Should Jeff Bagwell and Jack Clark be in the HoF?
Tony La Russa doesn’t think new metrics are fair. (Directsportslink.com)
Former manager Tony La Russa, who will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this summer, believes that Jeff Bagwell, Jack Clark and Jack Morris should all be Hall of Famers, but are being shut out because of what he calls an exaggerated reliance on new metrics.
Of course, La Russa failed to explain exactly why (or under which old school metrics) these players should be in the Hall.
“The new metrics have a real important place, just don’t exaggerate them, and I think they get exaggerated at times. Like with Jack Morris, and maybe Bagwell.”
The real problem with Bagwell is his build — which makes him look like a steroid baby, and hence he gets thrown in with that group.
Bagwell was an extraordinarily patient hitter as evidenced by a career OBP of almost .410.
And while his speed waned near the end of his career, remember that he twice was a 30-steal man, winding up with over 200 swipes to go along with almost 450 homers.
At least La Russa has a case there, even if he didn’t actually communicate it.
As for Clark, only three times in his career was he even a top 10 player within his league. He spanked 340 dingers in 18 seasons, but only once did he reach 30 homers to go along with two 100-RBI seasons. The dude enjoyed a solid career, but to say he belongs in the Hall of Fame? Me thinks it’s time for a random drug test for La Russa. Or maybe he should just stick with his animal rescue foundation (see video below).
Quick Hits
- Stephen Drew, 29th in our Shortstop Rankings that came out last week, is still waiting for work. You may recall that we expressed surprise that he turned down the Red Sox qualifying offer. Although there’s still a slim chance Drew winds up back in Boston, more and more it looks like the BoSox are committed to rookie Xander Bogaerts at short with underachieving Will Middlebrooks at third base. Risky business for a defending champ.
- Yu Darvish tossed 13 pitches in his scheduled inning Monday in Texas’ first intrasquad game of Spring Training. After dealing with back inflammation down the stretch last season, he says he feels fine now. Could 300 strikeouts and his first Cy Young be in the offing this season?
- Lucas Harrell is hoping to regain a rotation spot after leading the AL last year with 17 losses and winding up in the bullpen. This guy was an honourable mention for the 2012 Wire Troll All-Stars after leading the Astros with 11 wins, but he’s fallen off the Fantasy radar since then.
Now it’s your turn. Let us know in the comments below what you think Tony La Russa is smoking these days.
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