2014 Hall of Fame Ballot

[HoustonGM]

The situation is even worse than it was last year since the BBWAA failed to induct a single player.

The above poll leaves off Jacque Jones since there are 36 names on the ballot and polls are limited to 35 options.

18 players are in my personal Hall of Fame but with a ballot limited to 10 votes, these would be mine:

1) Jeff Bagwell
2) Craig Biggio
3) Barry Bonds
4) Roger Clemens
5) Tom Glavine
6) Greg Maddux
7) Mike Piazza
8) Tim Raines
9) Frank Thomas
10) Curt Schilling

The other 8 players are Jeff Kent, Edgar Martinez, Mark McGwire, Mike Mussina, Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, Alan Trammell and Larry Walker.

[dps]

The situation is even worse than it was last year since the BBWAA failed to induct a single player.

It's only going to get worse. I'm not sure that even Maddux will get in this year.

[ragecage]

Kind of jacked up with all these choices, literally 10+ players deserving of the HOF. All I hope is writers get flack for them being morality police, but extremely doubtful.

[Kobie]

There's ~16-18 guys on this ballot I'd put in.

[HoustonGM]

It's only going to get worse. I'm not sure that even Maddux will get in this year.

Maddux will absolutely get in. Everybody else... no idea.

[Brefni]

There's been a lot of talk about Jack Morris, but, I'm sorry, in my opinion, he just doesn't make the cut. I took a look at his numbers, and even on an individual season by season look, it's like, "where are the Hall of Fame level seasons?" What would you consider a Hall of Fame caliber season of his, 1983, (20-13, 3.34)? 1986 (21-8, 3.27)? I'll give you those, but that's about it. I just don't see the sustained level of dominance. Not only was his career ERA high (3.90) but he never even had one sub 3.00 ERA season.

I feel the same way about Tim Raines. He really only had 3 or 4 Hall of Fame-like years to me. They are great players for sure, but, at no time while I was watching them, did I think, "I'm watching a Hall of Famer here." But, hey, that's my own theory on the Baseball Hall of Fame. If you need a PowerPoint presentation to convince me a guy's a Hall-of-Famer, then he's not.

I think you just have to go with your gut feeling sometimes on these things sometimes. Like for example, I think Curt Schilling should go in eventually, maybe not first ballot but, to me, he was one of the best pitchers I ever saw even if his numbers were not there. Likewise, Keith Hernandez, the best (defensive) first baseman I ever saw.

That being said, I think, more often than not the writers get it right. The steroid thing definitely throws things out of whack and, I think, if these guys didn't assault the record books, it wouldn't have been too much of an issue. Y'know, when Canseco and McGwire were hitting 30-40 homers in the late 80s, there were whispers, and most people even outright knew that Canseco had used steroids, but, it wasn't until they got greedy and started making a mockery of the game that it got people upset. It's a shame they they couldn't have just kept it in check and not overdone it. I mean, who could take Sammy Sosa 3 straight 60 homer seasons seriously? I as a Met fan even I have to take a look at Piazza again. If nothing more than to say, yes, he was a great hitting catcher, but in a big time offensive era, was what he did that impressive?

[ragecage]

Agree with you on Morris. Disagree with you on Raines.

Based on single seasons from 1983-1987 Raines consistently was in the top 7 of position players in the league in WAR.

From 1982-1989 he was top 5 in combined WAR for all position players during this time. Mike Schmidt, Cal Ripken, Wade Boggs and Rickey Henderson were the only ones that rated higher. All of them in the HOF.

Players rated below him during that period are Robin Yount, Eddie Murray, Ozzie Smith, and Alan Trammell. All but one of these guys is in the HOF, (and I believe Trammell should be in too). He didn't have the pop that Rickey Henderson had in the leadoff position which I believe changes the perception on Raines for some stupid reason. If it wasn't for Henderson, I believe Raines would already be in, because he was easily one of the best leadoff hitters of all time.

[Brefni]

I agree with you on Trammell, maybe even Whitaker. To me, they were two of the best at their positions for more than a decade. They pass that "gut feeling" test I have. I sort of feel like you have to have either a ten year stretch of dominance or you fall into the "accumulator" category, where you rack up impressive career totals.

Raines was no doubt one of the best players in 1987 and a scary player offensively, but, I don't remember him keeping it up as long as Rickey Henderson. Like I said, in my opinion, Raines run from say, 85-87 was HOF caliber, the rest I don't know.

I'm not a big believer in just going by the numbers either. For example, I don't think Jeff Kent's a Hall of Famer, even though his offensive numbers are very good for a second baseman. He really was a guy without a position in a sense and he did become an adequate second baseman over time, but I don't think anybody when they are asked to name great second baseman would think of Jeff Kent right off the bat. Again, like Piazza, in an era when offensive numbers were off the charts, how impressive were they really?

[Brefni]

Actually just took a look at Raines again. His stolen base totals are insane, especially by today's standards, 78, 71, 90, 75, 70, 70. And from what I understand he didn't get caught much. And, you could honestly give him 1981, 83-87 as far as HOF caliber seasons (he made the All Star team every year). I think he could get in eventually. Not sure how many shots on the ballot he has left.

[brokensticker]

Interesting poll. Looks like I was the first to vote Jack Morris. Fred McGriff was bumped off the number 10 spot by Big Mac.

[actionjackson]

16 players in my personal HoF. One lump of coal in every member of the BBWAA's stockings. My ten:

1) Bagwell
2) Bonds
3) Clemens
4) Glavine
5) Maddux
6) McGwire
7) Mussina
8) Raines
9) Schilling
10) Trammell

The other six: Biggio, 'Gar Martinez, Palmeiro, Piazza, Thomas, and Walker

I hope Walker, Martinez, Palmeiro, and Piazza don't fall off the ballot because of the idiot writers and their war on PEDs.

[filihok]

Maddux - he's at 100% in this poll and I'll keep him that way.
Bagwell - Somehow this dude gets underrated. He was a monster
Bonds - don't look at his giant head, or freakish muscles. Look at his numbers. By Zeus!
Clemens - 350 winz! lol yeah that's not why
Nomo - extra credit for his Japanese playing days.
Piazza - needs the votes more than some other similarly deserving players
Schilling - Randy Johnson's right-hand man in double-handedly denying the Yankees a ring.
Mussina - another guy who deserves it and needs votes
Thomas - ditto Mussina and Piazza
Raines - ditto Mussina, Piazza and Thomas.

[HerbertMcHoover]

I hope Donnie Baseball doesn't get out this ballot and I think he might just avoid it. I am excited to see four players over 75% and I hope we can get 1-2 more. Really impressed by how many ballots have 10 people (thank you writers!) And for those who fill in blank ones, I hope they don't get votes next year. There's a ton of worthy people... even if they aren't 1st ballots.

[HoustonGM]

Frank Thomas, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux are inducted. Biggio unfortunately not.

[dps]

Well, color me pleasantly surprised.

Too bad about Biggio, but he's at such a high percentage of the vote and has so many years of eligibility remaining that his selection is almost guaranteed at some point, probably next year.