My Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame Ballot

Man o' Man, the Hall of Fame season is all around us!  I see columns and posts everywhere!  I even contributed a post to my own blog on Tuesday where I went through my personal fake Hall of Fame ballot.  If you missed it, check it out!  Today, I want to discuss an even more important and personally significant Hall of Fame:  The Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame. 

Voting is going on as we speak, using the democratic hallmarks of Facebook and Twitter.  The ballot has been live for a week or so, and I wanted to weigh in on my official picks for the Twins Hall of Fame.  I have identified seven Twins I might vote for (eventually, I'm very busy of course).  You aren't going to see a lot of advanced stats here.  The Twins Hall of Fame is all about wonderment.  It's about memories and dingers.  It's about the intangibles.  It's really about me not wanting to do any research for this.  And really, isn't that what life is all about?

I'm only voting for players I've watched play.  I'll leave Larry Hisle's campaign to my Dad, who has no clue how to use Twitter.  Godspeed, Larry and Dad. 

Tom Brunansky (OF, 1982-88) - Yep

Bruno's debut with the Twins was just shortly before I was born.  He made it through six and a sliver seasons with the Twins before being jettisoned for a vastly inferior player with feathered hair.  Now, he's back with the organization as a coach, he had an epic mustache and he was a really important part of a World Series team.  He has the ninth most home runs in Twins history.  I think Michael Cuddyer is a lock for the Twins HOF in the future, and Bruno was better.  I think he's a worthy candidate and he gets my vote. 

Dan Gladden (OF, 1987-91) - Nah

This is hard for me.  He won two World Series with the Twins, scored the winning run in 1991 and I actually enjoy Dazzle as a broadcaster.  The problem is that he wasn't really a very good player.  He was the team's leadoff hitter, but didn't really have the skills to hit in that position in the order.  He only had a .318 OBP as a Twin, lower than guys like Delmon Young, Scott Leius and Nick Punto.  Gladden was actually pretty bad in both World Series seasons too.  I'm not sure how exclusive the Twins want their Hall of Fame to be, but Dan Gladden doesn't really fit with the guys currently included. 

Brian Harper (C, 1988-93) - Yes

Only four players in Twins history have a higher batting average than Harper (minimum 2400 plate appearances):  Rod Carew, Joe Mauer, Kirby Puckett and Shane Mack (who we'll get to shortly).  Rare air.  Harper provided quality offense and adequate defense at one of the most important positions on the diamond.  He was consistent and durable in his six seasons with the Twins.  He was a very important part of a World Series winning team.  I consider him underrated, although I'm sure stats guys would think he's overrated.  I'm voting for him regardless.

Chuck Knoblauch (2B, 1991-97) - Oh goodness, yes.

This is a slam dunk.  Knoblauch took over as the best player on the team from Kirby Puckett, and actually did so in 1994 while Puckett was still active.  Knoblauch is right behind Harper for sixth on that batting average list from above.  He has the most stolen bases in Twins history, the sixth most runs, the 10th most hits and the 11th most doubles.  He also has the seventh highest rWAR (for hitters).  Simply put, he's one of the best players in Twins history.  We (as fans) have a complicated history with Knobby, but it's time to bury the hatchet.  I think he will get a ridiculous ovation when he comes out for his enshrinement. 

Corey Koskie (3B, 1998-2004) - Yep

Koskie probably is the most underrated player in Twins history.  It's not really that fans didn't appreciate his contributions, it's that he contributed even more than we thought he did at the time.  Only Mauer, Carew, Knoblauch, Harmon Killebrew, Matt Lawton (who probably should be on this ballot), Steve Braun and  Mack have a higher career OBP with the Twins (min 2400 PA).  He also has the tenth highest slugging percentage in Twins history (min 2400 PA too).  He was a great defender early in his career and remained good until he left for Toronto.  Leaving for Canada is a ding, but his career with the Twins was great. 

Shane Mack (OF, 1990-94) - Oh yeah

Mack doesn't have the longevity of others on this list, but he was a fantastic player and produced better than everyone but Knoblauch when he was with the team.  Using that 2400 PA sample I already have in Baseball Reference's season index, Mack is 4th in batting average, 4th in slugging, and 7th in OBP.  If it weren't for the stupid players' strike, he may have stayed longer and he'd be that high in the counting stat categories as well.  He was really good in Japan.  Even with just five years of service, he still has the 15th highest rWAR in Twins' history (hitters only).  Plus, I said this on Twitter last week, he's been AWOL from team functions for years.  This might bring him back into Twins Territory.  It's a human interest story AND he's deserving.  Let's do this, Twins fans!

Kevin Tapani (P, 1989-95) - Eh, maybe...no

A lot of the methods I used to justify players above, could be used for Tapani.  He's 9th all-time in Twins career wins, 9th in innings pitched and 12th in strikeouts.  However, the Twins have some outstanding pitchers in their history and then a whole lot of unimpressive hurlers.  Emphasis on hurl.  Only ten pitchers have thrown 1000 or more innings for the Twins and Tapani is second-worst.  Tapani wasn't a bad pitcher, but he was more of the best of a mediocre bunch than a good pitcher among other good pitchers.  He was outstanding in 1991, and average or worse in every other season.  I can't vote for him. 

There you have it.  It's very hard for me to make an informed decision about these players.  I watched them growing up and I loved each of them.  All I want to do is find reasons why they should be added to this important institution.  I'll enjoy watching their ceremony and I might even try to go to Mack's in person.  I'm not very objective, but I don't care.  This Hall of Fame is for the fans, and I was a big fan of all of these players.  I'll probably even vote for Gladden and Tapani, just because I can and it's fun. 

Thanks for reading.  Who are you voting for?

My Hall of Fame Ballot

The Hall of Fame Season is upon us.  It is a glorious time when columnists, beat writers and bloggers come together with the mutual love of having an easy topic to write about.  I love the Hall of Fame because of the debates.  I've never been to the Museum, I don't intend to visit and I really don't care who gets in and who doesn't.  However, I love a good argument!  My major beef this year is that the ballot is too small for my fake votes.  I count 17 players I would vote for, but the maximum ballot holds just ten.  That's silly.

Of course, we wouldn't be in this fake mess if the writers who had real votes would just be cool and vote in the best players.  That would be too simple, and certainly less provocative.  Therefore, guys like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are still on the ballot because the morality police put them on probation.  Jeff Bagwell and Mike Piazza are just too muscular to be in the Hall of Fame.  Tim Raines and Alan Trammell don't pass the "eye test" even though I'm certain most writers wear corrective lenses.  Even Craig Biggio, or "Clean-as-a-Whistle Craig," didn't get in last year because it was his first ballot and he's not a "first-ballot HOFer."  If those six were in, I could cast my fake ballot of ten and go take a nice nap, knowing that I only left one millionaire out. 

Narratives aside, the ballot is also packed because a slew of talented players all retired around the same time.  As such, we fake voters just get 10 votes because we are hamstrung by rules, narratives and talent.  It's all very sad. 

Again, I would vote for 17, but I'm going to discuss 26 players because I REFUSE TO BE CONCISE!  You can't hold me down, BBWAA. 

They are in tiers though; I care about the children.

Write-in vote - Kenny Lofton

How does a player as talented, with a career as impressive as Lofton's drop off after just one year?  I blame all the blank-ballot idiots.  Lofton had an 80 flattop and was basically always on base (at least according to my memory).  He deserved to be included in pointless discussions for at least a few more years.  Tragic stuff.

Personal Heroes - Jacque Jones, Moises Alou, and Hideo Nomo

I use the word "hero" very loosely.  Jones was a Twin and this is a Twins blog, so I have obligations.  Alou kept his hands soft using a very unique technique.  I use Vaseline Men's lotion.  However, I would be interested in the response I would get from my co-workers if I chose Alou's method while in my office.  I get odd looks using lotion, so who knows.  Nomo had a really cool windup. 

Just can't do it, man - Jack Morris, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Lee Smith and Rafael Palmeiro

By my count, Morris is somewhere between the 20th and 25th best player on this ballot.  With only ten to choose from, how can you pick him?  Also, if he wasn't a Hall of Famer the past 14 years, why is he now?  Flawed arguments!  Mattingly's nickname was The Hit Man, which is just fantastic.  That nickname, his mustache, and his ridiculous peak deserve to be in Cooperstown.  I'm not even sure I spelled Palmeiro's name correctly and I would hate to be scolded by him.  If Lee Smith gets in, Joe Nathan deserves it too.  Just saying.  Fred McGriff - Hall of Fame nickname, Hall of Very, Very Good player.  If you can explain to me how he and Luis Gonzalez were that different as players, I'll possibly change my tune. 

'roids? - Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa

These guys saved baseball in 1998, or so the story goes.  Each has a good to great Hall of Fame case.  I think McGwire is just slightly better than Sosa because he had much better plate discipline and played in bigger ballparks.  I would probably vote for both if there was enough room.  I don't get too hung up on the steroid issue.  Both appeared to wear a size 9 cap.  However, it was the era, man.  Steroids were everywhere.  It was the thing to do.  Needles/butts, it's just how it was.  However, with so many deserving choices, I choose to use steroids to keep these two off my ballot for at least this year.  If my ballot could runneth over, I'd vote for both guys. 

THERE'S NO ROOM BLAME THE WRITERS - Jeff Kent, Craig Biggio, Edgar Martinez, Tim Raines, Larry Walker

I love all of these players like they're my children.  In fact, I'm pitching that very premise to ABC Family as we speak.  However, Full Clubhouse will have to wait and so will these fine players.  Each player deserves my vote, but my ballot is just so stuffed!  While they are all great, they just don't match the ten guys who I will vote for.  Hopefully, I'll get the chance to cast a fake vote for them in the future. 

For the record, Full Clubhouse would work:

Did you know it is actually illegal to photoshop over John Stamos?

Executive Decision choice - Alan Trammell

In the cinematic classic Executive Decision, the entry tunnel from the fighter jet (or whatever, I don't know planes) to the hijacked plane is about to tear away.  As we in the audience can clearly see the little tunnel destructing, Kurt Russell (from inside the hijacked plane) says to Steven Seagal, "we're not going to make it."  Seagal (still in the tunnel) says, "you are!" and shuts the hatch, saving the hijacked plane, saving the Kurt Russell, and effectively killing himself.  It was more surprising than heroic.  I mean, have you ever watched a Seagal movie?  When has that guy even taken damage, much less died?  Typically he takes one punch to the ribs and then severely beats up every person in the state.  

What's the point?  Alan Trammell:  you are!  That's clumsy and I apologize.  The five guys in the previous category are Hall of Famers in my book.  I'll vote for each when I have room and when I actually have a ballot.  However, Trammell is the closest to falling off the ballot, so he gets my tenth vote.  His excellent defense at shortstop and his underrated offense provided 70.3 rWAR for the Tigers over his 20-year career.  He's a very underrated player and much more excellent than he gets lamestream credit for.

'roids Part II - Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens

These guys were all about steroids!  They cheated* and that makes it hard to vote for them.  I get it.  However, these are two of the best players in MLB history.  Clemens is arguably one of the best pitchers of all time and no one has more career home runs than Bonds.  I fully support the plan to put a giant asterisk on their bust.  Why not just use an asterisk instead of their face?  It would be a lot less work.  You walk up to Clemens' plaque and there's just a giant star-shaped icon and some words about him.  It's an insult and it's practical.  Who loses in that scenario?

*They didn't actually cheat.  They broke the law.  It's a cute point, but true.    

BUT HOW DO WE EXPLAIN IT TO THE CHILDREN?  Easy, here's a script:  "They cheated, that's why their faces look weird.  We're in a museum and museums document stuff that happened.  These guys happened, they were good, they cheated and now their faces have been taken from them like in Face/Off.  Do you want Nicolas Cage to take your face? (pause for affirmation) Good, neither do I; don't cheat.  Now, let's get some nachos."  If your kids don't like nachos, then you're on your own. 

You want my vote?  You want my vote?  You got my vote!  You got my vote, buddy! - Mike Mussina, Tom Glavine, Curt Schilling, Jeff Bagwell, Frank Thomas and Mike Piazza

Can we lump the three pitchers together for a minute?  I think all three deserve this honor.  I also think Glavine will have the easiest path to enshrinement, although Mussina and Schilling were better pitchers.  Glavine has that shiny 300 win total and Mussina and Schilling do not.  Schilling likely has a better chance than Mussina due to his massive playoff success. 

If you told me that I could have one of these three for their career, I'd take Mussina.  I'd also be very curious about where you got your powers, how you found me and what you were up to.  That's another story though.  People seem to remember Yankees Mussina.  Yankees Mussina was great, but Orioles Mussina was even better.

Bagwell should be in already.  Larry Walker should not be in my Full Clubhouse pitch and it's your fault for not voting Bagwell in sooner!  Well, not your fault, the royal your.  Society.  Bagwell was really good at not making outs, one of the hallmarks of good baseball.  He also had massive power and a very unique stance.  Stance is the third factor I look at for hitters, just after OBP and SLG. 

Frank Thomas scared the bejeesus out of me as a kid.  If you asked 12-year-old Brad how many home runs Thomas had, he'd probably answer with "a million."  I was in remedial math.  Thomas wasn't just an awesome power hitter, he was an awesome hitter.  It sucks that he was a DH, but last I checked, he didn't invent the position.  If he had, then he should still be in for his innovation and vision. 

I always call Mike Piazza "Mike Pizza."  It's just one of those adorable things I do.  Piazza is one of the best, if not the best, offensive catchers of all-time.  While he wasn't a good defender, he was decent enough to play 1630 games there, giving his teams a consistent offensive weapon that most teams did not have.  He also has a horrible swing and it's kind of shocking that he was able to produce as much offense as he produced.    

The Lock - Greg Maddux

I refuse to think that anyone could look at Greg Maddux's career and come to any other conclusion than "he's a no-brainer for the Hall of Fame."  355 wins.  3.16 ERA in a crazy offensive era.  4 straight Cy Youngs.  His lips always looked chapped.  These things matter!  I think Maddux is a lock for enshrinement next summer, but I know he won't get more than 80ish% of the vote.  Some dorks will say that no one should get in on the first ballot.  Other dorks will refuse to vote for anyone from the "steroid era."  A few dorks will leave their ballot blank so they can write a really kickin' story about it.  Those dorks will all be wrong because Greg Maddux is a surefire Hall of Fame player.  Bunch of dorks...

Who will get in?

Ugh, probably just Maddux.  Jack Morris?  Maybe Bagwell or Piazza, but probably not both.  This sets the stage for December of 2014 where you'll have to endure another 2000-word ballot from me.  Come on guys, let's get some of these easy guys in.  It just gets harder next year, as Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Randy Johnson join the crowded ballot party.  Just think of the real party we could have if 6-8 of these dudes get in this year and 6-8 more next year! 

As you can clearly see, I'm BIG HALL 4 LIFE!  In fact, I'd construct a second Hall of Fame on top of the existing Hall of Fame.  I would rig it so that you would have to climb outside of the existing structure to get into the second structure.  Is it dangerous?  Would a lot of people get hurt?  Sure, but that's how you properly keep the Hall small.  Make it logistically difficult to get in.  You could put the steroid and cheater guys in the new "on top of" Hall and then only the diehards will risk their safety to visit.  I don't care how you do it, just get it done, HOF!  As you can clearly see, I'm not a big architecture guy. 

As you can clearly see, I'm out of stuff to say about the Hall of Fame.  Who makes your ballot?