I checked out Bobby Abreu's numbers. He is NOT a hall of famer in my opinion. Heck, I think Adam Dunn's numbers are more impressive (but that's probably more my opinion than a legitimate assessment). Back to Abreu:

-Only been an All-Star 2x

-Only 1 Gold Glove

-Only 1 Silver Slugger

Has he amassed some good offensive stats consistently and for a long time? It would appear so. He seems like he's been a good player over a considerably long period of time. And some of his numbers aren't that impressive:

-2,200+ hits (very nice, not HoF)

-#27 all-time on the strikeout list

Before this season, he had 12 straight seasons of 150+ hits - quite nice and consistent. Definitely NOT a Hall of Fame (Hall-of-Faker) candidate to me. Though a solid career for a long time - with power (some), speed, and OBP. And a decent AVG to boot... -StanO (11/16/10)

HoF: Unheard Of... Conversation

I'm shocked because you hear about Ernie banks, Santo, etc. a lot but never this dude. Anyway, speaking of HoF'ers, I have been reluctant to see Bobby Abreu as a potential Hall guy. I dunno why but I view him as most people view Adam Dunn - that is, maybe his consistency numbed me to how impressive he might be. What I'm alluding to is the fact that if he plays another three full seasons (not necessarily great seasons, but he needs the at bats at least), he might end up as one of ten players all-time to collect 1500 hits/runs/rbis...and he'd also be a 300/300 guy. I read these numbers in an article don't worry, I didn't just happen to notice this. Would this be a case of coincidental numbers or would this make him Hall-worthy? Taking RJ's point about looking not only at the numbers but also at the way a player affects the game: did Abreu stand out as an above-and-beyond, Hall of Fame type player? There is a distinction (IMO) between a perennial All-Star and a Hall of Famer. LOL, auto-correct wanted me to write Hall of Faker. Niiice. -Natron (11/16/10)

HoF: Unheard Of Confrmation

I don't think I have. Some nice numbers he put up... And he pretty much stayed with one team... -StanO (11/15/10)

HoF: Unheard Of

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Williams_%28left_fielder%29
Did you ever hear of him? As Wiki says, he is getting a statue at Wrigley next year! And he seems to deserve it, and yet I NEVER HEARD OF HIM!? Had you? -Natron (11/12/10)

We Talkin' Catchers

He had a pretty impressive career given the small sample size. Like in terms of AVG and RBI pretty good production. Also, the whole WWI veteran aspect, you gotta wonder what woulda been if he had played those years rather than wait 'til he was approaching 30. His younger brother also played in the majors - his name was PINKY! Pinky and Bubbles sounds like a saturday morning cartoon! -Natron (10/9/10)

Catcher Conversation

BUBBLES! -StanO (10/9/10)

Catchers Continued

I would've guessed like Mike Piazza. And then not Johnny Bench's or Yogi Berras... I'll look at what you sent. -StanO (10/9/10)

Baseball Statistics

The only catcher besides Joe mauer to win more than one batting title. Looks like he fought in WWI:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hargrbu01.shtml

You'd never guess the only other catcher. But you can look it up -Natron (10/9/10)

Impressive about Bautista - and I don't know about oppo power in general. I'm not sure how to find out the historical opposite field homers... Maybe it's on Baseball Reference somewhere?

Parker Posey has some impressive numbers - especially at catcher!

Well said by Neyer - and your racialist point is an interesting side note.

How did you even find that "Steve Carlton" stat? The one about having half of his team's victories in a single season... Also, having 30 CG is indeed sick.

When you gettin' home, sucka? -StanO (10/2/10)

Miscellaneous

If you thought Bautista's season long home run binge was hard to believe, how about this:
"Balls have been flying out of any stadium for us all year long," said Bautista whose second homer went to right field, the first one this season that didn't go to either left or left-center. from http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300930109 (emphasis mine)
That means he has pulled 53 homers. I would assume that is a record for most home runs hit to left of center field (since Bonds was a lefty, and I have to figure McGwire and Sosa had at least some opposite field power). If anyhting, I think this supports the case that he did NOT roid up this season, since if that were the case he'd be slamming home runs even to opposite field. I say this because I heard someone, maybe even Keith, say that one thing roids does is increase opposite field power, and that opposite field power is truly a rarity (see David Wright) I have to say I'm surprised by Bautista's walks total (99 thus far) and his OPS is a booming 1.005. I wonder if he'll get any MVP votes. He also has 91 XBH.

In our debate over NLROY, I somehow forgot to mention this stud http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30112 . I would say it's between Garcia and him, and perhaps given his role on their late push to the playoffs I might even go with bus'a-bus.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/5511/making-cito-gastons-case-for-the-coop It's a short piece, and I only mention it because there's an interesting point he makes - that Gaston was the first black manager to win a WS. Now, Jackie Robinson's career in itself was only borderline HoF, mainly cuz it was so short once he got to the majors, but obivously he did break the (that is, THE) color barrier. Gaston didn't break the barrier, he just happened to be the first black manager to win,. IF he were the first black manager period AND he won, cool. But imagine if Jackie hadn't won an MVP award, and some years later another black player incidentally became the first black MVP. would that guy deserve the hall call just cuz luck would have it that he was first? Jackie wasn't by chance the first black player, yes certain doors were open to him, but I've watched and read enough to learn that he had a certain drive above other black players. Plus, he was damn good at baseball. Cito had some success early on, but trying to link his race to a Hall call is, well, racist - or at least racialist (i.e., making an argument based off race that is not necessarily a negative view of said race).

Most interesting awards races in my opinion: AL Cy Young. Sabathia probably deserves it, Price is great but not clearly better, and Felix just has a shitty team. and for those who think Felix deserves sympathy, I suggest they look at Steve Carlton's 1972 season with the Phillies when he had, um 27 out of a team total 59 wins. That's almost half the team's wins! EEGAD!
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1972.shtml scroll to pitching totals, their wins total reflects the team's record.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carltst01.shtml other insane stats from that year: over 340 IP, 310 k's; and my personal fave, THIRTY COMPLETE GAMES. that's just stupid.
apparently he's also kinda stupid. And when Tim McCarver says so, you know you're in trouble: http://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/14/sports/on-baseball-was-silence-better-for-steve-carlton.html

NL MVP - CarGo and Votto start the convo, Halladay could be in discussion, but also so should Tulowitzki (he went 4-4 last night, just an unbelievable September), and probably some others. But I'm kinda tired.
I have no idea who is even in contention for the AL MVP, and I already told you I think Halladay should win the NLCY hands down. -Natron (10/1/10)

Homegrown Mets

Here are homegrown Mets who, I think, should have starting roles next year. I just read the Mets have $50M coming off the books after 2011 and will not be spenders this year. If that's the case then they should let their you develop all season long!
SP: niese, pelfrey, mejia (depending on how his arm strength builds)
Closer: Parnell
C: Thole
1b: Davis
2b: Tejada
3b: Wright
SS: Reyes
RF: Martinez
CF: Pagan

The remaining position players are Bay, Beltran, Franceour. F-Mart might benefit from playing as a 4th OF to give Bay and Beltran rest in the corners. Franceour could become the best and most expensive defensive replacement ever. The other option is to continue to cultivate F-Mart in the minors but Christ he's been at the same level for two years and can't stay healthy. I say throw him into the fire and see if he sinks or swims, (to mix metaphors). Besides the OF, I think the line up should be entirely homegrown. And even the pitching should be solidified with youth, the other two spots going to Johan and Dickey!

That is all.

-Natron (8/26/10)

Young Mets... Continued

I appreciate your reservation about Mejia.

Parnell as a closer? That's a ballsy move, but okay.

If Martinez were halfway decent, I'd support your decision. However, from what I have seen, he is a miserable player. Not to mention his 2010 AAA stats. Well, they're not miserable, but they certainly aren't good:

r h 2b 3b hr rbi sb cs bb so avg obp slg

257

39

65

16

0

12

33

1

0

17

65

.253

.317

.455

I would certainly love Ruben Tejada to be our second baseman because he can field, throw, and looks to be pretty quick. However, he can't hit fo' shit right now and I'm very wary of that. He is 1 for 32 in the month of August. However, he has been walking this month. Anyway, I'm concerned about his ability to hit. If he hit like Rey Ordonez with more stolen bases, I might be okay with that (http://espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=3399).

So basically, I agree with your picks with reservations about Parnell (at closer. But then again, who is reliable besides Mariano Rivera?), Martinez, and Tejada. I would love Tejada and Parnell to do what you say. However, I'm really low on F-Mart.

Nate, Frenchy has had much "better" at-bats recently (i.e., working the count - he has walked 3 times in his last 16 at-bats to 1 strikeout). I still like him for some reason...

I like the idea of a homegrown, young team on the field. But the Mets better lower ticket prices or ain't nobody showing up! I got the ticket price thought from a caller to Richard Neer - if this is going to be a "bad" team with many young players, then the Mets can't charge current ticket prices and it would probably be difficult for the Wilpons to lower the prices...

-StanO (8/25/10)