Is Brian McCann a Hall of Famer?

Uh, no.

The question was asked on Twitter tonight, and while he might be the elder statesman in MLB currently, he's got to put up numbers for at least three more years to even measure up to his contemporaries who have made that grade.

Consider:
McCann has played 13 years. He has an All-Star Game MVP among his seven selections. He has a career 1,481 hits, 263 homers, 950 RBIs and a .264 average.

(we are using old school stats because that's largely what the voters use, right or wrong)

Gary Carter:
19-year career, 11-time all-star. Has 2,092 career hits, 324 homers, 1225 RBIs, .262 average

Pudge Rodriguez
21-year career, 14-time all-star. Has 2,844 career hits, 311 homers, 1332 RBIs,.296 average.

Mike Piazza
16-year career, 12-time all-star. Has 2,127 hits, 427 homers, 1335 RBIs, .308 average!

Carlton Fisk
21-year career(!), 11-time all-star. Has 2,356 hits,376 homers, 1330 RBI, .269 average.

How about compared to Jorge Posada?
17-year career, 5-time all star. Has 1,664 hits, 275 homers, 1,065 RBI, .273 average. He got 3.8 percent of the vote this year, one and done. If that's all he gets, then McCann has no shot unless he continues a few more seasons of all-star caliber play. Long odds.

I said in another thread that if McCann has a few more years typical of the back end of his career so far, he will be in the discussion.

Needs to get at least to 1800 hits maybe 200 hits to be in the discussion.

Too bad the writers don't take into account McCann has been one of the best pitch framers (statistically) throughout his career.

He has aged quite well. And he still isn't that old, so he could theoretically play another 5-6 years, with probably half of that time coming as a full time catcher (well 100ish games/year). As long as his skills don't nosedive, he will have a strong case for the HOF.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Forever Fredi

Needs to get at least to 1800 hits maybe 200 hits to be in the discussion.

Too bad the writers don't take into account McCann has been one of the best pitch framers (statistically) throughout his career.

---

Who says they won't? Mac is 33 and who knows how many more years he has plus 5 more after that before he comes up.

The writers have been getting more analytically as the years go by especially since they did that great purge on HOF voter status recently.


With that being said Mac has had a very good career and would be in the Hall of the Very Good. He only had 30 bWAR and the average for a catcher in the HOF is 53. If he finishes his career at a reasonable level he will get some support and stay on the ballot a couple of years but he just hasn't been good enough for cooperstown.

Of current catchers Posey has the best chance to make the HOF and is currently on a trajectory for that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thewupk

Who says they won't? Mac is 33 and who knows how many more years he has plus 5 more after that before he comes up.

The writers have been getting more analytically as the years go by especially since they did that great purge on HOF voter status recently.


With that being said Mac has had a very good career and would be in the Hall of the Very Good. He only had 30 bWAR and the average for a catcher in the HOF is 53. If he finishes his career at a reasonable level he will get some support and stay on the ballot a couple of years but he just hasn't been good enough for cooperstown.

Of current catchers Posey has the best chance to make the HOF and is currently on a trajectory for that.

---

My initial reaction to this was that Molina would be a lock for the Hall. After looking at his bWAR he's pretty well in the same range as McCann, and I agree with your assessment of Brian.

Molina may get in due to the media hype for him in his prime, but given his current stats, without a strong finish to his career I'd leave him out.

Braves' Hall Of Fame? Absolutely.

That other one? Probably not.

Don't think that All Star Game MVP enhances credentials, like a WS MVP would. Remember voters aren't just looking at stats. They're asking the question, "Was he best of the best?" Then consistency and longevity factor in with the consideration.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DirkPiggler

My initial reaction to this was that Molina would be a lock for the Hall. After looking at his bWAR he's pretty well in the same range as McCann, and I agree with your assessment of Brian.

Molina may get in due to the media hype for him in his prime, but given his current stats, without a strong finish to his career I'd leave him out.

---

I agree. And Molina's defense is mainly tied to him throwing out runners which isn't nearly as important as pitch framing and that's starting to become more apparent. Molina had 3 year run where he was really good but other then that he's been a meh hitter with plus defense. Another hall of the very good player for me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DirkPiggler

My initial reaction to this was that Molina would be a lock for the Hall. After looking at his bWAR he's pretty well in the same range as McCann, and I agree with your assessment of Brian.

Molina may get in due to the media hype for him in his prime, but given his current stats, without a strong finish to his career I'd leave him out.

---

I just feel like Molina would get in based on the vote from the old school contingent. The all star appearances, the gold gloves and defensive reputation, the world series titles.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NYCBrave

I just feel like Molina would get in based on the vote from the old school contingent. The all star appearances, the gold gloves and defensive reputation, the world series titles.

---

Given that Molina is still playing and has time to add to his resume I would have a big issue with him getting in and then say keeping Andruw out of the HOF given what you said.

No

I don't think Big Mac is a HOFer

I don’t think so but he might be a great bench coach to work with David Ross, who I hope will be the Braves’ manager some day.