Frank Thomas, slam dunk HOF now?

39 HR, 114 RBI this season for a division winner after we all thought his career was over. Probable top five in MVP voting.

HOF, right?

 

Certainly. If not for a few years he missed with injuries, he'd be well past 500 HRs (and he's never been linked to steroids, even by rumors), his lifetime BA is still near .300, and he was not just great, but dominant, during his prime, which included two MVPs.

 

Yep. Not slam-dunk on the level of Tom Seaver/Nolan Ryan 98th-percentile, but no question that the Big Hurt is a Hall of Famer. His dominance was unquestioned in his prime.

 

He'll get in, but I don't think this season swung any votes.

 

Pre-McGwire/Sosa, this guy was the man through the 1990s.

Dominant in his era, etc.

HOFer. I'd vote him first ballot.

 

Perhaps if can lead the A's to a World Series title this year -- his second ring in a row and first as a player instead of being a mere bystander for the White Sox last postseason -- that would seal the deal. Thomas' actions today provide a nice start to this postseason.

 

I would have said "maybe," then I looked at the career ... back-to-back MVPs, followed by his finest all-around season six years later -- and he finishes second that year to a 'roids guy in the MVP voting.

I'd vote for him, first year.

 

His down years will keep him from making it on the first ballot.

 

True. He could end up retiring the same year as Glavine, Maddux, Bonds and/or Clemens the way things are going.

 

Agreed he's not a slam dunk, but if he is on the same ballot as Bonds, I'd wager he gets more votes...

 

You know, in that scenario, the guy I would be interested in is Glavine.

He's obviously a Hall of Famer. I don't think anyone would ever dispute that.

Five-time 20-game winner, two-time Cy Young winner (6x in the top 3 in voting), World Series MVP, 10 All-Star appearances, .603 career winning percentage ... and, of course, he'll get No. 300 next season.

But would he get his 75% if Maddux and Clemens (and/or Bonds) were on the ballot? His numbers aren't quite as superior as theirs, even though there's no question that Glav is headed to Cooperstown.

 

The A's have one don't-let-him-beat-us hitter, and the Twins let him beat them. And Frank was a HOFer before this season, but leading this ordinary offense into the playoffs sure doesn't hurt his on-the-fence support.