Ok, we have an interesting HOF class for consideration yet again! Moreno, obvs. No need to waste words on it (Though I will write a glowing paean to him on the WC). We argued for Almadova last year, and I think that's fine to do as a lock again.
Where it gets compelling, again, is the third basemen. Last year we had a lot of discussion on both Fernandez and Oropesa, both of whom I strongly support, and now we add Vazquez into the mix. I don't think their candidacies can exist independently of one another; they all bring different things to the table (And IMO, should probably ALL be in, it's just a question of how/when)
Let's run through them all.
OFFENSE:
Fernandez was the best pound-for-pound hitter; his .867 career OPS and seven seasons above .900 speaks to his offensive ceiling, which was much higher than the other two guys. Oropesa had some standout seasons despite playing most of his career in the tough hitting environs of Seattle, some 40-homer years, but a sub-.800 OPS (.798) Vazquez had a lower power ceiling than the other two (100 fewer HR), but hit for nice average (.288 for Vazquez, .272 for Oropesa, .274 for Fernandez, though Fernadez had a really impressive walk rate that raises his OBP to .359, comfortably above the other two), and was just above .800 career OPS at .802.
DEFENSE:
Man, these guys were great. Just elite defensive 3b's, all of them. But HOW elite? Vazquez was amazing - 216+ plays at 3rd and a few more at 2nd. He was basically a (lousy) SS playing other spots because his bat was good enough. That gives you a tremendous defender who made a huge impact with his glove. Oropesa wasn't far off that standard - 187 plus plays at 3rd, 20 at 2nd. Fernandez was a level below those two, but he was still great: 92 plus plays at 3rd, 21 at 2nd. Vazquez and Fernandez both had .979 career fielding %'s at 3rd. Oropesa a touch behind at .976. So, all great, but Vazquez really gets a boost here.
BASERUNNING:
Fernandez was the best runner, with 492 overall, a bunch of 40+ seasons, and an average in the high 30s. Vazquez and Oropesa were more of high-20s/low 30s guys, without the high peak.
LONGEVITY:
Now here's where a lot of that Vazquez edge comes into play, and what hurts Fernandez. Vazquez played a LONG time - 18 full seasons, which for an HBD position player is really, really long. He had 10,500 ABs! That doesn't happen often. That's how he got to those 3000 hits, and how he ended up with HOF-level-respectable power and steal numbers. But that matters! I dislike arguments against "Compiler" guys, because as long as you were really good across your career, those numbers are a really positive thing. You were impacting your team in an extra way for longer. Oropesa's 9850 AB's (2nd on the list of 20 position player nominees) are also quite impressive, while Fernandez's 8000 AB's (6th of 20) are nothing to sneeze at, but still well behind the other two. The years very much help to define and explain who these guys were.
EXTRAS:
Oropesa and Fernandez were important cogs in World Series winners - Fernandez won 4 as the de facto captain and franchise stalwart of the Galaxy, and Oropesa, his great rival, won 3 for Seattle - and then Johnny Damon'd it and won a title with the Galaxy. Clearly great on-field leaders with strong narratives. Vazquez toiled in Burlington obscurity for a while and then was an important part of some San Juan teams that just couldn't get over the Seattle/Vegas NL hump. Not his fault.
Vazquez and Fernandez were 5-time All Stars, Oropesa was a 3-timer. Reality is all three guys were competing with one another for those 3rd base spots! (And also playing a lot of 2nd base which hurt their various candidacies.) Vazquez and Oropesa won 3 gold gloves, Fernandez won 1. Fernandez and Vazquez had one silver slugger each, Oropesa 2. Nothing really stands out beyond what we already know. Fernandez was a rare one-club player, both majors and minors, which I personally love, but all three were really associated with specific franchises for a long time, which is cool and fun.
CONCLUSION:
Going through this exercise, to me Vazquez (defense/longevity) and Fernandez (offense/speed) are the more deserving candidates, with Oropesa just behind. But like, these guys are all HOF'ers. They're great. We shouldn't make any of them locks, but we should present their candidacy as a whole, tell people they're deserving, and then hope that they all get in. It'll take a few years, but all three belong. Maybe we try to put them in as a slate next season, which might be a little lighter.
OTHER GUYS:
Jensen does nothing for me - a 3.22 ERA as a closer just isn't that impressive. If you want to put a reliever in, vote for Brett Frye, who put up a 2.68 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in 500 more innings than Jensen. He was used differently but was 100% a super high-leverage arm protecting leads in the 7th-9th innings, just for guys like me and Mike1184 who don't always run with a set closer.
Steve Lowe is a perfectly good 1B/DH bat who got a Colorado bump and is a very good player, but to me, not a ton else to say there.
Interested to hear other perspectives!