Off-Topic Forum

It's that time of the year, the ballot has been released. Thinking of you V3. I'll give my thoughts in a bit, but I'll say this. PAPI!

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2022 Hall of Fame ballot first-timers

• Carl Crawford
• Prince Fielder
• Ryan Howard
• Tim Lincecum
• Justin Morneau
• Joe Nathan
• David Ortiz
• Jonathan Papelbon
• Jake Peavy
• A.J. Pierzynski
• Jimmy Rollins
• Alex Rodriguez
• Mark Teixeira

2022 Hall of Fame ballot holdovers (years on ballot, ranked by % achieved last year)

Curt Schilling 10th

Barry Bonds 10th

Roger Clemens 10th

Scott Rolen 5th

Omar Vizquel 5th

Billy Wagner 7th

Todd Helton 4th

Gary Sheffield 8th

Andruw Jones 5th

Jeff Kent 9th

Manny Ramirez 6th

Sammy Sosa 10th

Andy Pettitte 4th

Mark Buehrle 2nd

Torii Hunter 2nd

Bobby Abreu 3rd

Tim Hudson 2nd

Thanks for posting this, jimetal7212!

Aside from David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez (steroid asterisk notwithstanding), I see many Hall of Very Good players on the ballot this year. I'd love to see Mark Teixeira get in on the merit of his 5 gold gloves, 3 silver sluggers, World Series championship, and 400+ home runs as a switch hitter. Jimmy Rollins was also a tremendous player and a treat to watch on offense and defense. However, I'm not sure either of those players will be voted in this year.

As for the holdovers, I'd love for Scott Rolen to get in based on his 8 gold gloves and World Series championship. Curt Schilling (3x World Series, World Series MVP, 3,000 strikeouts) and Omar Vizquel (11 gold gloves, nearly 3,000 hits) are pretty close too, but if the voters focus on the post-career words and actions of those two players, who knows if they'll ever be voted in. I also enjoyed watching Torii Hunter play the game (9x gold glove, 2x silver slugger), but he might also be in Hall of Very Good territory.

My opinion.

Only two.

Papi & A-Rod.

Period.

It's interesting to me that Ortiz tends to get a pass among the no PED HOFer crowds. Leaving PED discussion out, the only ones I would vote for would be Rolen, Helton and maybe Schilling...

There's no evidence that Papi used PEDs, even the commissioner said his positive test was "unreliable"

Also note that the bulk of his production, and what his HOF case would rely upon, occurred after that "positive" when he was constantly tested and never once tested positive. 

To me, Prince is a fascinating case. I'd imagine he doesn't get in given the short nature of his career, but I'd feel he could eventually get in. He was SO good when he was healthy and coming back in 2015 as well as he did really showed perseverance and would be a curious case for future ballots.

He is, but he fell to the "big man syndrome". Much like his dad (Cecil), Ryan Howard, Mo Vaughn, Albert Belle (well, he had may other issues too) and many others they burned bright, but physically fell apart early. The falling part hindered their final production and crippled their cases. 

I guess Belle not being in is a fair test case, but to be fair I can't imagine he was (or still is) too popular amongst the writers.

Writers, fans, players and doodness knows whom else. It would have been an interesting case if he hadn't hurt his hip and retired early