MMO Roundtable: What Would Your HOF Ballot Look Like?

The 2021 Hall of Fame Ballot was revealed last week and it got us here at MMO asking ourselves what our ballots would look like, if we had a vote.

Here are some of ours:

Sal Manzo

Votes: Billy Wagner, Jeff Kent, Todd Helton, Andruw Jones, Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Scott Rolen, and Mark Buehrle

With the 2021 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot recently released, which is headlined by an massively underwhelming first-year eligible group that is headlined by Torii Hunter, Tim Hudson, and Mark Buehrle. If I had a vote, my ballot would consistent of players who have already been on the ballot for some time, a few of which who’s call to Cooperstown has been overdue.

The names I would check off on my fictional 2021 HOF ballot are: Billy Wagner, Jeff Kent, Todd Helton, Andruw Jones, Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Scott Rolen, and Mark Buehrle. I can make obvious cases for any of these players (even Bonds and Clemens yes) but one name I want to push for is former Met closer Billy Wagner. In 16 seasons over 903 innings pitched (regular season), Wagner pitched to a 2.31 ERA/ .998 WHIP/ 1196 SO and saved 422 games, which ranks 6th all-time. John Franco is next on the saves list at 5th with 424, but needed five more seasons than Wagner (21 seasons to 16) to do so.

Hopefully Wagner’s votes will trend upward, but with four years of eligibility left and finishing with 30.1% of the vote last year, it will be unlikely to see any significant climb on this year’s ballot.

Brian Wright

Votes: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Todd Helton, Jeff Kent, Scott Rolen, Gary Sheffield, Omar Vizquel, Billy Wagner

Barry Bonds: This would’ve been impossible for me to do five years ago. But I’ve come around and accepted the steroid era for what it was. He’s spent enough time in baseball purgatory.

Roger Clemens: See above

Todd Helton: I hate saying that one man’s induction opens the door for someone else, but fellow ex-Rockie Larry Walker’s entrance into Cooperstown lends credence to Helton’s case. From 2000 through 2004, his best five-year stretch, he was one of the elite position players in the majors — overshadowed by scene-stealers Alex Rodriguez and Bonds. His OPS+ of 160 was fifth-best during that span.

Jeff Kent: It’s hard to understand why he doesn’t get more love from the voters. Perhaps there are those who continue to hold a grudge against his abrasive personality, but the most prolific home run-hitting second baseman and former MVP deserves better.

Scott Rolen: He quietly put up numbers that measure up with other Hall of Famers who manned the hot corner. Rolen’s 70.2 WAR ranks 10th among third basemen.

Gary Sheffield: He took a big jump from 2019 to 2020, and count me among those who have understood why. In examining his peak seasons — 1992 through 2005 — Gary’s OPS+ was 153. Only Bonds, Frank Thomas, and Manny Ramirez were higher.

Omar Vizquel: Most detractors point to his offense (or lack thereof) as a reason to leave him out. But in comparing him with his predecessor as the premiere fielding shortstop, Ozzie Smith, it shows Vizquel actually holds an edge. Omar, who has 11 Gold Gloves to his name, boasts a better batting average and OPS than “The Wizard.”

Billy Wagner: A smaller body of work than Mariano Rivera, but no less impressive. In fact, Wagner’s WHIP and batting average against are lower than the recognized greatest closer of all-time.

Ryan Finkelstein 

Votes: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Andruw Jones, Torii Hunter, Gary Sheffield, Jeff Kent, Billy Wagner

Looking over the Hall of Fame ballot this year, it is fair to wonder if this is the best chance for some of the steroid guys to get inducted, as this is undoubtedly one of the weaker classes we have seen in years.

I’d vote Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens because steroid suspicion or not, their numbers speak for themselves. Gary Sheffield would get my vote too, because he was one of the my favorite players growing up (who didn’t mimic his iconic stance when playing whiffle ball). Also, unlike Sammy Sosa, I feel like he was a great hitter made better by steroids, instead of steroids making him a great hitter.

Andruw Jones and Torii Hunter have similar cases as outstanding defensive center fielders with pop in their bat. Jones had the better peak; Hunter had the longevity.

Jeff Kent is one of the greatest second baseman of all-time, with an MVP and nearly 400 home runs to boot.

If you’re going to make the argument for Keith Hernandez to make the Hall of Fame, Scott Rolen deserves the same consideration. Eight Gold Gloves and over 2,000 hits with a career 70.1 WAR is a pretty good case for induction.

Now to save the best for last, Billy Wagner. Looking at the all-time ranks among relief pitcher with a minimum of 750 innings pitched, Wagner ranks second behind Mariano Rivera with his 2.31 ERA. Wagner’s 0.998 WHIP, 11.9 K/9, and .187 batting average against are all the best marks ever by a relief pitcher on the all-time list. Wagner is the greatest left-handed reliever of all-time and should have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Dilip Sridhar

Votes: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Todd Helton, Andruw Jones, Andy Pettitte, Scott Rolen, Curt Schilling, Gary Sheffield, Bobby Abreu, Billy Wagner

Bonds and Clemens. Both are two of the greatest to have ever done it. Steroids be damned.

I’ve seen the light on Todd Helton. He’s one of the best offensive first baseman of all time.

Andruw Jones is over the 60-win barrier and was one of the best defensive center fielders of all time and unlike most great gloves, he could actually hit.

Andy Pettitte was very good for a very long time. It’s bold but Pettitte has a much better case than most realize.

Scott Rolen was a sensational defensive third baseman for a long time and was really productive offensively for a long time.

I don’t like Curt Schilling but he’s a Hall of Famer in terms of the stats only.

Gary Sheffield is probably one of the greatest hitters of all time. His walk to strikeout ratio is elite. Sheffield’s offensive numbers are laughably better than some of the guys on this list. So this brings me to 8. I’ll go with two former Mets for my 2 last spots.

Bobby Abreu and Billy Wagner. If the baseball Hall of Fame wants to allow relievers into the Hall of Fame, they need to include the second-best reliever of all time. I’d redirect you to the account “Billy Wagner for HOF” to see how good Wagner was. Abreu was one of the best OBP guys ever and, he cleared the 250 HR mark, the 400 steals mark, and the .390 OBP mark. I’d venture there’s a very small list of people who did all three and I’d venture one of them is Barry Bonds.

Rich Sparago

Votes: Curt Schilling, Billy Wagner, and Todd Helton

If I had a Hall of Fame ballot, I would not vote for any of the players who have been tied to PEDs. That means “no” to Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, and Barry Bonds. I understand that there was a “steroid era”, but that does not make the behavior acceptable. The rules never changed to make PED use consistent with the rules.

I’d cast my votes for Curt Schilling, Billy Wagner, and Todd Helton. Schilling has appeared on 70% of ballots, coming up just short of election. His career record of 216-146 equates to a winning percentage of 60%. His career WHIP of 1.137 and 3,116 strikeouts seem Hall worthy to me.

Wagner, in my opinion, has not been given the recognition he deserves, appearing on about 32% of ballots. He has 422 saves, 1196 strikeouts in 903 IP. He’s among an elite group of relievers with more than 400 saves, he has earned the Hall, or at least stronger consideration.

As for Helton, I’ve always been a big fan of his. His career BA of .316 is good enough to warrant consideration on its own. Add in an OPS+ of 133 and 369 home runs, and I think his case gets stronger. Helton also owns three Gold Gloves, and a career DRS of 33. It surprises me that Helton has been named on just 29.2% of ballots. Though he’s a very long shot, he’d have my vote.