If I Had A Hall of Fame Ballot....

It's that time of year.  I am keeping the same format I have used the last several years.  There are 25 players on the ballot this year, voters are allowed to vote for up to 10 players.  If I had a ballot, I would definitely vote for 8 of the players, others I would consider.  We are going to start out by getting rid of the players that I would not vote to put into the Hall.  Notable players, blog favorites will be given pictures of cards.  One stock photo of a clown is included.  

Indians fans, just click the back arrow before you read any further.  

25. Omar Vizquel 

I chose this photo for Omar Vizquel, because I could not find a photo of a clown being questioned by the police while they were investigating a domestic violence call at his house. No, the Hall of Fame is not a Hall of Morals.  My morals will let me vote for steroid users, but not someone who beat the crap out of their wife.  

24. Curt Schilling 

I do not post politics on my blog, so I will leave it at this:

I have friends, co-workers, and former students whose race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or religious views that have been attacked by Curt Schilling.  Similar to what I wrote for Vizquel, the Hall of Fame is not necessarily a the Hall of Morals, but we all have our line.  Schilling crosses my line.  I will not vote for him.  

23. Michael Cuddyer 

22. LaTroy Hawkins 

LaTroy started playing when he was 22, retired at 42, and pitched in more than 1,000 Major League games.  Many of them with the Twins and Rockies.  Guy had an ERA+ of 134 (100 is an average Major League pitcher) pitching for the Rockies.  That's pretty good in a very tough stadium.  He also pitched in Game 6 of the 2011 National League Championship Series and was the only Brewers pitcher who was not completely torched by the Cardinals.  LaTroy is worthy of a card.  

21. A.J. Burnett 

What's the worst no-hitter of all-time?  There are actually several articles on the internet making the argument that the answer is A.J. Burnett.  In 2001, while pitching for the Marlins, Burnett threw a no-no that included 9 walks and a hit batter.  Every position player in the starting line-up reached base at least once.  Ryan Klesko walked twice.  A.J. Burnett still has more no-hitters than a lot of other really good pitchers.  A.J. Burnett gets a card.  

20. Nick Swisher 

19. Shane Victorino 

18. Aramis Ramirez 

If you could make the Hall of Fame by repeatedly bludgeoning one team over a 17 year period, than Aramis Ramirez would be in Cooperstown.  There is no player that Cardinals fans have feared more during the first two decades of the 200s outside of Aramis Ramirez.  Well, maybe Carlos Beltran in the NLCS that one year and David Ortiz in the 2013 World Series.  Outside of those two occasions, the answer is Aramis Ramirez.  Worst of all, despite being a free agent a few times and being traded, he spent his entire career in the N.L. Central on the Pirates, Brewers, and Cubs.  ARam has an .885 career OPS against the Cardinals, or the same as Eddie Matthews over the course of his entire career.  I am happy that Aramis is out there somewhere not hitting against the Cardinals.  A card.  

17. Dan Haren  

Former Cardinals pitcher, long career.  Not a Hall of Famer, but it pained me for years that the Cardinals traded him to the A's for Mark Mulder.  Not so great, Bob.  Dan Haren gets a card.  

16. Barry Zito  

Where is Mark Mulder?  

15. Torii Hunter 

I would not vote to put Torii Hunter in the Hall of Fame, but he was a fun player to watch.  I am not putting videos in this post, but if you've never seen the home run he took away from Bonds in the 2002 All-Star Game, it's worth a minute of your day.  Definitely worthy of a card.  

14. Billy Wagner 

I am not a huge fan of modern closers.  One inning, that's it.  I'm not sure how to give that value.  There are a few exceptions, but I am not going to get into the weeds too much.  I will say that if he makes it into the Hall, he is more deserving than Trevor Hoffman.  

13. Tim Hudson 

Hudson is a Hall of Very Good player.  Then again, somebody put Jack Morris in the Hall of Fame.  Hudson had some great years with the A's and Braves, also won a World Series with the Giants in 2014.  Definitely need a Tim Hudson card.  

12. Mark Buehrle 

Buerhle is another Hall of Very Good player.  He won a World Series with the 2005 White Sox, threw a no-hitter and perfect game, and he's from the St. Louis area.  He's got over 200 wins, but less than 2,000 strikeouts.  He's not getting in, but then again, somebody put Don Sutton in the Hall of Fame.  Maybe he will make it someday.  I have seen people making the argument, just not sure I buy it.  

11. Andy Pettitte 

Speaking of Don Sutton, here is Andy Pettitte.  He played for the Yankees most of his career, minus a few seasons spent with a highly competitive Astros team.  Lots of wins, just like Don Sutton.  Again, I am not getting too far into the weeds here, but I am not sure I can see Pettitte as a Hall of Famer.  Andy Pettitte is a Hall of Very Good player too, just like....

Never mind.  Here's a card.  

10. Jeff Kent 

I am not a huge fan.  At the same time, I will say that I really did not like Jeff Kent as a player.  I know that other players, like Dick Allen, have missed out on the Hall for similar reasons.  It's not just that I dislike him, but I also feel like his numbers aren't great.  If we are going to put a second baseman in the Hall, I would rather it be Lou Whitaker or Bobby Grich.  He's the all-time home run leader amongst second baseman, so he's got that going for himself.  

Not sure I would complain too much if he got voted in, but I just wouldn't be a supporter.  I am always willing to listen though.  I will give Jeff Kent a card, but only because I am nice.    

9. Bobby Abreu 

I am not sure if Bobby Abreu is a Hall of Famer, but several people have convinced me that he has a far better case than I would have imagined.  He played 18 years in the Majors, the majority of that time was spent on some terrible Phillies teams.  If you like Sabermetrics, his WAR is in between Dave Winfield and Vladimir Guerrero on the all-time list for right fielders.  You like counting stats?  His almost 600 doubles place him in the top five all-time amongst right-fielders around players like Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, and Tony Gwynn.  His almost 2,500 hits put him with Reggie Jackson and Vladimir Guerrero, both Hall of Famers.  

I know, I went into the weeds there a bit, but he deserves a better fate than some other Hall of Famers worthy outfielders from this same era, like Jim Edmonds and Kenny Lofton, who deserved to stick around the ballot more than one year.  Yes, I would vote for him.  

8.  Andruw Jones 

Andruw Jones had a great twelve year run with the Braves.  He was one of the best centerfielders in the game, played on playoff teams every year he was there, and hit more than 400 home runs.  The last five years of his career as a backup outfielder were ugly, get over it.  I would vote for him.  

7. Gary Sheffield 

I listened to a Podcast a few months back about Gary Sheffield's Hall of Fame candidacy.  It was really good, so here goes.  First, he was a great hitter who had more than 500 home runs, more than 2,500 hits, and was one of the most feared hitters of his generation.  On the other hand, he was a horrible defender, think Adam Dunn, and he was on 8 different teams in 22 years.  He's also got a steroid connection, but I don't care about steroids.  His offense was hard to pass-up.  I would vote for Sheff.    

6. Sammy Sosa 

I don't care about steroids.  Sammy has more than 600 home runs.  I would vote for him.  

5. Todd Helton 

He was a great player on the Rockies who hit for average and a ton of doubles.  During his best season, which was in 2000, Helton hit .353 on the road with 15 home runs and 31 doubles.  If you are going to say to yourself, "but Coors Field", his OPS on the road for his career was higher than Orlando Cepeda's, who was in the Hall. Helton's slugging percentage is in between Tony Perez and Eddie Murray, both in the Hall.  I would vote for Helton. 

4. Manny Ramirez 

Great hitter who helped end the Red Sox World Series drought.  I'd vote for him.  

3. Scott Rolen 

He hit more than 300 home runs, 500 doubles, and won 8 Gold Gloves.  One of the best defensive third baseman ever, really good hitter in the prime of his career.  I'd vote for him.  

2. Roger Clemens 

One of the greatest pitchers of all-time.  I don't care if he was a jerk.  I'd vote for him.  

1. Barry Bonds 

One of the greatest hitters of all-time.  I'd vote for him.