3 HOFer lineups today?

[D. Bergin]

I don't think any of them are quite sure things yet, but the closest to the Dodgers might be the Yankees with Judge, Soto and Stanton.

Obviously Judge and Soto are more sure things, but need to do a bit more compiling before we crown them.

Stanton...it all depends on how you feel about him getting in or not getting in, after he gets to 500 HR's, which has always been a magic number for non-PED guys.

I predict he's the 1st guy NOT to get in without questions hanging over his head, unless he has a real career resurgence in the last few years of his contract.

As of now, I think he's playing just good enough to avoid getting DFA'd in the foreseeable future, and will eventually crawl his way to 500.

1st half of his career is more Harmon Killebrew and 2nd half has been closer to Dave Kingman. Killebrew is a big power, lower average guy who is most definitely a HOF'er in my opinion, while Kingman fits a similar profile but is most definitely NOT a HOF'er. Does the combination of those two guys, equal a HOF'er or does that just make you George Foster 2.0?

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I don't think any of them are quite sure things yet, but the closest to the Dodgers might be the Yankees with Judge, Soto and Stanton.

Obviously Judge and Soto are more sure things, but need to do a bit more compiling before we crown them.

Stanton...it all depends on how you feel about him getting in or not getting in, after he gets to 500 HR's, which has always been a magic number for non-PED guys.

I predict he's the 1st guy NOT to get in without questions hanging over his head, unless he has a real career resurgence in the last few years of his contract.

As of now, I think he's playing just good enough to avoid getting DFA'd in the foreseeable future, and will eventually crawl his way to 500.

1st half of his career is more Harmon Killebrew and 2nd half has been closer to Dave Kingman. Killebrew is a big power, lower average guy who is most definitely a HOF'er in my opinion, while Kingman fits a similar profile but is most definitely NOT a HOF'er. Does the combination of those two guys, equal a HOF'er or does that just make you George Foster 2.0?

Technically, Soto, Judge, and Ohtani aren't yet eligible as they have not yet played 10 full seasons. All are off to a great start, though. Soto is only 25, so a long way to go but off to an epic start.

I'd have had Judge borderline due to a late start and health concerns, but when he has been healthy, he's had such epic years that I think he now gets in on peak.

I agree Stanton will be interesting to see. A lot depends on how he finishes up.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

Technically, Soto, Judge, and Ohtani aren't yet eligible as they have not yet played 10 full seasons. All are off to a great start, though. Soto is only 25, so a long way to go but off to an epic start.

I'd have had Judge borderline due to a late start and health concerns, but when he has been healthy, he's had such epic years that I think he now gets in on peak.

I agree Stanton will be interesting to see. A lot depends on how he finishes up.

Stanton has an OPS+ of 136. That is the same as Ken Griffey Jr and 7% better than Eddie Murray. If Stanton makes it to 500 HR, he is in.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by rats60

Stanton has an OPS+ of 136. That is the same as Ken Griffey Jr and 7% better than Eddie Murray. If Stanton makes it to 500 HR, he is in.

If he makes it to 500 HR, he might...but one stat does a HOF argument make.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by rats60

Stanton has an OPS+ of 136. That is the same as Ken Griffey Jr and 7% better than Eddie Murray. If Stanton makes it to 500 HR, he is in.

WAR 44.6. Meh, IMO. I don't see him as a HOFer. His WAR for the last three years is 0.6 total. He's not going anywhere.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

WAR 44.6. Meh, IMO. I don't see him as a HOFer. His WAR for the last three years is 0.6 total. He's not going anywhere.

It is a good thing most HOF voters don't care about WAR. Otherwise Buster Posey 44.8 WAR and Yadi Molina 42.1 WAR wouldn't be future Hall of Famers.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by rats60

It is a good thing most HOF voters don't care about WAR. Otherwise Buster Posey 44.8 WAR and Yadi Molina 42.1 WAR wouldn't be future Hall of Famers.

The standard is lower for catchers, as you know.

Posey and Molina rank 14th and 22nd by JAWS according to Baseball Reference. Stanton is currently the 38th ranked right fielder.

[clydepepper]

Though this season has put all possible in jeopardy, The Braves (and I'm NOT just going by last year's performances) have a chance to get several in...though not especially on the first ballot.

If...and it's a long shot after surgeries on BOTH knees...Acuna can stay healthy the rest of his career, he should get in...he's still young.

Michael Harris, Austin Riley, Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies could be All-Stars almost every year.

Some of their pitchers also have an outside chance...long term.

Again...this is just a hopeful projection...but it could happen...just not if there are more seasons like 2024.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by rats60

Stanton has an OPS+ of 136. That is the same as Ken Griffey Jr and 7% better than Eddie Murray. If Stanton makes it to 500 HR, he is in.

Stanton is a career .258 hitter currently with 1537 hits and 44.6 WAR. Griffey hit .284 with 2781 hits and 83.8 WAR. Murray hit .287 with 3255 hits and 68.7 WAR.

If Stanton gets to 500 HR, his hit total and WAR will go up (although WAR may not be by much), but his average and OPS+ will likely go down. 500 HR with no PED connection had always been an automatic ticket to the Hall of Fame. I think Stanton will be a test of that if he gets to 500 because of the emphasis these days on advanced stats such as WAR where he doesn't measure up as favorably.