Rox Pile's Hall of Fame Ballot Series: Part Six

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Today, we feature the ballot of another one of our contributors, JD Jensen.

It is really hard to be a decision maker for who makes the hall of fame and who does not. For one, all the nominees have at least some sort of excellent career. Anyone on the list can be considered “Hall of Fame material”. I have ten players on my ballot, eight of which I believe are slam dunks. Here is my explanation on the players on the ballot and where they lie, in my opinion:

Guaranteed Hall of Famers

Vladimir Guerrero

Talk about someone who truly deserves a spot, Guerrero was absolutely snubbed in last years voting. He had a flawless resume that should have landed him in the Hall of Fame his first eligible year.

We are talking a lifetime .318 batting average, closing in on 500 home runs, and over 2500 hits. Throw in an MVP award, 9 all star appearances, and 7 silver sluggers in only 16 seasons, and you have a reputation as a baseball legend.

Roger Clemens

Clemens is often a debate because he has been accused of steroid use but it’s time to leave that in the past. I can understand why he hasn’t been voted in but this will be his 6th time entering the ballot. It’s time to move past his drug use.

This is a starting pitcher who got his arm to last 24 effective years in the MLB, which is something you almost never see, especially in today’s game. He has 7 Cy Young awards and even won MVP one season. He made 11 all star games, but keep in mind he didn’t make the team in 1987, one of his Cy Young winning years. Add this altogether with 4500 plus strikeouts, and you have a sure thing coming into the 2018 voting.

Barry Bonds

I get it. Bonds kicked off the steroid era in baseball and often falls into the same category as Clemens with the actual writers who vote. The bottom line is he won 4 consecutive MVP’s, broke the home run record, and became the most feared hitter in baseball history. Don’t believe me?

One stat alone should change your mind. 2558 walks, the most in MLB history. The next closest is Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, who nearly had 400 less walks in three more seasons played. And 688 of the walks were intentional, which is, by far, the most in MLB history. The next leading player is Albert Pujols, with 307, or 44.6% of what Bonds has.

Larry Walker

You wouldn’t think I would leave off the one Rockies player to ever win MVP off this list, would you? Take Walker’s stats with just the Rockies alone, and you have a player on the bubble. Overall, he won seven Gold Gloves, three batting titles, three Silver Sluggers, five All-Star appearances, the 1997 National League Most Valuable Player award, a .313/.400/.565 slash line, and a 141 OPS+ (which is park adjusted). With those kind of numbers, he is definitely Hall of Fame worthy.

Sammy Sosa

Sosa has been on the outside of the votes for 5 years now, and it is time for that to change. The main argument against Sosa was his inability to really produce until he was about 26 years old and steroid allegations.

The fact of the matter is that he was spectacular from then on out, making All-Star teams at an age as old as 35, as well as winning the 1998 MVP.

During his prime (1995-2003), he averaged 150 games played a season with 168 hits, 49 homer runs, 127 RBI, a .289/.369/.595 slash line, and an OPS+ of 147. Let’s also not forget about his stunning 609 career home runs. Not to bad for someone playing on a team who was under a “curse”.

Chipper Jones

It is Chipper’s first time on the Hall of Fame ballot this year, and everyone should plan on him being a sure thing already. Through 19 stellar years of play, he was consistently dominant. Just look at his performance: .303/.401/.529 slash line, 2726 hits, 468 home runs, 8-time All-Star, 2-time Silver Slugger winner, 1999 NL MVP, and 2008 NL batting champion.

Johan Santana

Santana is one of the few pitchers to have two Cy Young awards. This doesn’t include four more seasons in the top seven in Cy Young voting. He would have a lot stronger case if he was healthy past his age 31 season but after missing his age 32 season (2011), he only made 21 starts in 2012 and he has not made an appearance in the majors since. However, I still think that those dominant six seasons warrant him being a Hall of Famer.

Omar Vizquel

Letting a player like Vizquel into the Hall of Fame would say a lot about baseball, primarily showing just how much the fans appreciate defense. Vizquel is one of the greatest defensive infielders in history, winning 11 gold gloves over the span of 24 years and 9 of those were won consecutively. Also, he is the all-time leader in double plays turned by a shortstop at 1,734.

On the Bubble

Trevor Hoffman

Hoffman was one of the statistical phenomenons throughout the 90’s and early 2000’s. However, he’s missed the cut his first two years on the ballot. You could assume, with a career ERA under 3.00 with 1000 plus strikeouts, he would be a sure thing.

But you have to remember he never won a Cy Young (despite being the runner up twice), and only participated in 7 all star games. That is less than half a career. Definitely impressive, but I don’t think that it is Hall of Fame worthy.

Mike Mussina

Mussina was an all time favorite player for me growing up, but that doesn’t make him a sure thing for the Hall of Fame by any means. He was really effective for only the first half of his career or so. For example, he was never an All-Star after 1999, even though he played until 2008. From 2002-2007, he had an ERA of 4.12, which was only an ERA+ of 108.

However, you could definitely argue his play in Baltimore earns him a spot. I would hope to see him make it, but he is absolutely sitting on the bubble right now.

SAN FRANCISCO – OCTOBER 14: Second baseman Jeff Kent #21 of the San Francisco Giants throws to first base during game five of the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals on October 14, 2002 at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, California. The Giants won the game 2-1 and the series 4-1. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Manny Ramirez

Much like Mussina, Manny Ramirez has years that should ensure him in the Hall of Fame. However, he also had a couple years of being just horrible. I would lean towards him making it just for the fact he made 12 All-Star teams in 19 years. However, no MVP awards and a relatively unhealthy career batting average, I can definitely see the argument towards keeping him off the list of inductees. In addition, he was suspended to failed drug tests twice in his career.

Jeff Kent

From 1997 through 2005, Jeff Kent had 100+ RBI in each season with the exception of 2003, when he had 93 RBI. He even won the 2000 NL MVP award. However, his defensive numbers and late start to his career (he never had more than 500 at bats in a season until he was 29, in 1997) have made his chances drop. Plus with the ten player limit on the ballot, most writers have not included him. But that is why he is on the bubble, because it’s very possible we see him make it down the line.

Billy Wagner

Much like the designated hitter, it is difficult for relief pitchers to be real contestants for the Hall of Fame. Wagner is no exception to this rule, but that is not going to completely rule him out of the Hall of Fame altogether. Wagner never won a major individual trophy in his career, but he played in a number of All-Star games spanning over his 16 year career. He will definitely stay on the ballot this year by getting over five percent but he will not be getting in this season.

Jim Thome

From a hitting perspective, Thome would have no problem making the Hall of Fame. More than 600 home runs and over 2000 hits should be plenty good enough to make it. But, with playing nearly a third of his games as a designated hitter, some people might be a bit apprehensive about putting him on their ballot. I would expect to see him make it, but for now, he’s on the bubble.

Jamie Moyer

Moyer did not really do too much in his career, as he only had a small number of good seasons and only went to one all star game. Not to mention letting Giancarlo Stanton rip one of the longest home runs in history (as many Rockies fans can probably remember). However, he was serviceable for a whopping 25 years, which might be enough to put him on the bubble.

Chris Carpenter

Carpenter is a difficult player to evaluate. He did not quite have enough solid seasons to be a Hall of Famer, but he has won the Cy Young and also has a respectful 3.76 career ERA. I can see the argument both ways. While I value multiple years of success, I would lean towards letting him in, but it could go either way.

PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 07: Aubrey Huff #17 of the San Francisco Giants bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the MLB game at Chase Field on April 7, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 5-4. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Carlos Lee

Lee played 14 solid, consistent seasons as a pretty good baseball player. He didn’t really win anything too special in his career, but going 14 years without ever really tanking should give him a chance to make it. In seven of those seasons, he had 99+ RBI and he had three more that were 89+. That being said, I think he is closer to not making it than he is to making it.

Aubrey Huff

Huff doesn’t have any statistic that would put him in the Hall of Fame, but he does have something going for him: the eye test. Huff did more for the Giants in the two years they won the World Series than almost anyone else. Being a contributor in 2 World Series winning teams definitely gives you a shot for the Hall of Fame, whether or not you like the stat sheets.

Brad Lidge

Lidge probably didn’t play long enough to be in the Hall of Fame, but what he did in his career might just be enough to get him in. He had a really impressive career ERA (3.54), and could be considered one of the better relievers in history. However, with it being so difficult for relievers to get in, he will probably fall off the ballot.

Should not make it, at least for this season

Edgar Martinez

It is much harder for designated hitters to make the Hall of Fame, and for good reason. They essentially were useless for half of every game. How can you reward a player who only can contribute on one side of the baseball? Sure, sluggers like David Ortiz and Jim Thome should be sure things.

Martinez doesn’t have near the resume to stack up with them, however. 309 home runs and just over 2000 hits is impressive, but only 7 All-Star appearances in 18 years, and the lack of production on defense will probably keep him out of the Hall this season.

Curt Schilling

Schilling obviously had a number of excellent seasons, but it takes far more than that to be considered for the Hall of Fame. 2001, 2002, and 2004 were his only true elite seasons. After that, he had a handful of effective seasons followed by numerous mediocre ones. With just too many seasons where he was relatively pedestrian, he should not see the Hall of Fame, at least not for this year.

Fred McGriff

Perhaps the most certain to be left out of the voting this year, McGriff has a very small resume for the Hall of Fame. You can count on one hand how many All-Star appearances he made (five), as well as a career batting average that’s just over .280. Not a horrible average, but not close to Hall of Fame level. His only real argument is the 493 home runs, which just isn’t close to enough to make it in with the all time greats.

ST. LOUIS – JUNE 28: Scott Rolen #27 of the St. Louis Cardinals plays third base during the game against the Cincinnati Reds on June 28, 2005 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images). /

Gary Sheffield

He may have become a slugger in the postseason, but that doesn’t make up for his lack of consistency during the regular season. In 22 years of play, we saw too much mix of solid seasons and mediocre seasons. The Yankees might just be the most respected organization in all of sports, bringing in dozens of Hall of Famers. Gary Sheffield is not one of those legends.

Scott Rolen

He was a pretty solid player, but not even close to efficient enough to make the ballot. He constantly had one of the highest pay roles in all of baseball, and didn’t get close to being that dominant. Besides a rookie of the year award, he never really won anything else too special, which is why he won’t be in this season.

Andruw Jones

Jones was never payed like Rolen, but he will be on the outside of the vote for roughly the same reasoning: efficiency. He was in a fair share of all star games, but just doesn’t quite have the numbers to be considered for the Hall of Fame.

CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 27: Livan Hernandez #61 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the 9th inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 27, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. The Brewers defeated the Cubs 15-4. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Johnny Damon

You cannot deny what Johnny Damon did for baseball, but numbers don’t lie. How can you allow a player into the Hall of Fame who, in 18 years, only went to 2 all star games. No Gold Gloves, no Silver Sluggers. His only real argument is the more than 2700 hits he had, which is just not enough to sway me into voting for him.

Carlos Zambrano

Much like Damon, Carlos Zambrano just did not get enough recognition to be considered for the Hall of Fame. In 12 seasons, he went to only 3 All-Star games. Granted, he won a couple Silver Slugger awards but if you could convince me that a pitching silver slugger has any sort of value, and maybe he can be on the bubble. Until then, he shouldn’t be considered.

Livan Hernandez

This one is very simple: Hernandez has very little argument for the Hall of Fame. He had a serviceable 17 year career, and had a handful of good seasons. But we are looking for players with a much higher resume than that.

Orlando Hudson

Like Vizquel, it is really hard to not give Hudson a chance since he put such an effort into being a defensive master. However, he only played 11 seasons and only won 4 Gold Gloves, which just isn’t enough to even qualify him for the bubble.

Kevin Millwood

Millwood had 1 good season. Yes, in 1999, Millwood was a top tier pitcher and could easily have won Cy Young. That does not make up for the 14 mediocre years that made up the rest of his career.

Kerry Wood

You could say Kerry Wood is a classic “what if”. After winning Rookie of the Year in a landslide in 1998, Wood was set out to be a Hall of Fame hitter. However, an injury kept him out for 1999, and we never really saw much else from him from there on out. While I would love to see what Wood could have done in the pros without that injury, this is a ballot where the real life results are the ones that matter, which is why Wood won’t make it.

Hideki Matsui

Matsui only played 10 years, and this was mainly due to the lack of production he was giving. Unfortunately, he started his career really late, at age 29. He just wasn’t efficient for long enough to make him a Hall of Fame contestant.

Jason Isringhausen

As much as I want someone with such an exotic last name to make the Hall of Fame, Isringhausen has one of the worst resumes on the ballot, and should have nowhere near the amount of votes needed to make it.

What my ballot would look like

If you are keeping track, I had eight guaranteed Hall of Famers, in my opinion. In addition to those eight, if I had a real ballot, I would add two of the players on the bubble. This is what my ballot would look like: Chipper Jones, Barry Bonds, Vladimir Guerrero, Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens, Larry Walker, Johan Santana, and Omar Vizquel.

Next: Colorado Rockies: A possible trade for Christian Yelich?

In addition, to those eight, I would add Jim Thome and Chris Carpenter to my list to make it a full ballot of ten players.

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Today, we feature the ballot of another one of our contributors, JD Jensen.

Guaranteed Hall of Famers

On the Bubble

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Should not make it, at least for this season

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What my ballot would look like

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