Never Too Early to Check:

[egri]

Originally Posted by KJA

Yeah I think Posey is first ballot. Lester will be interesting, his post season stats are good and he has spent a lot of time there. I think he hangs around on the ballot for sure like Buehrle has been doing.

Also a Sox fan with a soft spot for Lester. I don't think he gets in from the writers, I think he'll hang around on the ballot and the Veterans Committee (or whatever they're calling it these days) will ultimately put him in. His narrative (rookie season derailed by cancer, beats it, comes back the following year to win the clinching game of the World Series, throws a no-hitter the following year, then is a big part of the 'Boston Strong' team and the curse-breaking Cubs) will carry a lot more weight with them than the writers.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by egri

Also a Sox fan with a soft spot for Lester. I don't think he gets in from the writers, I think he'll hang around on the ballot and the Veterans Committee (or whatever they're calling it these days) will ultimately put him in. His narrative (rookie season derailed by cancer, beats it, comes back the following year to win the clinching game of the World Series, throws a no-hitter the following year, then is a big part of the 'Boston Strong' team and the curse-breaking Cubs) will carry a lot more weight with them than the writers.

Same situation as a Sox fan. The BBWAA voters are typically behind the times by about a decade and a half when it comes to pitchers...it'll be interesting to see what a Hall of Fame pitcher looks like after the last of the old(er) school guys like Verlander, Scherzer, and Kershaw retire and get elected.

[KJA]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

Same situation as a Sox fan. The BBWAA voters are typically behind the times by about a decade and a half when it comes to pitchers...it'll be interesting to see what a Hall of Fame pitcher looks like after the last of the old(er) school guys like Verlander, Scherzer, and Kershaw retire and get elected.

Looking at the pitchers still going beyond those 3 and Greinke. I'm not even sure who goes in after them, I assume Gerritt Cole gets 200 wins, maybe gets 3000k's or gets close and maybe makes the HOF. Chris Sale maybe has a couple more good seasons and has a chance.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by KJA

Looking at the pitchers still going beyond those 3 and Greinke. I'm not even sure who goes in after them, I assume Gerritt Cole gets 200 wins, maybe gets 3000k's or gets close and maybe makes the HOF. Chris Sale maybe has a couple more good seasons and has a chance.

Yes, Cole and Sale are probably the two most likely. Maybe deGrom has a late-career string of health, but that feels unlikely. Beyond that is anyone's guess.