Sunday Notes: A Hall of Fame Ballot (With a Notable Omission) Explained

This 12 months I had the respect of filling out a Corridor of Fame poll for the fourth time, and as was the case with the earlier three, I’m taking the time to elucidate my reasoning. That is one thing that I really feel each voter ought to do. Filling out a poll is a privilege that calls for not solely due diligence, but additionally transparency. That stated, let’s reduce to the chase.

My checkmarks went subsequent to the names of 10 gamers — the utmost quantity allowed — seven of whom are holdovers from final 12 months, and three of whom are new to the poll. In alphabetical order, my votes went to Bobby Abreu, Carlos Beltrán, Adrián Beltré, Todd Helton, Joe Mauer, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, Chase Utley, and Billy Wagner.

Sure, Andruw Jones’s identify is lacking from that listing. No, I’m not significantly happy by his non-inclusion. The erstwhile Atlanta Braves star had obtained my vote 3 times prior, and in an ideal world he would have once more this 12 months. However it’s not an ideal world. Once more, solely 10 checkmarks are allowed, and with three worthy newcomers becoming a member of eight holdovers from final 12 months’s poll, somebody had to attract the brief stick. In the end, I made a decision it might be Jones.

Who would possibly I’ve dropped as an alternative? That’s a query that might require extra phrases to reply adequately than I’ve room for on this column, however I’ll say that a certain quantity of strategic pondering went into the choice. As my esteemed colleague Jay Jaffe can attest, any ideas of my omitting Gary Sheffield (at the moment polling at 71.9%) have been dispelled with a reminder that that is his final 12 months on the poll. Whereas the chance of Sheffield’s reaching the required 75% threshold isn’t excessive, it’s additionally not not possible. Conversely, Jones (at the moment at 62.5%, a couple of share factors higher than final 12 months), has three extra years of eligibility left past this cycle. I’m prone to resume voting for him 12 months from now.

Two extra issues on Jones — each addressed by Jay in final month’s writeup of his candidacy — earlier than I contact on my different decisions. Whereas acknowledging his defensive brilliance, I’ve lengthy been skeptical of claims, metrics-based and in any other case, that he’s the all-time at his place, above the likes of Willie Mays, and even (sure, he belongs within the higher echelon) Kevin Kiermaier. After which there’s the home violence difficulty. As Jay identified, Jones pled responsible to fees. The primary of my 4 ballots included Omar Vizquel — a polarizing Corridor of Fame candidate for different causes as properly — and I subsequently stopped voting for him on account of his personal home violence allegations. Respective Cooperstown-worthy bona fides apart, does Jones deserves a go if Vizquel doesn’t?

Voting for the Corridor of Fame isn’t as simple as evaluating statistical accomplishments.

I’ll admittedly give brief shrift to my different voting decisions. The first cause is that not solely would I primarily be repeating my earlier ballot-explainer feedback — once more, seven of my 10 checkmarks went to holdovers — I might largely be echoing what Jay wrote. For probably the most half, our opinions are simpatico. As for the three newcomers, Beltré is a no brainer for apparent causes; his numbers converse for themselves. Mauer — at the moment monitoring at 82.1% — isn’t on the identical stage, however with three batting titles on the catcher place and an total stellar resumé, he’s a straightforward alternative.

After which there’s Utley. When you’re small-Corridor, and/or a traditionalist when it comes to stats, he’s a marginal candidate at greatest. That stated, you’re studying this on FanGraphs, which considerably decreases the chance that you just don’t perceive simply how good Utley was. Does that imply he’s a rubber-stamp in your opinion? In all probability not. Corridor of Fame-worthiness is something however simple to find out, no matter the place you fall on the stat-geek spectrum. That features Andruw Jones, who on this scribe’s opinion is worthy — albeit with out this 12 months’s vote as a result of circumstances that be.

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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS

Dick Allen went 9 for 15 towards Doug Rau.

Jack Clark went 7 for 11 towards Pete Vuckovich.

Moose Grimshaw went 8 for 15 towards Completely happy Townsend.

George Altman went 9 for 14 towards Don Newcombe.

Zack Wheat went 6 for 7 towards Al Yeargin.

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Spencer Jones got here in at No. 1 when our New York Yankees High Prospects listing was revealed on December nineteenth. And for good cause. As Eric Longenhagen opined in his writeup, the Twenty fifth-overall decide within the 2022 draft possesses “monumental potential, with eventual 40-homer energy within the tank.” Our lead prospect analyst added — this with a caveat of excessive danger — “so far as ceilings go… we’re speaking about St. Patrick’s Cathedral.”

Jones, who performed his school ball at Vanderbilt College, got here off as humble after I spoke to him following his promotion to Double-A Somerset within the later a part of the season. Considerably surprisingly, he downplayed his energy after I requested him what he considers to be his biggest power.

“I see myself as a velocity man greater than something,” the younger outfielder replied “I really feel like that’s my most precious software. Hitting and energy… I really feel like I’ve at all times been in a position to hit, however I haven’t at all times been an influence hitter. For me, it’s about making contact, and good issues occur after I put it in play.”

His numbers replicate his means to run. Jones swiped 43 baggage this 12 months, augmenting a stat line that included 16 lengthy balls and a 113 wRC+, in addition to a 28.9% strikeout price. Requested about his wheels, he advised me that he’s “twitchy for [his] measurement,” which he acknowledged was at the moment 6-foot-7 and 235 kilos.

He has tweaked his stance and swing since attending to professional ball. Making a shorter path to the ball has predictably been a precedence for the tall slugger, and he’s accomplished so by reducing his fingers and getting his bat “much more vertical within the setup.”

Jones has obtained high quality instruction since signing with the Yankees, however he maintains a robust relationship with the one who helped him construct his basis.

“I’ve had the identical hitting coach since I used to be 9 years previous,” Jones advised me. “He’s out in Encinitas [California] the place I’m at. We go into the YMCA collectively and he’s been nice. His identify is Joe Pimentel. He labored with me after I was a bit child, after which in Little League — All-Stars and stuff like that.

”He was the primary man who taught me that my measurement is my benefit, that I can use my leverage and my bodily instruments as a bonus,” added Jones. “He’s all about environment friendly strikes and ensuring all the things is patterning collectively. It’s not tremendous technical, it’s extra feel-based stuff. That’s how I used to be raised to hit.”

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A quiz:

Two gamers have stolen no less than one base yearly since 2009. Who’re they?

The reply could be discovered beneath.

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NEWS NOTES

The Corridor of Stats web site, which debuted in 2012, formally shut down on December 28. Co-founder Adam Darowski wrote an explanatory column that may be discovered right here.

The Detroit Tigers have reportedly employed Dylan Axelrod and assigned him the title Pitching Efficiency and Integration Coordinator. The 38-year-old former Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds hurler has spent the final 4 seasons teaching within the Los Angeles Angels system.

Two former Detroit Tigers scouts have filed a lawsuit towards the group, alleging that they have been fired in 2020 on account of age discrimination “amid a shift by the group and Main League Baseball towards youthful scouts who use analytics and video to guage gamers.” (per The Detroit Information.)

Carlos Pulido, a left-handed pitcher who noticed motion for the Minnesota Twins in 1994 and once more in 2003 and 2004, died Thursday at age 52 (per Baseball Participant Passings). Per his B-Ref bio web page, the Caracas native was paired up towards Wilson Alvarez of the Chicago White Sox on June 12, 1994 in what was the primary sport in MLB historical past that the beginning pitchers from each groups have been each from Venezuela. Pulito additionally pitched professionally in Mexico, Japan, and Taiwan.

Larry McCray, a distinguished baseball historian whose main focus was the sport’s origins, died earlier this week. McCray obtained two of SABR’s highest honors in back-to-back years, the Henry Chadwick Award in 2017 and the Bob Davids Award in 2018.

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The reply to the quiz is Elvis Andrus and Andrew McCutchen. (hat tip to @BillyBall for the stat/reality.)

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Buying Estevan Florial from the New York Yankees in alternate for right-hander Cody Morris earlier this week has the makings of a shrewd transfer for the Cleveland Guardians. Morris has a great arm, however at age 27 and with a short-and-middling big-league resumé, he’s much less of a necessity than what Florial probably gives. The Guardians badly want offensive oomph, and whereas the recently-turned-26-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is himself largely unproven, he did put a 130 wRC+ with 28 residence runs and 25 stolen bases in Triple-A this previous season. With the caveat that his handful of big-league cups of espresso have been wholly uninspiring, he retains sufficient upside that the transfer is smart for a Cleveland membership that struggled to attain runs in 2023. In comparison with nearly all of groups, they possess sufficient pitching.

Eric Longenhagen could have extra on the Morris-Florial swap within the coming days.

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Which of Invoice Freehan, Thurman Munson, and Yadier Molina is most Corridor of Fame-worthy? I requested that query concerning the three former catchers in a Twitter ballot on Friday, and the outcomes have been kind of what I anticipated them to be. Together with being recency-biased, they have been very a lot debatable.

Molina received the ballot simply, garnering a wholesome 57.3% of the 1,293 votes forged whereas Munson completed second with 31.9% and Freehan obtained a mere 10.8%.

Here’s a snapshot of their respective numbers and awards:

Freehan: 1,591 hits, 200 HRs, 113 wRC+, 44.8 bWAR, 5 Gold Gloves, 11 All-Star appearances.

Molina: 2,168 hits, 176 HRs, 97 wRC+, 42.3 bWAR, 9 Gold Gloves,10 All-Star appearances.

Munson: 1,558 hits, 113 HRs, 116 wRC+, 46.1 bWAR, three Gold Gloves, seven All-Star appearances.

Word that the above WAR totals are bWAR and fWAR. The latter contains framing — a Molina power — whereas each Freehan (1961-1976) and Munson (1969-1979) performed previous to framing being measured. By and huge, evaluating catcher WAR over eras is a tenuous train. That stated, Molina’s edge in fWAR is obvious, 55.6 to Freehan’s 44.8 and Munson’s 40.9. Make of it what you’ll.

Given the dearth of catchers in Cooperstown, one may fairly argue that each one three benefit enshrinement. As for which ones is most deserving of the respect… let’s simply say I’m not satisfied that it’s the longtime St. Louis Cardinal. The late Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees stalwarts — themselves one-franchise gamers — have been each bit pretty much as good.

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Alex Skepton is slashing .375/.444/.675 with six residence runs in 88 plate appearances for the Australian Baseball League’s Brisbane Bandits. The 22-year-old outfielder — a local of Queensland — leads the ABL in BA, OBP, and SLG.

Riley Unroe has 15 stolen bases in as many makes an attempt and is slashing .267/.387/.302 in 143 plate appearances for the Mexican Pacific Winter League’s Sultanes de Monterrey, The 28-year-old infielder within the Seattle Mariners system had 19 steals and a 101 wRC+ this 12 months between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma.

Victor Morales is 4-2 with a 1.05 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 25-and-two-thirds innings for the Mexican Pacific Winter League’s Venados de Mazatlan. The 22-year-old right-hander hasn’t pitched in affiliated baseball stateside.

Victor Reyes has signed with the KBO’s Lotte Giants. The 29-year-old outfielder performed for the Detroit Tigers from 2018-2022 earlier than spending this previous season with the Chicago White Sox Triple-A affiliate.

Kazuto Taguchi signed a three-year deal this week to stay with NPB’s Tokyo Yakult Swallows, and in doing so acknowledged that he hopes to maneuver to MLB within the not-too-distant future. The 28-year-old left-hander, who will acquire worldwide free agent rights after subsequent season, had 36 saves and a 1.86 ERA over 50 reduction appearances for the Swallows this 12 months.

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Jay Jaffe’s wonderful take a look at Bartolo Colon’s profession included the next within the column’s feedback part:

There’s completely nothing mandating that gamers elected want to fulfill sure scientific standards past having performed 10 seasons. It’s nice to know the place a man like Colon stacks up traditionally; however I might like to see extra voters shifting ahead vote on guys that have been fan favorites.

It is a legitimate opinion IMO. I severely thought of placing a checkmark subsequent to Colon’s identify, and the recognition/fame quotient was a part of the rationale why. Paired with a Cy Younger Award, 247 wins, and a hefty-for-this-era innings complete, it makes “Huge Horny” an intriguing, if undeserving, candidate.

I’m of the opinion that Tommy John deserves a plaque in Cooperstown for related causes. The southpaw’s numbers (exterior of the longevity-related ones) could not rank with the very best of the very best, however to say that he’s a family identify can be stating the plain. That issues. Or no less than it ought to.

Tommy John is undeniably an necessary a part of baseball historical past. By way of recognition inside this technology’s fanbase, Bartolo Colon is fairly darn necessary himself. Whereas I didn’t discover room for him on my poll, I’ve no quibbles with anybody who did.

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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE

Longtime Orioles scribe Wealthy Dubroff wrote a fan letter to a comparatively obscure big-league pitcher in 1971, and greater than 5 many years later they met for the primary time over lunch. Dubroff wrote in regards to the expertise at Baltimore Baseball.

Twinkie City’s John Foley took a nuanced take a look at platoon splits.

San Diego Padres broadcaster Jesse Agler addressed topics comparable to Yuki Matsui’s arrival, Fernando Tatis’s future, and MLB’s guidelines tweaks, in his Past the Sales space publication.

MLB.com’s David Adler gave us a rundown of Statcast’s prime performs of 2023.

Pitcher Listing’s Paul Michaud delved into whether or not Chris Martin might need had the very best 2023 season of any reliever.

Younger-and-eager job-seekers yearly attend the Winter Conferences to chase the dream of working in baseball. Travis Sawchik wrote about it at The Rating.

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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS

Mitch Garver — signed by the Mariners earlier this week — is 0-for-31 at Seattle’s T-Cellular Park. He’s 9-for-23 with 4 residence runs at New York’s Citi Discipline.

Henry Aaron had three five-hit video games in his 23-year MLB profession. Luis Arraez had three five-hit video games this season, all within the month of June. Barry Bonds by no means had a five-hit sport. He had three video games with 5 walks.

Ty Cobb had 4,189 hits and scored 2,245 runs. Rickey Henderson had 3,055 hits and scored 2,295 runs.

Harold Baines had 2,866 hits, a 119 wRC+, and 38.4 fWAR.Brian Giles had 1,897 hits, a 136 wRC+. and 54.8 fWAR.

Ernie Banks and Rod Carew mixed to play 2,443 video games as first basemen. They mixed to play 2,259 video games as center infielders.

Dizzy Dean went 134-75 with a 132 ERA+ in 1,737 innings as a St. Louis Cardinal. Harry “The Cat” Brecheen went 128-79 with a 133 ERA+ in 1,790 innings as a St. Louis Cardinal.

The Pacific Coast League’s Sacramento Senators bought Dazzy Vance from the New York Yankees on in the present day’s date in 1919. The Corridor of Fame right-hander later led the Nationwide League in strikeouts yearly from 1922-1928 pitching for the Brooklyn Robins.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Fred McGriff as a free agent on in the present day’s date in 2002. The “Crime Canine”went on to log 13 residence runs and a 98 wRC+ with the Dodgers in what was his penultimate big-league season.

Gamers born on in the present day’s date embody Joe Simpson, an outfielder who logged 338 hits, together with 9 residence runs, whereas enjoying for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, and Kansas Metropolis Royals from 1975-1983. Simpson has been a part of the Atlanta Braves broadcast group since 1992.

Additionally born on in the present day’s date was Corridor of Fame catcher/outfielder King Kelly, whose big-league profession comprised the 1878-1893 seasons. A two-time Nationwide League batting champion with the Chicago White Stockings, Kelly was — per his SABR BioProject biography — “skilled baseball’s first matinee idol: the primary ballplayer to “writer” an autobiography, the primary to have successful tune written about him, and the primary to have a profitable appearing profession exterior the sport.”