Are they HOFers?

This past Sunday the Baseball Hall of Fame honored manager Whitey Herzog, umpire Doug Harvey and outfielder Andre Dawson in its 2010 induction ceremony.  Over the next few seasons, many more key players will come up for election. 

Many different baseball "experts" have different feelings about candidates.  There are you more traditional people who stick by the old number standbys such as 3,000 hits or 500 home runs (for the most part nowadays).  There are your new-age Sabermetric people who have many more in-depth methods and pick apart each little aspect of a player's career.  Then you have people like myself who are "eyeballists."  I take into account statistics to some degree, but I think your eye can tell you more who is a true HOFer than any other way.  Another way to term it is to "go with your gut." 

At this point, I have seen the whole career of most of these players and a handful of them I have seen the large majority of their careers.  I will say that I believe the Hall of Fame should be restrictive.  Not as restrictive as only the Babe Ruths and Ty Cobbs, but guys like Phil Rizzuto and Bill Mazeroski are not HOFers to me.

So I'm going to take a look at the players who are eligible for the next few HOF classes.  This does not include managers or executives who now have a different process for election, the HOF announced this week.

My HOFers below are in BOLD.

First the 2011 nominees, which I'll include the holdovers from last year's election.  Here's the results of the 2010 vote with those who got under 5% removed since they are no longer eligible:

Bert Blyleven 400 (74.2%) -- I know Blyleven won a lot of games for some terrible teams and is one of the best strikeout pitchers of all-time. I am on the fence with him and could be talked into it because he was one of the guys who I did not see the majority of his career.  However, the fact he has been on the ballot for so long and those who did watch him have yet to vote him in makes me think "no."

Roberto Alomar 397 (73.7%) -- To me, a no-brainer.  Probably the best 2B of the '90s.

Jack Morris 282 (52.3%) -- I'd vote for Morris.  The guy won more games than any other pitcher in the '80s, was a bonafide ace, led three teams (Tigers, Blue Jays and Twins) to World Series titles and is one of the first candidates who spent his whole career in a five-man rotation so it is tough comparing his numbers.  Many sight his relatively high ERA, but Morris pitched to the score and he was a winner.  His famous Game 7 showdown of the 1991 World Series vs. John Smoltz and the Braves showed the type of competitor and winner he was.

Barry Larkin 278 (51.6%) -- I've heard the arguments for Larkin, but for me he was an all-star caliber player who missed too many games due to injury.  Close, but a no.

Lee Smith 255 (47.3%) -- No

Edgar Martinez 195 (36.2%) -- A tremendous hitter, one of the best right-handed hitters of a generation.  However, I can't get over the fact his career is primarily as a DH.  I grew up an American League guy and later worked for a National League team for a decade and I think that playing in the field is part of the game that can't be overlooked.

Tim Raines 164 (30.4%) -- An absolute yes.  I think Raines is continually overlooked because he was the same type of player as Ricky Henderson at the same time as Henderson but with the majority of his career played in the obscure Montreal.  Raines was a dynamic threat at the plate and on the basepaths and his low vote total last year is shocking.

Tim Raines had his career overshadowed by Henderson, but he's a HOFer.

Mark McGwire 128 (23.7%) -- Nope.  Not only does he have the PED issue, but he was a one-dimensional player.  Yes, it was quite a dimension, but when you throw in the PEDs too, it diminishes his career.

Alan Trammell 121 (22.4%) -- Nope.  A certain all-star, but not a HOFer.

Fred McGriff 116 (21.5%) -- No

Don Mattingly 87 (16.1%) -- No.  He was on his way, but his back shut him down.

Dave Parker 82 (15.2%) -- Parker gets overlooked often.  I don't think he's a HOFer, but is definitely a guy who history often misses.

Dale Murphy 63 (11.7%) -- A tough call given a review of his career without looking through the glasses of the PEDs.  A two-time MVP, a top-notch outfielder and one of the top players in the NL of the '80s for a generally terrible team.  The thing that hurts Murph and why I barely fall on the side of no too is how quickly his career fell off at the end.  His peak just wasn't long enough.

Harold Baines 33 (6.1%). -- Nope.  Too much DH.

Now the new players who will appear on the 2011 ballot:

Rafael Palmeiro -- Despite the 3,000 hits and the 569 HRs, I just can't do it.  Not only does he have the PED aspect on his record, but he was never a guy who I thought was a HOFer while playing.  Rarely, he was the best player on his own team and he was a dangerous hitter but not one who struck fear into you like so many others.

"I am not a Hall of Famer, period."

Jeff Bagwell -- This will be a tight vote amongst the electorate, but I'm going with a no.  Bagwell was a dangerous hitter and one of the leaders of the Astros for a long time. He is widely considered a great guy and led the Astros to the playoffs several times but what stands out to me is that they did not win a playoff series until he was no longer in his prime when they had Carlos Beltran, Lance Berkman, Roger Clemens, Roy Oswalt and Andy Pettitte. 

Juan Gonzalez -- Nope.  I believe he was a big PED guy.

John Olerud -- No.

Larry Walker -- I would love to see what Walker's career would have been like without playing in Colorado or there with the humidor.  He did win five Gold Gloves too, but barely misses my cut.  If you could define the Colorado numbers better, maybe.

Tino Martinez -- No.

John Franco -- No.

On to the 2012 first-timers:

Bernie Williams, Tim Salmon, Brad Radke, Vinny Castilla, Ruben Sierra and Jeromy Burnitz -- all nice players, but none did enough for me.  You can make a case for Williams with all of his postseason success, but he's still not a HOFer for me.

The 2013 first-timers are a tough class to call:

Barry Bonds: Wow, what do you say about this guy.  He clearly was involved with PEDs later in his career and by all accounts that began in 2001.  He was probably a HOFer if his career ended then, so should he get in based on that time?  What about, despite his PED use, he was still the most dangerous hitter among all hitters whether they were cheating or not?  I'm going to go with yes here based on the early work, but you may have to ask me again in three years when this vote happens.


Roger Clemens: Sigh...another tough case.  When did he start his PED use?  Did he slack his last few years in Boston and then turn it to another gear in Toronto or did he have help doing so?  That was in 1997 and 1998, so were PEDs prevelant then?  Or was his use just later in his career with the Yankees and Astros.  His body of work, taken strictly on numbers and dominance, definitely make him a HOFer.  However, I'm going to go with no.  His time in Boston would make him a borderline candidate, but I'm just too suspicious of the time after that.  Whereas Bonds could have been a HOFer if his career ended after 2000 or 2001, depending on when you believe he started doping.

Sammy Sosa: No way.  The poster boy for PED use.  His career is based on it and he even cheated on the field with the corked bat.

Craig Biggio: For a long time I was a no on Biggio, but I came around to him near the end of his career so he is a yes for me.  Not only did he get 3,000 hits, but he did it moving from catcher to second base to the outfield and back to second base again and did it all with skill, including four Gold Gloves at 2B and one of his Silver Sluggers as a catcher in 1989.

Mike Piazza: People have always rumored PED use for Piazza, but nothing near the "where there's smoke there's fire" of a Clemens, Palmeiro or Sosa.  He's the all-time HR leader as a catcher and he absolutely passes the eye test for me.  He scared the crap out of me when he would face the Braves because not only could he hit homers, but he could hit pitchers' pitches out of the park.  He'd hack balls down the right-field line or clobber them in the left-center gap.  A HOF for me.

Curt Schilling:  He is a controversial candidate for many.  He had a mouth and attitude that turned many off, including me, during his career.  His career got off to a slow start, but from 1992 on he was one of baseball's most feared pitchers.  I am also someone who puts stock into postseason performances and he was one of the best of a generation, not just with Boston, but also with Arizona and Philadelphia.  His 216 regular-season wins may not do it for some, but those plus his playoffs make him a HOFer for me.
 
Kenny Lofton: Say what you want about Kenny, but he was probably the best leadoff hitter from the mid-'90s to the mid-'00s.  When he played well his teams won and when he played well he was tough to beat.  Those great Indians teams fed off of Lofton.  In his prime, he played like a HOFer.  However, I don't think his prime was long enough.  A star player, but not a HOFer.
 
David Wells: He is a no for me.  Wells was a dependable horse who played on some great teams, but I never felt he was dominant or someone you had to play around in a series. 
 
Finally, the 2014 nominees:
 
Greg Maddux: Um...yes.  I don't think I even need to explain.


Tom Glavine: Another no-brainer.

Jeff Kent: NO!  I can't stand people who only mention that he is the all-time HR leader at second base.  Yes, that is a credit, but he also did it in the era of the home run in the smaller parks, tighter balls and watered-down pitching from expansion. He was a good player, sure, but Kent never really scared you.  Look at his numbers sometime and look how he did with and without Barry Bonds.  Night and day.  Bonds should have won the MVP award Kent won, but people were tired of voting for Bonds, especially because he  wasn't well liked.  Kent also was a clubhouse jerk and not well liked among the media and teammates.  Guess how many times he was an all-star or even in the top 20 when not playing with Bonds?  Just twice.  You can argue he was the best player on his own team only once or twice his whole career and those were losing teams.
Frank Thomas: The Big Hurt gets in on my board.  A highly-feared hitter and one of the best of the '90s.

Mike Mussina: I wasn't in Mussina's corner for a long time, but I came around on him like I did with Biggio.  He was the ace of many staffs in Baltimore and some in New York and he did it in the AL during the steroid era.  The fact he came back and ended his career on such a high note says something in my book.

Moises Alou:  A nice, all-star career, but no. 
 
I'm not going to get into the 2015 guys, but if they don't pitch again I hope to see Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz together in the HOF.
 

Kent owes the best years of his career to Bonds.

Thoughts on LeBron James...

There isn't much I can add to what has already been written all over the internet by writers much better than myself.  Of course, as a native of northeast Ohio, I share many of the sentiments of those who have been negatively affected by LeBron James' decision to go to Miami.

Having worked in professional sports and been behind the scenes for a long time, I sometimes think my viewpoint is a little different than most fans.  I have a better understanding of how front offices work and I am a little more grounded.  So, in this case too, I am not as "fired up" as many Cavaliers' fans.  However, that doesn't mean I am happy about the situation.

As far as I'm concerned, James was free to go wherever he wanted.  It has been long stated what each of his suitors had to offer, whether that was location, a better immediate roster or the comforts of home with the chance at more money.  Obviously, I wish he stayed in Cleveland but if he wants to go play with his buddies in Miami, so be it.

Some thoughts though:

1. I'm not sure James fully understood the ramifications of his decision and how it would impact northeast Ohio and how the fans would react.  Whether that was his own failing or that of his friends and agent, many of whom are from the area, I don't know but someone dropped the ball here.  If James did know, then shame on him for how he handled the situation and he is going to have to live the rest of his life knowing that the circumstances surrounding any potential return to the area are of his own doing.

2. James probably could not have handled the situation any worse.  This is the area where many fans went from bummed-out and disappointed to angry.  To call ESPN for an hour-long special to announce his decision was pompous to begin with.  It was the first big decision of LeBron's career where his image started to tarnish.  Many thought there was no way he could call a nationally-televised special only to break Cleveland's heart, but as soon as I heard about the charity aspect and then later when I heard it wouldn't take place in Ohio, I knew the outcome would be a departure of some sort.

The charity aspect was a charade.  Sure, I'm glad that the Boys and Girls Clubs of America will get $2.5 million from the show, but I knew that was just to mitigate the pomposity of calling the special and to dull some of the pain he was about to inflict.

Then came the spectacle of the special itself.  Digging up Jim Gray from sports' no-man's land, for whom LeBron's people paid for the show, was just the humorous part of the episode.  ESPN and Gray dragged it out for 27 minutes after promising the announcement would come in the first 10.  Then LeBron handled the actual announcement

Like I said, he could have said whatever he wanted, but there was a way it should have been done, which is where James blew it.  Never in the course of the special while making the announcement or in the 30 minutes to follow did LeBron throw the people of northeast Ohio a bone.  He didn't need to cry and get emotional, but he needed to address the fans directly one way or another.  Thanking them for their support or explaining why he left home or showing some degree of sympathy for an area of the country that is the most damaged in its sports fanhood and more recently by the economic situation that anywhere else. 

Akron may be where James is from but it will never be the same again for him

He knew this.  He knew how much the city was struggling and how the town just wants more than anything else, to be called a champion.  To handle it as coldly as he did and on national television, well that was too low of a blow for many.  Even fans in Miami have expressed, despite their excitement over his decision, that they felt bad for Cleveland and worse for the way the whole episode went down.

LeBron James will never be the same.  His image has taken a major hit, but it will improve to some degree if NBA titles follow.  However, he'll never have the sterling image he once had and he'll never be confused with Michael Jordan or even Kobe Bryant because he left and couldn't do it in his own city as the leader of the team.  I know he wants a handful of titles to compete with Bryant's five and Jordan's six, but how many reach that?  If he does reach it, but with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade's help, then do they mean as much as the ones the other guys won?

On the flip side, one title with the Cavaliers would have defined him forever.  He would be given credit by everyone that he brought Cleveland the title it so desperately wanted and needed after close to a 50-year drought.  The country would identify with what he did and give him credit for it, much more credit than he will get now if Miami wins multiple titles.

Finally, I gave some thought to when LeBron's career is long over.  Jordan had a fall-out with the Chicago Bulls and is no longer a presence in that city.  However, that isn't home for him, which is North Carolina where he is the Charlotte owner now.  James may own a franchise one day when his career is done, but it won't be in his hometown. 

Jim Brown only played nine seasons for the Browns, but because he never shunned his Cleveland ties even after going "hollywood," he has been able to make a career and life long after his playing days ended.  Willie Mays has his long-standing ties with the Giants and Hank Aaron does with the Braves.  Dominique Wilkins is a Hawks announcer and Austin Carr and many others still relish their ties with their former clubs.  James will be a vagabond wherever he winds up.  He'll never have those ties to home he once said he cherished so much and when he sits back and looks at the meaningfulness in his life I believe he'll regret "The Decision."

After Jim Brown went "Hollywood" he still held to his Cleveland ties

Omar Infante...all-star??

With today's announcement of the MLB All-Star squads, you knew there would be the typical snubs.  Sometimes this is because the manager selects players from his team, with all things being somewhat close to equal, and sometimes is has to do with the antiquated rule that each team must have at least one all-star.

So imagine my surprise, and from what I am reading on the internet I am not alone, to see Atlanta Braves' utility man Omar Infante on the National League team.  I know there is a new rule this year that allows one player to re-enter the game so that teams don't run out of players and Infante can play many positions.  Still, you have got to be kidding me.  What is NL manager Charlie Manuel thinking?  Just because Omar has done well against the Phillies this year?

NL All-Star manager Charlie Manuel made quite a reach in Infante's case

I think Infante is a good player.  He hits for a decent average, is pretty clutch and can play all over the field.  He is also a good guy.  He's a little quiet around the English-speaking media and doesn't cause trouble and you can get a sense of his real personality from when he interacts with his Spanish-speaking teammates and coaches.  You want to root for a guy like him and I am happy he made the all-star team, but Omar is no all-star.

Players like Cincinnati's Joey Votto, who could be a legitimate MVP candidate, or Washington's stud third baseman Ryan Zimmerman are having to hope they get voted in by the fans online.  These guys are the guts of their teams in the heart of their teams lineups everyday.  Infante has started just 42 of the Braves 81 games this season and is only ninth on the team in at-bats.  He does have a solid .311 average, but with just nine walks he has an OBP of just .343.  It isn't like his numbers blow you out of the water.

To reinforce this, when Atlanta's GM Frank Wren called Infante this morning, Infante thought he was calling because he was being traded!  He then thought that he was the victim of a joke!

Like I said, good for Omar and good for the Braves, who have been one of baseball's best stories of the first half.  However, one of this year's NL snubs feels a lot worse than normal.

Omar is a good guy, but he doesn't deserve this honor