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[KeithHernandez]

Suspicions, man. Suspicions.

[no]

I was talking about the AOL IM chats between MLB players on the Dugout.  But Thome would get my vote.  I didn't realize there were suspicions?  How strong are these?

[JorgeFabregas]

He just sort of has the HGH body. That's about it.

[melack]

I am willing to overlook Jim Thome's HGH body on the grounds that he is one of the most pleasant human beings in all of baseball.

[iron_felix]

do they even let national leaguers in the hall?

and if so, why?

Eat a dick.

Except watching a pitcher hit is the most cringe-worthy part about professional baseball. Tradition is all well and good, but that shit is hideous.

So whose fault is this?  Why don't they put in the time to get better?  They're a bunch of lazy bastards, thats why.  No one expects them to hit well, they get paid either way, so they eat seeds in the bullpen and work once every 3 days.

But don't forget chicks dig the long ball.

[jaydub]

Damn, that was awesome.  I never saw that ad before.  Maybe it was a St Louis thing?

[JorgeFabregas]

All Star appearances are pretty worthless imo. For instance, Frank Thomas only has five all-star appearances despite 2 MVPs, a second-place MVP finish (lost to a roided up Giambi), two third-place finishes, and a fourth-place finish.

Robbie Alomar should be a lock. I think a lot of people forget just how good he was.

[Carlos del Vaca]

Robbie Alomar didn't win any Silver Sluggers at catcher on account of that was his brother, Sandy Jr.
Second base?  Four of 'em.  Second-most all-time among second basemen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Alomar

[littlefallsmets]

Jim Thome is largely a DH in my mind and is hence barred from HoF consideration in my mind.

Massive points are given for players who leave at the top of their game instead of lingering to limp to 3000 hits or 500 home runs or whatever, massive points are taken away for players who can't even field at one of the easier positions such as first base or right field.

[melack]

All Star appearances are pretty worthless imo.

I would say the same of Gold Gloves, but more so.

[littlefallsmets]

Ah, really, both the outfield corners are pretty easy for anyone reasonably athletic.

Not me, of course, but then I'm in no way close to reasonably athletic.

An athlete's legs and an athlete's arm and everything else to playing an outfield corner is mental training. If Shawn Green can be allowed to play right field on a major league team, it can't be that hard, within the spectrum of realizing that playing on a major league level is gonna be pretty hard to begin with.

Playing an average acceptable-but-not-spectacular first base or an outfield corner defensively gets you no bonus points by my count.

If you're a Gold Glover at any position, of course, it's a different matter but... yeah.

The DH is a load of shit position.

[jaydub]

Ah, really, both the outfield corners are pretty easy for anyone reasonably athletic.

True, except for the throw from left to third for preventing a sacrifice fly from advancing a running from 2nd to 3rd.  When there's a right fielder with a cannon arm, that can be one of the most dramatic plays in baseball.

[littlefallsmets]

True enough but... like...

That's then an above-average corner outfielder. The cannon arm makes you more than a defensively-neutral player.

Whole 'nother set of beans. The spectacular defensive abilities go outside of this discussion.

It is VERY hard to play first base as well as Kevin Youklis does, for example, no matter what your athletic skills.

But if you're a decent athlete it is relatively easy to play a PASSABLE firstbase.

Ditto for the outfield corners. If you have the cannon, bonus points abound.

But if you can hit and you can't even play an ACCEPTABLE first or left or right, you aren't a baseball player, you're a carnival act.

Boo to the DH. Booooooo.

[jaydub]

That's then an above-average corner outfielder. The cannon arm makes you more than a defensively-neutral player.

Whole 'nother set of beans. The spectacular defensive abilities go outside of this discussion.

....

But if you can hit and you can't even play an ACCEPTABLE first or left or right, you aren't a baseball player, you're a carnival act.

Boo to the DH. Booooooo.

Oh.  Oh, I agree completely.  Shows me for coming into a thread late.

[Immortal]

But isn't it worthwhile to say that since the designated hitter IS a position, it is worthy of HOF consideration?

As a lifelong Seattle Mariners fan, I plan on being in Cooperstown in a few years when Edgar Martinez is making his acceptance speech.

Since the DH is a valid position, I just don't see any way that you can prevent someone that was the best at that position for 10+ years to enter the Hall.

This also applies to Frank Thomas and Jim Thome, and possibly guys like David Ortiz, Travis Hafner in the future.

[melack]

YES YES YES. As a fellow M's fan, YES. I think Edgar deserves to be in the Hall, but I'm hard-pressed to think of another DH that does.