Quote:
Originally Posted by packs
You don't see Yadi as a lock? I would expect him to get in first ballot no doubt.
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Along with Corey Dickerson of course :P
Seriously though. the trend towards worrying what ballot people get in on, or what percentage of the vote they got, has definitely weakened, and rightfully so. If you' are a HOF'er you were the first year on the ballot so why artificially make someone wait? The list of guys who didn't make it on their first ballot is astonishing by today's standards*, and Mo Rivera would've been nowhere near 100% 20 years ago.
All that to say, I think Molina will inspire some spirited debate. The same guys who think making people wait is stupid are also the guys who like advanced stats, and Yady's 42 WAR would be one of the worst numbers ever enshrined. So Yeah I'd bet he DOESN'T make it first ballot.
*ignoring the early backlog guys, off the top of my head:
Jimmy Foxx
Joe DiMaggio
Yogi Berra
Hank Greenberg
Duke Snider
Mel Ott
Eddie Matthews