2024 Baseball Hall of Fame thread

Rice had a odd narrative, too. It might have been Shaughnessy, but there was an idea floated out that Rice wasn't making the HOF because he was bad with the press during his playing days and it shouldn't be held against him. He also was elected when the Red Sox were winning World Series and he was on NESN every night.

The 1975 Red Sox. What an f'ing team.

 

Approaching the halfway point with five days to go:

 

If I had a vote, Joe Mauer would have it, b/c I don't believe in the whole "he's a Hall of Famer but not a first-ballot Hall of Famer." However. That being said, Joe Mauer may be the most "he's a Hall of Famer but not a first-ballot Hall of Famer" I've ever seen.

 

I'm really surprised he is getting that much love to the point that there's a really good chance he's going in immediately -- of course it may just be a mirage and he takes a massive tumble on the 150 or so ballots that don't get revealved.

 

The Minnesota writers seem to think he's getting in. But I agree, he would seem to be a guy who polls poorly w/the old-school crotchety types who wouldn't reveal their votes publicly. It won't be surprising if he ends up like Vladimir Guerrero, who had just shy of 72% in year one before getting 92% (!!!) in year two. Did his stats get 20% better while he sat home? So weird. (Vladdy was a zero-doubter for me, FWIW)

 

Net gained/lost votes through 185 ballots (~48.2% of the vote):

Beltrán +18 (would put him over 51 percent)
Sheffield +14 (missed by 78 votes)
Wagner +6 (missed by 27 votes)
Rollins +5
Hunter +1
Jones +1
Vizquel +1
Helton +0 (missed by 12 votes)
A-Rod -1
Abreu -2
Ramírez -2
K-Rod -2
Buehrle -4
Pettitte -4

 

Liking Helton’s chances now that he’s flipped three votes in latest batches of reveals.

Wagner’s gonna hafta wait till next year but a Class of Beltre, Mauer and Helton with Sheffield dropping off will do the trick I think

 

Next five years will be interesting. Ichirio (2025), Molina (2028), Pujols (2028) and Cabrera (2029) are the only sure bets. Sabathia (2025) should get in at some point if not first ballot. In 2026-27 is where where Andruw Jones and Beltran will really pick up some support.

 

Jones seems like a good candidate to get to the edge of election this year, slip next year b/c people are voting for Suzuki, Sabathia & Wagner and then make the leap in '26.

 

2027 will have Buster Posey, and if Mauer is a first ballot guy I’d imagine these voters could put him in right away.

2026 is the wasteland to put in holdovers. I think Beltran is making a huge enough jump that he is the one to be the one to pick for sure there. I want to see where Utley finishes tonight

 

I agree they're getting in but Posey and Molina are nowhere near Mauer's caliber. Molina probably doesn't get in right away b/c most voters realize he was Jason Kendall with better PR.

 

Buster is going to suffer from the fact he only had 11 real seasons—including the 2011 year when his leg got snapped in half—and had a steep drop off at the end of his career. What may boost him is three World Series rings and he has the same number of MVPs as Maur with a better slash line.

I think Buster gets in, but he may not that first year but it depends on who else is left on the ballot in 2027.