Tracking Former Twins on the Hall of Fame Ballot

Thanks for the update.  I am not sure I have an feelings about these Twins being in the hall.  Nathan has the best case, but his career is pretty unusual and he did not pitch in New York or LA.  Tough for him, but it would be a shame if he did not stay on the ballot a few years.

I couldn't (and wouldn't) say which of them deserves to be in the Hall, I can only vote my conscience.  This isn't meant that any of these players who I would not place a vote for weren't amazing baseball players.  They were, and their careers showed just that.

Here's who I would list a vote for if I was Sports Writer Talking Head King for a Day  :

• Ortiz: Yes
• Nathan: Yes
• Hunter: No
• Morneau: No
• Pierzynski: No

I'm surprised Hunter isn't getting more consideration - those 9 gold gloves while patrolling the hardest position in the outfield were impressive.  

There's a new standard: if Harold Baines made the Hall, X should go in. OK, that's not my standard, but whaddya gonna do? It's a thought experiment.

X definitely includes Nathan and Hunter. Not AJ, and not Morneau. I'm only sorry about one of those last two. If you take Morneau's talent and put it in AJ's games played you'd have a surefire HOFer.

Yes to Ortiz. 

Yes to Nathan based on the changes of the game the last 10-20yrs and how good he was and how dominate and how he ranks against some other RP in and being considered. At worst, he should get enough votes to remain on the ballot for a while for further consideration. 

Maybe to Hunter. There was a tremendous OP about his consideration and value about a month ago that really gives pause when you look at awards, numbers and accomplishments and how he ranked  vs CF's already enshrined. Seems like an obvious choice. Then you look at things like career BA and OPS and you just aren't as sure. I do enjoy the "if Harold Baines deserved it" argument and there's something to be said for that. I think he's worthy, but he might be a "just worthy" candidate who may need a couple years on the ballot for voters to reflect and appreciate his career more.

No to Justin and AJ. 

AJ had a long, productive and excellent career. I think he was often undervalued. And maybe I'm wrong, but it didn't appear "special" enough to warrant the HOF.

Justin is a HOF guy, teammate, representative of MLB, etc. He WAS "special" on the field. He was probably on his way to a potential HOF type career before he/it was curtailed by his concussions. The "what could have been" mantra is well known to even younger Twins fans when you reflect on Oliva, Puckett, Koskie, Mauer and the recently retired Liriano. We should probably also include Santana in the conversation. Now, Puckett made it. Oliva finally did. And if Morneau had been a catcher, SS, CF, or even a quality RF the discussion of a career shortened due to injury might be different. But I think his being  1B ...and a damn fine one...will exclude him from the "what if" worthy of consideration formula. It may not be fair, but it's reality. 

Ortiz and Nathan. That is it. 

Ortiz is only hindered by the obtuse roid thing. And not that much.  Soon, the younger voters will vote all the roiders in if they are on a ballot. The younger the fan, the less they seem to care about cheating. I still like the Hall of Shame room in the Hall of Fame (Clemens, Sosa, McGwire, Rose, Shoeless Joe, etc), and a transitional hallway for the unconvicted/unconfessed, but head that swolt twice normal size (ala Bonds)

Nathan flat out deserves it. When Starters don't start, what is the Hall to do then. Great Relievers flat out win and save games, in the regular season and playoffs. They need to be recognized and inducted in, too. Nathan is one of those.

MINNESOTA PLAYERS GET NO RECOGNITION  ..

The writers are getting alittle softer on the criteria of voting players into hof ... Great players deserves the hall of fame , not good ... 

Rose as a PLAYER  ( Charlie hustle ) deserves hall of fame  or shame as someone put it  ,, he got caught cheating after a great career 

the writers  follow their divisions or league more closely and know the players better  , fans do the same thing ... they either follow a American league or national league venues ,,,  heard it many times in my travels  , I don't know that player that well I only follow players in my division or league 

Are writers true fans of the game , do they have a passion exclusively  to baseball , are they professionals  or just sports writers that have been given the prestigious honor to vote ballots for hof .

If Nathan and hunter do not  get the 5 percent  for next year ,,, that's enough to prove my point ,,, 

Hunter has gold gloves ,,  that should receive some recognition  ..

Nathan was good but how great I'm not sure but he still deserves to be on the ballot ...

They both should be recognized  for a few years at least on the hall of fame ballot in my opinion ...

This is a long but fascinating comparative exercise regarding Nathan's suitability, or not, for HOF, along with a closing segment on Johan Santana. Great stuff, history, anecdotes, stats, and overall HOF voting principles. Food for thought. For me, Nathan's abysmal post season numbers, though small volume, moves the needle against HOF.

https://www.cooperstowncred.com/joe-nathan-and-the-cooperstown-closer-conundrum/