Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Hall, Hall, the NL's Here ...

Who among current active players will end up in the Hall of Fame? Let’s take a quick look-see and dive into the conversation of worthiness. We started with the American League; now let’s move on to the senior circuit …

Again, this list is compiled on quick scan of active rosters, and keep in mind that I have absolutely no inclination to suggest that more than a small percentage of those listed actually will make it to the Hall. And I have almost certainly missed at least one possible/probable candidate. So jump in with your virtual two cents ...

Pretty much the same notes as before:

Players I think are absolute slam dunks re indicated with an asterisk (*). There are just six (6) such players currently on an NL roster.
I did not include managers, umpires or executives, but feel free to "nominate" someone for this list if you feel so inclined.
Players with minimal service time are not listed here under "The Fred Lynn Rule." (Sorry, Justin Upton ...)
There are two lines listed, those players I think could have a legitimate shot and those who I considered for about two seconds then didn't include in the first group -- these are tagged as "Missing the Cut."
Just one team has no players on either line, not even missing the cut. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Washington Nationals!
Two teams had more than any others did on those two lines combined: NYM (thanks to the media influence, in part) with eight and LAD (same thing?) with seven.
Teams are listed in current order of NL divisional standings.

NL EAST

NYM: Pedro Martinez*, Johan Santana, Billy Wagner, Carlos Delgado, David Wright, Carlos Beltran
Missing the cut: Jose Reyes, Moises Alou
PHI: Tom Gordon, Jamie Moyer, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins
Missing the cut: Pat Burrell
FLA: Luis Gonzalez
Missing the cut: Hanley Ramirez
ATL: Tom Glavine*, John Smoltz. Chipper Jones*, Mark Teixeira
Missing the cut: Mike Hampton, Tim Hudson
WAS: NONE

NL CENTRAL

CHC: Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Jim Edmonds
Missing the cut: Carlos Zambrano
MIL: Eric Gagne, CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun
STL: Jason Isringhausen, Troy Glaus, Albert Pujols*
Missing the cut: Mark Mulder, Rick Ankiel
CIN: Ken Griffey Jr.*, Adam Dunn
HOU: Roy Oswalt, Lance Berkman, Miguel Tejada, Carlos Lee
Missing the cut: Darin Erstad
PIT: Jason Bay

NL WEST

ARI: Randy Johnson*, Brandon Webb
Missing the cut: Dan Haren, Orlando Hudson
LAD: Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent, Andruw Jones
Missing the cut: Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, Jason Schmidt, Rafael Furcal
COL: Todd Helton, Matt Holliday
SFG: Omar Vizquel, Barry Zito
Missing the cut: Rich Aurilia
SDP: Greg Maddux*, Trevor Hoffman*, Jake Peavy, Brian Giles

So again, Bauxites, over to you ... who's missing?

The NL has eight *’d players ("mortal locks"), where the AL had seven, but it seems to me – again, this is just an impression – that the NL has an even higher number of playersI (as a “Big Hall” guy) wanted to asterisk.

Anyway, who's listed improperly or at least should/shouldn't "make the cut"? Your call!

Posted by Mick Doherty on Monday, July 28 2008 @ 02:07 PM EDT.

Hall, Hall, the NL's Here ... | 11 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Geoff - Monday, July 28 2008 @ 02:24 PM EDT (#189629) #

Barry Zito appreciates your confidence; he really needs it right now.

Magpie - Monday, July 28 2008 @ 02:51 PM EDT (#189633) #

I'm not sold on Trevor Hoffmann as a Mortal Lock. It has nothing to do with whether he belongs, but Hall voters haven't as yet taken closers into their warm embrace. Baseball people in general were simply in awe of Rollie Fingers and Bruce Sutter, which had a lot to do with them making the cut. They were in awe of Gossage, too, and look how long he had to wait. Chances are pretty good that Hoffmann will no longer be the all time saves leader when his name appears on the ballot. He may be the Lee Smith of his time.

Mike Green - Monday, July 28 2008 @ 03:09 PM EDT (#189634) #

I'd put Brian Giles in the "Missing the Cut" department. Not because he's not worthy of serious consideration, but because his virtues are primarily of interest to the minority sabermetric crowd. His most relevant comparison point is Reggie Smith.

92-93 - Monday, July 28 2008 @ 03:13 PM EDT (#189635) #

I'm glad you gave Chipper the *, and I think Smoltz deserves it too. He has all the stats you need, and the writers might forgive some wins for his time spent closing. Also, his post-season #s are rather impressive and maybe help solidify his mortal lockness.

This might be the same as the AL conversation, but I was surprised at Gonzalez's status in relation to Alou's. I don't think either have a chance, and that Gonzalez's final totals MAY be tainted because of an anomaly 2001.

I was surprised how highly you thought of Isringhausen and Schmidt, neither miss the cut for me.

Jim Edmonds is an awesome choice. I hope the guy gets recognized at the end of his career for an extremely solid and productive one, lost in the shine of the HR era. His stats hold up pretty well, but it's his glove that should really do all the talking.

Mike Green - Monday, July 28 2008 @ 03:17 PM EDT (#189636) #

Similarly, I would be shocked if Jamie Moyer (obviously a lesser player than Tommy John) and Tom Gordon were summoned.

There are eight mortal locks in the NL (minus Hoffman). I figure that there will probably be another 6 or so, who eventually make it. Let's say Delgado, Wright, Reyes, Smoltz, Webb and Hanley Ramirez. It's a very weak league right now, especially on the pitching side.

TheyCallMeMorty - Monday, July 28 2008 @ 03:27 PM EDT (#189639) #

Aramis Ramirez makes the cut but Hanley doesn't?

Chuck - Monday, July 28 2008 @ 03:38 PM EDT (#189641) #

I think Ryan Howard will suffer from both a late career start and a potentially quick demise. His rate stats have dropped for two straight seasons and I can't help but see another Cecil Fielder or Mo Vaughn early-30's career fizzle. I don't blame the Phillies at all for refraining to sign him to a long-term contract. We may well have already seen the best Ryan Howard has to offer.

Until the voters figure out what to do with Lee Smith and Jeff Reardon, I don't think Isringhausen enters into the conversation.

Luis Gonzalez is that rare player who got better in his 30's. Unfortunately, nothing he did in his 20's will help his case.

Jim Edmonds. Sigh. Any HoF that includes Kirby Puckett should include Jim Edmonds. But here's where blank ink and overall fame enters the equation. I think Edmonds won't make it.

Chuck - Monday, July 28 2008 @ 03:43 PM EDT (#189643) #

I'm with Morty. Hanley Ramirez has accomplished an awful lot by age 24. He should reach 600 hits by the end of the season. By contrast, Ryan Howard only had a sip of coffee by age 24.

Flip flop Gonzalez and Ramirez and I think you'll have better represented the Marlins.

Schad - Monday, July 28 2008 @ 06:39 PM EDT (#189650) #

I'll add my support to the Tentatively Enshrine Hanley brigade; Luis Gonzalez merits consideration due solely to a single good season (40 points of OPS+ above his next best), and if Maris' 61 wasn't enough, there's no way that Gonzo's 2001 campaign should get him into the Hall. And Hanley Ramirez should be censored...his numbers are ungodly, and with his patience improving -- and pitchers are learning to avoid his bat at all costs -- he could have a legit Hall of Fame resume by his late-20s.

Nolan - Monday, July 28 2008 @ 10:22 PM EDT (#189667) #

So while I love these types of lists, I find it hard to fathom that Eric Gagne has a better Hall case [or potential for a better Hall case] than Alou, Burrell, Hanley, Zambrano, etc. In my very humble opinion, no closer who has as mediocre stats as Gagne should be near a HoF list.

Question: If Albert Pujols retired today, does he make the Hall? Any of the other locks not make the Hall if they don't have a chance for some declining years of picking up counting stats? I personally think Chipper merits induction today, but i also think that if he quit today he'd have a tough time getting in.

Mark J - Tuesday, July 29 2008 @ 01:32 AM EDT (#189674) #

I was looking at Aramis Ramirez's stats today. Nobody seems to talk about him all that much as he kind of gets lost on the Cubs behind Lee, Soriano, Wood, Prior (in years past) and the assorted billy goat mumbo jumbo. He's only 30, has 240 HR, 840-odd RBI and could end up with 400+ HR which would put him in pretty good company for 3rd basemen. His defence is kind of brutal but I wonder how the HOF voters will evaluate his career.

Hall, Hall, the NL's Here ... | 11 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.