I tend not to put up a ton of pieces like this, but this is my favorite day of the baseball year outside of Opening Day. Every year, two friends and I make the trek to the Hall of Fame for induction weekend. A truly great four days. This year, I would certainly be voting for Roberto Alomar, and he should get in. Four others would be on my ballot as well. I ended up leaving Jack Morris off. Just couldn't make the cut with him.
These others are fringe candidates. One is likely in, one is a maybe, and two will probably still be on the outside needing a ticket to enter.
Tim Raines (OF, Expos)
Look at these stats:
Player A: .294 AVG .385 OBP 170 HR 808 SB 966 SO
Player B: .293 AVG .385 OBP 149 HR 938 SB 1,730 SO
Player A is Raines, Player B is Lou Brock.
He was a SABR guy before it was cool. Raines was an on-base machine during his 23 years in the majors. He finished in the top-10 seven times in that category, recorded 2,600 career hits, and was a seven-time All Star. Raines was the epitome of the leadoff spot in the batting order. He worked the count, recorded walks, and stole bases, finishing fifth all-time in that category.
Bert Blyleven (P, Twins)
Blyleven spent 22 years in the majors and recorded 287 wins. He has the highest win total of any pitcher not in the Hall, ranking 27th all time. He was a two-time All-Star and regularly appeared in the league's top-10 in innings pitched (11 times), strikeouts (15 times), ERA (10 times), and wins (six times).
As a pitcher, he is comparable, statistically, to Don Drysdale, Don Sutton, Steve Carlton, Gaylord Perry, and Fergie Jenkins. Not to mention, Blyleven recorded 3,701 strikeouts, good for fifth all-time.
Lee Smith (RP, Cubs)
This is mainly based on my argument against Bruce Sutter. Sutter, in theory, revolutionized the game through his use of the split-fingered fastball. But he only recorded 300 total career saves. Now, this is a solid total. But Lee Smith was the career leader in saves for years.
Smith was a seven-time All Star and finished in the top-10 in saves on 14 occasions, finishing first four times. He was a three-time NL Rolaids Fireman of the year, and his 478 saves are second only to Trevor Hoffman. The closer is a recent phenomenon, and we need to take the time to account for those who truly revolutionized the position.
Jeff Bagwell (1B, Astros)
Look, I think the PED issue is something that baseball both needs to address and deal with in some manner. Players that we have knowingly linked to steroids should not be allowed in because there is definable proof. Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, and likely Roger Clemens would never be on my ballot. But there is still the idea that this should not be a witch hunt and we cannot hold people out on speculation alone.
Many THINK Bagwell did them, but no one has come forward with any evidence to make the point fact. Until then, his 449 home runs, .297 average, and 1529 RBI should put him in the door. Bagwell was an MVP and Rookie of the Year to go with a Gold Glove winner and four-time All-Star. If you cannot show me a test that he failed or some legitimate apologies for that fact, Bagwell is in with me.
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