Who was better: Ryne Sandberg or Lou Whitaker?

When his name first appeared on a Hall of Fame ballot in 2003, Ryne Sandberg received 244 votes, or just below 50%. In 2004, the former Cubs’ second baseman vaulted to 309 votes. He was elected to the Hall of ...

The 20 Greatest Dodgers of all-time according to WAR

This is the third installment of my “Top 20” series, looking at the top players for a specific franchise based solely on Wins Above Replacement. Quibble if you will about advanced statistical methods, but WAR is a handy way to ...

The 20 Greatest Phillies of all-time according to WAR

A few years ago I penned a list article about the New York Yankees top players ranked according to WAR (Wins Above Replacement). I stated at the time that I know very little about how WAR evaluates players. I still ...

Joe Mauer, Buster Posey, and the Hall of Fame

Joe Mauer hasn’t squatted behind the plate since 2013. But he’ll still be a Hall of Fame catcher someday. Won’t he? The popular Twin, a humble hometown kid, won three batting titles in his first six seasons. He won the Most ...

Why did Pudge Rodriguez waltz right into the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Earlier this month, Ivan Rodriguez was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. It’s not surprising that Rodriguez will get a plaque, but it is quite shocking that the catcher was elected in his first year of eligibility. Catchers have ...