Eli Cash - contributing reporter
For a refresher for those new voters, be sure to skim past articles; particularly the primer for a detailed explanation of the three scoring system we use. As a quick reminder, a sure thing for a hitter should fall above 60/130/500, for a starter its 60/130/420 and for a reliever (who doesn't use the Test Score) is 130/250. You'll see them highlighted in blue below. Don't be a '90s chicks (or a Canadian, same diff) and make sure you aren't just voting for just the long ball.
Last year we saw Sean Gosling (3B - 58/203/461), Bob Graves (SP - 73/233/391), & Raul Galvez (CF - 62/203/454) all earn entrance to the Hall. This year's hitting ballot is lead by first timer Ubaldo Alvarez (LF - 67/198/504) who only played for one franchise and retired shortly after it was moved to El Paso. Can't blame him, who wants to play in west Texas? The players whose names are in bold and green are the ones this writer will be voting for and feels are all deserving of their spot in the Cobbfather Hall of Fame.
Players ranked by Monitor score
Ubaldo Alvarez - received Eli Cash's vote
In his 1st year - In his prime years he had 6 straight seasons of 100+ R & 100+ RBI with 4 of them hitting above .300. Without a doubt he belongs in the Hall. Checks off every box.
Stat Chasers: Surpasses 2500 hits, 500 hr, 1500 runs, and 1500 rbis for his career.
Trophy Chasers: 7x All Star, 4x World Series rings, 9x Silver Slugger awards (LF & RF)
Season averages: 169 H, 32 HR, 22 SB, 102 R, 95 RBI
MLB (Monitor) Comparisons: Sammy Sosa, Roberto Alomar, Frank Thomas
Edinson Hernandez - received Eli Cash's vote
Seems to be some arguments in the writing world as to whether Edinson should be on this year's ballot, his 6th year - Fantastic lead-off hitter that often times would find himself in scoring position either by a double or a single and a stolen base. Only thing holding him back is the fact that he wasn't a 3 or 4 hitter who hit home runs.
Stat Chasers: 1 SB shy of 600, 2nd all time in 2Bs, 13 seasons with 100+ R, 6 with 30+ HR (once with 40+), 14 seasons with 35+ 2Bs (3 were 45+) - no other HoF comes even close, 2500+ H, 400+ HR, 500+ 2B
Trophy Chasers: RotY, 7x All Star, 2x World Series rings (RF)
Season averages: 172 H, 27 HR, 40 SB, 117 R, 86 RBI
MLB (Monitor) Comparisons: Paul Molitor, Kirby Puckett, Ernie Banks
Gregory Treinen
In his 1st year - Very deserve and likely would have gotten Eli's vote had it not been Edinson Hernandez and Wiki Unamuno's last year on the ballot. He can count on my vote next year without a doubt!
Stat Chasers: 600+ HR but falls short of every other milestone, 5 seasons hitting more than 50 HRs.
Trophy Chasers: 4x All Star, 1x Gold Glove 1B, 1x MVP, 2x Silver Slugger.
Season averages: 176 H, 37 HR, 2 SB, 94 R, 109 RBI
MLB (Monitor) Comparisons: Reggie Jackson, David Ortiz, Joe Morgan
Yohan Mairena
In his 1st year - His monitor score seems to rank high but seems to be driven by 4 fantastic seasons in Buffalo early in his career. I wouldn't blame you for voting for him, but there are plenty of other deserving players that are on their last chance for the hall.
Stat Chasers: Doesn't seem to hit any of the milestones.
Trophy Chasers: 6x All Star, 2x MVP, 5x Silver Slugger, 1x World Series ring
Season averages: 141 H, 33 HR, 6 SB, 84 R, 95 RBI
MLB (Monitor) Comparisons: Jim Rice, Joe Cronin, Mike Trout (as of last season)
Wiki Unamuno - received Eli Cash's vote
In his 5th year - If he doesn't make the Hall, it will be because of his limited number of seasons played. But the ones he did play, he was great as you can tell by the 542 Cash points a season. His average seasons ranks up there above Edinson Hernandez, but the counting stats just aren't quite there. Imagine having a 30 HR / 40 SB / 40 2B threat at the top of your lineup in his prime. My vote will go to him this year as it will be his last chance getting into the Hall.
Stat Chasers: Feel just shy of 2500 H by 59, 500+ 2B, .300+ career AVG, 11 seasons with 100+ R, 7 with 100+ RBI, 9 with 35+ 2B (4 were 40+), 4 seasons 30+ HR
Trophy Chasers: 6x All Star, 1x World Series ring (RF)
Season averages: 188 H, 26 HR, 36 SB, 118 R, 99 RBI
MLB (Monitor) Comparisons: Gary Carter, Ozzie Smith, Edgar Martinez
Benny Romano
In his 2nd year - Had 2 votes last year and plenty of people can make the arguments for him, but this writer just doesn't back them.
Stat Chasers: Surpassed 500 HR (by 14) and 1500 RBI (by 25), but had he not played 11 seasons in Santa Fe, there's no way he'd have those numbers. Just missed a career .300 hitter by 5 hits.
Trophy Chasers: 3x All Star, RotY, 1x Silver Slugger
Season averages: 176 H, 37 HR, 2 SB, 94 R, 109 RBI
MLB (Monitor) Comparisons: Albert Belle, Gary Carter, Don Mattingly
Haywood Swan
In his 5th and final year - He's close but not there. Least amount of seasons played for any current Hall of Famer, though also has one of the higher OPSs.
Low Test and Monitor Score
Stat Chasers: 9 seasons with 100+ R, 8 with 100+ RBI, 8 with 30+ HR (4 were 40+),
Trophy Chasers: 2x MVP, 7x All Star
Season averages: 150 H, 32 HR, 22 SB, 104 R, 97 RBI
MLB (Monitor) Comparisons: Jeff Kent, Barry Larkin, Andre Dawson
VOTE HERE
Part Two coming later for pitchers...
