OT: Schilling a HOF'er yet ?

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Posted By: Brian H (misunderestimated)

I don't think either Schilling or Moose Mussina are there yet.
There are 2 ways to make it in my book (1) as a career Pitcher who may never have been the best but was good so long that there numbers (relative to their peers and history in general) compell HOF induction (egs. Phil Niekro, Eddie Plank and Fergie Jenkins), ; and/or (2) pitchers who were dominant --- either the very best or near the very best in their league for a few years and had enough of a career that their dominance wasn't a fluke (for instance Dizzy Dean, Ed Walsh, Amos Russie, Sandy Koufax and Pedro Martinez all qualify for this group while Jack Chesbro, Orel Hershiser and Smokey Joe Wood fall short). Obviosuly there are also the no-brainers who are HOF worhty no matter how you look at it (for example: Lefty Grove, Walter Johnson, Kid Nichols, Steve Carlton and Rogers Clemens).
Neither Schilling or Mussina have the career numbers (yet) to fall into group one. Schilling probably never will ... Mussina might depending on his durability.
As to group 2 Mussina really hasn't had any seasons that qualify him for group 2 yet. Schilling has (despite no Cy Youngs to date) but he stills rates near Doc Gooden and Orel Hershiser in my mind and is not up to the Koufax/Dean standard for short term dominance.
By the way I think Jack Morris should be in -- he falls into my first category and the post-season heroics seal his case.
Of the contemporary (starting) Pitchers I think that Clemens, Maddux, Johnson and Pedro are already there. Glavine is probably in already too but a few more Wins would seal it for him. Because they throw so few innings the Relievers are a tough call although I can't imagine Rivera not being a HOFer and I think that Smoltz will probably be a worthy hybred candidate by the time he retires.