[EmpireWF]

The National Baseball Hall of Fame will announce their newest induction class next week. So why not put the vote up to the GoTeamsGo faithful? There are three poll threads with all of the 25 candidates.

• Candidates must be named on 75 percent of the ballots cast to gain entry into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
  
• A player who is named on fewer than 5% of ballots is dropped from future elections.
  
• You can vote for up to 10 players (try to keep to this rule. Meaning, you can vote for up to 10 players combined in the three threads).

If you wish, give reasons for your selections.

[Lefty Noob]

So tempted to vote for Lee Smith, even though his numbers were inflated by sheer longevity. But I can't.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

So tempted to vote for Lee Smith, even though his numbers were inflated by sheer longevity. But I can't.

such a glass half empty guy you can be

see i think i see it totally the opposite with his longevity .... i think it is a testament to his sheer will, determination, and hard work .... all which help make him a hall of famer imo

seems odd so many hold it against TD that he didnt stay in football long enough .. and now you hold it against Smith that he stayed in baseball too long

[vincesanity82]

I voted Tim Raines, Lee Smith, and Alan Trammel..

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by simple simon

such a glass half empty guy you can be

see i think i see it totally the opposite with his longevity .... i think it is a testament to his sheer will, determination, and hard work .... all which help make him a hall of famer imo

seems odd so many hold it against TD that he didnt stay in football long enough .. and now you hold it against Smith that he stayed in baseball too long

There is a big difference between the two. TD was the best there was at his position but injuries hampered him. He was not great long enough to get in...although if not for injuries a shoe in. Smith had a lot of average years, never standing out much, but stuck around for a long time and compiled stats. It took him twice a long to get his stats.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by azrael492

There is a big difference between the two. TD was the best there was at his position but injuries hampered him. He was not great long enough to get in...although if not for injuries a shoe in. Smith had a lot of average years, never standing out much, but stuck around for a long time and compiled stats. It took him twice a long to get his stats.

Yeah, what he said. azrael, I couldn't have summed it up better myself.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by azrael492

There is a big difference between the two. TD was the best there was at his position but injuries hampered him. He was not great long enough to get in...although if not for injuries a shoe in. Smith had a lot of average years, never standing out much, but stuck around for a long time and compiled stats. It took him twice a long to get his stats.

but if he wasnt good enough he wouldnt have been able to stay so long

heck it's not like he was a 3rd string QB for 20 years .... he was out there everyday

seems to me the same could be said for Dan Marino ... just a stat compiler that played a long time

[Lefty Noob]

Well, look at Smith's save numbers throughout the years.

Saves
1982 NL-17-7
1983 NL-29-1
1984 NL-33-2
1985 NL-33-2
1986 NL-31-4
1987 NL-36-2
1988 AL-29-6
1989 AL-25-9
1990 NL-27-3
1991 NL-47-1
1992 NL-43-1
1993 NL-43-4
1994 AL-33-1
1995 AL-37-2

Top 10 every year he played. Also a three time Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year. Maybe he belongs after all.

[azrael492]

Out of this list, I would put in Parker, and Rice. They were dominant players during their time.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Well, look at Smith's save numbers throughout the years.

Saves
1982 NL-17-7
1983 NL-29-1
1984 NL-33-2
1985 NL-33-2
1986 NL-31-4
1987 NL-36-2
1988 AL-29-6
1989 AL-25-9
1990 NL-27-3
1991 NL-47-1
1992 NL-43-1
1993 NL-43-4
1994 AL-33-1
1995 AL-37-2

Top 10 every year he played. Also a three time Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year. Maybe he belongs after all.

also keep in mind though .... you only get the save when there is the opportunity .... now i freely admit i dont know as much about baseball as you guys .. but i do know that much

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by simple simon

also keep in mind though .... you only get the save when there is the opportunity .... now i freely admit i dont know as much about baseball as you guys .. but i do know that much

I've always been a Smith fan, so I kind of find myself rooting for the guy. But at the same time, I just don't know...

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

I've always been a Smith fan, so I kind of find myself rooting for the guy. But at the same time, I just don't know...

ok but do you see my point about having opportunities ?

let's say a team goes 81-81 and all of the games they are up or down by 5 runs in the 7th inning

their closer could pitch 162 shutout innings and get no saves ...... he could be the best relief guy in the game and get no credit at all

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by simple simon

ok but do you see my point about having opportunities ?

let's say a team goes 81-81 and all of the games they are up or down by 5 runs in the 7th inning

their closer could pitch 162 shutout innings and get no saves ...... he could be the best relief guy in the game and get no credit at all

There are several ways that a manager could get the closer a save. A closer has to face at least as many batters as he is ahead, so if they are up by 5, the manager could bring him in early. A closer could get a save if he comes in with a 5 run lead and have 2 men on base. It is too easy to get a save since they started specializing the position which is why I think only the best relievers should be in the HOF. I am not saying Smith sucked, but he was never really the best closer ever at any point in his career...he just compiled a lot of saves over time.