On-Deck for the Hall

By AMERITH and KYLE KEOUGH
DOUBLE DAY DAILY

As Double Day nears the conclusion of its fourth season, some of the game's best players have become established names. With the hope that the league will someday institute a hall of fame, some players' names are already being considered as future HoFers.

So, who's on-deck for the Hall of Fame? In "On-Deck for the Hall," Amerith and Kyle Keough (Keosawa) consider a list of 10 of the game's best players. Who will one day be voted in, and who will not?

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Philip Parrish, Durham. (Suggested by Amerith)
Amerith:
Hall-Bound: No

At the moment I have to say no. Parrish was one of the most feared hitters when the league first started but was hurt by his age and his production is only going to decline. The other thing that hurts Parrish in my opinion is the fact that he's never played over 140 games in any season and isn't going to. Parrish with a few more productive seasons could change my mind.

Keosawa:
Hall-Bound: Yes

For me, I'm actually going to say that yes, Philip Parrish will just barely squeak into the hall of fame. Now, before, I didn't feel this way, but he's in a power-friendly park in Durham now, which will help ease his power drop. He'll probably cross 200 career homers this season and I could see him reaching 400 for a career. If he does that, while posting a career OPS over 1.000, I think he'll squeak in.

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Valerio Pizzaro, Philadelphia. (Suggested by Amerith)

Keosawa:
Hall-Bound: No

I'm actually going to say no on Pizzaro. I think to be a HoF DH, you need to post amazing numbers, and he has tailed off since joining Philadelphia. The guy who was crushing pitchers in season one hasn't been as dominant since then. I think he'll finish well north of 500 career homers and will hit over .300 lifetime, but it won't quite be enough.

Amerith:
Hall-Bound: Yes

I'm going to say yes on Pizzaro. I think while his numbers at Philly have trailed off some he is still putting up amazing numbers. Assuming he stays health he should easily cross the 500 HR mark. While Philly hasn't been as kind to him as Alb and Boi, he still puts up great numbers. He's more than just a power hitter as well with a career BA of over .300.

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William Webster, St. Louis (Suggested by Keosawa)

Amerith:
Hall-Bound: No

I'm going to say that Webster falls short of HoF credentials. Webster has an OBP of .335 and his lifetime BA of .272 isn't tearing it up. He doesn't hit for power, his RBI production isn't remarkable, and the only thing he has going for him is his ability to score runs and his ability to steal 80 bases a season. If Webster can raise his OBP I'd say he would get more consideration but at 26 he's not likely to raise it much in the coming seasons.

Keosawa:
Hall-Bound: Yes

I think Webster will make it into the Hall. He's going to steal an average of 80 bases for the next 5-6 seasons. He's also going to score 100 runs a season during that span. His OBP has gotten better the last two seasons, and he has enough power to hit 200 career homers. I think he'll retire as among the career leaders in runs, doubles, and stolen bases.

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Ray Sweeney, Huntington (Suggested by Amerith)

Keosawa:
Hall-Bound: No

In Huntington, Sweeney has been an amazing pure hitter--he held the single-season batting average record at one time--but the problem is he's never been a legitimate catcher, and has throughout his career been a gifted DH who can't play that much. I'll say no; he's suffering through a precipitous decline right now and it's only going to get worse. He's had some remarkable seasons but the body of work won't be there.

Amerith:
Hall-Bound: No

I am going to have to agree with my colleague on this one. Sweeney is one of the best pure hitters in the game but when he's spent time at C he's been dreadful. He's never played more than 130 games in a season and he won't reach 200 career HRs. While his average, OBP, and OPS will be compelling, he simply won't play long enough.

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Dan Hudler, Durham (Suggested by Keosawa)

Amerith:
Hall-Bound: Yes

I am going to say that when it is all said and done Hudler will have HoF numbers and should be in. Hudler is a lifetime .300 hitter, OBP of over .400 and a OPS near 1.000 and should hit around 250 HRs. Combine that with his ability to consitently be a 100+ RBI guy and score 100 runs a season and you have someone that can't be turned away. He may not play a position where fielding is critical he's still a career .981 fielder.

Keosawa:
Hall-Bound: Yes

I think Hudler's going to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He's won two MVPs and with a strong finish to this season could potentially threepeat. He plays in Durham, a hitter-friendly park, so his run production will always be there. He could absolutely finish his career with over 1500 RBIs and 2500 hits. I think as a multi-time MVP it'd be difficult for anyone not to vote him in.

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Bernie Alvarez, Toledo. (Suggested by Amerith)

Keosawa:
Hall-Bound: No

I personally don't think Alvarez will make the Hall. His career numbers are going to be pretty good, but I'm concerned that he just doesn't have the time to gain enough wins to make it. At 32, he hasn't started to decline yet, but I don't think him even reaching 150 wins is a safe bet. Plus, he's never been an all-star, which is a knock on his lack of consistency early in the season.

Amerith:
Hall-Bound: No

I have to say NO to Alvarez. While he's been an inning work horse he's only shown an ability to win consistently in the NL. He's never made the All-Star team, never been seriously considered for a Cy Young Award and at 32 only has 4 or 5 more years left and isn't likely to win 150 games which in my mind is what he would need a minimum in order to be considered.

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Robinson Dreifort, New York (Suggested by Keosawa)

Amerith:
Hall-Bound: No

I have to say NO to Dreifort at the moment. While he won 17 games his rookie season, he only has 1 reliable pitch to work with. If he can develop another pitch or two and continue to paint the corners and rack up the wins he may have a chance but he has to find a way to continue to lower his ERA.

Keosawa:
Hall-Bound: Yes

I'm going to say yes on Dreifort, provided New York can give surround him with the pieces to make them a winner. I know there's a concern that he'll be a one-pitch pitcher, but he's also going to be an innings eater with good health. He's already got 27 ML wins and he's only 22. His career ERA might not be stunning, but we could someday be talking about him as a 300-game winner.

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Philip Maxwell, Albuquerque (Suggested by Amerith)

Keosawa:
Hall-Bound: Yes

To me, he's a first-ballot Hall of Famer. His single-season RBI record might be safe for a long, long time. His career numbers--455 R, 217 HR, 589 RBI, .328 avg--are pretty astounding for this early on. He's only 25, and you just know he's going to be in Albuquerque for a long time. Plus, he has a couple Silve Sluggers and a MVP award - how can he not make the Hall? 700 career HRs and 2000 career RBIs is not out of the question.

Amerith:
Hall-Bound: Yes

Sure fire first-ballot Hall of Famer. Already won a MVP, a silver slugger at 1B and LF what can't this guy do? At 25 he's already got over 200 HRs and will make a run 650 to go along with a shot at 2000 RBIs. The one thing you have to worry about is his attitude considering for someone so good he's already been on 6 different teams. Assuming Alburquerque can keep his ego placated he will be there for a long long time.

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Barry Broadhurst, Montreal (Suggested by Keosawa)

Amerith:
Hall-Bound: No

Braodhurst plays 1B, a position that is stacked with power hitting talent and unfortunatley I think Broadhurst will come up short of HoF numbers. While he is a career .300 hitter and averages 40 HRs a season. he strikes out a lot with more than 100 in 2 of the last 3 seasons and he's on pace to do it again this season. I think when everything shakes out he will be over shadowed by other talent and could end up being the best player left out of the Hall

Keosawa:
Hall-Bound: No

I think I have to agree with that assessment. Broadhurst could end up being a close call, and a lot of it will come down to where he goes after this season. If he re-signs with Montreal, perhaps he can continue to put up great seasons for a while. If he relocates, who knows. Now, if he wins the MVP this season, it'll increase his stock for the Hall. The career numbers are there, but it's a question of whether he'll have enough years left in his career to add on to them.

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Rafael Mercado, Durham (Suggested by Amerith)

Keosawa:
Hall-Bound: Yes

Mercado is another tough choice, but I'm going to say he makes it. He's not going to have the career numbers that we'd expect from HoF-worthy SPs, but I think voters will recognize what he and Pena did in a tough place to pitch in Durham. I think if he comes close to 150 wins, he'll get the benefit of the doubt. Of course, if Durham decides to retool and trades him someday, then this story could end differently.

Amerith:
Hall-Bound: Yes

Mercado is a tough choice but I think he gets in. He's a 3 time All-Star, won a Cy Young, was instrumental in Durham winning a WS, and has a sub 3.00 ERA. Having said all that the thing that may work agianst him is that he's not going to most likely win over 150 games. If Mercado ends up being traded that could drastically change his future HoF possibilities.