tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20149989.post1250363934140413917..comments2024-01-10T16:29:30.043-05:00Comments on Fonzie Forever: Bernie Williams: A Mets Fan's Take on his Hall of Fame CandidacyJames Esattohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823705871077609158noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20149989.post-64246680067626432592013-10-16T07:17:39.313-04:002013-10-16T07:17:39.313-04:00Here's the flaw in your argument for Bernie Wi...Here's the flaw in your argument for Bernie Williams making the Hall. You are comparing what he did from 1995-2002 to what Ryan Braun has done from 2007-2013. Different eras. Your argument sounds good until you look at the numbers.<br /><br />Bernie Williams had that OPS + of 142+.<br /><br />In the same span, 1995-2002, here are the OPS + figures for other Major Leaguers:<br /><br />Albert Belle 146 OPS + (brought down by his last season. Cut that out, his OPS + is 153, and that doesn't include his best year of 1994 when his OPS + was 194).<br />Barry Bonds 197 OPS +<br />Jeff Bagwell 155 OPS +<br />Jim Thome 159 OPS +<br />Mark McGwire 183 OPS +<br />Edgar Martinez 162 OPS +<br />Jason Giambi 152 OPS +<br />Sammy Sosa 148 OPS +<br />Larry Walker 150 OPS +<br />Mike Piazza 156 OPS +<br />Vlad Guerrero 147 OPS +<br />Gary Sheffield 158 OPS +<br />Alex Rodriguez 146 OPS + (this span did not include his best seasons)<br />Frank Thomas 152 OPS + (again, his best season of 1994, when his OPS + was 212, is excluded)<br /><br />Williams was very good, but so many Major Leaguers were much, much better. If you extend the date range by one year in either direction for many of these players, the discrepancy increases greatly.<br /><br />In those seven years, Williams never finished in the top 5 in the MVP. He won one Silver Slugger Award. Braun, by way of comparison, won an MVP, was MVP runner up, and third in the MVP, and won five Silver Sluggers.<br /><br />And there is why Williams is not a Hall of Famer. He put up very solid numbers in an era when other players were putting up all-time great seasons. Williams OPS + high is 160 in 1998. Go back and look at the players I listed, and where their OPS + figures touch.<br /><br />Bernie Williams is not getting Hall of Fame votes for the simple fact that he was never one of the elite players in the game. <br />Bill Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20149989.post-65087093704482708962012-01-09T18:26:24.912-05:002012-01-09T18:26:24.912-05:00Thank you both for your kind words!
Marc: You ...Thank you both for your kind words! <br /><br />Marc: You turned out to be correct -- it looks like Bernie did end up getting the 10% necessary to stay on the ballot. Surprising, because as of having 150+ ballots published online by various writers, he was hovering around 3%. Looks like those in favor of Bernie might be a little less inclined to do that kind of thing on the internet.<br /><br />John: Always great to hear from someone who has been watching baseball for a long time weigh in on something like this. Bernie was one of my favorites.Brian Manganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00205659068821144277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20149989.post-87642424118547003592012-01-09T18:20:38.664-05:002012-01-09T18:20:38.664-05:00Well said....Bernie Williams would get my vote if ...Well said....Bernie Williams would get my vote if I could....I was born in 1950 & have seen some great center fielders....Bernie Williams is one of them.....John Apicelli, Pleasantville,N.Y.John Apicellihttp://aol.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20149989.post-39273186375412676912012-01-03T13:21:41.933-05:002012-01-03T13:21:41.933-05:00I think Bernie will get the 5% to stay on the ball...I think Bernie will get the 5% to stay on the ballot. Keep in mind there are over 500 votes, and these results are from a small sampling of writers who are willing to share such info. It's my understanding very few are from NY. <br /><br />The real shame is, they seem to lump centerfielders in with outfield when it's such a unique and different position from the corners. Yet voters don't lump in SS and 2nd with infielders. In my humble opinion (another Met fan who is a Bernie fan) he's the second best centerfielder of his generation behind Griffey. Hopefully voters will give him the respect he's due.Marchttp://facebook.com/marcseligmannoreply@blogger.com