MLB Hall of Fame Vote: 5 key takeaways

MLB Hall of Fame 2017: 5 key takeaways from this year’s class

Apr 1, 2016; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Former Montreal Expos player Vladimir Guerrero salutes the crowd next to Tim Raines during a ceremony before the game between teh Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays at Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /

3 of 5

Jul 7, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Seattle Mariners hitting coach Edgar Martinez (11) watches batting practice before the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Big gains for Edgar Martinez

Some writers continue to write off the accomplishments of the best DHs in baseball history because they do not play the field. Edgar Martinez has been a victim of that antiquated belief for years, but made the biggest jump among returning candidates this year. He was up all the way from 43.4 percent last year to 58.6 percent. Martinez will eventually be a Hall of Famer, perhaps as early as next year.

That Martinez is a Hall of Famer based on his offensive numbers, is not really up for debate. The reason so many writers flipped and added him this year, however, is. Was there suddenly some cataclysmic shift in the line of thinking of the BBWAA, or did David Ortiz hit 500 home runs and retire this year? Most likely, the voters realized they cannot wait to vote for Big Papi in five years and realized they had better go ahead and induct Martinez, who is actually the superior offensive player.

If that’s how the logic works for the voting members of the BBWAA, the voting process needs a major overhaul. Edgar Martinez should not be a Hall of Famer because David Ortiz will eventually be a Hall of Famer. Vote for Edgar on the basis of his own numbers, not because you are more willing to accept Ortiz simply because he hit 500 home runs and performed well in the postseason. Martinez could come back today, take 850 empty plate appearances, and still have a better career on-base percentage than Ortiz. The Seattle Mariners great leads Ortiz in WAR by double digits.

It’s clear that Edgar Martinez belongs in the Hall of Fame, with or without David Ortiz getting the red-carpet treatment.

Home/MLB