Schilling is truly the borderline candidate whose candidacy depends on what you want the Hall of Fame to be. He certainly has statistics that put him in the company of some of the pitchers already in the Hall and his post-season dominance helps for people who insist that "Fame" must be taken into account. But, for me, the line that dooms him is the necessary concession that he is not an immortal. How many starting pitchers from one era can be included in a club that is supposed to honor the best players ever before that standard is severely diluted? At best, Schilling was the fifth best starter of his era, clearly behind (in some order) Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens. He might drop further depending on how you feel about other contemporaries like Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Kevin Brown and Mike Mussina (I'd rank Schilling ahead of all four of these guys, but others may see it differently). Either way, the gap between the first four and Schilling is so clear that I can't see Schilling included with them. He was a great pitcher, but not quite a Hall of Fame pitcher. (Also, comparisons to pitchers in the Hall of Fame already do not sway me. That some non-immortals have been inducted in the past does not mean we should continue to make that mistake in the future.) All that said, if Schilling is inducted someday, I'll be there to celebrate it. He had quite a career.
I think that's the right formulation, but we happen to be in an immortal-heavy period for induction-capable starting pitchers, especially compared to the previous twenty years.
What about on offense? Beyond Bonds and Piazza, who would ever make that threshold? Not Raines, not the two Astros ... probably just Junior, Pudge, and I guess Chipper in the next five years.
I don't think there is any question Frank Thomas belongs on that list, too. But, even so, would it be so bad if over the next five years the hall of fame did not induct anybody other than Pedro, Maddux, the Big Unit, Clemens, Piazza, Bonds, Griffey, IRod, Chipper and the Big Hurt? That is two immortals a year. Sounds about right. Add to that the fact that Biggio and Glavine hit the magic numbers that guarantee entry and you are really getting five years of great classes that are more like the best of the hall than the borderline part of it.
I stand by my vote for him. He deserves enshrinement.
ReplyDeleteI have no opinion about him as a ballplayer, but for $75M he should have made a better video game.
ReplyDeleteSchilling is truly the borderline candidate whose candidacy depends on what you want the Hall of Fame to be. He certainly has statistics that put him in the company of some of the pitchers already in the Hall and his post-season dominance helps for people who insist that "Fame" must be taken into account. But, for me, the line that dooms him is the necessary concession that he is not an immortal. How many starting pitchers from one era can be included in a club that is supposed to honor the best players ever before that standard is severely diluted? At best, Schilling was the fifth best starter of his era, clearly behind (in some order) Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens. He might drop further depending on how you feel about other contemporaries like Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Kevin Brown and Mike Mussina (I'd rank Schilling ahead of all four of these guys, but others may see it differently). Either way, the gap between the first four and Schilling is so clear that I can't see Schilling included with them. He was a great pitcher, but not quite a Hall of Fame pitcher. (Also, comparisons to pitchers in the Hall of Fame already do not sway me. That some non-immortals have been inducted in the past does not mean we should continue to make that mistake in the future.) All that said, if Schilling is inducted someday, I'll be there to celebrate it. He had quite a career.
ReplyDeleteI think that's the right formulation, but we happen to be in an immortal-heavy period for induction-capable starting pitchers, especially compared to the previous twenty years.
ReplyDeleteWhat about on offense? Beyond Bonds and Piazza, who would ever make that threshold? Not Raines, not the two Astros ... probably just Junior, Pudge, and I guess Chipper in the next five years.
I don't think there is any question Frank Thomas belongs on that list, too. But, even so, would it be so bad if over the next five years the hall of fame did not induct anybody other than Pedro, Maddux, the Big Unit, Clemens, Piazza, Bonds, Griffey, IRod, Chipper and the Big Hurt? That is two immortals a year. Sounds about right. Add to that the fact that Biggio and Glavine hit the magic numbers that guarantee entry and you are really getting five years of great classes that are more like the best of the hall than the borderline part of it.
Delete