I don't think so because power wasn't his game.

Posted by Jtpsops on 9/21/2016 10:36:00 PM (view original):
I don't have strong feelings on Lofton either way, but I'm curious - if he played in the 70s or 80s, would we view his HOF candidacy differently? Is he a guy that gets lost in the offensive explosion of the 90s and the steroid era?

I think it goes the other way. If he starts his career today, he gets in.

Posted by Jtpsops on 9/21/2016 10:45:00 PM (view original):

Posted by MikeT23 on 9/21/2016 10:42:00 PM (view original):
Eye test. Did you ever say "That's a future Hall of Famer right there" when watching him?

No, but there are guys who have HOF careers that I don't necessarily think that about. Palmeiro never felt like a HOFer to me while he was playing, but if he hadn't been busted for 'roids, he had HOF numbers for his career and would likely be in.

I haven't done the research, but I'll bet there are guys in the hall with far worse numbers than Lofton. They probably shouldn't be in either, but my point is simply he may be viewed through a different lens if he hadn't played in an era of such a huge power explosion in the game.

Kenny Lofton wasnt much different than Willie McGee to me when both were in their prime. I mean other than that McGee looked fuckeed up.

Brett Butler

Yup him too. None of those guys are Hall of Famers.

Posted by MikeT23 on 9/21/2016 10:48:00 PM (view original):
I don't think so because power wasn't his game.

This was my point. Again, I'm not saying he should be in, but during the steroid era, guys with Kenny's skillset were largely overlooked. Maybe even undervalued.

We know Kenny Lofton used roids. He admitted it. PSBL even posted about it last year.

Posted by Jtpsops on 9/23/2016 6:48:00 PM (view original):

Posted by MikeT23 on 9/21/2016 10:48:00 PM (view original):
I don't think so because power wasn't his game.

This was my point. Again, I'm not saying he should be in, but during the steroid era, guys with Kenny's skillset were largely overlooked. Maybe even undervalued.

I'd say the Steroid Era peaked in the late 90s. I'm sure you've heard of Tony Gwynn and Derek Jeter. Not power hitters, not overlooked. Hell, even Bobby Abrea was valued. Lofton just wasn't a "standout".

I think you're kinda making the point, actually. All three of the three guys you mentioned weren't "power guys" by steroid era standards, but Jeter and Abreu both had over 250 HRs. Jeter is 5th all time in HRs among shortstops, and of the guys ahead of him A-Rod played almost as many games at 3rd as short and Banks played more games at first.

Not really. I used a pretty small window in time, 96-99, and put some restrictions on it(300+, few 20 HR seasons, HOF/AS material). FWIW, the Yanks had three guys that I wouldn't consider "power" guys who hit .300 regularly and had value. Jeter, Williams and O'Neill. I just figured I'd get pushback on BW/PO because both also regularly hit 20ish homers.