Robby Alomar - HOFer?

[hudsonharden]

Since Roberto Alomar is arguably the best second baseman in the American League (with the possible exception of Bret Boone), is he already a proven HOFer?

[Captain Cold Nose]

Supporters of Alomar need to follow what happens with Ryne Sandberg in the voting. Sandberg got about 50% of the vote in his first year on the ballot this year. While many here believe Sandberg should have gotten in on the first ballot, he did score a solid amount for his first year, and should get in within a couple seasons, certainly before the Ripken/Gwynn/McGwire super ticket of 2007.

As Sandberg's voting goes, so will go Alomar's. If, that is, he were to retire this year. 3000 hits will get him in on the first ballot.

[TrueDodgerFan]

Originally posted by hudsonharden
Since Roberto Alomar is arguably the best second baseman in the American League (with the possible exception of Bret Boone), is he already a proven HOFer?

Not sure I'd agree with him being the best now... seems like there's a guy with the Yankees who's pretty good too. But, Alomar definitely was the dominant 2nd baseman in the 90's. I'd like to think he'd be a shoe in based on his past achievements.

[Baseball Guru]

IMO he is but as CCN points out, not a first ballot HOF if he were to end his career this season....

His #'s are comparable to Sandberg...

That said, he isnt gong to retire this season and if he averaged 150 hits the next 2 seasons after this one is finished he will get to 3000 hits so he will be a 1st ballot with 3000+ hits....

Ok, actually after reading my post and CCN's, I guess it would have been easier to just say: "What he said"

Ok, I agree with CCN's post

[J W]

In my book he's in without hesitation, but, as noted second baseman have been having trouble on the ballot lately. I expect him to get 3000 hits, and I think he's got an outside shot at 3500 depending on how long he wants to play the game.

I'm interested in finding out how he ranked year-by-year as a second baseman. Right now I don't expect him to be that high, but I'd bet at least seven years he was the best second baseman in his league.

[hudsonharden]

Originally posted by TrueDodgerFan
Not sure I'd agree with him being the best now... seems like there's a guy with the Yankees who's pretty good too. But, Alomar definitely was the dominant 2nd baseman in the 90's. I'd like to think he'd be a shoe in based on his past achievements.

Soriano hasn't played long enough to establish himself as the best at his position.

[tearforamariner]

Originally posted by hudsonharden
Soriano hasn't played long enough to establish himself as the best at his position.

His stats don't stand up as it is. He might be the second best in the game today, after Boone.

[Zito75]

I've always looked at Alomar as great player, not an oustanding player. I'll always remember him spitting on Hirshbeck. I don't think he lead the league in enough offensice categories to get in. I don't see any MVPs or rings. Then again, Ozzie Smith is in the HOF because of his defense. I say no to Alomar. That's my 2 cents.

[Brad Harris]

Originally posted by Zito75
I don't see any....rings.

Are you kidding?

Roberto Alomar has, not just one, but two World Championship rings from the 1992-93 Blue Jays teams he led to the Series. Not only did he bat .347 in those two series, but he also won the MVP Award for his performance in the '92 ALCS. He was, unquestionably, the best player on those teams.

[Eddie Collins]

he should definitely make it

[Cougar]

He will be in. Maybe first ballot, maybe 2nd or 3rd, but no longer.

[The Commissioner]

If he retired today, he has already proven that he is a Hall of Famer. His fielding prowess combined with a career .300 BA pretty much guarantees him a spot. Add his base stealing totals, his 1000+ BB, and his 1100 +RBI to that the fact that he is on the verge of having 1500 runs scored, 4000 total bases, and could potentially collect 3000 hits and I can't see how he can not be enshrined.

[tonypug]

Four years ago it appeared Roberto Alomar was headed for The Hall Of Fame. What are his chances now that his play has deteriated so fast. Will the voters be able to focus on the number of good years he had or will his recent play over shadow that.Also does he have to reach 3,000 hits to get in?

[julusnc]

Roberto Alomar is in the decline phase of his career and will probably never have another all-star calibur year.

Alomar will be remembered as a premier second baseman of his generation.A switch hitter, great baserunner, a .300 hitter with little power, and a player that spit in the face of a umpire.

Alomar is a Hall of Fame second baseman but his fast decline phase and spitting incident has driven his stock down and it will take about 3-5 years after being eligible.

[DoubleX]

Alomar will get in. He was such a good all-around secondbasemen for so long that I think it would be hard to pass on him. However, I remember people feeling the same way about Ryne Sandberg in his prime, but when the time came for election he was so far removed from his best years (due to the comeback) that it hindered his election for a few years. I think Alomar's well-publicized decline could hamper his candidacy for the first few years. But he'll get in, the bigger question will be what hat he'll be wearing, given that he's never spent more than 5 seasons anywhere. The Blue Jays seem like the best choice, but who knows.

[The Commissioner]

Roberto Alomar is absolutely a Hall of Famer. Anyone that lets the twilight of his career tarnish his overall status as one of the all-time great secondbasemen in baseball history, deserves to have his voting privileges revoked.

[edclinch]

If Alomar acquits himself as a class act his last years, much as Tim Raines did as a 37-42 year old, both his numbers and his overall reputation should earn him a spot in the Hall of Fame.
He has a lot of hits and I think needs the 3,000 hits, unlike Rock, who both will deserve HOF votes for a few reasons:
1) Raines had 808 SBs to Alomar's current 474
2) Raines had a lifetime .385 OBP to Alomar's current .371 OBP
3)Raines has a stellar rep, and is exemplary for overcoming cocaine at the beginning of his career and Lupus at the end, plus being around long enough (despite the serious disease) to play with his son, Jr.

If Alomar can last a few more seasons like Raines did, and even put together another .300 year despite overall lower batting averages and health problems, and help lead a few teams to world series or division titles,I think he will get in the Halll of Fame.

[DoubleX]

Both Raines and Alomar are deserving of the Hall, but I think Alomar will have an easier time getting by the writers than Raines will. I foresee and fear a long and tedious campaign for Raines, perhaps similar to that of Bert Blyleven. I hope I'm wrong because that would be a very unfortunate injustice and slight to a player that would have been the greatest of his kind if not for Rickey Henderson.

[mac195]

Alomar will probably go first ballot, 3 years tops.

[leecemark]

--I think the combination of the spitting incidence and his nomadic and unproductive late career (well the nomadic part apllies to his whole career) pretty much preclude his making it on the first ballot. He was too good in his prime and has compiled too big of numbers for a 2B to not make it eventually.
-- I expect his route to be very similar to Sandberg's. Ryne was as good or better and didn't have the negatives Alomar has to overcome.
--What does everyone think of Biggio's chances? I think he has edged past Alomar over the last couple years, but might not look as good to the average voter. If they hit the ballot at the same time will they hold each other back? If they both call it quits after this year (unlikely, but possible) can they make it together? If not, which will make it first?

[tonypug]

Today the St. Pete Times ran a story entitled Alomar might not need 3,000 hits to make the Hall.It focused on Alomars productive years and downplayed the last few years as being due to injury. Of course Alomar is now a home team member having recently signed with the Rays, so it may be a little slanted. So far everyone agrees he will get in, the real question being will it be on the first ballot. Does he have to do anything more, or is what he has already done sufficient?

[DoubleX]

A couple of years ago I would have said Alomar would definitely get in before Biggio and that Biggio would have a difficult time getting in at all. I'm starting to change my stance on that now. It's tough to predict how things will play out down the road, but Biggio seems to have really endeared himself as a fan favorite and gritty, team-oriented, and likeable player. I think Biggio's chances will be helped from playing his whole career with one team and with Jeff Bagwell (who has endeared himself for the same reasons as Biggio). The two seem to go together and I think they help each others Hall candidacies, if that makes any sense. Anyway, I'm not so concerned about Biggio making it at this point, I more concerned about another middle infielder, Barry Larkin.

[cubbieinexile]

I have a feeling that all the middle infielders that are not part of the big three are going to have a hard time getting in.

Barry Larkin, Craig Biggio, and Roberto Alomar.

I'm thinking that it will take at least 5 years of elections before any of them get in. Even then none might get in. I think that for at least two of them it will go to the VC or at the very least past a decade of elections.

Those three guys don't have the numbers of the newer guys and they don't have the publicity of the older guys. Ryne had Chicago and WGN/Harry Caray to pump him up, Whitaker was in Detroit and had no one to pump him up. One takes a few years to get in and the other falls off the ballot.

[J W]

Originally Posted by edclinch

If Alomar acquits himself as a class act his last years, much as Tim Raines did as a 37-42 year old, both his numbers and his overall reputation should earn him a spot in the Hall of Fame.
He has a lot of hits and I think needs the 3,000 hits, unlike Rock, who both will deserve HOF votes for a few reasons:
1) Raines had 808 SBs to Alomar's current 474
2) Raines had a lifetime .385 OBP to Alomar's current .371 OBP
3)Raines has a stellar rep, and is exemplary for overcoming cocaine at the beginning of his career and Lupus at the end, plus being around long enough (despite the serious disease) to play with his son, Jr.

If Alomar can last a few more seasons like Raines did, and even put together another .300 year despite overall lower batting averages and health problems, and help lead a few teams to world series or division titles,I think he will get in the Halll of Fame.

Tim Raines was a corner outfielder. Alomar was a second baseman. That alone is enough to push Alomar ahead of Raines in my book, even today.

For the record, I endorse Raines for the HOF as well.

I think the spitting incident is fading in people's emotional memory... kind of like the George Brett pine-tar thing. We'll all remember the footage of course, but by the time his candidacy rolls around, I think the voters will be looking at his on the field credits.

And, if he doesn't get his 3000 hits... it'll probably take him a couple years to get inducted, as it did Ryne Sandberg.

[J W]

Originally Posted by cubbieinexile

I have a feeling that all the middle infielders that are not part of the big three are going to have a hard time getting in.

I don't think either Garciaparra or Jeter have cemented a spot in Cooperstown yet. I'm pretty sure Jeter will finish his career off quite nicely, but Nomar has injury problems I'd be concerned about if I were in his corner.