Chris Cathcart wrote:> One is considered basically a lock for HOF; the other isn't mentioned nearly> as often in future-HOF discussions.
One played CF and according to most fans was very good at it. The other has been a defensive liability throughout his career. The CF also concentrated most of his value into a sustained period where he was at least as good as anyone else in his league. The other had admitted to intentionally playing badly in his younger days, in order to force a trade.
The players are obviously Sheffield and Griffey. I'd say that the discrepancy in their perceived HOF chances relflects their career shapes more than a realistic assessment of likely voting results. Sheffield is viewed favorably because he's still very productive and an excellent player today. Griffey is seen as a disappointment because he was supposed to be closing in on Hank Aaron's record by now, rather than bogged down with injuries. If Griffey has a good season in 2005 and Sheffield has a bad one, those perceptions will change very quickly. I'd say that their relative standing is a very good argument in favor of the five year rule on HOF voting.
-- Roger Moore | Master of Meaningless Trivia | (raj@alumni.caltech.edu) I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. -- James Madison
The players are obviously Sheffield and Griffey. I'd say that the> discrepancy in their perceived HOF chances relflects their career shapes> more than a realistic assessment of likely voting results. Sheffield is> viewed favorably because he's still very productive and an excellent> player today. Griffey is seen as a disappointment because he was supposed> to be closing in on Hank Aaron's record by now, rather than bogged down> with injuries. If Griffey has a good season in 2005 and Sheffield has a> bad one, those perceptions will change very quickly. I'd say that their> relative standing is a very good argument in favor of the five year rule> on HOF voting.
Griffey's the lock. Sheffield's the one barely mentioned.
