Light the Hot Stove fires

Are they drunk?

 

Jake Peavy got traded??

 

Jerry Crasnick reported on ESPN Radio that the deal was Peavy to the Braves for Marcus Giles, Horacio Ramirez, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. There has been no confirmation and I doubt this comes to pass.

 

Who?

 

Someone is named Saltalamacchia?

 

Chances are that Steve Finley may be forced to retire because there isn't much market for a 42-year old centerfielder who hit just .246 last season. At first glance I didn't assume that Finley would have any case to make for the Hall of Fame since I thought of him primarily as a defensive player. However did you realize that:

- Finley is 62nd on the all-time total bases list (ahead of Wade Boggs I might add)
- Finley is tied for 59th in extra base hits (with Rickey Henderson even though Rickey had 1658 more career AB)
- Finley is one of only six players with 300 HR and 300 SB

I'm not saying that Finley is a Hall of Famer. I am saying he has a better case to make than would first be thought.

 

What about per season?

 

Guy - Baseball-reference.com has Finley's 162 game averages pegged at

91 R / 19 HR / 74 RBI / 20 SB / .272 BA / .777 OPS which I grant is pretty average.

However, getting that production from a Gold Glove centerfielder is a big bonus. Finley won 5 Gold Gloves. I think only five centerfielders in history have won more Gold Gloves.

Again - not saying he's a Hall of Famer but his case does have more to it than might first be expected.

 

Sorry, Chris...what he has is some suprisingly good numbers but...
NO CASE WHATSOEVER for a Hall of Fame vote.

 

OK, but Bernie Williams better be a slam dunk before you even start the Finley conversation. I know about the defense, but Finley isn't much more than Mike Cameron with more peaks & valleys.

 

Williams is definitely a better candidate and I don't really think he should get in, either.

Not sure about the Cameron thing. Cameron's had some pretty deep valleys in his career, too.

Finley has been a nice player, but he's got no case whatsoever for the Hall of Fame.

 

I agree with all of that.