Ranking Top 50 Current Players

[DoubleX]

How would you rank the Hall of Fame chances of current players? I haven't come up with my own list year, but I'm guessing that it starts with Roger Clemens at number 1.

[oscargamblesfro]

IMO 50 current guys is too many to rank with any degree of certainty. The following guys are locks, or should be considered at least very likely to get in, aside from steroids issues etc. in no order:

clemens
r. johnson.
p. martinez
maddux
rivera
glavine
bonds
sosa
m. ramirez
a. rodriguez
bagwell
biggio
f.thomas
v. guerrero
a. pujols- barring injury or death of course
jeter
i. rodriguez
k. griffey

the following guys have anywhere from a rather faint to a quite decent shot
schilling
delgado
garciaparra
t. hoffman
tejada
smoltz
j.kent
b. williams
sheffield
c. jones
a. jones
i. suzuki
j. thome

i may have missed some, and for some guys it's too early to tell, but those are my best guesses.

[BoSox Rule]

Any list starts with Barry Bonds.

[Baseball Guru]

IMO 50 current guys is too many to rank with any degree of certainty. The following guys are locks, or should be considered at least very likely to get in, aside from steroids issues etc. in no order:

clemens
r. johnson.
p. martinez
maddux
rivera
glavine
bonds
sosa
m. ramirez
a. rodriguez
bagwell
biggio
f.thomas
v. guerrero
a. pujols- barring injury or death of course
jeter
i. rodriguez
k. griffey

the following guys have anywhere from a rather faint to a quite decent shot
schilling
delgado
garciaparra
t. hoffman
tejada
smoltz
j.kent
b. williams
sheffield
c. jones
a. jones
i. suzuki
j. thome

i may have missed some, and for some guys it's too early to tell, but those are my best guesses.

Good list but do you think Ichiro will put up the career #'s to get in?

I also think Thome, Kent and Sheffield will definitely get in..

I would also add Mike Piazza to the "definite" list and Todd Helton to the "maybe" list...

[DoubleX]

Any list starts with Barry Bonds.

I disagree, for two reasons:

1) Media dislikes him
2) All the steroid speculation

[BoSox Rule]

I disagree, for two reasons:

1) Media dislikes him
2) All the steroid speculation

I wrote that when I thought this thread was about the top 50 active players, not best HOF chances.

[oscargamblesfro]

Good list but do you think Ichiro will put up the career #'s to get in?

I also think Thome, Kent and Sheffield will definitely get in..

I would also add Mike Piazza to the "definite" list and Todd Helton to the "maybe" list...

i would agree about piazza, i forgot about him, and add helton to the maybes...i would put thome, kent, and sheffield near the top of the maybes, or perhaps one foot in the likely or definites and one in the maybe is more accurate, but you may very well be right .

as for ichiro, it's hard to say, he may not, but then neither did kirby puckett in some regards, though of course he was a great player and deserves it IMO- albeit one with a brief career, injury or not. i know ichiro is not the most popular guy amongst many sabermetrics proponents. still, if he declines slowly, if they take his japanese career into account, which they may or may not, and he puts up good numbers and plays say into his 40's as at least a pretty good to very good player -he has a pretty good shot, i think.

[Pine Tar]

I would add Jim Edmunds, Omar Vizquel, Bobby Abreu, Mike Sweeny, Julio Franco, Kenny Lofton, Garrett Anderson, Moises Alou, Steve Finley, Luis Gonzalez, Juan Gonzelez, Kevin Brown, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettite, Bartolo Colon, to the have at least a tony chance group.

Are we still considering Palmeiro active? If so, he goes in as well.

[oscargamblesfro]

oh yeah, palmeiro too, aside from how the steroids thing turns out of course..

[Bothrops Atrox]

If this is is a chance list, and not a deserve list...
I'll do top 10 now, next 10 when I get back home.

1. Roger Clemens - sports writers think he invented pitching

2. Alex Rodriguez - Assuming health, he might be a top-5 ever player. Many in the media do not like him, but not enough to lower his chances.

3. Barry Bonds - despite all of the media who alegedly dislike Bonds, he still gets a free pass from many, and his accomplishments are too impressive to overlook, even with a steroid adjustment. Without the controversy, Bonds would be #1 easily.

4. Randy Johnson - His k rate and intimidation factor will make him an even more likely candidate over Maddux, who had the superior career.

5. Greg Maddux - despite his accomplishments, he is still slightly underrated.

6. Ken Griffey Jr. - His injuries will make a small impact, but the 10 year perception that Griffey was one of the best ever is hard to shake. No controversy either.

7. Mike Piazza - his horrid defense will make little dent in his overall
perception.

8. Pedro Martinez - his percieved lack of durability keep him out of the Clemens - Johnson- Maddux range.

8. Ivan Rodriguez - though more complete than Piazza, I-Rod was never the big market player.

9. Derek Jeter - his quality talent, big plays, and New York mystique will overrate him, though dersving of a spot.

10. Sammy Sosa - until a smoking gun arrives, there is no reason for writers to keep him out. An official steroid accusation will change things dramaticaly.

[Bothrops Atrox]

Here is 11 - 20:

Remember, this is the order in which I think their chances are greatest based upon current voting trends, not who I personaly feel should make it.


11. Craig Biggio - Craig is close to 3000 hits, and once he gets it, he will skate into Cooperstown, even if others deserve it more. I think Biggio is slightly more likely to get his 3000 hit than Glavine his 300th win.

12. Mariano Rivera - His post-season success will make him an easy pick for an already east-coast biased media.

13. Frank Thomas - The lasting images of the injuries on top of what was already an underapreciated career will make Thomas less than the sho-in case he should be.

14. Tom Glavine - Will move up if/when he gets 300 wins. If not, his 5-20 win seasons, W.S MVP, and two Cy Youngs will be enough.

15. Manny Ramirez - Manny has that personality that writers love, even though they say they don't. Manny and his offense are great, and he has benefited from being on that mythical 3004 Red Sox team.

16. Jeff Bagwell - Still underrated, Bagwell, despite being one of the best all-around first basemen ever, may have to wait several years to make it. Playing in the Astrodome may have been the worst thing for his career.

17. Vlad Guerrero - Vlad is only one year away from gaining his 10 year eligability. Once he reaches this milestone, it is only a matter of time. Pujols still has 5 seasons until he reaches the 10 year minimum.

18. Curt Schilling - Writers may overlook his durability problems (only six 30 start seasons), personality problems, and only remember his few complete seasons and that bloody sock.

19. Rafael Palmeiro - Despite steroid controveresy, Ralfy might have just enough numbers to get in. Much depend on whether or not McGwire gets elected.

20. John Smoltz - Maddux and Glavine's elections might help Smoltz get in. Sportswriters love those Eck comparisons.

[Yankee Legend]

Roger Clemens-duh
Randy Johnson-double duh
Barry Bonds-even with the steroid suspition, hes a shoe-in.
Pedro Martinez-at the end of his career, he will be a top 10 pitcher all-time
Mariano Rivera-He is the best closer of all-time. enough said.
Greg Maddux-had a very good career ERA and enough credentials to get him in.
Alex Rodriguez-Will be in the top 5 all-time position players at the end of his career.
Derek Jeter-If gary carter is in than so is he.
Gary Sheffield-maybe not the first ballot but definitely 2nd or 3rd.
Sammy Sosa-Same as above.
Mike Piazza and Ivan Rodriguez-can join bench and berra as best catchers of all-time.
Rafael Palmeiro-writers will never vote him in but he should be voted in.

[GiambiJuice]

Oh how things have changed since 2006...

I don't know if we can call Clemens, A-Rod and Sheffield locks anymore.

[jjpm74]

Using oscargamblefro's list as guide, in 2006, I would have agreed with him on all of his yes's. Now that it is 2010 and the PEDS issue has really come to a head, the players in bold are the ones I still think should get in pretty quickly:

clemens
r. johnson.
p. martinez
maddux
rivera
glavine
bonds
sosa
m. ramirez
a. rodriguez
bagwell
biggio
f.thomas
v. guerrero
a. pujols
jeter
i. rodriguez
k. griffey

the following guys have anywhere from a rather faint to a quite decent shot
schilling
delgado
garciaparra
t. hoffman
tejada
smoltz
j.kent
b. williams
sheffield
c. jones
a. jones
i. suzuki
j. thome

I also do believe that Clemens, m Rodriguez, a Rodriguez, Bagwell, and Bonds will eventually be elected, but only after many years and a great deal of public debate and discussion. They are definitely not the 1st ballot locks that they once were. I'd also add Mussina, Vizquel, and Wagner to the maybe list.

[Chadwick]

1. Alex Rodriguez
2. Albert Pujols
3. Chipper Jones
4. Mariano Rivera
5. Ivan Rodriguez
6. Manny Ramirez
7. Derek Jeter
8. Roy Halladay
9. Vladimir Guerrero
10. Ichiro Suzuki
11. Scott Rolen
12. Todd Helton
13. Jim Edmonds
14. Trevor Hoffman
15. Billy Wagner
---------------------------- my in/out line is somewhere between #16-18 ----------------
16. Johan Santana
17. Jorge Posada
18. Andruw Jones
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19. Roy Oswalt
20. Joe Mauer
21. Carlos Beltran
22. Miguel Cabrera
23. Hanley Ramirez
24. CC Sabathia
25. David Wright
26. Mark Buehrle
27. Chase Utley
28. Bobby Abreu
29. Lance Berkman
30. Miguel Tejada
31. Mark Teixeira
32. Johnny Damon
33. Andy Pettitte
34. Adrian Beltre
35. Adam Dunn
36. Jimmy Rollins
37. Felix Hernandez
38. Troy Glaus
39. Tim Hudson
40. David Ortiz
41. Jose Reyes
42. Francisco Rodriguez
43. Ryan Howard
44. Evan Longoria
45. Tim Lincecum
46. Omar Vizquel
47. Joe Nathan
48. Cole Hamels
49. Jason Kendall
50. Jamie Moyer