Adrian Beltre Future HOFer?

craftysouthpaw said:

I think Rolen has been a better player than Beltre.

But let's say we get smarter and better about evaluating defense and there is a general consensus that Beltre is the best defensive third basemen ever to play the game. Then, it becomes pretty hard to keep him out considering his offense has been above average in total and at an all star level for several years.

I think Brett is a bad comparison but if his defense is really as good as some metrics show it to be, he is a much better comparison for Brooks. Not much better than average with the bat, but legendary with the glove.

I immediately thought "no way" when I saw this topic, but I think it is at least in the realm of possibilities.

Even if he is the best defensive 3B ever though , there is no way he should be in with Rolen and Santo on the outside.

And Biggio is a stone cold lock. Bill James has been quoted as saying he was the best player in baseball over a span of a couple of years in the late 90's. Position matters people.

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craftysouthpaw said:

I think Rolen has been a better player than Beltre.

But let's say we get smarter and better about evaluating defense and there is a general consensus that Beltre is the best defensive third basemen ever to play the game. Then, it becomes pretty hard to keep him out considering his offense has been above average in total and at an all star level for several years.

I think Brett is a bad comparison but if his defense is really as good as some metrics show it to be, he is a much better comparison for Brooks. Not much better than average with the bat, but legendary with the glove.

I immediately thought "no way" when I saw this topic, but I think it is at least in the realm of possibilities.

Even if he is the best defensive 3B ever though , there is no way he should be in with Rolen and Santo on the outside.

And Biggio is a stone cold lock. Bill James has been quoted as saying he was the best player in baseball over a span of a couple of years in the late 90's. Position matters people.

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tpeichel said:

Thought I would bump this as Beltre is having a very solid year after the recent hot streak and it was one year ago when this was posted.

This years stats:

.320/.356/.559
30 HR
89 RBI
82 Runs

Career Totals

.279/.330/.474
2199 Hits
340 HR
1202 RBI
1076 Runs
115 SB

In the last six months, also picked up his 3rd gold glove, 3rd All-Star appearance, hit 5 HR in the post-season and earned and a World Series ring.

He definitely still has a long way to go, but the last 12 months have been a big step in the right direction.

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nosterbor said:

SOOOOO. A player has a .250 life time avg. Plays 20 years gets 150 hits a year and ends up with 3000 hits. That player is not a effing HOFer! Also A player gets a hit streak of 60 games in a row., the player bats .220 in that 60 games. Now that would just suck would it not. Numbers in a factor of how they were obtained is what counts, and not just hanging around to pad them looking like a fool. AKA Pete Rose!

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ThoseBackPages said:

the "Hall of Fame" is full of guys nobody gives a XXXX about

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markakis8 said:

who is hitting .250? Beltre is borderline .280 right now, that's a huge difference. And also will most likely have 400 HR when all is said and done. AND is possibly the best defensive 3rd baseman in the past 10-12 years

you can't just throw out ridiculous numbers to make him seem like a worse ballplayer than he is just to support your opinion that he doesn't belong in the HOF.

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nosterbor said:

You did not get my point. I was just stating in general.He is young yet and has a shot. Players that pad numbers and play well past their time just to pad numbers is just making them look foolish. Look at Mays last 2-3 years, He hung around for the paycheck. It was very sad to watch him play. Now look at Chipper Jones. Last year he got hurt and was to retire, he knew he was better than that and came back. He is having a very good solid year. Class act! Now he say's he might come back next year. I hope he just retires and does not come back and look awful. As for Rolen? I think he is hanging around for the pay check just retire already.

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markakis8 said:

Did David Freese only have a magical Game 6 in my world? LOL

Anyway, I still think his Mariner years and some of his mediocre Dodger years hurt him b/c he wasn't POPULAR - even after his MVP-caliber year in LA. My original opinion still stands, he needs to get to 3,000 hits to get in. I think he very well could get to 3,000 hits and will have 400 HR and being on a dominant team like the Rangers in the last part of his career certainly isn't going to hurt.

I could see him sneaking in on the later ballots, if he finishes with 400 HR and like 2,800 hits or something.

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nosterbor said:

You did not get my point. I was just stating in general.He is young yet and has a shot. Players that pad numbers and play well past their time just to pad numbers is just making them look foolish. Look at Mays last 2-3 years, He hung around for the paycheck. It was very sad to watch him play. Now look at Chipper Jones. Last year he got hurt and was to retire, he knew he was better than that and came back. He is having a very good solid year. Class act! Now he say's he might come back next year. I hope he just retires and does not come back and look awful. As for Rolen? I think he is hanging around for the pay check just retire already.

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katieneack said:

Have you looked at Scott Rolen's numbers post all star break? He is batting .314 with a .408 OBP. He isn't just hanging around for the paycheck. He is a major contributor on a team that is in first place. He has always been a class act so I don't know why you would say he is just hanging around for the paycheck. And Scott Rolen is the best defensive 3rd baseman of the last 10-12 years, not Adrian Beltre.

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