The ONLY way Dunn gets into the HOF is if he buys a ticket and he IS worthy of scorn.
When he was in the minors the scouts touted his ability to hit the ball to all fields and do so with power. They also said he had a great eye at the plate. The first two years in the majors, he did what the scouts said he could do. Then, he got fat and lazy.
He decided to start just strictly pulling the ball and trying to hit home runs. There went the batting average and the ability to drive in runs WITHOUT hitting a home run. He put on weight and there went the stolen base ability, the ability to go first to third on a single, score from second on a single and score from first on a double. There went his range in the outfield.
He absolutely STOPPED swinging at pitches over the outer third of the plate. So, pitchers knew this and tried to pitch out there. If they were successful, Dunn struck out without even taking the bat off of his shoulder. If they weren't Dunn walked.
People say that strike outs are just like any other out and that a walk is better than an out. Well, if Dunn were on the team YOU were a fan of, you would soon change your mind. You would get tired of the strike outs that did NOTHING to help your team win and the walks that just put the onus of driving in a run/s on a lesser player who hits lower in the order and who is getting paid much less.
Dunn LOVES and is passionate about football and baseball just happened to be a job. That is why his stats went into the tank EVERY September when the football season started. Look it up.
As far as the HOF goes, I always said NOBODY in their right mind would think of Dunn as hall worthy.
Highest batting average in a season was .266. For his career, he is a .237 batter. I think only guys who played GREAT defense are in the HOF with an average that low. On top of that, his BA with runners in scoring position is about .220 while his BA against left handed pitching is about .200.
His season high for home runs was 46 but his career high for rbi's in a season was 106. In two different seasons Dunn hit 40 or more home runs but did not have 100 rbi. Three different years Dunn hit 40 or more home runs and drew over 100 walks but scored fewer than 100 runs. In 2008, Dunn had 40 home runs, 122 walks and scored only 79 runs. Being overweight and out of shape will do that to you.
Dunn NEVER won a home run title. He never won an rbi title. He never won a Silver Slugger. He never won a Gold Glove. He was on only two All Star teams and for both of those he was chosen by the manager and NOT voted in by the fans.
For the people who said he was great, my response always was, if every team has to have an All Star representative then WHY is it always some OTHER player than Dunn that is chosen?
Dunn was HORRIBLE on defense with no range and a weak and inaccurate throwing arm. He was always amongst the league leaders in errors for an outfielder.
So far during his 14 year career he has played on ONE team that had a winning record.
Every team that he played for the fans were happy to have him UNTIL they saw how he played and when he was gone, they rejoiced.
In 2008, the Reds had a higher winning percentage and scored more runs per game AFTER Dunn was traded away than before. After the Diamondbacks traded for him, they had a lower winning percentage and scored fewer runs per game than they had before they got him. The fans were happy when he was gone.
The Nationals, even though they added other players, NEVER had a winning season with Dunn. Their fans were happy when he was gone.
The White Sox had one winning season with Dunn on the team. His first season there, he had a horrific season that was near record setting for ineptness. He has been traded and the Sox fans are happy.
I truly feel sorry for the Athletics now. They have traded for an overweight platoon player who historically tanks in September and who has said he is pretty much determined to retire after this season.
The ONLY thing Dunn is going to be good for is leading the rookies to karaoke night, taking them to UFC fights and teaching them the finer points of how to drink a case of beer while sitting on the couch playing video games (look all of those things up on Google).
No, Dunn is absolutely NOT a Hall Of Fame player.
David
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