2019 MLB Regular Season running thread

Is it a given that Posey is a Hall of Famer? Genuinely asking.

 

I think he probably gets in, although he's kind of short when it comes to career counting stats. One MVP, six All-Star selections, one gold glove and four silver slugger awards. He's 32 and still playing catcher though, so he might add on to them. Mauer is also an interesting case and probably on the "no" side for me - he has a better WAR, but the last time he caught 100+ games was at age 27.

 

There are 11 (12 if you in include Josh Gibson) Hall of Fame catchers that played in the modern era. 18 overall. Must be difficult for the voters to evaluate the position.
3rd base is a tough position for the voters to evaluate as well. it’s easy to pick pitchers, wins, strikeouts, ERA. OFers, average/OBP/SLG HR RBI Runs. Easy and obvious stats. infielders take a bit more analysis and thought. Or are the BBW telling the sport that infield defense is highly overrated. And production relative to position is too difficult a concept? Or are they correct in their inability to find HOF in the infield?

 

I think Maddon ends up in San Diego

 

The problem with catchers is that they don't last long enough to put up great stats because of the position.

The standard stat about making the Hall of Fame is -- a player has to have at least 2,000 hits in their career, especially in the modern era. There are only 34 players in without that many, a bunch from early on due to lack of games on the schedule. The 11 that played in the modern era basically due to time in the military or color barrier reasons. The last season of a non-2000 hit guy is Larry Doby in 1959.

There are only 11 players who have a position listed at catcher that have 2,000 hits in history. (Molina will get there next season) Only 34 have even 1,500 hits. Only 21 have hit at least 200 homers. Only 13 have driven in 1,000 runs

 

Maddon's going to Anaheim.

 

That makes the Angels smarter than the Tigers by three full seasons.

 

Then re-evaluate the position. Hitting .300 over 11 season at catcher with 1000 games reg and post season.
Best catcher or 2 or 3 of each generation is worth a Tony Perez, Willie Stargell, Alan Trammell. They do it for shortstops like PeeWee Reece. The voters need to find a way to rate catchers and probably 3B as relative to other players at their position not against players of different positions.

 

Chronic underperformaning team. Can he turn it around?

 

Can you have a team win three WS in five years and not have a single HoFer on any of the teams?

 

The Tigers happily re-upped with Ron Gardenhire, who has snoozed his way to 497 losses in his last five managerial seasons.

The real manager, I suppose, will arrive about 2022.