Marc Narducci spent 37 years protecting all sports activities for The Philadelphia Inquirer earlier than retiring in July 2021. He lined every little thing from highschool sports activities to the Phillies profitable the World Sequence and the Eagles profitable the Tremendous Bowl. A lifelong southern New Jersey resident, he stays a contract author and broadcaster. As soon as once more, Marc reached out to see if MLB Commerce Rumors can be fascinated about publishing his Corridor of Fame poll. I’m comfortable to do it and hope it may be an attention-grabbing subject of debate for our readers. Right here’s Marc…
This was an especially tough Baseball Corridor of Fame poll as a result of it prompted debate over those that prioritize longevity over others who emphasize shorter-term excellence.
Earlier than going into the poll, just a little bit in regards to the philosophy of this voter.
First off, I received’t criticize anyone’s poll. There are a lot of completely different opinions on what a Corridor of Fame participant must be and that’s positive.
As said last year at MLBtraderumors.com and also in 2021, I’ve not voted for these related to steroids.
As one can see from the feedback sections, lots of you could have disagreed and that’s positive. I’m not right here to attempt to persuade anyone to alter his or her thoughts. That is simply the way in which I really feel, how the steroid period put such a stain on the sport.
I’ve additionally not voted for Carlos Beltran, who admittedly was the mastermind of the 2017 Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal. These actions value him his job as a supervisor and for now, this vote.
Once more, I can see individuals who suppose that is loopy to maintain such an achieved participant off the poll. I’m not right here to try to persuade anyone both method, simply to say that is what went into my voting.
I don’t suppose all of the Astros must be punished, however that’s one other story for an additional day.
Now, for the poll.
There are two holdovers who I voted for final 12 months and we’ll begin there.
Helton, now in his sixth 12 months on the poll, is near the end line. He acquired 72.2% of the votes. Only a refresher, a participant wants 75% of the votes. For many who didn’t see final 12 months’s story, we’ll reiterate his case.
The destructive notion is that he was a product of taking part in his total profession at Coors Subject. The splits had been vital house and away.
But his .287/.386/.469 slash line on the highway was spectacular, however it did pale compared to his numbers at Coors — .345/441/.607.
His profession line was .316/414/.539.
Whereas the sabermetrics neighborhood could scoff at batting common, it takes lots to hit .300 for a season, not to mention a profession. Final season simply 9 gamers with the required 502 plate look hit .300.
In 2000, Helton received a batting title hitting .372.
Right here had been his splits that season — house: .391/.484/.758. Away: .353/.441/633.
He was a primary baseman who wasn’t identified for his energy, however he nonetheless hit 369 house runs and had 1,406 RBI, whereas taking part in all 17 seasons for the Rockies.
Helton was a five-time All-Star, a four-time Silver Slugger winner and a three-time Gold Glove recipient.
It’s greater than sufficient to place him on this poll.
Wagner is in his ninth 12 months on the poll and retains transferring nearer. (How an individual fares on different ballots doesn’t influence this vote, however it’s good to notice how shut or far anyone is from being elected).
Wagner final 12 months earned 68.1% of the votes.
The 2 knocks in opposition to Wagner are his low innings complete and his postseason struggles.
Each are legitimate factors.
Wagner pitched simply 903 innings. His postseason manufacturing, regardless that it solely consisted of 11 1/3 innings over 14 appearances, was poor, to say the least. He had a ten.03 ERA, though Wagner did convert all three save alternatives.
His positives outweigh the negatives.
In in search of a HOF participant, I wish to see excellence. Wagner’s 11.9 strikeouts per 9 innings (minimal of 750 innings pitched) is one of the best in MLB historical past.
Wagner had 422 saves, and a formidable save share (86%). His profession 2.31 ERA and 187 ERA+ are second-best amongst HOF relievers. Solely Mariano Rivera (2.21 ERA, and 205 ERA+) is healthier in each classes.
The newcomers
There received’t be a lot convincing to do right here. Beltre’s profession 93.5 rWAR is surpassed by simply two HOF third basemen — Mike Schmidt (106.8) and Eddie Matthews (96.0).
Right here had been Beltre’s profession numbers — .286/339/.480 for his profession with 3,166 hits, 477 house runs, 1707 RBI and a 116 OPS+. One attention-grabbing factor is that he was only a four-time All-Star. He received 5 Gold Gloves and 4 Silver Sluggers and was a prime 10 MVP finisher six occasions.
The one query with Beltre is whether or not he might be a unanimous alternative.
Right here is the place the controversy begins. The knock in opposition to Mauer is that whereas he was a wonderful catcher, he solely performed the place for a decade. Resulting from concussions from catching, he moved to first base for the ultimate 5 seasons. He caught 70 or extra video games eight occasions. In complete he caught 921 video games, making 885 begins as a catcher.
In these 10 seasons, he hit .323/405/.469 with a 135 OPS+.
When anyone does one thing historic, the sensation right here is that it ought to add to his HOF candidacy. Mauer is the one catcher to win three batting titles, in 2006, 2008 and 2009. In these three years, he caught 120, 139 and 109 video games respectively. He batted .347 in 2006, .328 in 2008 and .365 in 2009.
Throughout these first 10 seasons, he was a six-time All-Star, received an MVP (in 2009) and completed within the Prime 10 4 occasions. Mauer additionally earned 5 Silver Slugger awards and three Gold Gloves.
Is that sufficient manufacturing in a decade of labor?
Because of the calls for of the place, we predict so.
Plus, how a lot did the toll of catching and the accidents contribute to the decline after he switched positions?
His remaining 5 seasons had been properly under HOF-worthy — .278/.359/.388 with a 105 OPS+. By no means a giant house run hitter, he hit 38 of his profession 143 house runs within the remaining 5 seasons.
Nonetheless, even with the decline, listed here are his profession statistics — .306/.388/.439 with a 124 OPS+.
Solely eight HOF catchers have the next profession rWAR than Mauer (55.2).
He actually did sufficient in his years as a catcher to make this poll.
The longevity situation is what hurts Utley. Utley had a five-year stretch that was HOF customary. From 2005-2009, he hit .301/.388/535 and averaged 29.2 house runs. 110.6 runs, 101.4 RBI, 151 video games and 675 plate appearances. His fWAR average for those five years was an astonishing 7.7.
Throughout this span, Utley earned 4 of his six All-Star appearances.
The Phillies made the playoffs within the remaining three of these seasons, profitable the World Sequence in 2008 and shedding to the NY Yankees within the 2009 World Sequence. Utley hit 5 house runs within the 2009 sequence, which is tied for essentially the most in MLB historical past. Reggie Jackson in 1977 and George Springer in 2017 additionally hit 5.
He had different sturdy seasons, however none to match this five-year common.
His profession numbers, particularly for a second baseman had been sturdy – .275/.358/.465 and a 117 OPS+. He had 1,103 runs and 1,025 RBI. Will the truth that he had fewer than 2,000 hits (1,885) damage Utley?
Most likely within the eyes of some, however he ended up being a six-time All-Star and incomes 4 Silver Slugger Awards.
Solely 10 HOF second basemen have the next rWAR than Utley (64.5). Solely 4 HOF second basemen have extra house runs than Utley (259).
Accidents caught as much as Utley, however he was greater than a five-year surprise. Even after 2009, he would make two different All-Star groups and from 2010-2014 had a mean OPS+ of 116.
Utley performed the sport onerous and was a quiet chief throughout the best run in Phillies historical past once they certified for the playoffs 5 consecutive seasons from 2007-11.
It’s comprehensible for individuals who really feel he didn’t carry out at a prime stage lengthy sufficient, however he did sufficient to get on this poll.
New York Mets third baseman David Wright was on a HOF trajectory earlier than spinal stenosis ended his profession. Wright’s final full-time 12 months was his age-31 season in 2014.
His counting stats, which included 1,777 profession hits and 242 house runs, might be used in opposition to him, however Wright had a formidable nine-year peak, the place he earned seven All-Star berths. The seven all-star video games matched final 12 months’s HOF inductee Scott Rolen.
From 2005-2013, Wright hit .302/.384./.505 with a 138 OPS+. Wright averaged 23 house runs, 90 runs and 93 RBI. Throughout this time, he received two Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards and completed within the prime 10 in MVP voting 4 occasions. After this era, he would play only one extra full season in 2014 when the decline started.
His remaining profession numbers had been .296/376/.491 and 133 OPS+. Solely seven HOF third basemen have the next OPS+ than Wright.
Ought to Wright be penalized for struggling what turned out to be a career-ending damage, that ended his full-time standing after his age 31 season?
It may be argued that sturdiness is a part of being a HOF participant and that may be a good case, however Wright was the face of the franchise, a perennial All-Star and a robust two-way performer.
We will see each side of this argument, simply as we will for Utley and to a level Mauer, however these gamers did sufficient to make it onto this poll, even when their excellence was shorter than some would love.