The 2014 HOF ballot...who's in?

[Dove]

What helps players like Pedro, Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas is that their bodies did exactly what's supposed to happen when you hit your mid-30's.

Their bodies broke down and their numbers quickly deteriorated.

The biggest hit against the Roiders is that their numbers and playing from age 34-40+ stayed constant or improved. Which is the easiest red flag to wave.

At age 38 Frank Thomas found it again finishing 4th in the MVP voting. 39 jacks and 114 knocked in (in 137 games!!). At age 39 he yanked 26 home runs driving in 95. That was an improvement after two seasons of 108 games played combined.

Things that make us go hmmmmmm.

 

[Chin Diesel]

At age 38 Frank Thomas found it again finishing 4th in the MVP voting. 39 jacks and 114 knocked in (in 137 games!!). At age 39 he yanked 26 home runs driving in 95. That was an improvement after two seasons of 108 games played combined.

Things that make us go hmmmmmm.

I get that with Thomas but I give him some leeway because those were an aberration around a steady decline. And it was only the power numbers that were still high. All his other numbers for hitting were down. Those were closer to Dave Kingman numbers than the Williams/Gerhig numbers he was putting up his first ten years.

Much like if Clemens or Bonds had one or two seasons like they were doing surrounded by sub-par numbers the rest of the way. It was that they were consistently performing well above what a 40 year old should be able to do.

 

[mauconnfan]

I get that with Thomas but I give him some leeway because those were an aberration around a steady decline. And it was only the power numbers that were still high. All his other numbers for hitting were down. Those were closer to Dave Kingman numbers than the Williams/Gerhig numbers he was putting up his first ten years.

Much like if Clemens or Bonds had one or two seasons like they were doing surrounded by sub-par numbers the rest of the way. It was that they were consistently performing well above what a 40 year old should be able to do.

He was also saved by the Dan Hurley in a big way so that's why I'm not sold on him but whatever, I knew he was going…...

 

[G0UCONN]

There is nearly zero rational doubt Thomas juiced..but never caught...

 

[tzznandrew]

There is nearly zero rational doubt Thomas juiced..but never caught...

Eh, there is a ton of rational doubt. Frank Thomas was complaining about steriods in baseball since 1995--long before people cared. I don't think you juice and also are one of the leaders against it. It's silly. And entirely different, say, than Palmiero.

That said, sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if it came back that he had juiced.

 

[StoweD210]

What helps players like Pedro, Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas is that their bodies did exactly what's supposed to happen when you hit your mid-30's.

Their bodies broke down and their numbers quickly deteriorated.

The biggest hit against the Roiders is that their numbers and playing from age 34-40+ stayed constant or improved. Which is the easiest red flag to wave.

That's fallout of the "steroid era" (Not there's any way to prove the era is over and everyone is clean now): You used to be able to watch a player break a record or perform at high level beyond their prime and just appreciate it. Now, you have to wonder if a player received some pharmaceutical assistance along the way even if they haven't been associated with any suspicious activity.

Maybe a guy who maintains his numbers into his late 30s and early 40s is one of those rare individuals who, through good genes and good luck (no freak or recurring injuries), can play longer than normal. It just seems like those sort of performances are happening more often, which makes you wonder if all of those guys are that gifted or if they are finding another way to maintain their effectiveness.