Looking at the HOF vote I’m very pleased to see Bert Blyleven finally make it in. I’m slightly curious if the performance of the Dutch team beating the Dominican Republic made any difference in a few minds.
Roberto Alomar is a no-brainer it’s a wonder it took two ballots.
Barry Larkin is a mystery. He was the best National League shortstop of his era not named Ozzie Smith. Looking at the two is like a reverse comparison of Ted Williams and Stan Musial. Williams can rightly be called the greatest hitter of all time. Musial can not, but was a great hitter, a better fielder, a better baserunner and better in the clubhouse and played for teams that won world series (including one who beat Williams Red Sox in 46). Ozzie Smith was a fantastic defensive shortstop but Larkin was no piker with the glove and could hit.
Compare Roberto Alomar to Barry Larkin
Compare the stats to Alomar in the major categories:
|
Player |
G |
AB |
HR |
RBI |
BB |
SB |
AVG |
SLG |
OPS |
|
Alomar |
2379 |
9073 |
210 |
1134 |
1032 |
474 |
.300 |
.371 |
.814 |
|
Larkin |
2180 |
7937 |
198 |
960 |
939 |
.379 |
.295 |
.444 |
.815 |
Add to that Larkin’s MVP award and the question becomes: Why on earth is Larkin still on the outside?
Down the ballot sad Edgar Martinez is destined to go the way of Harold Baines. If he played any position of any length of time he would be in the top 5 but who on that list would you least like to see up with a lead to protect than Martinez or Baines?
Jack Morris will have to wait for the vets committee. If it wasn’t for steroids McGwire and Palmeiro are in (and may still make it someday). What is really interesting to see is Dave Parker, Mattingly and Dale Murphy near the end. There was a time when everybody knew they were going to be Hall of Famers.
It’s sad that Trammell will not make it but he is no Larkin.
UPDATE: SB and Avg were incorrect, fixed
