Jacob deGrom most Ks in first 200 games

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

what's the over under on career starts, 300, 325?

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

what's the over under on career starts, 300, 325?

Ouch! I'd take the over on each of those, but I wouldn't bet my life on it.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Ouch! I'd take the over on each of those, but I wouldn't bet my life on it.

I mean Koufax only started 341, but the big difference is Koufax went out at the absolute pinnacle of his career. A Cy Young, 2nd in MVP and a 10 WAR and "thank you all I had a lovely time" He was 4 years younger than DeGrom is now (and already had those 300+ starts) when he pulled the plug. I wish DeGrom had been healthier, but I just can't make a HOF case for him. Yet.

[packs]

I agree. Hard to make a case based on statistics but he does have that "you had to see him play" mystique about him.

Non-sequitur but Yadi Molina is one of those "you had to see them" guys for me too. Nothing about his stats would tell you he's an all time great. But he most definitely is.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by packs

I agree. Hard to make a case based on statistics but he does have that "you had to see him play" mystique about him.

Non-sequitur but Yadi Molina is one of those "you had to see them" guys for me too. Nothing about his stats would tell you he's an all time great. But he most definitely is.

Yady was a defensive whiz, but he only had two all star caliber offensive seasons. If you let him in then you have to consider Bob Boone, Jim Sundberg, Tony Peña, etc...

[packs]

You don't see Yadi as a lock? I would expect him to get in first ballot no doubt.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by packs

You don't see Yadi as a lock? I would expect him to get in first ballot no doubt.

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