Do you think the following players are Hall of Famers?

Question

Frank Thomas
Jim Thome
Julio Franco
Jeff Bagwell
Kenny Lofton
Omar Vizquel


I say yes to all of them except Jeff Bagwell, Omar is a maybe.

Answer 1

Thomas, Thome, Bagwell, and very probably Vizquel are potential first ballot Hall of Famers, Franco and Lofton are borderline but in my opinion not worthy.
Thomas was the most dominant of these listed for the longest, the only knock against his career is that he has been primarily a DH the second half of his career.
Thome also has some huge numbers and should still have a half a dozen or so years in him to solidify his HOF chances.
Bag's well the most popular and dominant Astro this side of Nolan Ryan and Craig Biggio gets a ticket easily (if you dont believe me see Kirby Puckett)
and then there is Omar Visquel the Wizard of Oz (Ozzie Smith) of his Generation with a better bat.
as for Franco and Lofton, very good consistant hitters throughout there careers but not enough to warrant HOF entrance (see Vada Pinson, Al Oliver, Amos Otis and compare)
P.S. i feel Biggio deserves entrance also eventually (see paul molitor) 3000 hits carries some importance when it comes to these voters/baseball writers.

Answer 2

In time, I predict plaques for Thomas, Thome, and Bagwell.

Not for Franco or Lofton.

As for Vizquel -- he's got a lot of fan support, but I just don't see it. Yes, great on defense, but his career has come smack up against other shortstops who play D well AND can (or have) outhit him a ton -- Garciaparra, Tejada, Jeter, and the incomparable Alex "currently at 3B" Rodriguez. Whatever edge Omar's glove might give him over any one or all of them is totally crushed by their individual, superior hitting.

Not that all four will get Hall bronze in time -- ARod and Jeter yes, I think Nomar has blown it, and Tejada I just have doubts about -- but this is Omar's contemporary peer group, and he just doesn't look that impressive from here. I'd be pleased to be wrong and see defense count for more consideration in Hall balloting, but right now I strongly doubt that will happen.

Answer 3

Probably for Frank Thomas and Thome.
No to Franco, no to Lofton.
Vizquel and Bagwell are longer shots.

Answer 4

Frank Thomas-yes
Jim Thome-not a first ballot, maybe 2nd?
Julio Franco-I don't really think so
Jeff Bagwell-for sure, how can anyone think otherwise with his stats
Kenny Lofton-eh, maybe. I could care less
Omar Vizquel-no

Answer 5

Frank Thomas and Bagwell are HOFers. The other guys maybe, but it would be several years after they were eligible.

Answer 6

Thomas, and Bagwell maybe on Thome and Vazquel.
Def. no on Franco and Lofton.

Answer 7

The Big Hurt - yes
Thome - needs only 18 more HRs for 500, so he'll make it.
Bags -- rock solid player his entire career... played for only one team and well liked. He should make it but might take more than one ballot. Likely will depend on who else is eligible that year.

no to the rest.

Answer 8

Frank for sure...he was dominant at the start of his career.
Thome..no, too one dimensional as a hitter.
Franco...no way, he's played forever but nothing else makes special at all.
Bagwell...Yes, but it might take longer than you would think.
Omar Vizquel...Yes, might be the best defensive SS of all time.

Answer 9

Frank Thomas.- Home Runs
Julio.- Age + Oldest to hit Home run and to get a Hit and all the others.


the others are so-so

Answer 10

frank thomas, yeah.
thome, yeah.
franco, only if its for the oldest dude to break all the records.
bagwell, hate him, but yeah.
lofton, uhhhh....dont think so
and omar, well...maybe.