It’s pretty great to see Adrian Beltre be named on such a large percentage of the ballots.
He was undervalued for so much of his career.
Part of the problem was he was rushed to the Majors by the Dodgers when he was only 19.
He finally put it together in his last year when he was 25.
He was always a great defensive third basemen.
Beltre then went to Seattle for five seasons in a pitcher’s park.
He finished his career with 477 home runs.
It’s pretty remarkable how similar Joe Mauer and Todd Helton’s careers were.
Both guys played for the same teams for their entire careers.
Both ked the league in OBP twice.
Both played the last half dozen years of their careers as first basemen with depleted power.
I do think both are fringe guys but both are deserving of Cooperstown.
It took me some time to come around on both of them.
It took years for me to think Helton earned a vote.
I held being a Rockie against him and playing in Coors Field.
But his road splits were still very good (.287/.386/.469).
He also finished with a WAR over 60 and an OPS+ of 133.
Both of those stats factor in playing in a hitters ballpark.
I guess it took time for almost everyone to come around.
I’m not sure if it will help his case with the Veteran’s Committee voters.
He was named in the Mitchell Report as well.
The committee already denied Marl McGwire, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds.
I don’t know if Sheff has a chance until those guys get in (ever?).
Billy Wagner just missed and next year is his last year on the ballot.
I do think he gets in next year.
Look at how his vote percentage have gone up.
Early prediction for next year’s class?
I think you’ll see newcomers Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia (both obvious locks) join Wagner.
Could Ichiro join Mariano Rivera as the only 100% vote total guys in the history of Cooperstown?
Finally, a quick look at the guys who are off the ballot for good.
Jose Reyes and James Shields didn’t get a single vote.
