The once caveat with regards to Lincecum and Hernandez is obvious. Roll call, please: Dwight Gooden, Steve Avery, Alex Fernandez, Kerry Wood, Juan Guzman, Barry Zito, etc. These weren't Stephen Strasburg guys who (possibly) blew their arms out before they even got started; rather, a group of pitchers who got a real fast jump and then, for one reason or another (mostly arm trouble, but not always) just stalled. I have nothing to base this on, but my guess is that one of Lincecum or Hernandez doesn't pan out through his 30s.
― clemenza, Friday, 11 February 2011 15:26 (thirteen years ago) link
That's pretty much the caveat regarding everyone though. Pitchers can fall apart real fast.
― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Friday, 11 February 2011 16:43 (thirteen years ago) link
Again, just a hunch, but don't pitchers play out this scenario more often? You get the occasional Carlos Baerga or Chuck Knoblauch--early brilliance, then mysterious decline--but in my own mind, I remember far more cases involving pitchers (the arm's fragility being the obvious reason). Great young hitters seem to follow through on their early promise more consistently.
― clemenza, Friday, 11 February 2011 17:12 (thirteen years ago) link
Sorry I meant that's pretty much the caveat regarding all pitchers.
― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Friday, 11 February 2011 17:19 (thirteen years ago) link
Position players can fall apart fast too though, but it's usually once they get to their mid-30s for obvious aging reasons.
― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Friday, 11 February 2011 17:20 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah--I can think of a slew of mid-30s positional guys breaking down: Murphy, Alomar, Rice, Mo Vaughn, Mattingly, etc. (Ignoring anybody PED-related...or maybe they're the guys who don't break down.)
― clemenza, Friday, 11 February 2011 18:40 (thirteen years ago) link
McGwire def. fell apart.
― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Friday, 11 February 2011 18:46 (thirteen years ago) link
30 position players, kinda chosen based on at the bare minimum having maybe accomplished enough that even if they dropped off the cliff this upcoming season they would merit strong consideration in some quarters.
Bobby AbreuCarlos BeltranAdrian BeltreLance BerkmanMiguel CabreraJohnny DamonCarlos DelgadoAdam DunnJim EdmondsVladimir GuerreroTodd HeltonRyan HowardDerek JeterAndruw JonesChipper JonesPaul KonerkoJoe Mauer*Magglio OrdonezDavid Ortiz*Jorge PosadaAlbert PujolsManny RamirezScott RolenIchiro SuzukiMark TeixeiraMiguel TejadaJim ThomeChase UtleyOmar VizquelMike Young
― omar little, Thursday, February 3, 2011 3:57 PM (3 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
well some of these dudes are going nowhere near the HOF, for sure. some of them should but won't.
*depends on the rest of their career, i think.
― LIKE If you are against racism (omar little), Thursday, 24 July 2014 17:28 (nine years ago) link
are you talking about EVER? What if they actually do fix the Veterans Committee someday? I can particularly see Utley, Rolen and maybe Andruw getting in.
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 24 July 2014 17:34 (nine years ago) link
i'm being pessimistic on that point. i agree utley and rolen should get in though.
― LIKE If you are against racism (omar little), Thursday, 24 July 2014 17:38 (nine years ago) link