Hyun-Jin Ryu, LAD
RP: Alex Torres, TBR
2013 Gold Glove Awards
National League
C: Yadier Molina, STL
1B: Anthony Rizzo, CHC
2B: Darwin Barney, CHC
SS: Andrelton Simmons, ATL
3B: Nolan Arenado, COL
OF: Carlos Gomez, MIL
OF: Juan Lagares, NYM
OF: Gerardo Parra, ARI
P: Zack Greinke, LAD
American League
C: Salvador Perez, KCR
1B: Mike Napoli, BOS
2B: Dustin Pedroia, BOS
SS: Alcides Escobar, KCR
3B: Manny Machado, BAL
OF: Lorenzo Cain, KCR
OF: Shane Victorino, BOS
OF: Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS
P: R.A. Dickey, TOR
C: Yadier Molina, STL
1B: Anthony Rizzo, CHC
2B: Darwin Barney, CHC
SS: Andrelton Simmons, ATL
3B: Nolan Arenado, COL
OF: Carlos Gomez, MIL
OF: Juan Lagares, NYM
OF: Gerardo Parra, ARI
P: Zack Greinke, LAD
American League
C: Salvador Perez, KCR
1B: Mike Napoli, BOS
2B: Dustin Pedroia, BOS
SS: Alcides Escobar, KCR
3B: Manny Machado, BAL
OF: Lorenzo Cain, KCR
OF: Shane Victorino, BOS
OF: Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS
P: R.A. Dickey, TOR
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