HOF time!

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Beatles Guy

I'll get in line for Ted Simmons. It's a travesty he's not in. Also, I'll throw my hat in for Hodges and Santo.

Today's HOF reminds me of a strategy I had as a kid to acquire Batman #1: you start off with #100, find someone to trade for #99, then trade that for #98. You couldn't get to #1, but you could easily end up at around #10 or so.

With the HOF, you have a guy who averages 100 RBIs a year for 20 years and you decide he's in. So what about a guy who averages 99 a year for 19 years? Answer: close enough. Eventually you end up with guys like Phil Rizzuto.

With pitchers, you have a guy who has a 2.50 ERA over 10 years. So what about a guy who has 2.60 for 11 years? Or 2.90 for 15 years? Eventually you end up with guys like Niekro and Sutton.

So yeah, put Ted Simmons in. It's 2011, not 1936.

[Doug]

I hope Barry Larkin gets in this time. 12 time All Star, 1990 World Series Champion, 1995 MVP, 9 time Silver Slugger winner and 3 Gold Gloves which probably could have been more if he wasn't competing with Ozzie Smith. A great all around player and lifetime Cincinnati Red!

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Doug

I hope Barry Larkin gets in this time. 12 time All Star, 1990 World Series Champion, 1995 MVP, 9 time Silver Slugger winner and 3 Gold Gloves which probably could have been more if he wasn't competing with Ozzie Smith. A great all around player and lifetime Cincinnati Red!

Here's some data on HOF shortstops and Larkin. He had a good glove and a better bat than many who are in. Lately it seems to be a popularity and 'iron man' contest. There's a lot of weak wood in the HOF at shortstop

last yr - batting avg. (inducted, how long to wait)

2004 - .295 Larkin
2001 - .276 Ripken (07 - 6 years)
1996 - .262 Smith (02 - 6 years)
1993 - .285 Yount (99 - 6 years)
1973 - .262 Aparicio (84 - 11 years)
1958 - .269 Reese (84 - 26 years)
1956 - .273 Rizzuto (94 - 38 years)
1952 - .295 Boudreau (70 -28 years)
1950 - .315 Appling (64 - 14 years)
1948 - .318 Vaughan (85 - 37 years)
1945 - .301 Cronin (56 - 11 years)
1936 - .291 Travis Jackson (82 - 46 years)
1935 - .258 Maranville (54 - 19 years)
1916 - .262 Tinker (46)
1918 - .268 Wallace (53)
1917 - .328 Wagner (36)