Papi in the Hall

[Knoxbanedoodle]

It's been my experience this year that a broad swath of commentators consider Ortiz a virtual shoe-in for the Hall. This has grated on me a bit given:

1) he once failed a PED test;
2) he's a DH;
3) Jeff Bagwell.

But I appreciate the fact that my homerism might be coloring my perspective on this. Does Ortiz belong in the Hall? As of today he's racked up 530 home runs and a slash line of 285/379/550 over a 20-year career. What do you think?

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

It's been my experience this year that a broad swath of commentators consider Ortiz a virtual shoe-in for the Hall. This has grated on me a bit given:

1) he once failed a PED test;
2) he's a DH;
3) Jeff Bagwell.

But I appreciate the fact that my homerism might be coloring my perspective on this. Does Ortiz belong in the Hall? As of today he's racked up 530 home runs and a slash line of 285/379/550 over a 20-year career. What do you think?

Will or should are two different questions.  He WILL because Boston.  He shouldn't for all the reasons you listed, plus Edgar Martinez.

[Bench]

He should get in, but after Edgar (and obviously Bagwell).  I don't think being a DH should be a barrier to HOF-worthiness.  It's a position that needs to get filled in the starting lineup just like everyone else.  It would be like not inducting relief pitchers.

[Mr. Happy]

He should get in, but after Edgar (and obviously Bagwell).  I don't think being a DH should be a barrier to HOF-worthiness.  It's a position that needs to get filled in the starting lineup just like everyone else.  It would be like not inducting relief pitchers.

+1 Papi should be in the HOF, but after Bagwell and Martinez.

[David in Jackson]

I wasn't that familiar with Martinez (we weren't in the AL West in those days) so I looked him up on BB Reference:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martied01.shtml

None of ten most similar players are in the HOF (8th most similar is Berkman).  He finished in the top ten in MVP voting twice (granted this is not a perfect measure and is subject to bias) but he still seems like a stretch to me.  However, 312/418/515 w 309 homers is nothing to laugh at.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

So I guess the follow-up question is, do you think he'll be a first-ballot inductee?

[Mr. Happy]

So I guess the follow-up question is, do you think he'll be a first-ballot inductee?

He shouldn't be, but he probably will be.