Ten Years of Experience or Less

[DaKid12]

I was thinking what active players are on the right track for the hall and that I think will ultimately have the numbers. I do not want to include players like Jeter, Pujols, Ichiro, Halladay, etc. So I figured I would break it down by position with those with less than 10 years of experience. I would love to hear your feedback.

Catcher: Buster Posey

I honestly don't see any catchers right now on track for the Hall other then Buster if he keeps it up. I know it is extremely eaely but he will have an MVP and world series in his first three years. He can break down but i think he is next in line after Piazza and Pudge. Victor Martinez is now a full time DH. Brian McCann looks like he is on the downside of his career. Yadier Molina started off his career slow and will need many more years of this production. Finally Mauer is too injury prone and could be moved to 1B or 3B which would take him out of the conversation completely for me. No other catchers are in this Convo for me.

First Base: Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera is the second most dominant hitter of this generation behind Albert Pujols. He is this generations Manny without the steroids. The triple crown only helps his case. Adrian Gonzalez still hasn't done nearly enough. Ryan Howard started his career too late and the injury hurts his case. Prince Fielder hasn't done enough. The most interesting case is Mark Teixeira. Notoriously slow starter whose batting average has been down recently. Playoff struggles are also a big turn off for the Hall. I am most curious what everyone thinks about him. Being on the Yankees will help a lot. I just don't put him in the same category as Bagwell, Frank Thomas, Pujols, and Miggy. I think he falls short.

Second Base: Robinson Cano

Cano is a monster and the best 2B we've seen in a while. Also has a great glove and plays for the Yankees. Barring injury he is a no doubter like Miggy for me. I am not high on neither of Pedroia or Kinsler.
Brandon Phillips deserves mention but I am leaning on no, plus i don't know if he's been in the league for more than a decade. Utley had a great peek but has has 3 down years due to injury. Seems like he's on the decline and his peak wasn't long enough. Has a shot to turn it around but seems unlikely.

Shortstop: None

There are 3 young players who have all the potential to make it one day. Tulo, Reyes, and Hanley. Tulo needs to stop exchanging great years and stay healthy. If Reyes can stay healthy and be the face of Miami he has a shot. If Hanley changes his attitude in LA he also has an opportunity. But as of now none are on the track or are too young.

Third Base: David Wright, Evan Longoria

As of now Wright has almost identical numbers as Chipper at the same age. As long as he stays over 300 he is well on his way. If Longoria can shake off the injury bug he will put up better numbers than Wright. Ryan Zimmerman in my mind is overrated and too injury prone.

I want to see how this goes and if it stirs good Convo I will go through pitchers and outfielders. Right now I have the following predictions of those with a good shot at the Hall:

Buster Posey, Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano, David Wright, and Evan Longoria.

I am willing to listen to arguments for:

Joe Mauer, Mark Teixeira, Chase Utley, Tulo, Jose Reyes, and Hanley Ramirez.

[DaKid12]

Also I apologize fort spelling this was all done on my phone. Also please feel free to let me know if I left anyone off.

[jjpm74]

Looking at this list, Reyes is closer than Posey. Missing at catcher is McCann who is also on a HOF path if he can stay healthy and keep his productivity up. Noteworthy is the fact that Mike Trout has almost as much career WAR as Posey.

[GiambiJuice]

I think Reyes has a better shot than you're giving him credit for. It will all come down to staying healthy and making a run at 3,000 hits. Having 600-700 stolen bases and 200 triples to go along with it wouldn't hurt either.

Just to clarify, I don't think he needs 3,000 to make it, but if he gets to 2,700 or so along with those other numbers, as a short stop, I think he'll make it.

[willshad]

Too early to tell with Longoria, and WAY to early to tell with Posey. Im willing to bet his second half this season was a fluke.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Too early to tell with Longoria, and WAY to early to tell with Posey. Im willing to bet his second half this season was a fluke.

I'll take that bet!

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I was thinking what active players are on the right track for the hall and that I think will ultimately have the numbers. I do not want to include players like Jeter, Pujols, Ichiro, Halladay, etc. So I figured I would break it down by position with those with less than 10 years of experience. I would love to hear your feedback.

Catcher: Buster Posey

I honestly don't see any catchers right now on track for the Hall other then Buster if he keeps it up. I know it is extremely eaely but he will have an MVP and world series in his first three years. He can break down but i think he is next in line after Piazza and Pudge. Victor Martinez is now a full time DH. Brian McCann looks like he is on the downside of his career. Yadier Molina started off his career slow and will need many more years of this production. Finally Mauer is too injury prone and could be moved to 1B or 3B which would take him out of the conversation completely for me. No other catchers are in this Convo for me.

You left out Joe Mauer who only has 9 years experience.

[DaKid12]

I understand its way to early for Posey and especially since he is a catcher, but the kid will have a World Series and mVP award to start off his career. He is looking extremely impressive. I also agree its early for Longoria but based off what I've seen and projected his number I believe he is a hall of famer. Reyes is probably my favorite player in baseball, but he is extremely injected prone . His first season in Miami was extremely mediocre and his stolen bases have been down the past 2 years. We shall see with him .

[DaKid12]

You left out Joe Mauer who only has 9 years experience.

I included Mauer in falling short and wrote he was one of the few players I'd be willing to hear arguments on .

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I included Mauer in falling short and wrote he was one of the few players I'd be willing to hear arguments on .

Oops. I missed that part of your OP. I think Mauer has a great shot at the HoF. You have a catcher with 3 batting titles, 2 OBP titles, on season leading the league in OPS+, three Gold Gloves, an AL MVP, and .323/.405/.468, 135 OPS+ career line so far. Mauer had has some injury issues. sure, but it really hasn't cause him to miss that much time yet. Here are his games played by season.

2005- 131
2006- 140
2007- 109
2008- 146
2009- 138
2010- 137
2011- 82
2012- 147

Other than '07 and '11 Mauer has played a full season for a catcher. It comes down to how long Mauer will stay at catcher. So far Mauer has played 94.4% of his games at catcher. At age 32 Johnny Bench was through as a catcher and retired at age 35 and Bench sailed right into the HoF. If Mauer can produce at an elite level until age 32-33 (he turns 30 next April), then have a normal decline, I think that is more than enough for him to get elected to the HOF easily.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I understand its way to early for Posey and especially since he is a catcher, but the kid will have a World Series and mVP award to start off his career. He is looking extremely impressive. I also agree its early for Longoria but based off what I've seen and projected his number I believe he is a hall of famer. Reyes is probably my favorite player in baseball, but he is extremely injected prone . His first season in Miami was extremely mediocre and his stolen bases have been down the past 2 years. We shall see with him .

I agree. I'm a huge Posey fan but it's far too early for any serious HoF for such a young catcher. I like to wait until a player has 6-7 seasons before I really think about HoF possibilities. And catchers are tough because they often decline early. The 2012 season was Posey's first full major league season. In 2010 he only played 108 games because he languished in AAA for almost two months. And of course last season Posey only played 45 games because of the terrible ankle injury. He is off to a good start, though. If he can win the NL MVP and lead the Giants to another World Series title he'd enhance his chances quite a bit.

[willshad]

I'll take that bet!

Let me guess...you're a Giants fan?

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Let me guess...you're a Giants fan?

Irrelevant. I've followed Posey before he became a Giant. Even if Posey wasn't a Giant he's still be one of top 3 favorite current players. Posey was a great player in college. His 2008 season at Florida St was one of the greatest college seasons in recent times. He even played all nine positions in one college game. In the minors he dominated at every level. He went from A-ball directly to AAA and didn't skip a beat. And he has continued to dominate in the majors. He's a great player. He's a very good hitter. He basically matched Ryan Braun as a hitter on the road this season. What he did this season was not by any means a fluke. Oh, he won't hit .336 every year but he's a legit .300/.400/.500 hitter right now IMO. Not many catchers have that kind of hitting ability. What I love about Posey as a hitter is he goes to the opposite field very well and with power. He has a very nice bat control and knows how to work the count. He's an absolute pleasure to watch. I first saw him in person at San Jose in 2008, sat right behind home plate. Even then he had that excellent bat control. These videos show a few opposite field HRs.

Go to time 2:05 for a monster Posey blast.

[dgarza]

First Base: Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera is the second most dominant hitter of this generation behind Albert Pujols. He is this generations Manny without the steroids. The triple crown only helps his case. Adrian Gonzalez still hasn't done nearly enough. Ryan Howard started his career too late and the injury hurts his case. Prince Fielder hasn't done enough. The most interesting case is Mark Teixeira. Notoriously slow starter whose batting average has been down recently. Playoff struggles are also a big turn off for the Hall. I am most curious what everyone thinks about him. Being on the Yankees will help a lot. I just don't put him in the same category as Bagwell, Frank Thomas, Pujols, and Miggy. I think he falls short.

Miguel Cabrera . Yes

Mark Teixeira is in a very good position.


Started career late, but what if Kevin Youkilis goes back to 1B?

Joey Votto, of course.

I think Prince Fielder is going to get some unwarranted boost from being "Prince Fielder". Same with Ryan Howard.

[willshad]

Irrelevant. I've followed Posey before he became a Giant. Even if Posey wasn't a Giant he's still be one of top 3 favorite current players. Posey was a great player in college. His 2008 season at Florida St was one of the greatest college seasons in recent times. He even played all nine positions in one college game. In the minors he dominated at every level. He went from A-ball directly to AAA and didn't skip a beat. And he has continued to dominate in the majors. He's a great player. He's a very good hitter. He basically matched Ryan Braun as a hitter on the road this season. What he did this season was not by any means a fluke. Oh, he won't hit .336 every year but he's a legit .300/.400/.500 hitter right now IMO. Not many catchers have that kind of hitting ability. What I love about Posey as a hitter is he goes to the opposite field very well and with power. He has a very nice bat control and knows how to work the count. He's an absolute pleasure to watch. I first saw him in person at San Jose in 2008, sat right behind home plate. Even then he had that excellent bat control. This video shows a few opposite field HRs.

I didn't say he won't be a good player, but his second half this season looks very fluky to me. He batted .385, slugged over .600, and had a .423 BABIP. Whcih is the real Posey..the first half player or the second half player?