# Baseball HOF - Current Players **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 2, 2008, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112 "2008-07-02T22:50:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/21 "2008-07-03T01:54:32Z")
[QUOTE=drm] Even if he were to retire today, you’d have to take [Suzuki’s] Japanese stats into the equation. [/QUOTE] > [@Southern Yankee](#): > > I’d give Ichiro an exemption for his years in Japan though. Why? Sadahuru Oh is not in the Hall of Fame. Shouldn’t his Japanese stats and his years in Japan count? That said, if Suzuki can hang on for another 2 1/2 years without getting _too_ horrible, I’ve no problem with him going in. He’s only 34, so I think the chances are good. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/22 "2008-07-03T03:18:43Z")
Ichiro has shown how good a ball player he is. He is qualified for sure.331 Life time batting ave. 200 hits year after year. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/23 "2008-07-03T03:21:54Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] Ichiro has shown how good a ball player he is. He is qualified for sure. [/QUOTE] He’s not even _eligible_. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/24 "2008-07-03T03:51:49Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] Sosa has never been seriously linked to steroids (beyond overzealous reporters talking about Sosa and McGwire together because of the HR chase) and his numbers are obviously there. [/QUOTE] Other than the changes in his physique and power numbers and his later history of injuries, I agree, there’s not much linking Sosa to steroids. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/25 "2008-07-03T04:37:43Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] Why? Sadahuru Oh is not in the Hall of Fame. Shouldn’t his Japanese stats and his years in Japan count? [/QUOTE] I’ve got no problem with that whatsoever. I must admit that I’m not exactly an expert, is there no mention of him in the hall at all? ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/26 "2008-07-03T11:27:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **Frank** > Why? Sadahuru Oh is not in the Hall of Fame. Shouldn’t his Japanese stats and his years in Japan count? I’m not talking about his stats in Japan. I was just saying for the purpose of this discussion, where I stipulated a 10+ year career, he could be included because of his time served in Japan. I believe his stats in MLB alone will get him in when he’s eligible. He’s a bit of an anomaly, but I think he belongs on the list. And Sadahuru Oh isn’t a current MLB player… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/27 "2008-07-03T12:19:41Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Other than the changes in his physique and power numbers and his later history of injuries, I agree, there’s not much linking Sosa to steroids. [/QUOTE] So because he hit a lot of home runs he’s suspect? And Sammy Sosa has always had a history of injuries and he radically changed his batting stance before he began piling up the home runs. As I said, there’s nothing that links him to steroids other than overzealous people wanting to link every high profile slugger to steroids. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/28 "2008-07-03T12:38:48Z")
Reread my post and I think you’ll see you didn’t address the most important point. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/29 "2008-07-03T13:01:08Z")
Braves fan here - C. Jones will make it. A switch-hitting 3rd baseman who was the pivotal batter in his team’s run of 14 divisional championships. The only switch hitters with more homers - just two guys named Mantle and Murray. A name I have not seen mentioned - John Smoltz. 150+ career saves, 200+ career victories, 3,000 strikeouts, 15 post-season wins. First, a dominant starter, then he went all Dennis Eckersley on the NL for 4 seasons, then BACK to being a dominant starter. He’s a lock in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/30 "2008-07-03T13:07:55Z")
Smoltz was listed in Post #3 ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/31 "2008-07-03T13:11:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **Justin\_Bailey** > > So because he hit a lot of home runs he’s suspect? > > And Sammy Sosa has always had a history of injuries and he radically changed his batting stance before he began piling up the home runs. > > As I said, there’s nothing that links him to steroids other than overzealous people wanting to link every high profile slugger to steroids. Not [proof](http://homerderby.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/sammy-sosa-comparison.jpg) , but still… Do you honestly think Sosa never juiced? Not being snarky, just a serious question. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/32 "2008-07-03T13:16:12Z")
That link isn’t working for me, **Southern Yankee**. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/33 "2008-07-03T13:18:12Z")
Hmm. Works for me. Sorry, here’s the url: [http://homerderby.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/sammy-sosa-comparison.jpg](http://homerderby.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/sammy-sosa-comparison.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/34 "2008-07-03T13:25:54Z")
Not working for me, either time. Anyway, I think I get the point given the url, and I’m not sure about the validity of the argument: “Gee, it _really_ looks like he took steroids.” > [@Justin Bailey](#): > > So because he hit a lot of home runs he’s suspect? > > And Sammy Sosa has always had a history of injuries and he radically changed his batting stance before he began piling up the home runs. > > As I said, there’s nothing that links him to steroids other than overzealous people wanting to link every high profile slugger to steroids. [Tell me about it, Bro.](http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hof07/news/story?id=2725461) – Mark McGwire ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/35 "2008-07-03T13:27:50Z")
I’m using Firefox. When I tried the URL in IE7 I got the 404 error. Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/36 "2008-07-03T13:29:02Z")
I’m on Firefox as well, so I don’t think that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/37 "2008-07-03T13:46:50Z")
[QUOTE=Southern Yankee] Do you honestly think Sosa never juiced? Not being snarky, just a serious question. [/QUOTE] No, I don’t. I think when all is said and done, he’ll be considered clean and will be a quick selection for the Hall. And as for his physical changes, I don’t see it… > **[안전한 야구 - homerderby](https://homerderby.com/category/safe-baseball/)** > > 신규 온카스터디 ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/38 "2008-07-03T13:47:03Z")
3 or 2? I’m on 3. If anyone is interested, just Google “Sammy Sosa comparison photos” and it’ll be the first image. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/39 "2008-07-03T13:57:55Z")
[QUOTE=Southern Yankee] I guess there has been a drought of 3rd Basemen. He has 1 MVP, but only 1 other Top 5. That doesn’t seem that dominant to me. [/QUOTE] I’m not sure I accept the validity of “Number of MVPs \> 1” as a useful measure of a player’s dominance. Derek Jeter, who I grimly admit is a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, never won an MVP at all. Chipper Jones isn’t a borderline case, in my opinion, at least. He should get in easily, and probably will. As a hitter he’s not dissimilar to Alex Rodriguez, actually; the latter has a bit more power and Chipper has a bit better on base ability. He’ll most likely get to 500 home runs; he only needs to play until he’s 40 and average 25 home runs a year to do it, and there’s no reason to expect that this would be impossible. Among third basemen all-time, only Rodriguez has a higher career slugging percentage; only John McGraw, Wade Boggs, Bill Joyce, and Denny Lyons have higher career on-base percentages (and three of those guys played some or all of their careers during the William McKinley administration). The other no-doubters, at least if I had a vote, which of course, I don’t: Maddux Jeter Alex Rodriguez Rivera Griffey, Jr. And, for me, at least, very strong options: Thome Randy Johnson Glavine Frank Thomas Ivan Rodriguez Schilling Pedro Martinez Manny Ramirez Not sure: Kent Vladimir Guerrero Smoltz Jorge Posada (I don’t know how you call I-Rod a mortal lock and ignore Posada altogether) Leaning No: Hoffman Todd Helton (but it’s a modest lean) Mussina Incomplete, Check Back Later: Pujols Berkman Roy Halladay ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112/40 "2008-07-03T14:10:02Z")
Posada is a very good catcher, but not a HOFer IMO (and I’m a Yankee fan.) He’s better than average offensively, but not defensively. I think you need Piazza-like offensive numbers if you’re not an excellent defensive catcher, like Ivan Rodriguez has been. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-hof-current-players/455112.md?page=3)