Miguel Cabrera=future HOFer Topic

It's never too early to discuss a players HOF credentials, & I'm not saying he would go in if he retired today, but his resume is extremely impressive!

Back to back batting titles, Triple Crown, placed in MVP voting every season he's been in the league, & presumably will win the award this year.  Yes he didn't have the greatest World Series but that's not a major strike against him.

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos Awards
2003 20 FLA NL 87 346 314 39 84 21 3 12 62 0 2 25 84 .268 .325 .468 .793 106 147 12 2 4 1 3 75 MVP-27,RoY-5
2004 21 FLA NL 160 685 603 101 177 31 1 33 112 5 2 68 148 .294 .366 .512 .879 130 309 20 6 0 8 5 *97/D AS,MVP-22
2005 22 FLA NL 158 685 613 106 198 43 2 33 116 1 0 64 125 .323 .385 .561 .947 151 344 20 2 0 6 12 *75 AS,MVP-5,SS
2006 23 FLA NL 158 676 576 112 195 50 2 26 114 9 6 86 108 .339 .430 .568 .998 159 327 18 10 0 4 27 *5/D AS,MVP-5,SS
2007 24 FLA NL 157 680 588 91 188 38 2 34 119 2 1 79 127 .320 .401 .565 .965 150 332 17 5 1 7 23 *5/D AS,MVP-15
2008 25 DET AL 160 684 616 85 180 36 2 37 127 1 0 56 126 .292 .349 .537 .887 130 331 16 3 0 9 6 *35/D MVP-13
2009 26 DET AL 160 685 611 96 198 34 0 34 103 6 2 68 107 .324 .396 .547 .942 144 334 22 5 0 1 14 *3/D MVP-4
2010 27 DET AL 150 648 548 111 180 45 1 38 126 3 3 89 95 .328 .420 .622 1.042 178 341 17 3 0 8 32 *3/D AS,MVP-2,SS
2011 28 DET AL 161 688 572 111 197 48 0 30 105 2 1 108 89 .344 .448 .586 1.033 179 335 24 3 0 5 22 *3/D AS,MVP-5
2012 29 DET AL 161 697 622 109 205 40 0 44 139 4 1 66 98 .330 .393 .606 .999 165 377 28 3 0 6 17 *5/D3 AS
10/31/2012 11:17 AM (edited)
If he can keep himself clear of PEDs (or credible suspicion thereof), I have a hard time imagining him not being in the HOF.
10/31/2012 2:18 PM
He's probably exiting his peak (in the next couple years), but if his decline is normal (he doesn't fall apart with injuries or Ryan Howard-esque obesity) he should have a very strong case for the hall.
10/31/2012 4:15 PM
Not that similarity scores are the greatest thing ever, but here's his list of similar players through age 29:

  1. Frank Robinson (916) *
  2. Hank Aaron (913) *
  3. Ken Griffey (882)
  4. Albert Pujols (870)
  5. Mel Ott (864) *
  6. Juan Gonzalez (848)
  7. Al Kaline (839) *
  8. Andruw Jones (837)
  9. Duke Snider (836) *
  10. Mickey Mantle (836)*
And the Ken Griffey is Ken Griffery Jr. 

I'd say he's definitely on a HOF track at present.
10/31/2012 4:40 PM
I don't think you need similarity scores to see that he's on a HOF track, but those are some impressive comps.

I'd think the career OPS+ numbers of 179, 178, 165, 159, 151, 150, 144, 130, 130, and 106 as a rookie probably tell enough of the story.  Career .318 average and over 300 HRs before turning 30.  He'll get his 6th top-5 MVP position before turning 30 this year.  Led the league in hitting the last 2 years, led in HRs twice, RBI twice, triple crown obviously...

I think he'd actually be getting close to being in now if he never has another good season in his life.
10/31/2012 5:03 PM
Amazing that Juan Gonzalez didn't even get enough votes to remain on the ballot!
10/31/2012 5:04 PM
Posted by dahsdebater on 10/31/2012 5:03:00 PM (view original):
I don't think you need similarity scores to see that he's on a HOF track, but those are some impressive comps.

I'd think the career OPS+ numbers of 179, 178, 165, 159, 151, 150, 144, 130, 130, and 106 as a rookie probably tell enough of the story.  Career .318 average and over 300 HRs before turning 30.  He'll get his 6th top-5 MVP position before turning 30 this year.  Led the league in hitting the last 2 years, led in HRs twice, RBI twice, triple crown obviously...

I think he'd actually be getting close to being in now if he never has another good season in his life.
Totally agree that the similar players aren't necessary, just a way to really underscore his career to date.

And I agree he's close to the "already in" category - with this dominant of a peak I'd have a hard time envisioning a scenario where I wouldn't support him.  That being said, given trends, I suspect that he'd get in if he had a sudden, career ending injury at this point.  If something happened that dramatically reduced his production, but he stuck around for 5-7 years and really brought his rates down without getting to some of the milestones, I could see him being left out.

10/31/2012 5:43 PM
Posted by Got_Worms on 10/31/2012 5:04:00 PM (view original):
Amazing that Juan Gonzalez didn't even get enough votes to remain on the ballot!
PED allegations.
10/31/2012 5:47 PM
Miguel Cabrera=future HOFer Topic

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