If Jim Thome is a no doubt Hall of Famer...

[Can_of_corn]

And he hits 599 and 600 in the same game!

I am eagerly awaiting the HBO special about him.

[backwardsk]

Congratulations Jim Thome!

[scOtt]

I guess Lorenzo Cain is screwed before his career even really begins...

I had to look it up first. I thought Johnny Sain was in the HOF.

[MurphDogg]

What reason is that?

Exactly, Raines and Thome have nearly identical WAR. My guess is that Raines gets in eventually, perhaps elected by the Veteran's Committee or whatever entity replaces them.

[Can_of_corn]

Exactly, Raines and Thome have nearly identical WAR. My guess is that Raines gets in eventually, perhaps elected by the Veteran's Committee or whatever entity replaces them.

Now that Blyleven is in I expect the SABR community to push hard for Raines.

[DrungoHazewood]

Exactly, Raines and Thome have nearly identical WAR. My guess is that Raines gets in eventually, perhaps elected by the Veteran's Committee or whatever entity replaces them.

Now that Blyleven is in I expect the SABR community to push hard for Raines.

If the BBWAA can muster their forces and withstand the onslaught of logic and common sense coming their way in support of Raines they're more determined than I think they are.

[Can_of_corn]

If the BBWAA can muster their forces and withstand the onslaught of logic and common sense coming their way in support of Raines they're more determined than I think they are.

They are doing a good job so far. He got a bump this year and is exactly halfway there (37.5%). He has time but that is a lot of ground to make up.

[markdublya]

Coincidentally, 2 of my favorite non-Orioles of all-time, Thome and 'Gar!

[mrbig1]

No doubt HOF.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Maybe its just my perception of the 1980s, or that its such a recent time compared to the rest of baseball history, but it seems that there are a lot of guys who either are having or had trouble getting in who probably should be in versus those who are in or are getting support but probably shouldn't.

[DrungoHazewood]

Maybe its just my perception of the 1980s, or that its such a recent time compared to the rest of baseball history, but it seems that there are a lot of guys who either are having or had trouble getting in who probably should be in versus those who are in or are getting support but probably shouldn't.

It's always been wacky. There have never been any consistent standards. In 1954 Rabbit Maranville (career OPS .658, career WAR 38) led all candidates in votes, while Arky Vaughn, arguably the 2nd or 3rd best shortstop of all time, 76 WAR, got 2 votes and 0.8% of the votes. Maranville got a lot more votes than Hank Greenberg, Dazzy Vance, Gabby Hartnett, Zach Wheat, and a bunch of other now-HOFers.

Ray Schalk, who was kind of a Rick Dempsey/Benito Santiago of the 1910s, got into the Hall before any number of eligible candidates we now see as no-brainers, or inner circle guys.

[UnashamedRiver]

The reason this is even a debate is because there was never a point in time that Thome was the best player in baseball. Nobody is going to look back at the 2000s and say wow, that was the Thome era. 600 HR's or not.

[Austin]

The reason this is even a debate is because there was never a point in time that Thome was the best player in baseball. Nobody is going to look back at the 2000s and say wow, that was the Thome era. 600 HR's or not.

So the Hall of Fame is only for players regarded as the "best player in baseball" at one point or another? I have a hard time believing Cal Ripken or Ryne Sandberg or Dennis Eckersley were ever considered the best player in baseball.

[UnashamedRiver]

So the Hall of Fame is only for players regarded as the "best player in baseball" at one point or another? I have a hard time believing Cal Ripken or Ryne Sandberg or Dennis Eckersley were ever considered the best player in baseball.

Dominance counts for more than longevity. To a certain point.

[Austin]

Dominance counts for more than longevity. To a certain point.

So you see Thome's career OPS of .962 as a sign of longevity rather than dominance? OPS isn't a counting stat, by the way.