- Thread starter
- #1
death2redemptions
New member
Baseball is back and with all the excitement I thought I'd kick it off with an opinion piece. I was curious to hear who (if anyone) among the active starters you believe will end up in the HOF. I currently have a list of 3...
1. Justin Verlander 188-114, 3.46 ERA (3.47 FIP) 2545 IP 2416 K/771 BB, 1.18 WHIP (56.9 WAR)
Reasons why: He just turned 35 but he's revitalized his career these last couple seasons and I could see 4-5 seasons left in him. He needs 582 strikeouts to reach the 3k mark which pretty much makes any pitcher a shoe-in for the Hall (unless your name is Curt Schilling). If he can average just 150 strikeouts for 4 more years or 120 in 5 he'll accomplish that goal and I see no reason why he couldn't reach those numbers assuming there isn't a career ending injury or TJ surgery that gets in the way. We'll obviously see a regression in his numbers at some point but he's rediscovered his strike out stuff (200+ k's in 2016/2017) so averaging 150 k for 4 more years isn't asking too much.
2. Max Scherzer 141-75, 3.30 ERA (3.25 FIP) 1897 IP 2149 K/534 BB, 1.12 WHIP (44.6 WAR)
Reasons why: 3 Cy Young Awards, finishing top 5 in the last 5 seasons. Has also gone at least 200 IP with 200+ strikeouts the last five seasons. Incredible career 4.02 strikeout to walk rate & 10.2 K/9. Similarly to JV has a pretty good shot at 3k strikeouts assuming he isn't plagued with injuries down the road. Pitched two no-hitters in a single season and struck out 20 batters in a single game. Randy Johnson is the only other pitcher who has a no-hitter & 20 strikeout game.
3. Clayton Kershaw 144-64, 2.36 ERA (2.60 FIP) 1935 IP 2120 K/507 BB, 1.00 WHIP (57.4 WAR)
Reason why: 3 Cy Young Awards, 7 200+ strikeout seasons, leads all active pitchers in career ERA, FIP, WHIP, H/9 & win%. I believe if he suffered a career ending injury right now he'd still make it to the HOF. His career numbers are just as good (possibly even better) than those of Sandy Koufax.
Dark Horses:
C.C. Sabathia - Overall his numbers aren't exactly mind blowing however he is just 154 strikeouts short of 3,000 & if he can reach that total then he'd at the very least have to be in the HOF discussions.
Felix Hernandez - If I created this thread two years ago he would be one of my candidates but as he's been riddled with injuries his stats have seen relatively poor these last couple seasons. Still, I wouldn't count him out just yet. Maybe he'll pull a JV and make a run at that 3,000 strikeout milestone as he isn't that far off. His other career stats are also extremely solid including a 3.20 ERA & 3.35 FIP.
Zack Greinke - He doesn't have any long stints in his career where he's been the best in the game but his career numbers are still very solid. They are actually similar to Justin Verlander's but with a couple hundred less strikeouts
Feel free to completely disagree with some of my choices or add some names of your own, after all this is an opinion piece. In the spirit of the regular season looming right around the corner I'd like to get some good ol fashioned baseball conversations going!
1. Justin Verlander 188-114, 3.46 ERA (3.47 FIP) 2545 IP 2416 K/771 BB, 1.18 WHIP (56.9 WAR)
Reasons why: He just turned 35 but he's revitalized his career these last couple seasons and I could see 4-5 seasons left in him. He needs 582 strikeouts to reach the 3k mark which pretty much makes any pitcher a shoe-in for the Hall (unless your name is Curt Schilling). If he can average just 150 strikeouts for 4 more years or 120 in 5 he'll accomplish that goal and I see no reason why he couldn't reach those numbers assuming there isn't a career ending injury or TJ surgery that gets in the way. We'll obviously see a regression in his numbers at some point but he's rediscovered his strike out stuff (200+ k's in 2016/2017) so averaging 150 k for 4 more years isn't asking too much.
2. Max Scherzer 141-75, 3.30 ERA (3.25 FIP) 1897 IP 2149 K/534 BB, 1.12 WHIP (44.6 WAR)
Reasons why: 3 Cy Young Awards, finishing top 5 in the last 5 seasons. Has also gone at least 200 IP with 200+ strikeouts the last five seasons. Incredible career 4.02 strikeout to walk rate & 10.2 K/9. Similarly to JV has a pretty good shot at 3k strikeouts assuming he isn't plagued with injuries down the road. Pitched two no-hitters in a single season and struck out 20 batters in a single game. Randy Johnson is the only other pitcher who has a no-hitter & 20 strikeout game.
3. Clayton Kershaw 144-64, 2.36 ERA (2.60 FIP) 1935 IP 2120 K/507 BB, 1.00 WHIP (57.4 WAR)
Reason why: 3 Cy Young Awards, 7 200+ strikeout seasons, leads all active pitchers in career ERA, FIP, WHIP, H/9 & win%. I believe if he suffered a career ending injury right now he'd still make it to the HOF. His career numbers are just as good (possibly even better) than those of Sandy Koufax.
Dark Horses:
C.C. Sabathia - Overall his numbers aren't exactly mind blowing however he is just 154 strikeouts short of 3,000 & if he can reach that total then he'd at the very least have to be in the HOF discussions.
Felix Hernandez - If I created this thread two years ago he would be one of my candidates but as he's been riddled with injuries his stats have seen relatively poor these last couple seasons. Still, I wouldn't count him out just yet. Maybe he'll pull a JV and make a run at that 3,000 strikeout milestone as he isn't that far off. His other career stats are also extremely solid including a 3.20 ERA & 3.35 FIP.
Zack Greinke - He doesn't have any long stints in his career where he's been the best in the game but his career numbers are still very solid. They are actually similar to Justin Verlander's but with a couple hundred less strikeouts
Feel free to completely disagree with some of my choices or add some names of your own, after all this is an opinion piece. In the spirit of the regular season looming right around the corner I'd like to get some good ol fashioned baseball conversations going!