The Atlanta Braves have won 16 of their 50+ wins this season in their last at-bat, and a number of those have been dramatic walk-off wins.
This is an ongoing chronicle of those wins, with video from MLB.com
Please check back as the season progresses.
For some time, I’ve wanted to analyze the Hall of Fame; specifically, who today is going in? I’ve tried it once before, but the result never felt satisfying.
But then, it hit me.
Instead of writing three sentences each about fifty-odd guys and splitting it over two articles, write a more focused bit on smaller groups at a time.
I am starting with my favorite group, the third basemen.
Third is an extra interesting group, because the baseball writers committee, as a whole, seem to have absolutely no idea how to treat the position.
Shortstops and second basemen get special considerations for their offense, as the positions are defensively difficult. However, they completely ignore defense at third. Consequently, the position is under-represented.
Let me phrase this a different way: name every third baseman in the Hall of Fame. Not Veteran Committee/Negro Leagues/etc., JUST those elected through the standard process. Keep track of how many you name.
Did you get past five? If you did, you have named every third baseman in the Hall. The hot corner has a mere SIX representatives in Cooperstown: Pie Traynor, Eddie Mathews, Brooks Robinson, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, and Wade Boggs.
Think about it this way: of the six Hall of Fame third basemen, one was elected before the Korean War, and half were inducted in Bryce Harper’s lifetime.
Despite this bizarre condition, I have confidence that the current group manning the position can reverse this trend.
Fear not, Braves fans. Chipper Jones has apparently found his stroke after a painfully slow start to the 2010 season.
He extended his hitting-streak to 10 games on Saturday with a three-run home run, and his bat is looking livelier than it has for a long time.
During the streak, he’s batting .389 with 10 RBI, 6 runs, 2 home runs, and two stolen bases. He has five walks and struck out six. The streak also includes three multi-hit games.
That being said, he’s still only batting .256 on the season with 32 RBI, 28 runs, and 5 home runs.
When you look at his numbers month-by-month, it’s easy to see that he’s improving.
March and April
In the months of March and April, Jones batted an awful .230 and was slugging just .393 He had just six RBI, 10 runs, and two home runs in 61 at-bats.
He only managed to six hits for extra bases and 24 total bases in the first two months of the season.
May
Jones hit .265 in 83 at-bats in May, but his slugging percentage dropped slightly to .373 for the month. Still, his OBP went up from .390 in March and April to .410 in May—slightly higher than his career OBP of .406.
During the month of May, he recorded 15 RBI, 10 runs, and one home run. He also had six doubles and 31 total bases.
While not good numbers by any means, there was definitely improvement in the areas of RBI, batting average, and OBP.
June
So far in June, Chipper is batting .271 in 59 at-bats. He has 11 RBI, eight runs, and two home runs. His OBP has slipped to .353 for the month, but his slugging percentage has gone up to .424 in June.
Those numbers are a little bit more reasonable when you consider that Jones has missed eight games in June compared to six games from March to May.
Putting Everything Together
If Chipper stays on track, his hits will have increased every month of the season. While the power isn’t there yet, his bat is showing some signs of life—especially over the last two weeks.
When the dust settles, I wouldn’t be too surprised if Chipper finishes the season with around 90 RBI, 90 runs, and 20 homeruns with a .285 batting average. If he does, it will be the first time he’s scored 90 runs and reached 90 RBI since 2007.
The Braves could use his bat if they want to create some space between them and the rest of the division. Going into Sunday, only 3.5 games separate the Braves, Mets, and Phillies at the top of the NL East.
* On a seperate note, the Braves’ Kenshin Kawakami finally won a game after starting 0-9.
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A quick look at Week 11’s Fantasy Baseball top performers and least owned players on the waiver wire. Justin Smoak is smoking the ball and Max Scherzer dominates twice. Can they really keep it up for another week?
Check out who’s a Must or a Bust.
SWINGERS
John Buck —40 percent of Y! Leagues
4 R / 3 HR / 8 RBI / .389 BA
With all the hype surrounding catchers this year, most owners seem to overlook guys like Buck. If you are a win-now kind of fantasy player, then having Buck on your team may benefit you over a player like Matt Weiters. Buck’s problem has always been hitting for a decent average. So far, he’s 33 points above his career numbers. He also has three multi-homer games already, and he could easily hit 25 by season’s end.
Chipper Jones —53 percent of Y! Leagues
5 R / 1 HR / 7 RBI / .471 BA
Yes, he’s older and hitting 50 points below his career .306 average. But he’s still one of the best third basemen of the past 20 years. If Troy Glaus can have a comeback year, then Chipper can too. Expect better numbers in the second half, assuming he doesn’t battle injuries like he has over the past few seasons.
Scott Podsednik —53 percent of Y! Leagues
5 R / 1 HR / 7 RBI / 2 SB / .286 BA
I’m so tempted to call the Royals the worst team in the league, but the truth is that the Indians and Orioles are certainly worse. Regardless, Speedy Scotty is back to his old form, running the bejeezus out of the bases. Injuries have really dropped Podsednik off the radar. But he’s healthy this year and on track for at least 40 stolen bases.
Justin Smoak —13 percent of Y! Leagues
5 R / 2 HR / 8 RBI / .320 BA
After a dismal start, Smoak has put together a solid last month (15 R / 4 HR / 21 RBI /.278 avg). With the influx of all the call-ups, owners have forgotten to come back around to take a look at what Smoak is doing. He won’t be available for much longer. Go get him.
Angel Pagan —33 percent of Y! Leagues
3 R / 5 RBI / 2 SB / .417 BA
Pagan has been on fire the past month, batting .327, with 15 runs, 13 RBIs, and nine SB. I seem to be less and less worried about Beltran coming back and squeezing Pagan out. Angel really has been at the center of the revitalized Mets.
HURLERS
Carl Pavano —16 percent of Y! Leagues
16 IP / 2 W / 7 K / 2.25 ERA / 0.63 WHIP
Despite Pavano’s 8-6 record, this is actually his best season since 2004. There’s still plenty of time for Carl to get back to his usual mediocre numbers. But right now, he is pretty much holding career bests in ERA, WHIP, and BAA. His last game was a gem against the struggling Phils. Pavano went nine innings and only gave up one run. Ten of his 15 outings have been quality starts!
Max Scherzer —34 percent of Y! Leagues
13 IP / 2 W / 17 K / 2.77 ERA / 1.15 WHIP
This kid has so much talent. Owners were expecting a lot more out of Scherzer this year, and a few have jumped back on the boat since his return. In five games since returning, he has a 3.48 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 41Ks. If you lack strikeouts, Mad Max is your guy!
J. J. Putz —3 percent of Y! Leagues
3 IP / 1 W / 1 SV/ 3 K / 0.00 ERA / 0.33 WHIP
It’s truly amazing how quickly relief pitchers fall from grace. From 2006 through 2007, Putz amassed an amazing 76 saves with just a 1.86 ERA. Those days are long gone and J. J. has been reduced to a set-up guy, just silently waiting for Jenks to get injured or implode. Unless you are in a crazy deep league, there are better middle relievers out there.
Joel Pineiro —27 percent of Y! Leagues
8 IP / 1 W / 5 K / 1.12 ERA / 0.50 WHIP
I feel like a broken record saying this, but Pineiro is a roller-coaster ride. He pitches well against the tough teams then blows-up against clubs like the Royals. There is no rhyme or reason to whether he will have a good game or not, and so I’ve always stayed away.
When he is on though, he can be as good as they come. In his last two games, Pineiro has pitched 17 innings, and allowed just eight hits, two runs, while striking out 12 against only two walks!
Like clockwork, though, Joel will have a bad game at some point in his next one or two outings, regardless of who he is facing.
Jason Vargas —29 percent of Y! Leagues
7.2 IP / 1 W / 4 K / 1.17 ERA / 0.65 WHIP
After his first game, Vargas has put up a quality start in all of his games since (one game was only five innings, but he still only gave up two runs). Honestly, if the Mariners we’re any better, we could be looking at 9-2 record instead of a 5-2 line.
Vargas’ season ERA is under 3.00, his WHIP is just above 1.00, and batters are only hitting .225 against the pitcher. In his fifth year, Vargas may have finally figured it out.
Who do you think is the best waiver wire pickup of the week? Can Smoak keep it up?
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Article by Evan Marx exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Evan writes a Must or Bust article and a few other gems weekly. He likes long walks on the beach and quoting Ivan Drago at least once a day.
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Former Braves Return to Atlanta for Three Game Series
Former Braves coach Ned Yost and former Braves players Bruce Chen, Kyle Davies, Kyle Farnsworth, and Wilson Betemit returned to Atlanta for a three game series at Turner Field.
Yost, now the manager of the Kansas City Royals, served on the Braves coaching staff from 1991 to 1998 as the bullpen coach and from 1999 to 2002 as the first base coach.
Chen spent most of his first three seasons in the majors with the Braves from 1998 to 2000. While in Atlanta, Chen appeared in 44 games (11 starts) and went 8-2 with a 4.13 ERA.
Kyle Davies was a product of the Braves farm system and pitched in Atlanta from 2005 to 2007. In two plus seasons with the Braves, Davies started 45 games and compiled a record of 13-22 before being traded to Kansas City in July of 2007.
After spending his first six seasons with the Cubs, reliever Kyle Farnsworth split the 2005 season between the Tigers and Braves. In Atlanta, Farnsworth went 0-0 and registered 10 saves in 26 games with a 1.98 ERA. His strikeout/walk ratio was 4.57 and he had an impressive .805 WHIP.
Because Betemit plays third base, his playing time was sporadic because the Braves already had a full-time third baseman in Chipper Jones. From 2001 to 2006, Betemit appeared in 233 games with Atlanta. He hit .281 in 495 at-bats, scored 69 runs, hit 13 home runs, and had 52 RBI before being traded to the Dodgers in 2006.
It was nice to see these familiar faces back at Turner Field even though they were now sporting Royal blue. I’m sure it was nice for them to return and reunite with some of their old Atlanta teammates as well.
Then they started to play baseball.
Game One
In the first game of the series, the Braves beat Kansas City 6-4 behind a quality start from Derek Lowe, who also helped himself out with the bat by driving in two runs.
Struggling Chipper Jones had a hit, a walk, and drove in two runs. Melky Cabrera went 3-4, scored two runs, and drove in another.
Jose Guillen of the Royals recorded a hit to extend his hitting-streak to 13 games. Billy Butler, who idolized Chipper Jones growing up, hit his seventh home run of the season off of Lowe in the fourth inning.
Game Two
The Braves won the second game of the series 5-4 on a Troy Glaus walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Braves’ Kris Medlen battled stumbling Royals ace Zack Greinke pitch-for-pitch, and he left the game in the sixth inning with a chance to earn the win. However, the bullpen would blow the lead and Medlen would have to settle for a no-decision.
After the Royals tied the game in the seventh, Venters pitched a perfect eighth inning. Billy Wagner would follow with a perfect top of the ninth become the pitcher of record and earn the win. He improved his record to 5-0 with a 1.27 ERA in addition to his 14 saves.
The Royals’ Scott Podsednik and Jason Kendell each had two RBI, Mike Aviles and Yunieski Betancourt each scored twice, and Jose Guillen extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
Zack Greinke went seven innings, gave up four runs (three earned), and struck out five Braves in a no-decision.
Last year’s A.L. Cy Young winner is just 2-8 with a 3.94 ERA through 15 starts this season.
Game Three
Former Brave Kyle Davies took the mound for the Royals as they tried to avoid a sweep. However he struggled with his control and lasted only 4.1 innings. He gave up four runs on four hits, walked seven batters, and struck out six.
Strangely, Davies fared better than Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami who lasted only two innings. He gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits and only struck out one Royal.
However, the Braves bullpen pitched seven innings of shut-out baseball, and the Braves offense was able to come through again to earn the 8-5 victory and a series sweep.
Chipper Jones went 2-3 with two doubles and three RBI. He also raised his batting average to .250 in the process. Jones is on a small five game hitting streak with five runs, seven RBI, and a .471 batting average in that stretch.
Jose Guillen extended his hitting-streak to a career best 15 games in the losing effort as he recorded two hits, two runs, and one RBI in five plate appearances.
Thoughts on the series
This was certainly not the result Ned Yost and company had hoped for. The Royals are now 29-41 on the season and are 11.5 games behind Minnesota in the A.L. Central. They’ll try to rebound as they travel to Washington, D.C. to take on the Nationals on Monday.
On the positive side for Kansas City, they were able to score an average of more than four runs per game, and they’re not swinging the bats all that poorly.
With the sweep, Atlanta has now won five straight and have increased their lead in the division to 2.5 games.
This marks the 13th consecutive series the Braves have won this season. Bobby Cox has preached the importance of winning series for the last 20 years, and the Braves are doing just that.
The Braves are winning games with their hitting and pitching, and they’re firing on all cylinders.
Troy Glaus continues to swing a hot bat, Martin Prado already has 101 hits this season, and Chipper Jones looks like he may be heating up.
Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe are anchoring the starting rotation and Billy Wagner has been outstanding as the Braves closer this season. The Braves reemphasis on pitching seems to be paying dividends.
It’s always good to see former Braves come back to Turner Field, and it’s even better to be on the winning end.
Does anyone think Ned Yost might make another return to Turner Field as Braves Manager in 2011 replacing Bobby Cox?
It could happen.
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If the recent news and rumors turn out to be true, the Braves have a big question on their hands—who is the Braves’ everyday third baseman after 2010 (or perhaps the rest of this season)?
It’s not a simple question to answer.
Third base is the one position the Braves do not have a long-term solution for. The face of the franchise will be Jason Heyward, who is primed to be in right field and in the heart of the Braves order for years to come.
Despite a rough start to for Yunel Escobar, he and Martin Prado form a solid, if not spectacular at times, combination at the middle of the diamond.
The Braves are flush with veterans and youngsters for their starting rotation, and have the enviable position of having 6 starters right now, with Kris Medlen seemingly supplanting Kenshin Kawakami as the best starter outside the trio of Lowe, Hudson and Hanson.
With rookies Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel making their debuts in the majors this season, the bullpen seems solid for the future when you also consider that Peter Moylan and Eric O’Flaherty have been effective and conceivably have their best years ahead of them.
Brian McCann is the NL’s best catcher and Troy Glaus is having a renaissance season since switching to first. Even if he’s not the long-term solution at first, Freddie Freeman is waiting in the wings.
Who’s on first? Glaus or Freeman.
What’s the name of the guy on second? Prado, an All-Star.
Third base? I don’t know.
Chipper Jones is there for now, but for now could mean a few days, a few weeks, or a few months.
Who do the Braves have on their roster who could play third? There are more than a few options.
TROY GLAUS:
Glaus made several All-Star teams and was named World Series MVP while playing third base. However, I think most might agree that part of the reason his bat has thunder in it is because he has less wear and tear defensively playing first base.
ERIC HINSKE:
Most would consider Hinske’s days of being an everyday player over, especially given his struggles hitting lefties. He’s been productive in a platoon role and won AL Rookie of the Year in 2002 with the Blue Jays. However, few, if any in the Braves organization, see Hinske as anything more than a role/bench player, a role he has played very well this season.
OMAR INFANTE:
Considering the undersized utility infielder’s size, he’s not your prototypical power hitting third baseman. However, he’s been very productive, still in his prime at 28 years old, and as recently as a week ago, was hitting a robust .328 with 16 RBIs. He’s a solid player, who could be more than just a super-utility guy that the Braves love to plug in at short, second, third or in the outfield.
BROOKS CONRAD:
The 30-year old version of Crash Davis has been waiting for his opportunity for a long time and this may be it. He’s got some pop in his bat for someone standing 5’11” and weighing only 180lbs—as evidenced by his opposite field pinch-hit grand slam against the Reds last month. The Braves right now don’t need Conrad to be a 2nd or 3rd place hitter in their lineup, and being a switch-hitter gives him an advantage over others that he wouldn’t necessarily have to be part of a platoon.
BRANDON HICKS:
While he’s been playing shortstop for a few years, some in the Braves organization hoped the 6’2″, 200 lb glove wizard would have gain some offensive skills. While he’s progressed to AAA, he’s only hitting .211, and his track record doesn’t indicate that he’d be much of an offensive threat in the majors.
DONELL LINARES:
Currently playing with AA Mississippi, he’s probably a name most Braves fans have never heard of. He’s not considered a high-ceiling prospect, isn’t on the Braves’ 40-man roster, and is already 26 years old. However, he was signed as a free agent in June 2008, and only had 79 at-bats at Low A ball in 2008. In 2009 with Myrtle Beach (not a hitter-friendly park) his .287/.328/.444 line (.772 OPS) with 15 HR, 32 doubles and 87 RBIs in 130 games and 505 at bats was decent. The ceiling isn’t very high on Linares, and he still likely needs another year in the minors. At Mississippi, he’s currently hitting .259 with 8 HR and 29 RBIs.
TY WIGGINTON:
He’s not flashy or the first person you’d think of as the Braves’ third baseman, however there are plenty of reasons to think that for this year and possibly a few more to follow, Wigginton is a possible solution until the Braves figure out who they can convert or develop to play 3rd base at the major league level for a long time.
Looking at Wigginton’s career stats—nothing jumps out at you. He’s currently in the midst of a fantastic season with .273/.358/.495, 13 HR and 38 RBIs on a terrible Orioles team, and he’s affordable, with a current salary of $3.5M for 2010. Every full season of his career, the 32 year-old journeyman (Mets, Pirates, Rays, Astros, Orioles) has hit between .258 and .284, and his 162 game averages are 22 HR and 77 RBIs. Considering Chipper Jones got paid $14M for numbers that were no better last year, he is a viable option. The bigger question is however, what would the Braves have to give up to get him.
Would a package of Jo-Jo Reyes, Jordan Schafer and another prospect bring Wigginton to the Atlanta? I know the Orioles need to rebuild and don’t have the talent in their system.
How would the Braves lineup look if the Braves could pull of the trade. Perhaps
2B – Martin Prado
3B – Ty Wigginton or SS Yunel Escobar
RF – Jason Heyward
1B – Troy Glaus
C – Brian McCann
SS – Yunel Escobar or Ty Wigginton
LF – Eric Hinske/Matt Diaz
CF – Melky Cabrera/Nate McLouth
OTHER OPTIONS:
Replacing a Hall of Fame third baseman is no easy task. The Braves could explore other trade options and perhaps target a AA/AAA third baseman in another team’s farm system who has some depth at that position. Who knows what the farm systems of the Yankees, Mets, Nationals, Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rays or Rangers are hiding; teams who have answers at the hot corner with All-Star caliber players and no foreseeable need for major offensive help at the time.
Regardless, I’m sure Frank Wren and John Scheurholz are channeling Abbott and Costello to figure out the solution to that riddle.
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All indicators seem to be pointing toward Chipper Jones retiring at the end of the 2010 season, barring some sort of miracle turnaround at the plate.
I’m hoping that he’ll right the ship and somehow manage to salvage the season, but I just don’t see it happening. Though, this is one case where I hope I’m wrong.
It’s too bad, really. The Braves are in first place in the NL East—albeit by the slimmest of margins. Yet, Chipper is in an unfamiliar place.
Yes, he’s still batting third and holding down the fort at third base, but he’s not contributing offensively in the way he’s accustomed to.
Time catches up to everyone (except Barry Bonds, it appears), and there comes a day when the body won’t do what it used to—it doesn’t react as quickly, heal as fast, and the bat doesn’t get through the zone like it once did.
It looks like that day has come for Larry Wayne “Chipper” Jones—now age 38.
He has been the anchor in the three-hole for the Braves for nearly two decades, and he is every bit as important to the team’s past success as Maddux, Glavine, or Smoltz.
He’s a lifetime Brave, and he’s given everything he has to the organization that drafted him 20 years ago.
However, Bobby Cox’s loyalty to the former MVP might prove costly if Jones continues to struggle as he has been since he won the NL batting title in 2008.
In 51 games this season (he’s missed 14 so far), Jones has scored 24 times, driven in 23 runs, and has just four home runs. He’s batting an abysmal .233 and slugging .366 in 172 at-bats—not Chipper-like numbers.
Jones met with Cox and Braves GM Frank Wren to discuss his future with the team. He was supposed to hold a press conference at which he was expected to announce his plans to retire at the end of the season, but he canceled it.
That doesn’t mean he’s not retiring; it just means he’s not ready to announce it to the world, and I’m okay with that.
Will he call it quits after this season? If I had to guess, I’d say yes.
In the meantime, I hope that he can find his stroke and help the Braves make it back to the postseason—something he’s gone on record saying he wants to do before he retires.
The Braves will move on just as all teams do, and the future looks bright with young guys like Martin Prado, Tommy Hanson, Jason Heyward, Omar Infante, Johnny Venters, and Brooks Conrad.
However, it will be a bit surreal to see the Braves take the field for the first time without No. 10 at the hot corner and batting third.
On a more positive note, Chipper had two hits in five at-bats including career home run No. 430; he also scored twice and drove in a run in a losing effort to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.
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While nothing is written is stone just yet, there is a pretty good chance that the Atlanta Braves will find themselves sans-Chipper Jones when the team reports to Spring Training in 2011.
(Oh, and yeah, I know that the Braves are a first place team with a lot going right for them right now.)
Well, that is provided that Chipper maintains his blisteringly cold .228/.375/.341 line (that he carried into Tuesday night) over the remainder of the season. His OBP is good, I’ll give him that, but his job as the No. 3 hitter is more about driving in runs than getting on base. And with only 22 RBIs (batting .267 with runners on), and with Jason Heyward and Martin Prado in front of him, there is simply too much pressure being put on Troy Glaus and Brian McCann to pick up what Jones is leaving behind.
As it stands today, the former perennial threat for 30-plus homers and a .300 (or better) batting average is struggling mightily at the plate (eight hits in his last 35 at-bats). Jones is also a defensive liability at the hot corner and he can’t keep a clean bill of health to save his life (from his fingers to his obliques to his back).
What’s more, the now 38-year-old Jones is being outplayed by all of his potential replacements on the bench.
Brooks Conrad is only six extra-base hits behind the surefire Hall-of-Famer in about a third of the number of plate appearances.
Omar Infante (who has only 30 fewer at-bats than “Hoss”) holds a .314/.351/.387 line.
Eric Hinske, who has appeared in one more game than Chipper (although with 50 fewer at-bats), and his .316/.386/.556 line makes one wonder why the Braves lifer is even getting chances at all.
But I do know the reasons: too much loyalty on the part of the manager and a $14M paycheck this season. Those factors will make it hard to tell a franchise legend it’s time to call it quits.
In my humble opinion, the best interests of all parties involved would be for ol’ Larry to ride quietly off into the sunset in a Ken Griffey, Jr.-esque fashion—he just doesn’t seem to have “it” anymore (though I’d love to be proven wrong).
But, we all know that’s not going to happen.
The fact of the matter is this: Chipper is fading, and he has been fading rapidly since winning his only batting title back in 2008.
His nostalgic presence in the Braves’ locker room is linking this club to the pitching-dominant ways of the 1990s teams headed by Maddux, Smoltz, and Glavine—and that’s not helping the current squad win games.
It’s been tough to let go of the image of Chipper as a MVP candidate…but seeing what is as close to futility as you’ll see on a Major League diamond night-in and night-out has really let that image escape my mind.
It’ll be tough to replace the name-value that came along with Chipper over at third (although “Brooks” is a pretty cool name…just saying)—but if that three year, $42 million extension (that’s Carl Crawford money right there…wink wink, nudge nudge) does indeed fall off of the table—that’ll be a pretty easy pill to swallow.
This article is also featured on The Hey Train.
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When Stephen Strasburg was drafted, the book on him was that he had unbelievable control, had command of four pitches, and had overpowering speed.
Strasburg’s major league debut was a performance for the ages. Strasburg struck out 14 Pittsburgh Pirates and walked none. He fanned the last seven hitters he faced and eight of his final nine. Strasburg threw harder in the seventh inning that he did in the first inning. Amazingly, Strasburg 94th pitch of the day was clocked at 99 miles per hour.
In his second outing, Strasburg was very good, but not nearly as dominant, as he failed to go six innings and walked five batters. Strasburg did, however, strike out eight Cleveland Indians and was still throwing in the high 90s when he left the game.
Washington Nationals fans believe that, in watching Strasburg, they are going to have a front-row seat to watch the career of a Hall of Fame pitcher.
Several baseball commentators, however, have cautioned Nationals fans not to begin making Strasburg’s bust for the Hall of Fame as no first overall pick in the draft has ever made it to the Hall of Fame.
While it is true that no first overall pick has made it the Hall, the cold water being thrown on the enthusiasm of Nationals fans appears to be misplaced as there are five players who appear poised to break the jinx before Strasburg is ready to call it a career.
The five players that will likely end the jinx of the first overall player not getting to the Hall of Fame are:
Josh Hamilton – 1999
Hamilton is, once again, considered to be one of the premier outfielders in baseball. In his first four seasons with the Rangers, Hamilton has 440 hits, 75 home runs, 274 RBIs and a batting average of .294. Hamilton turned 29 earlier this year and his prospects for getting into the Hall of Fame will likely be dictated on whether he gets enough at-bats over the course of his career.
Joe Mauer – 2001
Mauer is not only well positioned to get to the Hall of Fame, but is putting up numbers such that he could be considered to be the greatest player at his position.
In his sixth season, Mauer has 908 hits, 74 home runs, 425 RBIs, .a career 326 batting average, three Silver Slugger awards, and a Most Valuable Player award. Joe has an incredibly strong arm, which limits the number of runners who take chances on the base paths against the Twins; Mauer has also been awarded two Golden Glove awards.
Alex Rodriguez – 1993
A-Rod is about join very elite company later this year, when he hits his 600th career home run. Rodriquez will turn 35 in July and many wonder whether he will play long enough to become the all-time home run leader; he will likely play long enough to join the 3,000 hit fraternity. A-Rod’s career numbers appears to be more than Hall of Fame worthy: 2,596 hits, 591 home runs, 1,749 RBIs, .304 batting average, three Silver Slugger awards, three MVP awards, four Hank Aaron awards and two Golden Glove awards from his earlier days at shortstop.
If Rodriquez does not make the Hall, it will be because voters believe that he did more than have a brief flirtation with steroids.
Chipper Jones – 1990
Jones has been one of the more prominent faces of the Atlanta Braves franchise. Jones will not reach the magical milestones of 500 home runs or 3,000 hits, but it is difficult to see how his offensive career numbers don’t get him into the Hall of Fame at the end of the day. Jones’ career numbers: 2,444 hits, 429 home runs, 1,467 RBIs, a .306 batting average and a Most Valuable Player award. If Jones does not make it to the Hall of Fame, it will be because voters believe his defensive skills fell short.
Ken Griffey, Jr. – 1987
When he announced his retirement last week, almost all stories concerning Junior acknowledged that he was going to be a first-ballot Hall of Fame player.
Griffey’s career numbers: 2,781 hits, 630 home runs, 1,836 RBIs, a .284 batting average, seven Silver Slugger awards, an MVP award, 13 All-Star selections and ten Gold Glove awards. Griffey was also selected to Major League Baseball’s All-Century team in 1999.
Griffey will be the first player selected first-overall in the draft that will be elected to the Hall of Fame.
Strasburg will, therefore, not have to worry about the jinx of being selected first overall. Of course, those who are superstitious and believe in the power of black cats will point out that the jinx concerning players drafted first overall still applies—to pitchers.
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Oh man, it’s been so many months since I’ve done an MLB Rumor Mill at BleacherReport.com. It’s been ages, literally!
So here I am, back with the MLB Rumors. And that brings me to another thing: I haven’t written an MLB article for a long time, too. Jeez.
Oh well, here is my first MLB Rumors and just any MLB article since I fell off my dinosaur (kinda corny, I know).
Some of the rumors we’ll be discussing are Prince Fielder in trade talks, and Derrek Lee to the Los Angeles Angels.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!
Read on!
Let’s go!