Fred McGriff: Hall of Famer?

Palmeiro has ZERO shot at getting into Cooperstown. Bagwell has pretty damn good chance. I could see McGriff getting some momentum in one of his final years on the ballot, but he's a longshot at this point.

 

I love a good HOF debate. The problem is, there aren't too many guys who merit a good debate. It's either, they're a lock, it's too soon, no way in hell or, they're lumped in the PED group. I was almost disappointed when so many agreed that Raines should be in.

McGriff doesn't fall into any of those categories. I think if he had a MVP season or even one season that people really remembered him being one of the best players in the league he'd have a better case. Hell, the guy only made a handful of all-star games.

 

Moddy made the point if seven more home runs would make a difference? I don't think so either, but there is something weird about those kinds of round numbers that make people go crazy.

The trio of Tommy John, Don Sutton and Kim Kaat is an example. Sutton went into the Hall on his fifth try. John and Kaat never got above 32 percent. Was there that much of a difference besides the fact that Sutton inched over 300 wins later in his career, and John and Kaat couldn't bang out a few more?

 

The New York Times had a column the other day advocating Tommy John for the HOF.

 

I'd vote for Dale Murphy before I voted for McGriff.

 

SI had a column for someone recently, too, kind of like Beltran last year. I think it might have been Adrian Beltre.

 

The problem is 500 home runs just isn't what it used to be. I think 3,000 hits or 300 wins makes you a lock (PED use or gambling, the obvious exceptions...).

I would argue that Dale Murphy getting to 400 would have increased his chances of getting in a lot more than McGriff getting to 500.

 

I think it was Beltran.

 

I think at some point Rafael gets in.