Joe Mauer announces retirement: HOF? Make Your Case:

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by packs

Dominant for one season only. That's not a HOFer. He wasn't anywhere near elite any other time in his career. And when I say pure hitter, I mean able to hit 300. There are plenty of players who hit 300 over their careers (like Mattingly) who are not HOF players (even catchers like Bubbles Hargrave; Manny Sanguillen hit 300 as a catcher though his career average is 296).

Even while trying to take away from Posada, you listed a stat that Mauer leads by only 3 points. Posada was off the ballot in one vote and despite what might be popular opinion, I would take Posada over Mauer every time they stood next to each other.

It's insane to think Mauer belongs in the HOF when Mattingly does not, whatever the shortcomings of Mattingly's career stats.

[Bagwell-1994]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

It's insane to think Mauer belongs in the HOF when Mattingly does not, whatever the shortcomings of Mattingly's career stats.

I think this is due to comparing him to his peers at his position. Mauer ranks as the 7th most valuable catcher ever when measuring via WAR/JAWS. Mattingly ranks as the 40th most valuable 1st baseman: https://www.baseball-reference.com/l.../jaws_1B.shtml

Mattingly had an outstanding stretch from 1983 to 1987 primarily, including an MVP, and 8 gold gloves. But when compared to the sheer number of heavy hitters at 1st base all-time in the HOF, he simply falls way down the list, unfortunately.

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[clydepepper]

Since Baines (but, he's such a nice fellow) got in, isn't it time to start a grass-roots campaign for Paul Lo Duca?

.

[Yastrzemski Sports]

I’m sure this was meant to be a joke but in all seriousness Baines has 2800+ hits and 380+ hr. If there is someone else with those numbers I would give them support.
If you want to make that joke I would say that since Edgar Martinez got in then we can start the campaign for the guys who are similar to him - Will Clark, Magglio Ordonez and Moises Alou. Edgar’s numbers are nowhere near HOF caliber for any player whose primary skill was hitting.

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Since Baines (but, he's such a nice fellow) got it, isn't it time to start a grass-roots campaign for Paul Lo Duca?

.

[packs]

I seem to recall MLB naming an award after Edgar Martinez. The other players with awards named after them are: Cy Young, Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn, Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron.

There is no Joe Mauer award.

[Yastrzemski Sports]

Personally I never understood why they named the award after him. It seemed like all at once they took all of the awards and attached a players name to it. You could have done a lot better than the Carew and Gwynn awards - like the Cobb and Hornsby awards. They could have done a lot better than the Edgar award. They named the award after a guy who wasn’t in the hall and didn’t belong.
No, there should not be a Mauer award because there isn’t an appropriate award to name after him. There isn’t an award named after most hof players but it doesn’t mean they don’t belong.

Originally Posted by packs

I seem to recall MLB naming an award after Edgar Martinez. The other players with awards named after them are: Cy Young, Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn, Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron.

There is no Joe Mauer award.

[packs]

Originally Posted by Yastrzemski Sports

Personally I never understood why they named the award after him. It seemed like all at once they took all of the awards and attached a players name to it. You could have done a lot better than the Carew and Gwynn awards - like the Cobb and Hornsby awards. They could have done a lot better than the Edgar award. They named the award after a guy who wasn’t in the hall and didn’t belong.
No, there should not be a Mauer award because there isn’t an appropriate award to name after him. There isn’t an award named after most hof players but it doesn’t mean they don’t belong.

You said Edgar doesn't belong. If he doesn't belong, why did MLB name an award after him? If there were better players at his position, why did they choose him?

In my opinion it was because there hasn't been a player better than him at his position.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Yastrzemski Sports

I’m sure this was meant to be a joke but in all seriousness Baines has 2800+ hits and 380+ hr. If there is someone else with those numbers I would give them support.
If you want to make that joke I would say that since Edgar Martinez got in then we can start the campaign for the guys who are similar to him - Will Clark, Magglio Ordonez and Moises Alou. Edgar’s numbers are nowhere near HOF caliber for any player whose primary skill was hitting.

The guys who would be most similar to Baines not in the HOF would be Al Oliver, Rusty Staub and Dave Parker. They were similar hitters OPS+ 121-124 and 2700+ hits. The guys you mentioned had a lot fewer hits ~2100.

[Yastrzemski Sports]

The guys I mentioned were similar to Edgar.

Originally Posted by rats60

The guys who would be most similar to Baines not in the HOF would be Al Oliver, Rusty Staub and Dave Parker. They were similar hitters OPS+ 121-124 and 2700+ hits. The guys you mentioned had a lot fewer hits ~2100.