How many of the following active players would you vote into the HOF?

Clemens not being unanimous strikes me as being, well, insane.

 

You're right. Nobody has ever talked about how the players strike robbed Gwynn of the best chance at .400 since Ted Williams. Nobody ever realizes he has the highest career average of anyone who started his career after WWII.

Nobody ever talked about Gwynn? Do you live on a commune of football fans?

As for my votes:

YES right now on:
Derek Jeter (ughhh)
Barry Bonds
Alex Rodriguez
Roger Clemens (double ughgh)
Greg Maddux
Tom Glavine
John Smoltz
Pedro Martinez
Randy Johnson
Craig Biggio
Mariano Rivera
Manny Ramirez
Ivan Rodriguez
Mike Piazza
Ken Griffey Jr.

YES with a couple more good years:
Chipper Jones
Vladimir Guerrero

Too early to tell:
Andruw Jones

I wouldn't vote for them but I could be swayed to change my mind between now and the time they are eligible:
Sammy Sosa
Mike Mussina
Frank Thomas

I can't ever see them as HOFers but will not riot in Cooperstown if they make it:
Trevor Hoffman
Jeff Kent
Gary Sheffield
Jim Thome

What are you, on dope?
David Ortiz
David Wells
Nomar Garciaparra
Carlos Delgado
Jim Edmonds

 

Garciaparra is proof that you can't grant a player a free pass to the Hall after his first few seasons. I remember all the talk about him being on his way to 4,000 hits and the heir apparent to Ted Williams in Boston back in 2000-2003. Now it's a joke to see him on a list like this.

 

Kind of sad, too, because it reminds you just how great he was from 1997-2003. It wasn't much hyperbole to include him on a list of potential Hall of Famers back then.

 

Not at all. And it was one of the best debates I can remember: Who is the best shortstop in baseball -- Jeter, A-Rod or Nomar? You couldn't really go wrong.

 

I think Ortiz still has an outside chance if he puts together at least four or five more great years. He's only 31 and has the postseason bling.

 

That alone should win him a spot in Cooperstown!

 

Jeter: "I win!"

 

I didn't say that was a key to a Hall of Fame career; that's a reason I'd take him on my team -- he's a fierce competitor.

 

THAT I'll co-sign. And there's no sarcasm there.

 

Pedro, Piazza and Frank Thomas with less than 75%? Just wow

 

Anyone who doesn't want a guy like Kent on his team has never played team sports before. Fire in the eyes is a good trait, and is actually rare in today's baseball. The game needs the Lou Pianellas and the Paul O'Neills and the Gregg Jeffries and the George Bretts.