HOF debate: Josh Hamilton

[JzWand]

He wont get in.

Hes always going to be an addict so we never know when/if he will relapse again and all it takes is for one bad relapse to mess everything up!

Now moving past that, he is IMO one of the best god given talents I have seen.

I wont compare him with Junior only because Griffey was probably the best centerfielder I have ever seen but at the plate I think Hamilton is right up there.

Shame he pissed away almost 10 years of his life.

If he could have only started his comeback a few year earlier I believe he would have a legit shot at the HOF.

 

[Jeff D]

there aren't many people that understand baseball talent that would argue a difference between Griffey and Hamilton OVERALL

With all due respect, you're delusional.

 

[PeteD]

ummm guys...they gave him the MVP over Bautista (who happened to hit 54 hrs) even though he missed the last month of the season.

Stranger things have happened

 

[xcantgobackx]

I actually was thinking about this today. If (and that's a big if) he's one of those players who can put up comparable numbers into his late 30s, it's a possibility. I know everyone is killing you for this, but I don't think it's that far fetched. The guy is really one of the greatest talents I've ever seen and I don't know how anyone is arguing that. So hard to tell at this stage, but when healthy, the guy is on another level.

 

[trauty]

If he does everything you hypothesize he will get in (except for winning the World Series, that's not really important when it comes to making the baseball HOF). It might take him a while but he will get in. Ralph Kiner got elected in his 13th try despite only playing 10 years (age 23-32) .279 BA, 369 HR's, 1011 RBI, .946 OPS - he also never won an MVP or played in the World Series. If you have a decade of greatness, you definitely should get in. It's a stretch to think he will maintain those levels for the next 6 or7 years but if he does, he'll get the call at some point.

 

[Titans74]

There is no debate. No.

 

[Crewfan82]

He would need all the stars to allign to get in, but I don't see it happening. I just don't think he can stay healthly enough long term. Great player who is on an unreal run so far this year, but I just don't see it happening.

 

[Hollywood]

Hamilton's career high is 32 homers. He would have to turn into Barry Bonds to make the HOF. He is also following the career pattern of A-Rod where every other year (I think A-rod did it in odd number seasons 01 03 etc.) he puts up really good numbers. To say he is much better than Kemp and Braun is ludicrous. Kemp just put up the best season of anyone, besides one A-Rod steroid season, over the last 10 years. He did it in a lineup where Ethier was the only other player that had an OPS above .700 at a whopping .789 and 11 homers. Playing nearly 110 games in the 5 worst hitting ballparks in baseball. You put Kemp in that Texas lineup and ballpark and you'd really see what beast mode is.

Braun has 32+ homers in 4 of his first 5 seasons in the majors and 100+ RBI in 4 out of 5. The only season he didn't have 100 rbi was his rookie year, where he had 97 rbi in 451 at bats. He also has a .312 avg over those 5 seasons, and averages over 19 steals a year. Also had 506 runs over his first 5 seasons. Has never played in 162 games. He is the only player remotely comparable to Pujols' consistent production over that same time period. Continue dreaming over one amazing week.

 

[Wes]

Hamilton's career high is 32 homers. He would have to turn into Barry Bonds to make the HOF. He is also following the career pattern of A-Rod where every other year (I think A-rod did it in odd number seasons 01 03 etc.) he puts up really good numbers. To say he is much better than Kemp and Braun is ludicrous. Kemp just put up the best season of anyone, besides one A-Rod steroid season, over the last 10 years. He did it in a lineup where Ethier was the only other player that had an OPS above .700 at a whopping .789 and 11 homers. Playing nearly 110 games in the 5 worst hitting ballparks in baseball. You put Kemp in that Texas lineup and ballpark and you'd really see what beast mode is.

Braun has 32+ homers in 4 of his first 5 seasons in the majors and 100+ RBI in 4 out of 5. The only season he didn't have 100 rbi was his rookie year, where he had 97 rbi in 451 at bats. He also has a .312 avg over those 5 seasons, and averages over 19 steals a year. Also had 506 runs over his first 5 seasons. Has never played in 162 games. He is the only player remotely comparable to Pujols' consistent production over that same time period. Continue dreaming over one amazing week.

Really? Because 9 years ago Barry Bonds hit .370/.582/.799. 8 years ago he hit .341/.529/.749. And 7 years ago he hit .362/.609/.812. Pujols' '08 and '09 seasons were also better.

 

[Hollywood]

Really? Because 9 years ago Barry Bonds hit .370/.582/.799. 8 years ago he hit .341/.529/.749. And 7 years ago he hit .362/.609/.812. Pujols' '08 and '09 seasons were also better.

It appears you are probably right. Kemp had a 10.0 war on baseballreference last I writing about it, which still isn't better than Bonds. Now it is lowered to what the other sites have him at. I should have said since 2005 not 10 years.

He is still the only person in Major League history to go .310 110 runs 35 hr 110 rbi 40 steals and he demolished it with .324 115 runs 39 hr 126 rbi 40 steals with the team playing 161 games.

 

[zach]

DiMaggio or Koufax only played about a dozen years and are solid HOFers, so why not. Koufax only dominated for five or six years.

DiMaggio played for 13 years...Hamilton 6 (so far) - essentially half the time.

He's not even close to half the numbers that DiMaggio put up. Although Hamilton already has DiMaggio beat on SO's . To put Hamilton in the mix with DiMaggio is not a good comparison.

Why would you put Koufax into this?

 

[csmtampa]

He wont get in.

Hes always going to be an addict so we never know when/if he will relapse again and all it takes is for one bad relapse to mess everything up!

Now moving past that, he is IMO one of the best god given talents I have seen.

I wont compare him with Junior only because Griffey was probably the best centerfielder I have ever seen but at the plate I think Hamilton is right up there.

Shame he pissed away almost 10 years of his life.

If he could have only started his comeback a few year earlier I believe he would have a legit shot at the HOF.

It's clear you have no clue what you're even posting about.

 

[markakis8]

DiMaggio played for 13 years...Hamilton 6 (so far) - essentially half the time.

He's not even close to half the numbers that DiMaggio put up. Although Hamilton already has DiMaggio beat on SO's . To put Hamilton in the mix with DiMaggio is not a good comparison.

Why would you put Koufax into this?

Are you even reading the thread? No one is comparing Hamilton to DiMaggio or Hamilton to Koufax. We are comparing the length of their careers.

 

[George_Calfas]

I just dont see it happening; he would need to maintain these numbers and his new pace--age and injury history leave me skeptical.

Many players put up gaudy numbers in a contract season. JH is motivated to get paid; we all would be. Is his 2012 numbers (to this point) a function of trying to prove himself for his next contract or is he just this good?

 

[zach]

Are you even reading the thread? No one is comparing Hamilton to DiMaggio or Hamilton to Koufax. We are comparing the length of their careers.

Did you even read his post? My reply was based on that including the time played/dominance. When you start talking about the time they played/dominated, you have to look at the numbers they put up in that time frame. So yes, he was comparing Hamilton to those two in the sense of time, but their accomplishments in that time frame has to be included other wise...so what? Whats the point of throwing their names into the discussion?

 

[ChasHawk]

Really? Because 9 years ago Barry Bonds hit .370/.582/.799. 8 years ago he hit .341/.529/.749. And 7 years ago he hit .362/.609/.812. Pujols' '08 and '09 seasons were also better.

~And we all know that Bonds was clean~

 

[elmalo]

It's all hypothetical. I mean, do I think he could make the HOF? Sure. But he's a definite longshot. I know that. But I'm not talking about Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp, or Joey Votto here. Guys that are the best in the game today but who knows where they will be in 12 years. I'm talking about a guy that is by far the most talented ballplayer in the game today and it isn't even a debate. And if he dominates the league like he has shown us in his MVP year and so far this year, witch his checkered past, is it possible he could make the HOF with only 11-13 years of his career?

The key to me making this thread is how late he started his career plus his heavy drug use that inhibited his opportunity to come up as a Devil Ray. We all know how dumb and naive writers can be when it comes to putting someone in the HOF. I really think the drug use would hurt Hamilton's chances if he puts up the numbers I proposed in my 1st post.

I think Matt Kemp, Robinson Cano and Miggy have just as much talent as Josh Hamilton does.

 

[elmalo]

DiMaggio played for 13 years...Hamilton 6 (so far) - essentially half the time.

He's not even close to half the numbers that DiMaggio put up. Although Hamilton already has DiMaggio beat on SO's . To put Hamilton in the mix with DiMaggio is not a good comparison.

Why would you put Koufax into this?

DiMaggio also missed 3 years in his prime due to the war and was playing with debilitating bone spurs in his heels the last 2 years of his career. He was also a righty in a ballpark that was death to righties. DiMaggio was also one of the biggest celebrities in the entire country.

 

[elmalo]

Alberte Belle put up dominant numbers for his entire career. He didnt even get enough votes to stay on the ballot.

 

[matfanofold]

Alberte Belle put up dominant numbers for his entire career. He didnt even get enough votes to stay on the ballot.

Albert Bell was also mostly disliked by everyone.

The power of poularity is a mighty force in voting as well. This is why if Hamilton puts up MVP like numbers for 7 or so years, he will be heavily considered assuming he remains so favorably popular.