Hall of Fame Drama Tonight

[rico43]

With more than half of the Hall of Fame ballots being part of the public record, anywhere from two of five players could be inducted tonight.

The number seem to be coming down like this: Bagwell, Raines locks
Pudge Rodriguez, probable
Vlad Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman possible, likely near-miss

Here's why matters to Braves fans. The more that get in this year, considering the broad support all five of them are getting, is that Chipper and Andruw come up next year, with Jim Thome the only other really valid candidate making his debut (sorry, Scott Rolen).

With Bonds and Clemens gaining a lot of support, there is a block of writers who want to be able to vote for players who did things the "right way." That would be Chipper and Andruw, maybe Mike Mussina. If three get it, Chipper still would seem to have clear sailing, but if it is only two, he might be nudged back down closer to the 75 percentile.

A lot of ifs and buts, but it's cool that we have no certainty who might get in.

[The Chosen One]

From the tracker it looks like Bagwell and Raines both get it in. Pudge and Vlad are bordering on the line.


also looks like Clemens and Bonds will get in next year or year after.

[thewupk]

For next year the Andruw vote will be interesting. Chipper is a lock imo and Thome should be as well.

[Nerfherders]

I dont think anyone is thinking about Andruw as a hall of famer until next winter when people start talking about his numbers. Alot of people are going to open their eyes to him.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Yeah, the tracker is good news for Raines and Bagwell to be sure. Bonds and Clemens over 60% now.

[Knucksie]

Bonds and Clemens were on their way to HOF careers in their rookie seasons. It's time to look past the PED era. Teams, the commissioner's office, the union and media all turned a blind eye. Then there was all this hand-wringing after the other shoe dropped.

[thewupk]

Bonds and Clemens were on their way to HOF careers in their rookie seasons. It's time to look past the PED era. Teams, the commissioner's office, the union and media all turned a blind eye. Then there was all this hand-wringing after the other shoe dropped.

I agree 100%. MLB benefited greatly due to the home run chase and high scoring games. Brought baseball back after the 94 strike and PED's and the high scoring era that it produced is a big reason for that.

[DirkPiggler]

Bonds and Clemens were on their way to HOF careers in their rookie seasons. It's time to look past the PED era. Teams, the commissioner's office, the union and media all turned a blind eye. Then there was all this hand-wringing after the other shoe dropped.

Voters need to do a bit of projection with the PED players. Look at what they were before and after shooting up. If you think they would have turned out to be in the HOF without the juice, let them in now. If not, keep them out no matter how impressive their numbers might be.

I detest Bonds and Clemens about as much as one can feel that way about someone they've never met, but they both would have had HOF worthy careers if they'd never taken a drug. They deserve to get in. Guys like Palmeiro and McGwire who would have been solid performers at best without PEDs should never darken the Hall's door.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Looks like Ivan Rodriguez will get in. Trevor Hoffman is either going to barely miss or barely get in.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Class of 2017:
Jeff Bagwell
Tim Raines
Ivan Rodriguez

[nsacpi]

I'm guessing next year Chipper, Vlad and Hoffman will get in. Andruw and Thome will probably be next and get a high enough number to make their eventual enshrinement likely.

[thewupk]

I'm guessing next year Chipper, Vlad and Hoffman will get in. Andruw and Thome will probably be next and get a high enough number to make their eventual enshrinement likely.

Hoping that's true on Andruw. But I see a long and slow death like Murphy got. Defense is appreciated a lot more now than it was 15-20 years ago so we will see how that changes the perspective on Andruw in comparison to the way his career ended.

[4maddux_cy's]

Edgar Martinez needs to get in. Two years left... I don't get the arguments against DHs. Would people really have a guy that played the field terribly "but at least he was out there"?

[thewupk]

Edgar Martinez needs to get in. Two years left... I don't get the arguments against DHs. Would people really have a guy that played the field terribly "but at least he was out there"?

He's borderline. There are worse players in for sure but I'm not sure that is a quality argument. I would vote for him but can see how others wouldn't.

[The Chosen One]

Raines got a big push by Saber crowd.

Andruw will get in.

[Julio3000]

He's borderline. There are worse players in for sure but I'm not sure that is a quality argument. I would vote for him but can see how others wouldn't.

I've always been a proponent of his but I don't think he'll get in.

Andruw has a shot, though I suspect it'll take some time.

[thewupk]

I've always been a proponent of his but I don't think he'll get in.

Andruw has a shot, though I suspect it'll take some time.

As our fearless leader stated. Raines getting in is big for Andruw. With the recent purge of voters who haven't followed baseball in years it seems the committee is looking more at the whole body of work and not just traditional HOF stats. This helps Andruw a lot.

[FreemanFan]

It looks like a lot of the new voters are looking at the players strongly suspected of PEDs use and voting for those who were having HOF caliber careers before steroids. That is good news for Bonds and Clemens. I think we will see 3 or 4 players elected again next year. Chipper is in easily. Next comes Hoffman, who barely missed 75%. Thome probably gets in or barely misses. Last may be Bonds and/or Clemens, for a total of 4 or 5. That is a big class, but it could happen.

[4maddux_cy's]

Edgar is tied for the 32nd best OPS in the history of baseball at .933. A lifetime OBP of .418 good for 21st all time. Led the AL in OBP 3 times and top 5 10 times. A career slash line of .312/.418/.515. While batting average isn't a great stat if someone has an extremely good lifetime avg then I think it does reflect on the quality of hitter and .312 is very good over 7200 at bats. 7 all star games and 5 Silver Slugger awards. I just do not see how he is even borderline. If he put the same numbers up in New York or LA he would already be in.

[thewupk]

It looks like a lot of the new voters are looking at the players strongly suspected of PEDs use and voting for those who were having HOF caliber careers before steroids. That is good news for Bonds and Clemens. I think we will see 3 or 4 players elected again next year. Chipper is in easily. Next comes Hoffman, who barely missed 75%. Thome probably gets in or barely misses. Last may be Bonds and/or Clemens, for a total of 4 or 5. That is a big class, but it could happen.

I think Vlad gets in next year as well. Who is another strong point towards Andruw. If Vlad gets in then Andruw definitely should as well.