The question is not who is the best eligible pitcher not in the Hall-of-Fame, Blyleven is so far ahead of everyone else, the interesting question is who is the second best pitcher?
A lot of people might say Tiant. I think Tommy John or even Bret Saberhagen would be good answers. Jack Morris is behind a dozen or so
A lot of people might say Tiant. I think Tommy John or even Bret Saberhagen would be good answers. Jack Morris is behind a dozen or so
Of course he belongs
287 wins (27th career best)
4970 IP (14th)
3701 Ks (5th)
60 shut outs (9th)
242 complete games
career ERA 3.31
the HOF should be virtually empty if Bert is not a HOF pitcher
BTW: he played on mostly bad teams
17 seasons he pitched over 200 innings, with a career high of 325
287 wins (27th career best)
4970 IP (14th)
3701 Ks (5th)
60 shut outs (9th)
242 complete games
career ERA 3.31
the HOF should be virtually empty if Bert is not a HOF pitcher
BTW: he played on mostly bad teams
17 seasons he pitched over 200 innings, with a career high of 325
MOST WINS (Since 1970)
Roger Clemens 354
Greg Maddux 347
Nolan Ryan 312
Tom Glavine 303
Bert Blyleven 287
Randy Johnson 284
Steve Carlton 282
He won 15 1-0 games. Only Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson had more. Speaks volumes as to the lack of run support he got from the bad teams he was on.
I think he is HOF but lack of 20 win seasons (only 1), no Cy Young Awards, and no ERA titles holds him back.
Roger Clemens 354
Greg Maddux 347
Nolan Ryan 312
Tom Glavine 303
Bert Blyleven 287
Randy Johnson 284
Steve Carlton 282
He won 15 1-0 games. Only Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson had more. Speaks volumes as to the lack of run support he got from the bad teams he was on.
I think he is HOF but lack of 20 win seasons (only 1), no Cy Young Awards, and no ERA titles holds him back.
http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/01/whos-not-worthy-which-of-these-players-s.html
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>Who's not worthy? Which of these players should be elected the Baseball Hall of Fame
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 2px" vAlign=top width=55>
</TD><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 2px" vAlign=top>8:10 AM Tue, Jan 05, 2010
Evan Grant/Blogger
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Hall of Fame results will be announced on Wednesday. I've already had to turn in my ballot. It's never a really easy task to distinguish between great and really good. Here's a run through the ballot with commentary on each eligible guy this year.
Voters can choose up to 10 players off the ballot. To be elected, players must be mentioned on at least 75 percent of the ballots turned in by the Baseball Writers Association of America. To remain on the ballot for another year, the player must be mentioned on at least five percent of the ballots. Last year, for example, nine guys fell off the ballot for not getting the requisite number of votes.
After going through each of the candidates (most are after the jump), vote in our straw poll and select up to 10 players.
Roberto Alomar
Case for him: Model for new-era of second baseman that stressed offensive capability as well as putting a premium on defense. Was a 12-time All-Star and a 10-time Gold Glove winner. His 2,724 rank seventh all-time among second baseman. Five of the six ahead of him are already in the Hall; the other, Craig Biggio will be a first-ballot guy in three years when he becomes eligible.
Case against: Doesn't have any of the "automatic" stat thresholds, such as 3,000 hits or 500 homers.
Verdict: Changed the way his position was viewed. That's automatic enough. He's in.
Kevin Appier
Case for him: Finished in the AL's top five in ERA five times, including a league low 2.56 in 1993. Won 15 or more games on five occasions.
Case against: Didn't get to 200 wins (169) or 2,000 strikeouts (1,994). And those aren't even automatic Hall of Fame thresholds. They are just nice career accomplishments.
Verdict: Brilliant career sidetracked by violent motion and was constantly hurt over second of his career. Good pitcher, not a great one.
Harold Baines
Case for him: Ranks in the top 40 all-time in hits (40th, 2,866), RBIs (29th, 1,628) and total bases (35th, 4,604).
Case against: Offensive stats are borderline and he didn't really do anything as a fielder.
Verdict: Maybe the greatest DH of all-time, but not a Hall of Famer.
Bert Blyleven
Case for him: Along with 287 career wins, which ranks 26th all-time, he is fifth in strikeouts (3,701) and ninth in shutouts (60). The four guys ahead of him on the strikeout list: Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens and Steve Carlton.
Case against him: He only won 20 games one time, never won a Cy Young award and his win stats are based on a 22-year career, which averages out to only 13 wins a season.
Verdict: If only one guy makes the Hall this year, it should be Blyleven. Those who use longevity against him are using warped thinking. He was among the league's best pitchers for a very long time.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>Who's not worthy? Which of these players should be elected the Baseball Hall of Fame
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 2px" vAlign=top width=55>
Evan Grant/Blogger
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Hall of Fame results will be announced on Wednesday. I've already had to turn in my ballot. It's never a really easy task to distinguish between great and really good. Here's a run through the ballot with commentary on each eligible guy this year.
Voters can choose up to 10 players off the ballot. To be elected, players must be mentioned on at least 75 percent of the ballots turned in by the Baseball Writers Association of America. To remain on the ballot for another year, the player must be mentioned on at least five percent of the ballots. Last year, for example, nine guys fell off the ballot for not getting the requisite number of votes.
After going through each of the candidates (most are after the jump), vote in our straw poll and select up to 10 players.
Roberto Alomar
Case for him: Model for new-era of second baseman that stressed offensive capability as well as putting a premium on defense. Was a 12-time All-Star and a 10-time Gold Glove winner. His 2,724 rank seventh all-time among second baseman. Five of the six ahead of him are already in the Hall; the other, Craig Biggio will be a first-ballot guy in three years when he becomes eligible.
Case against: Doesn't have any of the "automatic" stat thresholds, such as 3,000 hits or 500 homers.
Verdict: Changed the way his position was viewed. That's automatic enough. He's in.
Kevin Appier
Case for him: Finished in the AL's top five in ERA five times, including a league low 2.56 in 1993. Won 15 or more games on five occasions.
Case against: Didn't get to 200 wins (169) or 2,000 strikeouts (1,994). And those aren't even automatic Hall of Fame thresholds. They are just nice career accomplishments.
Verdict: Brilliant career sidetracked by violent motion and was constantly hurt over second of his career. Good pitcher, not a great one.
Harold Baines
Case for him: Ranks in the top 40 all-time in hits (40th, 2,866), RBIs (29th, 1,628) and total bases (35th, 4,604).
Case against: Offensive stats are borderline and he didn't really do anything as a fielder.
Verdict: Maybe the greatest DH of all-time, but not a Hall of Famer.
Bert Blyleven
Case for him: Along with 287 career wins, which ranks 26th all-time, he is fifth in strikeouts (3,701) and ninth in shutouts (60). The four guys ahead of him on the strikeout list: Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens and Steve Carlton.
Case against him: He only won 20 games one time, never won a Cy Young award and his win stats are based on a 22-year career, which averages out to only 13 wins a season.
Verdict: If only one guy makes the Hall this year, it should be Blyleven. Those who use longevity against him are using warped thinking. He was among the league's best pitchers for a very long time.
