Marc Narducci spent 37 years overlaying all sports activities for The Philadelphia Inquirer earlier than retiring in July 2021. He coated every part from highschool sports activities to the Phillies profitable the World Sequence and the Eagles profitable the Tremendous Bowl. A lifelong southern New Jersey resident, he stays a contract author and broadcaster. As soon as once more, Marc reached out to see if MLB Commerce Rumors could be concerned about publishing his Corridor of Fame poll. I’m glad to do it and hope it may be an attention-grabbing subject of debate for our readers. Right here’s Marc…
It’s at all times an honor to be printed by MLBTradeRumors.com, among the many most revered baseball publications round. For many who haven’t learn the earlier years, just a bit housekeeping. I don’t vote for these related to steroids, which implies Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez, don’t obtain my vote.
I’ve additionally not voted for Carlos Beltran who admittedly was the mastermind of the 2017 Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, which altered the notion of that World Sequence profitable group. These actions price him his job as a supervisor and for now, this vote. I don’t really feel all of the Astros must be punished, however as said earlier than, that’s a narrative for an additional day.
I by no means criticize how a fellow voter votes. That doesn’t imply our votes aren’t topic to criticism, together with mine. Every voter has to do what she or he feels is finest.
And now, right here is that this yr’s poll, which incorporates 5 names.
The Holdovers
There are three holdovers I voted for final yr and once more acquired my vote this yr.
Chase Utley
There isn’t a query accidents slowed down Utley’s profession and lots of really feel he didn’t have the counting stats to get in, however he was a six-time All-Star and solely 4 HOF second basemen have extra house runs than Utley’s 259. These 4 are Rogers Hornsby (301), Craig Biggio (291), Ryne Sandberg (282) and Joe Morgan (268). I’m huge on second basemen who present nice energy, which is why I voted for Jeff Kent (377 profession house runs) when he was on the poll. Additionally, we have a tendency to have a look at excellence, even whether it is shorter-term. As talked about final yr, from 2005-2009, Utley’s slash line was .301/.388/535 and he averaged 29.2 house runs, 110. Runs. 101.4 RBI, 151 video games and 675 plate appearances. His BWAR throughout that point was 7.7. Simply 9 HOF second basemen have a better profession B-Warfare than Utley (64.5).
Utley gained a World Sequence in 2008 with the Philadelphia Phillies and the following yr hit 5 house runs within the 2009 World Sequence in opposition to the Yankees, tying an MLB report with Reggie Jackson in 1977 and George Springer in 2017. He was a profession 275/.358/.465 hitter with an 823 OPS and 117 OPS+. Utley additionally gained 4 Silver Slugger awards. Will it’s sufficient? Final yr in his first season on the poll, Utley acquired 28.8% of the vote, so he has a protracted strategy to go.
Billy Wagner
That is Wagner’s tenth and last season on the poll after coming shut final yr by incomes 73.8% of the vote, lacking by 5 votes. Those that don’t really feel Wagner is a HOF participant level to his low variety of appearances and World Sequence statistics. Each are legitimate.
Wagner pitched simply 903 innings. His postseason manufacturing, although it solely consisted of 11 1/3 innings over 14 appearances, was poor to say the least. He had a ten.03 ERA.
The rationale for voting for Wagner was his excellence. In keeping with the Baseball Corridor of Fame, his profession WHIP of 0.998 is the bottom amongst all retired relievers with no less than 700 innings pitched, and his profession 2.31 ERA is lowest amongst retired left-handed pitchers with no less than 500 innings pitched within the reside ball period. His ERA+ of 187 is second all-time to solely Mariano Rivera.
In keeping with HOF skilled Jay Jaffe, Wagner’s 11.9 strikeouts per 9 innings (minimal of 900 innings pitched) is one of the best in MLB historical past. There are actually others forward of him, however they’ve pitched fewer than 900 innings.
Wagner completed with 422 saves, second highest amongst left-handed relievers and eighth general. In keeping with MLB.com, he transformed 422 of 476 save alternatives (.887).
He was a seven-time All-Star and performed on groups that superior to the postseason seven instances.
David Wright
Wright falls within the Utley class of not having the counting stats because of damage. That is his second yr on the poll, and he solely acquired 6.2 % of the vote final yr. Nonetheless, Wright was a dominant drive when wholesome. Wright was a seven-time All-Star throughout a nine-year interval from 2005-2013. Throughout that point, his slash line was .302/384/.505 with a 138 OPS+. He averaged 23 house runs, 90 runs and 93 RBI whereas additionally profitable two Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards. Wright completed within the Prime 10 for MVP voting 4 instances. Throughout that nine-year interval, he was among the many finest gamers not solely at his place, however in baseball.
In keeping with the Baseball HOF, Wright is one among our 4 third basemen in historical past (together with Corridor of Famers George Brett, Chipper Jones and Mike Schmidt) who retired with no less than 350 doubles, 200 house runs and 150 stolen bases. He ended with 390 doubles, 242 house runs and 196 stolen bases.
He was a profession .296/376/.491 hitter with a 133 OPS+. Solely seven HOF third baseman have a better OPS+ than Wright. Resulting from accidents, he was by no means a full-time participant previous his age 31 season.
The Newcomers
CC Sabathia
That is one participant who is certain to create some debate. Amongst his greatest promoting factors had been his profession wins (251) and profitable share (.609) in an period the place wins aren’t valued the way in which they was. He’s tied for forty seventh all-time in profession wins.
Some would use his 3.74 ERA in opposition to Sabathia, which is truthful. His profession ERA+ was 116, strong however not spectacular.
On the optimistic facet, he was the ace for the three groups that he performed for (Cleveland, Milwaukee and the NY Yankees) and led all three to the postseason. (Later In his profession he wasn’t one of the best pitcher on the Yankees, however for the primary 5 years in New York, he was the ace).
The lefthander was a six-time all-star and the 2007 Cy Younger Award winner with Cleveland. He completed within the prime 10 of Cy Younger voting 4 different instances. He was a workhorse, having made 30 or extra begins 12 instances. Sabathia helped lead the Yankees to the 2009 World Sequence championship throughout his first yr with the membership. Throughout that yr he was the ALCS MVP, going 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in two begins in opposition to the Los Angeles Angels. In 10 of his 19 seasons he performed on playoff groups and has a profession 10-7 report and 4.28 ERA in 26 postseason video games. Sabathia is one among three left-handers with no less than 3,000 strikeouts. He recorded 3,093 strikeouts, which is 18th all-time.
Ichiro Suzuki
Simply as Adrian Beltre was a slam-dunk first-ballot choice final yr, so is Ichiro this yr. He has the credentials to be a unanimous choice. In all probability one of the best stat is that Ichiro had 200 or extra hits and gained a Gold Glove in every of his first 10 seasons with Seattle. In 2001 he grew to become the second participant to win each the Rookie of the 12 months and Most Invaluable Participant award in the identical season. What’s extra spectacular is that he didn’t make his MLB debut till the age of 27. In these first 10 seasons, he his slash line was .331/.376/.430. Earlier than coming to play with the Seattle Mariners, he had 1,278 hits whereas taking part in in Japan. He completed with 3,089 profession MLB hits and a .311/.355/.402 slash line. Ichiro gained two batting tiles when he hit .350 in 2001 and .372 in 2004. He additionally stole 509 bases in 626 makes an attempt (83%) in his profession and was a 10-time All-Star, all coming in his first 10 seasons. In 86 postseason plate appearances, he hit .346/.400/.436. Primarily a right-fielder, Ichiro performed 1,970 profession video games in proper, 322 in middle and 117 in left. He additionally had nice sturdiness, taking part in 150 or extra video games 13 instances and 160 or extra on 9 events.
