How Long Will Joe Mauer Wait for Cooperstown Plaque?

[DJL44]

57 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

Santana needed to pitch another 5 healthy successful years to get a good look.  I love him, but he will ultimately end up in the Hall of Very-Good.

Yet somehow Billy Wagner, who wasn't half the pitcher of Santana, is on the cusp of election. Seriously, Santana has 7 seasons better than any of Wagner's.

[Elliot]

An interesting comparison is Kirby Puckett as a first ballot HOF’er. I am a huge fan and believe that Puck is the Twins best player ever and overall face of the franchise. Entire career with the Twins, 2, world championships, and many awards; but 2,300 hits, 200 home runs, and a .318 average are hardly the stats of a first ballot electee. The fact that he was so elected indicates an acknowledgement of the impact of an injury shortened career.  I think if it is possible to look at Mauer’s career thru 2013 (essentially his catching career) using the same lens used regarding Puck’s shortened career, we would end up looking at Mauer differently.  It is unfortunate, but the final handful of years did not help his case at all. He was really just a shell of the player he once was (.270 avg and a half dozen home runs per year) as a 1B/DH. 

[Twins GFP]

10 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Yet somehow Billy Wagner, who wasn't half the pitcher of Santana, is on the cusp of election. Seriously, Santana has 7 seasons better than any of Wagner's.

Yeah... Don't get me started on relievers and Cooperstown.  Compare Joe Nathan and Billy Wagner. 

[Twins GFP]

Just now, Elliot said:

An interesting comparison is Kirby Puckett as a first ballot HOF’er. I am a huge fan and believe that Puck is the Twins best player ever and overall face of the franchise. Entire career with the Twins, 2, world championships, and many awards; but 2,300 hits, 200 home runs, and a .318 average are hardly the stats of a first ballot electee. The fact that he was so elected indicates an acknowledgement of the impact of an injury shortened career.  I think if it is possible to look at Mauer’s career thru 2013 (essentially his catching career) using the same lens used regarding Puck’s shortened career, we would end up looking at Mauer differently.  It is unfortunate, but the final handful of years did not help his case at all. He was really just a shell of the player he once was (.270 avg and a half dozen home runs per year) as a 1B/DH. 

Puckett was elected because everybody loved him (off field issues aside).  BBWAA will vote for guys they like and not vote for guys they don't like (Curt Schilling anyone).  Many do not use any common sense.  Why else would Bronson Arroyo get a vote?  They are petty that way. 

[tony&rodney]

5 hours ago, DJL44 said:

If the Hall of Fame doesn't elect Mauer they might just stop electing catchers. That would make for a less interesting museum.

This is looking true. Look around at the catchers in baseball today. There are some excellent catchers in the game today, but only Realmuto comes even close to matching Mauer. The Hall of Fame voters have to define the differences in their own minds between catching and any other position in the field. Many people have played baseball and some at a high level but unless one has caught a hundred plus games as an adult, it is difficult to explain the measure of physical hardship catching entails. If someone like Joe Mauer cannot be voted into the Hall on the first ballot, then the conversation on how to measure catchers needs to be concluded. Adrian Beltre was a terrific player and I believe a sure Hall of Fame player who should get in next year. One cannot compare on any level a catcher and any other position player.

[DJL44]

6 hours ago, bap3141 said:

Once the BBWAA enshrined Harold Baines, I lost interest. It's all far too subjective.  

For our local guy, how in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks is Johan Santana one-and-done on the ballot, yet Mark Freaking Buehrle is not? Or Cliff Lee. (And I'm not even suggesting those guys should be in.)

It's just such a joke. And these writers have their heads up their rears. Might as well start calling it the Hall of WAR.

To be fair, the writers didn't elect Baines, that was the Era Committee - mostly former players and executives.