Of course he does. 

I guess the point is that the 1B may have the most opportunities to save runs.    But, of course, that depends a good bit on the arm of the other fielders. 

A-Roid stabs one behind 3B in foul territory and throws a short hop to Tex.  Tex scoops it.   Great play by A-Roid but it means nothing if his errant throw isn't snagged.  So can't it be a great play by Tex also?   Seems to me that something along that line happens almost every game.

Sure. I never argued that 1b aren't important.

Just that 3b is a more difficult position. A 1b with a league average bat isn't nearly as valuable as a 3b with a league average bat.

Why is Todd Helton not on this list? Have you seen his career BA? Also, the fact that he is the face of  the Rockies (no current HOFERS for them) and a lifelong Rockie at that should eventually land him in the hall.  Also, I think if Jamie Moyer has an above average year this year and somehow manages one more such year, that he's got a decent shot at being elected by the Veterans Committee.  Halladay and Chipper of course are no brainers.  People have said Texiera, are you people out of your mind? Geez, he's not even clos.e

The argument that I am circling around is that you can only be judged by your own play on a daily basis.  Anyone who has watched, coached or played knows for a fact that excellent defense is a huge advantage at EVERY position.  It only takes one play to turn a game.  Even if 10% of the plays that first baseman make over a given season are above average and better than another player, that could equal 130 plays (nearly one per game for most of the season). Over 17,000 guys have played baseball.  If you are in the top 50 in a major category, you certainly deserve strong consideration to be in the HoF.  If only 30 guys hit more HR's than you, that is INCREDIBLE and any team would take that player.

Additionally, Baines and Edgar are proving that defense is certainly a consideration for the HoF.  To me, I never really saw Jim Thome as a HoF'er.  He was not a great 3B or 1B hasn't played in the field regularly in years.  He never really hit for average and does not steal bases.   One day I looked up and he had 600 hrs. What do we do with Thome?  with that many bombs, I say he has to go in.

I'm done with baseball forever the second Omar Vizquel gets into the HOF.

Off the original list in the original post, I think Chipper is the only "lock" and Halladay has a better chance than any of the others.  Those are the only two I see making it.

Posted by jrd_x on 5/25/2012 3:55:00 PM (view original):
Sure. I never argued that 1b aren't important.

Just that 3b is a more difficult position. A 1b with a league average bat isn't nearly as valuable as a 3b with a league average bat.

Did someone says 1B was a more difficult position?   I didn't see it if they did. 

Honestly, if an IF had a bunch of scatter-arms, 1B could be more valuable. 

Bilfert compared Teixeira to Mike Schmidt. My point was, even I'd they end up with similar offensive numbers, Schmidt was better because he played 3rd for most of his career.

Are you insisting that they don't?

Pretty sure Edgar Martinez comes out ahead of Ozzie Smith at the plate.    One is in the HOF, one can't get a sniff.    Do you think it's because one could do backflips?

ADD  KONERKO TO CHIPPER. HE'S GOT A SHOT

I think that 60 years ago people looked at Babe and Lou as baseball players not their WAR and OPS+. I am quite sure that their position on the field was not even considered when their candidacy came up.

That's because their numbers are freakin' ridiculous.  For them, position doesn't impact their HOF case.  Tex is not them.