Posted by MikeT23 on 7/27/2014 7:04:00 AM (view original):
I see I have to elaborate.
Beltre and Ichiro were a couple of the top players at their position during their careers. Perhaps top players in their era. All-stars. Very good. However, that doesn't make them Hall of Famers. Except, in Ichiro's case, he was a historically significant player. First Asian position player to be a difference maker. An iconic player. Thus making him HOF material. Beltre is just another very good Dominican player.
Can't believe ANYONE thought I was speaking of their specific skill sets.
I found this comparison kind of funny as well.
Ichiro is going to make the HOF for other reasons than Beltre, which makes them very different. Ichiro was FAMOUS. Because he's Asian, because he's SO good at doing really one thing very well (which is getting hits), because he's flashy, because he's popular. He's a fan-favorite, he stands out, he makes the Hall of FAME.
Beltre will make the HOF as a compiler...he does nothing that really shouts at you. 3000 hits and 450 homers makes the HOF as a 3rd baseman, period. Great defense is the cherry on top. But he surprises you that he has those numbers. You'd think he'd be more popular, more famous, like Ichiro, but he's not. He doesn't stand out but is still a fantastically productive player. Mike doesn't want him in the HOF for these reasons, but he's snuck under the radar as a fantastic player.