Frank Thomas HOF Discussion Thread

[RKMeibalane]

Originally Posted by voodoochile

That's a travesty. A serious argument can be made that Alomar was the best 2B to ever play the game.

I agree. He hit for average and power. He could steal bases. He was a great defensive second baseman. He could hit at almost any spot in the batting order. But what I remember most about Alomar was that he played on some absolutely loaded Toronto and Baltimore teams in the '90s, and he was the best player on every one of those teams.

[Brian26]

Originally Posted by spawn

Roberto Alomar didn't get in his first year, and he is considered one of the best second basemen to ever play the game. Not saying it would be right, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't get in on the first ballot. HOF voting is a joke.

This year, of all years, was the point where baseball writers threw up their hands and said "I give up." Every interview I heard on the radio and saw on tv with the writers echoed the same sentiment..."how can we do this?". Next year's vote is a slam dunk. This is what the writers want. I think Maddux, Frank and Glavine all go in next year.

[WhiteSox5187]

Originally Posted by Brian26

This year, of all years, was the point where baseball writers threw up their hands and said "I give up." Every interview I heard on the radio and saw on tv with the writers echoed the same sentiment..."how can we do this?". Next year's vote is a slam dunk. This is what the writers want. I think Maddux, Frank and Glavine all go in next year.

When you say "this year" you mean the 2012 ballot, right? Because every writer I have heard speak has somewhat implied that they got it right this year by not voting in Bonds and Clemens. After Alomar didn't get in (and I think he missed it by two or three votes), I recall a lot of writers being upset at the process.

[Brian26]

Originally Posted by WhiteSox5187

When you say "this year" you mean the 2012 ballot, right? Because every writer I have heard speak has somewhat implied that they got it right this year by not voting in Bonds and Clemens. After Alomar didn't get in (and I think he missed it by two or three votes), I recall a lot of writers being upset at the process.

I'm talking about this year's (2013) HOF vote. I specifically heard Heyman, Verducci and Morosi all say the same thing referring to guys like Piazza, Bagwell, Biggio, etc...in other words, guys like Bonds, Clemens and Sosa are the easy decisions right now, but the other guys are still the question marks.

I don't think you'll have those same questions next year with the two pitchers and Frank.

[WhiteSox5187]

Originally Posted by Brian26

I'm talking about this year's (2013) HOF vote. I specifically heard Heyman, Verducci and Morosi all say the same thing referring to guys like Piazza, Bagwell, Biggio, etc...in other words, guys like Bonds, Clemens and Sosa are the easy decisions right now, but the other guys are still the question marks.

I don't think you'll have those same questions next year with the two pitchers and Frank.

Yea, all of the writers I heard yesterday said that there will be at least three inductees next year and maybe even four depending on how Biggio does.

[A. Cavatica]

Originally Posted by spawn

Roberto Alomar didn't get in his first year, and he is considered one of the best second basemen to ever play the game. Not saying it would be right, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't get in on the first ballot. HOF voting is a joke.

Lou Whitaker, who was in Alomar's class as a second baseman, has an even bigger grievance.

[RKMeibalane]

Originally Posted by A. Cavatica

Lou Whitaker, who was in Alomar's class as a second baseman, has an even bigger grievance.

I don't know. Their power numbers are similar, but Alomar's batting average was more than twenty points higher. He also won several more Gold Gloves, and was phenomenal in the postseason (.313/.448/.829), whereas Whitaker was mediocre (.204/.306/.656). Whitaker was a good player, no question, but I tend to think of him the same way that I think of his teammates (Allan Trammel, Kirk Gibson, Lance Parrish, etc.). They were All Stars, but not HOF'ers.

[chicagowhitesox1]

Originally Posted by A. Cavatica

Lou Whitaker, who was in Alomar's class as a second baseman, has an even bigger grievance.

Yeah that's amazing how he was knocked off for failing to reach 5 percent in his first year eligible.

[WLL1855]

Originally Posted by A. Cavatica

Lou Whitaker, who was in Alomar's class as a second baseman, has an even bigger grievance.

I'm not sure Whitaker was in Alomar territory but I believe he was as good as Sandberg. That might be more of an indictment of Sandberg's HOF election than Whitaker's merit.

[TaylorStSox]

The Sox need to start a campaign emphasizing Franks anti-PED stance. Remind the voters that he was one of the most outspoken players against steroids.

[Lip Man 1]

That's an excellent idea, Taylor. Frank started making comments on this subject to the newspapers back in the late 90's.

Lip

[shingo10]

Originally Posted by TaylorStSox

The Sox need to start a campaign emphasizing Franks anti-PED stance. Remind the voters that he was one of the most outspoken players against steroids.

I honestly hope someone passes this along to the Sox organization so they can do it.

[Lip Man 1]

Shingo:

Done and done.

Lip

[rdivaldi]

Originally Posted by TaylorStSox

The Sox need to start a campaign emphasizing Franks anti-PED stance. Remind the voters that he was one of the most outspoken players against steroids.

I agree 100%...

[thomas35forever]

Not sure if Frank makes it first-ballot, but I'm sure he gets in the second year.