David Ortiz Boston Red Sox (photo by Parker Harrington via Wikimedia).
One of the biggest hot stove debates is who belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Earlier this week, ballots went out for the Class of 2022. Our writers weigh in on who gets in, who doesn’t, and the players they would pick if they had a vote.
I would vote for Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, and Roger Clemens. Did they cheat? Debatable. Are performance enhancers bad for baseball? They weren’t in the 90s. Baseball players are always looking for the next evolutionary advantage.
A-Rod admitted to it, apologized, and I hate him, but these three would easily be the three best players not in the Hall, along with Pete Rose (who should be in the Hall of Fame as well).
Curt Shilling asked not to be on the ballot. The media hates him, half of America hates him, and he’s toxic to the businesses he started. Still, his accolades should put him in the Hall, and I would vote him in despite his desire not to be on the ballot.
Jimmy Rollins should get in. He would have the highest WAR of any shortstop, not in the Hall of Fame, and not named A-Rod.
Omar Vizquel had 2 All-Star appearances and 11 gold gloves in an era where he was competing against Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra, and the tail end of Cal Ripken’s career. His WAR is similar to Rollins but over a vastly longer career.
David Ortiz had a positive PED test in 2003. He didn’t have the opportunity to put in a proper defense of that test. His offensive numbers were great. Unlike Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, and A-Rod, Ortiz became a media darling.
His post-season heroics are the stories you want to tell your grandchildren, and what he did after the Boston Marathon is the stuff of legends. He will get in, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he gets enough this votes year.
Scott Rolen should get in based on his sheer dominance throughout his career at a time when there weren’t a lot of stud third basemen in the NL, not named Chipper. His WAR at third base is the highest among those at his position not in the Hall.
Billy Wagner belongs for the dominance he exhibited throughout his career. His sub-3 ERA in every season (15) where he pitched in three or more games is incredible. His most amazing statistic is that in his final season, he finished 7-2, 1.73 ERA, 38 saves, and 104 strikeouts in 68.1 innings pitched at age 38.
He deserves to be in for his total effort. The detractor for Billy is a 27.7 career WAR. Unfortunately, WAR doesn’t calculate properly for relievers., which I hate for him.
The Mike Greenberg test is what I go by for things like this. Ask yourself is (fill in name here) a Hall of Famer. If you don’t immediately say yes, then he doesn’t get in. I put a little caveat on that when it comes to cheating.
In my mind, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were Hall of Famers before steroids. There were also a pair of jerks off the field. Who votes for the Hall? Baseball writers, the very group Bonds, and Clemens treated like crap. If I had a vote, they would reluctantly go in, but I don’t, and they won’t.
I’m not sure I’d vote for Alex Rodriguez. Despite his post-career face turn, the repeated PED violations are a non-starter.
Todd Helton was a hitter’s hitter and a real pro at the plate. He was great in the field, too, with three gold gloves. There is a bad rap associated with playing for Colorado and their thin air home stadium, Coors Field.
While his home/road splits show a difference, it shouldn’t disqualify him. How many hitters took advantage of the short rightfield porch at Yankee Stadium or relatively close foul poles at Fenway Park? Payton Manning’s former backup should be voted in, but the Coors Field bias keeps him out.
I’d like to think that someone’s performance on the field is what voters evaluate and not their political views. Based on his career, Curt Schilling belongs in the Hall. He asked to be taken off the ballot, giving the voters an excuse, which they will be glad to take.
So, If I had a ballot, my votes would go to the above quartet Bonds, Clemens, Helton, and Schilling.
Under the main criteria, Jimmy Rollins, Scott Rolen, and Andy Pettite are out. Andrew Jones and Omar Vizquel were Hall of Fame defensive players but weren’t productive enough, long enough throughout their careers at the plate.
That leaves David Ortiz and Billy Wagner. Big Papi is the second-best designated hitter of all time, and Wagner may go down as the best left-handed closer ever (either him or John Franco). That’s good enough to get both through the door this year.
This year I think Rolen gets in. He’s a seven-time All-Star and one of, if not the best defensive third baseman of his era with eight gold gloves. Rolen was a ROY (1996) and won a championship in 2006. He averaged .281 BA/ 25 HR/ 102 RBI over a 17-year career; he averaged .281 BA/ 25 HR/ 102 RBI.
Jeff Kent – Why is there even a debate? An MVP, 5 All-Star appearances, 4 silver sluggers, and an average of .290 BA/ 27 HR/ 107 RBI for a second baseman? He should be in.
David Ortiz is not getting in on the first ballot because of the positive steroid test in 2003. Yeah, it was supposed to be confidential, and he has denied it, but the BBWA is archaic; they’re not going to have a PED cloud on a first-ballot guy. Ultimately he gets in.
Billy Wagner – If Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman are in, there should be more votes for Wagner. I’d vote him in.
Todd Helton is interesting, but playing at Coors Field is still a big issue. Larry Walker got in, but he had great seasons in Montreal too. I don’t think Helton makes it.
Curt Schilling asked to be left off the ballot, so as Westley told Buttercup, “As You Wish.”
A-Rod/Barry Bonds/Roger Clemens – Nope
Andy Pettite – A great clutch pitcher, he would have been an interesting case, but again PED kills his chances.
Gary Sheffield – The single most intimidating hitter I saw in the 2000s (non-Bonds division) but was Bonds’s “training partner.” Uggh, just make a wing for this era and put these guys in with an asterisk already.
Mark Teixeira – He’s better than you remember. Four hundred home runs, tremendous defensive player, world series champion. He put up a .268 BA/ 36 HR/ 113 RBI average over 14 years with a .360 OBP. Not a first-ballot guy but has a case for induction down the road.
Omar Vizquel – Pass.
David Ortiz is the only player who will get in this year. While the specter of steroid speculation exists in the background, nothing worthwhile has come of it. So far, now Ortiz is clean and a first-ballot HOF’er as the SECOND greatest DH of all time.
The rest of the nominees could get it. However, most won’t. The ones I think that could actually do it this year are:
Scott Rolen – While he was really good for a long time, he was never GREAT for a long time, and that makes his case highly debatable. But playing in the Majors for a long time is an accomplishment of its own.
Todd Helton was one of the best hitters in the game. Yes, he played for the Rockies, and that will hamstring his candidacy, right or wrong. Trying to hit Major League pitching is difficult no matter the ball park’s location.
Finally, Torii Hunter. He was a great defensive centerfielder and also provided a solid ability at the plate as well. I would say his glove is more of the reason he’s a HOFer than his bat. Regardless of the reason why a player’s getting into Cooperstown, it counts all the same.
Who do you think gets elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame? Who would you vote for? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.