Players that would have been HOFers if they could have stayed healthy

[navamind]

Still don't understand how Rice is a HOFer but Evans is not.

One of, if not the best, RF I've ever seen.

teh fear

 

[navamind]

Tied for 196th all-time in intentional walks behind all-time greats like Aubrey Huff, B.J. Surhoff, Cesar Geronimo and Ryan Klesko.

**fear**

 

[StanMarsh51]

I get why some folks don't think Rice should be in, but for a period of 12 years he was one of the most feared hitters in the game. He got MVP votes in 8 different years, including winning it in 78 as well as an 8 time all star. His career totals are in fact similar to Evan's, but he played 500 fewer games and had more impact at the plate.

So you use 8 years getting MVP votes and 8x all star as arguments for Rice being in the HOF, but you don't think Vlad is a HOFer when Vlad had 12 years getting MVP votes and 9x being an all star.


Apparently, less is better if they were your childhood hero

 

[Voltaire26]

Rice was a very good player, I won't argue. The "one of the most feared hitters in the game" is a bit overblown. Even in his MVP season he was 10th in the AL in intentional walks.

And all these years later I still don't get how he was MVP over Guidry that year. Rice's team didn't make the playoffs, and the Yankees finish 10 games out minimum without Guidry's season for the ages.


Yep, still bitter. LOL

Sometimes IBBs are all about who is hitting behind you ... you weren't walking Willie Mays only yo have to deal with Willie McCovey. Barry Bonds had 120 in 1 year, I don't think it would have mattered for him. Rice was a damn good hitter, but he had protection behind him.

 

[navamind]

I haven’t read this whole thing, but J.R. Richard comes to mind, even if he had a long way to go even before his injury.

Chase Utley obviously (though I think he should still get in).

Travis Hafner maybe (he was a really underrated hitter).

Utley should be in anyway IMO. His 5 year run from 2005-09 is among the greatest at 2nd base and I think he was productive enough outside it to warrant induction. The lack of accolades (no Gold Gloves and never finished higher than 7th in the MVP voting) really hurts even though I think he was the best defensive 2nd baseman of my lifetime and he had a good case for MVP some of those years.

Hafner's a good one. Batted .308/.419/.611 (170 OPS+) from 2004-06. His bat fell off after that as he struggled to stay on the field (only had two seasons with 400+ PA after '06).

 

[Rex Racer]

Rice was a very good player, I won't argue. The "one of the most feared hitters in the game" is a bit overblown. Even in his MVP season he was 10th in the AL in intentional walks.

And all these years later I still don't get how he was MVP over Guidry that year. Rice's team didn't make the playoffs, and the Yankees finish 10 games out minimum without Guidry's season for the ages.
Yep, still bitter. LOL

I can't tell you why Rice wasn't intentionally walked more, but 400+ total bases doesn't happen often and Rice did it once while getting 350 two other times. Jim was a line drive hitter and I'm sure that pitchers were not to thrilled to see him coming up to the plate. I'd also say the Green Monster cost him a bunch of homers over the years because of this.

As for 78, Guidry won the Cy Young (MVP for pitchers) and played every 4 or 5 days. Rice played all 163 (Bucky fucking Dent, yeah, I'm still bitter too ) and was first in hits, triples, home runs, RBIs, total bases, slugging%, OBP, and a half dozen other stats that I don't put a lot of stock in. His BA was 3rd highest in the league and he had the 2nd most outfield assists.

 

[Rex Racer]

So you use 8 years getting MVP votes and 8x all star as arguments for Rice being in the HOF, but you don't think Vlad is a HOFer when Vlad had 12 years getting MVP votes and 9x being an all star.


Apparently, less is better if they were your childhood hero

You should pay attention.

 

[Pure Steel]

While Ken was a very fine hitter for a pitcher I'll still take the extra OBP.

True, but Brett beat him in SLG, OPS, and OPS+ for a pitcher.....Ozzie had 28 homers to Brett's 10 so you got him there even though Ozzie had only 9,000 more at bats....

 

[Rex Racer]

Sometimes IBBs are all about who is hitting behind you ... you weren't walking Willie Mays only yo have to deal with Willie McCovey. Barry Bonds had 120 in 1 year, I don't think it would have mattered for him. Rice was a damn good hitter, but he had protection behind him.

I'm not sure I'd call an aging Carl Yastremski great protection, but I know that the 78 Red Sox line up was stacked with mashers. It was like watching a softball game.

 

[StanMarsh51]

Jim was a line drive hitter and I'm sure that pitchers were not to thrilled to see him coming up to the plate. I'd also say the Green Monster cost him a bunch of homers over the years because of this.

Get the fuck outta here with that shit....is the monster also the reason he hit a mere .277 with a sub .800 OPS on the road....does that look HOF worthy to you for a corner OF?

If he was as good as you thought he was, then he should've been able to hit at a good pace on the road....but he didn't, right?

What's next, claiming that Jason Varitek could've hit 300 homers if it weren't for Fenway?

 

[nynasty]

[QUOTE
As for 78, Guidry won the Cy Young (MVP for pitchers) and played every 4 or 5 days. Rice played all 163 (Bucky fucking Dent, yeah, I'm still bitter too ) and was first in hits, triples, home runs, RBIs, total bases, slugging%, OBP, and a half dozen other stats that I don't put a lot of stock in. His BA was 3rd highest in the league and he had the 2nd most outfield assists.[/QUOTE]

Ok, now look at 1986. Mattingly vs Clemens.

Mattingly led the league in hits, doubles, slg%, OPS, and total bases, and won a GG to boot.

And lost the MVP to a guy who only played every 4 or 5 days.

You see how a Yankee fan could have a hard time reconciling the MVP vote in those 2 years.

Still bitter!

 

[DirtDirtDirt]

Like they always said in the Old Country

Fuck the Red Sox

 

[nynasty]

With 2 MVPs , maybe Donnie Baseball isn't such a long shot HOFer. Just saying...

 

[Omar 382]

Like they always said in the Old Country

Fuck the Red Sox

Is this a real story? I think it'd be cool if they really said that in the Old Country, but this could be like that “Lost in the Supermarket” Clash song where you think it’s about a guy lost in a supermarket, but then you find out during an acid trip that it’s really a stand against rampant commercialization and capitalism or some other gay shit. It really only made sense with the acid

 

[Omar 382]

Like they always said in the Old Country

Fuck the Red Sox

Is this a real story? I think it'd be cool if they really said that in the Old Country, but this could be like that “Lost in the Supermarket” Clash song where you think it’s about a guy lost in a supermarket, but then you find out during an acid trip that it’s really a stand against rampant commercialization and capitalism or some other gay shit. It really only made sense with the acid

You FUCK, I knew you were lying! They don’t say that in the Old Country, they say it at Old Country Buffet- and typically only ones located in the 5 boroughs! This is just like London Calling all over again

 

[DirtDirtDirt]

You FUCK, I knew you were lying! They don’t say that in the Old Country, they say it at Old Country Buffet- and typically only ones located in the 5 boroughs! This is just like London Calling all over again

LMAO

Thats Awesome!...The Old Country Buffet!

 

[black francis]

Lyman Bostock

 

[black francis]

With 2 MVPs , maybe Donnie Baseball isn't such a long shot HOFer. Just saying...

Brett is the real 1985 MVP

 

[black francis]

Steve Busby

 

[nynasty]

Brett is the real 1985 MVP

Actually, probably should've been Rickey Henderson. 146 runs scored in only 143 games. Damn.