Comments on: Wheel of mystery Hall of Fame contenders

By: BobbyAyalaFan4Life

BobbyAyalaFan4Life — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:33:59 +0000

[dupe]

By: BobbyAyalaFan4Life

BobbyAyalaFan4Life — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:49:55 +0000

Mike Schooler had 33 saves in 89. I had more fun watching Jackson and Ayala pitch though.

That was my brainfart of the week! How could I forget Schooler? Ugh.
Thanks ChuckWalla!
Aaron M.

By: eponymous coward

eponymous coward — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:23:05 +0000

Rice got in because HOF voters, like MVP voters, overrate the triple crown stats (batting average, home runs and RBIs), and underrate things like walks and defense.

There are any number of players who have substantially similar or better resumes than Rice who won’t likely be in the Hall, and his election was a mistake… but that’s basically been the history of the Hall of Fame since nearly it’s inception.

By: Johnny Slick

Johnny Slick — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:21:44 +0000

I don’t know that it’s fair to give Rice credit for Pumpsie Green. The Red Sox organization of the mid-70s was completely different than the one of the late 50s and early 60s. As for his numbers, once you take Fenway into account (and before around 1982, you absolutely have to take Fenway into account) they are decent, befitting one of the better if not the best outfielders of his era. I don’t think there’s any point in his career where I’d rate him ahead of the likes of Reggie Jackson and Rickey Henderson (1986 alone, maybe, but that was a major outlier).

He was a major cog on the 1975, 1978, and 1986 teams, was a very good corner OFer if never the best in the American League, didn’t really have any lasting impact on the game outside of being the guy who manned the Green Monster in between Yaz and… Mike Greenwell. He’s far from the worst player to ever make it in but he wouldn’t make into my Hall.

By: kevinzelko

kevinzelko — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:04:52 +0000

I don’t think Rice got in just because he was in Boston-he got in because he was a major player in the era. Compare his numbers to other players of his era and his numbers stand out. He also was a clutch player (outside of the playoffs) in so many ways….and I think he also played in an organization that hadn’t opened its doors to African Americans previously, yet he was one of the main faces for that team.

By: Breadbaker

Breadbaker — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:50:20 +0000

I had more fun watching Jackson and Ayala pitch though.

An interesting definition of fun, I suppose. Do you also have fun rubbernecking at accidents on the freeway, or watching buildings blow up?

Mike Jackson, though, was indeed to fun to watch, and the only value we got for trading Phil Bradley. Of course, we then included him in the Kevin Mitchell trade . . . .

By: ChuckWalla

ChuckWalla — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:35:37 +0000

Mike Schooler had 33 saves in 89. I had more fun watching Jackson and Ayala pitch though.

By: BobbyAyalaFan4Life

BobbyAyalaFan4Life — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:38:26 +0000

Good call Conor! I forgot to mention Molitor but have to admit, I never knew we ever had Maz on a staff (79-80 for those of you wondering). Which I guess makes sense, since I was born in 81! lol Thanks for the history lesson though…my fun M’s fact o’ the day!
Aaron M.

By: Conor

Conor — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:04:39 +0000

Rickey is actually the third player and fifth baseball personality overall.

Don’t forget about coaches Paul Molitor & Bill Mazeroski!

By: BobbyAyalaFan4Life

BobbyAyalaFan4Life — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:50:11 +0000

Thought this was interesting too…a quick look at the 2010 first-year nominees includes a few former Ms as well:
The list of players who will be eligible for election into the Hall of Fame for the first time in 2010 includes (in alphabetical order): Roberto Alomar, Kevin Appier, Andy Ashby, Ellis Burks, Andres Galarraga, Pat Hentgen, Mike Jackson, Eric Karros, Ray Lankford, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff, Shane Reynolds, Robin Ventura, and Todd Zeile.
In addition to Edgar, Mike Jackson was an M from 88-91 and in 96. His 14 saves in 91 were a then-team record before Bobby Ayala shattered that mark in 95 with 19! (Had to throw in a little Ayala love)
Aaron M.