Santo elected to HOF

[Robextend]

Originally Posted by 2dueces

I have to disagree. Just because he was the best there was at that time doesn't mean he was the best there was at his position. So his peers were weak during his playing days makes him a HOFer? It shouldnt work that way. He should stack up to the top tier players of all time to merit the hall. The Hall is too watered down to be called the Hall of Fame any more. Should be called the Baseball Museum. It diminishes the careers of the truly great player to let Above Average players in. But Santo isn't the first and won't be the last to be elected with less than impressive numbers. Election to the Hall shouldn't have anything to do with sentiment, it should have everything to do with how he stacks up to Brooks Robinson or Mike Schmidt. JMO.

It is a great argument, and I can't blame anyone for saying he shouldn't be in. I am usually as tough as anyone on keeping guys out. I didn't agree with Dawson, if Larkin gets in I don't agree with that either. And there are a ton of other guys already in that I don't agree with.

With that said, take the average Brooks Robinson offensive year against the average Ron Santo offensive year. Brooks was a great player, but offensively he was a compiler. Defensively he might have been the best ever, but Santo was hands down a better offensive player than Brooks.

[2dueces]

Rob, I know that everyone has a right to their opinions but you can't tell me you believe Santo was better that Robinson? There has to be a bar that everyone is measured by. .250 career road hitters do not belong in the HOF. Unless that's where we set the bar? Baseball Museum where everyone with 5 years service gets in. Open the door and let the Kaat in.

[Robextend]

Nah, I am definitely not saying that. Overall Brooks is better and no question belongs where he is. I am just trying to show that you can dominate your era at your position and still have shortcomings. .250 hitter on the road isn't good, but look at some of the years Brooks had offensively...not pretty at all.

[kmac32]

Frank, your comment about Madlock and batting titles is true. Major difference is Madlock is really a negative person. Had breakfast with him at Cubs camp one year and he was just not pleasant to be around. He was pissed at his team who were 0 and 4 at the time and he seemed to forget these guys were paying to play that week. Lost the fun of the whole fantasy camp thing. He was also sour on MLB and life in general. Now Santo, different story. Always positive.

Kmac