Comments on: Does Ron Santo’s Election Help Scott Rolen?

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:07:55 +0000

The day after you write this column…
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tom_verducci/12/06/winter.meetings/index.html

This has got to be at least the 3rd time this year that I’ve seen Verducci blatantly rip off a blog post from FanGraphs. Shameful.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:18:40 +0000

You see Beltre might have a problem getting into the HoF, but it won’t be the same problem as Rolen will have

Beltre and Rolen, although both good bats, great gloves at at the same position, are completely different hitters, and its the hitting that usually makes or breaks the HoF case.

Rolen basically has a SABR case for hitting, because he be low on the counting stats due to time missed by injury, while Beltre will have a traditional counting stat case based on a Hits, HR and probably R/RBI

Interestingly, Rolen and Beltre have played about the same amount in MLB, and it’s fair to say that Rolen has been better, but Beltre is 4 years younger, and it is very likely that he will far surpass Rolen in trad counting stats.

Indeed it may be fair to say that while Santo helps Rolen (though the point about Sant vs Rolen on the WAR graphs is an interesting one), Beltre may hurt him overall.

But I would like to see Rolen have another couple of good years and hopefully swing it in his favour, as he looks like a ‘short’ career at the moment (like say Larry Walker)

By: gonfalon

gonfalon — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:24:19 +0000

I remember seeing that collision with 1B Hee-Seop Choi — a completely dumb and unnecessary injury — and thinking that Rolen just went from a certain HoF’er to a “hall of very good” player.

By: Billy D

Billy D — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:23:10 +0000

Ron perfected two criteria of the Hall: Character, contribution to baseball.

He went through the down and pain with Cubs fans through his honesty on the radio.

He fought diabetes since his younger days. He used his position to fight juvenile diabetes, and sent hope and love to thousands of kids with the same disease.

I can’t say more but a million thanks to Ron Santo, the greatest third baseman who had not yet entered the Hall.

I’m not going to take anything away from Rolen here, because his contribution for St. Louis and the World Series fun was legendary. But we can’t compare apples to oranges when it comes to Ron Santo and Scot Rolen. Just remember: It’s not just about the numbers.

By: test

test — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:05:58 +0000

I know people like to say “WAR fielding – not reliable!”, but is anyone actually willing to argue that Rolen isn’t one of the best defensive thirdbasemen of all time? I only got to see a semi-gimpy Rolen in Toronto for a year, and he was still awesome. I hope he still has something left in the tank to add to his career.

The thing that will hold Rolen back is what has held Larkin back from immediate enshrinement – the injuries prevent him from putting up a lot of really great years, and he misses a lot of the “shiny” numbers as a result. Rarely among the league leaders in the counting stats, especially the traditional ones, means people don’t pay that much attention to you. In fact, he never lead the league in anything on offense, or ever really threatened to. Throw in playing 3B instead of SS, and he’ll be overlooked.

I’d vote him in, but I’ll understand when he doesn’t make it.

By: lexomatic

lexomatic — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:04:22 +0000

Or maybe voters will give him a boost for “being clean.” Who knows, who cares?
He is the best defensive 3b I’ve ever seen, and a decent hitter.

By: shthar

shthar — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:08:09 +0000

Unless the pain and suffering of playing for the cubs means something, I just don’t see it.