So I would say that I am not disappointed with the recruiting class itself.Honestly, I am not a Rivals guy either. It’s time for a Roundtable debate. The beer has been poured and Journey is playing on the jukebox. The scene is set. The question posed: “If we aren’t going to let guys like Bert Blyleven, guys who have the stats, into the Hall of Fame, shouldn’t we kick out guys that don’t?” Some background on this. Two of us at the ‘Table go to Cooperstown every year for the Hall of Fame inductions, and we can’t understand why certain players are in, but others are out. What we came up with are players who, despite being elected, shouldn’t have been. Let’s get to it.  Bill Mazeroski (2B, Pirates)  Mazeroski was a fine second baseman. Many rate him as the best defensive second-baseman of all time. He turned the double play better than anyone who ever played the game, but that should not be enough to elect him.

A Hall of Fame member must be outstanding in many facets of the game.  Phil Rizzuto (SS, Yankees)  Rizzuto was a winner No doubt about that one. But he’s a career .273 hitter that only had 1,588 hits. His career fielding-percentage of .968 is not outstanding, and he declined over the course of his career. Want to compare stats? Look at Delino Deshields, Jose Offerman, and Jim Gantner. Yup, Hall of Fame names.  Tony Perez (OF, Reds)  He played 23 seasons, and never achieved 3,000 hits, settling in at 2,732. He gets a lot of credit for being involved with the Big Red Machine and winning titles in the 1970s But Perez is a career .279 hitter with 380 home runs.

Jim Rice has a better average (.298), and more home runs (382) in fewer seasons (16 to Tony’s 23) and can’t get into Cooperstown. Yet, we make excuses for Perez because he was nicer to the media I don’t buy that reasoning. I’m not arguing to put Rice in, because I think he’s a borderline candidate at best. But if you put in Perez, you have to at least consider the notion Exact comparison? How about Harold Baines. In 22 seasons, Baines had nearly identical numbers to Perez.  Kirby Puckett (OF, Twins)  Alright, I know we’re going to irritate some people with this one Sure, Puckett’s career was cut short by injury. And we should judge players based on if they were among the elite when they played.

I just don’t think Puckett fits that bill. His stats are incredibly similar to Don Mattingly for his career, and he was simply more consistent than Mike Greenwell. On a year-to-year basis though, he and Greenwell were very close, and, in fact, are nearly identical through age 30. You could compare him to Garrett Anderson or Cecil Cooper, too. I don’t consider Anderson that type of player any more than Puckett I refuse to project out his final numbers. You played when you played and, while I feel bad, he was still there just the 12 years. Please, hold back the stones and only throw tomatoes. If it helps, as a Celtics fan, I don’t think Reggie Lewis should have his number retired either.  Bruce Sutter (RP, Cardinals) Ok, not that I’m against guys that never started, I just didn’t think that Bruce Sutter should be the first guy elected that never started a game. There are plenty of good relievers that did more for the game of baseball than Sutter. One of them is being elected this year, Goose Gossage. If Sutter’s election opens the door, fine.

But I know I’m not alone when I see 20 players that have more saves than Sutter. If Sutter is worthy, where’s Lee Smith? Jeff Reardon?  Harry Hooper (OF, Red Sox)  Classic case of playing with Hall-of-Fame-caliber players But that does not make you one. He was on teams with Tris Speaker and Babe Ruth in Boston, but was decidedly mediocre when it came to offense He got in by association as much as anything else. Hooper’s stats compare very favorably to Brett Butler and Willie McGee.