Wrapping Up my CFC Series

For reference, here are my posts in the Case For Cooperstown Series:

Jorge Posada
Mike Mussina
Tim Raines
Bert Blyleven

Anyway, I just wanted to put a bow on these posts before putting this series on the shelf for a bit.

If you don’t feel like clicking through, here’s the bullet points for why each guy should be in:
Posada: The best hitting catcher not named “Piazza” of the last 20 years
Mussina: A great pitcher in a tough division in a tough era
Raines: A truly underrated player who was very valuable for a long period of time
Blyleven: Underrated, unlucky, durable, and just plain good for a damn long time

Something, however, seems to have escaped me and it was a comment by Morning Star on the Posada thread that made me think of this. I failed to say if I think any of these guys will get into the Hall of Fame. After all, I’m about a lifetime short of a HOF vote, so my opinion is just that: an opinion (but, I have a blog so that means my opinion > your opinion..I’m just kidding…but seriously). So, what do I think will ultimately happen to these guys? Well, obviously, once those HOF voters read these posts they’ll vote yes…

I’ll list the candidates in order of likeliness of induction:

1. Blyelven: He’s knocking on the proverbial door and the voters have been turning his way during the last few years. He should finally get in during the next vote, and I’ll most definitely be there for the induction.
2. Mussina: Though he’s a pitcher and they haven’t had much luck getting in lately, I think Mussina will eventually get in. It may not be on the first ballot, but he’s going to get in at some point.
3. Posada: I think since he’s played in the right time—a time of advanced statistical analysis, a time when his team kicked some serious behind–he’s got a better chance of going in than Raines does. Despite all that, I don’t think Posada will get in. He’ll get a look, but probably not a long enough look.
4. Raines: Maybe he didn’t do it for long enough, maybe his stats aren’t gaudy enough, but I don’t see Raines getting in despite the fact that he’s definitely deserving.

So, that’s that for now. In a little bit, I could work up a few more of these. I hope you’ve enjoyed this series and I hope I’ve swayed you into thinking the Hall should eventually be four players bigger.

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