Marc Narducci spent 37 years protecting all sports activities for The Philadelphia Inquirer earlier than retiring in July 2021. He lined the whole lot from highschool sports activities to the Phillies profitable the World Collection 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 could be concerned with publishing his Corridor of Fame poll. I’m glad to do it and hope it may be an attention-grabbing matter of debate for our readers. Right here’s Marc…
This was a particularly troublesome Baseball Corridor of Fame poll as a result of it brought about debate over those that prioritize longevity over others who emphasize shorter-term excellence.
Earlier than going into the poll, somewhat bit concerning the philosophy of this voter.
First off, I gained’t criticize anyone’s poll. There are various completely different opinions on what a Corridor of Fame participant must be and that’s superb.
As acknowledged final yr at MLBtraderumors.com and additionally in 2021, I’ve not voted for these related to steroids.
As one can see from the feedback sections, a lot of you’ve got disagreed and that’s superb. I’m not right here to attempt to persuade anyone to vary 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 completed participant off the poll. I’m not right here to aim to persuade anyone both approach, 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 yr and we are going to begin there.
Helton, now in his sixth yr on the poll, is near the end line. He obtained 72.2% of the votes. Only a refresher, a participant wants 75% of the votes. For many who didn’t see final yr’s story, we’ll reiterate his case.
The destructive notion is that he was a product of taking part in his whole profession at Coors Discipline. The splits have been vital dwelling and away.
But his .287/.386/.469 slash line on the street was spectacular, but it surely did pale compared to his numbers at Coors — .345/441/.607.
His profession line was .316/414/.539.
Whereas the sabermetrics group could scoff at batting common, it takes so much 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 gained a batting title hitting .372.
Right here have been his splits that season — dwelling: .391/.484/.758. Away: .353/.441/633.
He was a primary baseman who wasn’t identified for his energy, however he nonetheless hit 369 dwelling 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 yr on the poll and retains transferring nearer. (How an individual fares on different ballots doesn’t impression this vote, however it’s good to notice how shut or far anyone is from being elected).
Wagner final yr earned 68.1% of the votes.
The 2 knocks towards 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 searching for a HOF participant, I wish to see excellence. Wagner’s 11.9 strikeouts per 9 innings (minimal of 750 innings pitched) is the perfect in MLB historical past.
Wagner had 422 saves, and a powerful 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 best in each classes.
The newcomers
There gained’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 have been Beltre’s profession numbers — .286/339/.480 for his profession with 3,166 hits, 477 dwelling runs, 1707 RBI and a 116 OPS+. One attention-grabbing factor is that he was only a four-time All-Star. He gained 5 Gold Gloves and 4 Silver Sluggers and was a prime 10 MVP finisher six instances.
The one query with Beltre is whether or not he shall be a unanimous selection.
Right here is the place the controversy begins. The knock towards Mauer is that whereas he was a superb catcher, he solely performed the place for a decade. Because of concussions from catching, he moved to first base for the ultimate 5 seasons. He caught 70 or extra video games eight instances. 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, gained an MVP (in 2009) and completed within the High 10 4 instances. Mauer additionally earned 5 Silver Slugger awards and three Gold Gloves.
Is that sufficient manufacturing in a decade of labor?
As a result of calls for of the place, we expect so.
Plus, how a lot did the toll of catching and the accidents contribute to the decline after he switched positions?
His ultimate 5 seasons have been nicely under HOF-worthy — .278/.359/.388 with a 105 OPS+. By no means a giant dwelling run hitter, he hit 38 of his profession 143 dwelling runs within the ultimate 5 seasons.
Nonetheless, even with the decline, listed below are his profession statistics — .306/.388/.439 with a 124 OPS+.
Solely eight HOF catchers have a better profession rWAR than Mauer (55.2).
He definitely did sufficient in his years as a catcher to make this poll.
The longevity challenge 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 dwelling runs. 110.6 runs, 101.4 RBI, 151 video games and 675 plate appearances. His fWAR common for these 5 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 ultimate three of these seasons, profitable the World Collection in 2008 and shedding to the NY Yankees within the 2009 World Collection. Utley hit 5 dwelling 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 robust seasons, however none to match this five-year common.
His profession numbers, particularly for a second baseman have been robust – .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?
In all probability 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 a better rWAR than Utley (64.5). Solely 4 HOF second basemen have extra dwelling 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 median OPS+ of 116.
Utley performed the sport laborious and was a quiet chief through the biggest 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 yr was his age-31 season in 2014.
His counting stats, which included 1,777 profession hits and 242 dwelling runs, shall be used towards him, however Wright had a powerful nine-year peak, the place he earned seven All-Star berths. The seven all-star video games matched final yr’s HOF inductee Scott Rolen.
From 2005-2013, Wright hit .302/.384./.505 with a 138 OPS+. Wright averaged 23 dwelling runs, 90 runs and 93 RBI. Throughout this time, he gained two Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards and completed within the prime 10 in MVP voting 4 instances. After this era, he would play only one extra full season in 2014 when the decline started.
His ultimate profession numbers have been .296/376/.491 and 133 OPS+. Solely seven HOF third basemen have a better OPS+ than Wright.
Ought to Wright be penalized for struggling what turned out to be a career-ending harm, 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 powerful two-way performer.
We will see each side of this argument, simply as we are able to 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 really like.
