Thoughts on the Baseball Hall of Fame: 2008 Veteran's Committee Ballot

Our feeling is that you can't induct one and not the other, but we don't know enough about either of these guys. Neither name resonates in the way that many of the other players of this era do. Not only that, Dave Parker and Bill Buckner are also on the list, and very close to the top.

These guys, though, just seem too close to Clemente to let go...

Verdict: In if we had a vote, likely out when the votes are cast by the committee.

Ron Santo (3B - Cubs)

Ok, Cubs fans, we still have to look at this rationally.

First, there is an incredibly shortage of third basemen in the Hall of Fame. It's a position that seems unduly scrutinized because so many amazing players manned the hot corner. Santo's name is brought up many times as far as debates. The question of belonging, though, is a tricky one.

Start with the numbers.

He's a career .277 hitter that hit 342 home runs and drove in 1,331. He hit .300 four times and cracked 100 RBI four times as well. Santo was a nine-time All-Star, making the team at every stage of his career. He won five gold gloves, finished in the top-10 for home runs seven times and for RBI eight times.

From a pure numbers perspective, he compares favorably with several Hall of Famers, including Carlton Fisk, Gary Carter, Yogi Berra, and Johnny Bench. All of them are strong names; they are also all catchers. Santo managed 2,200 hits in his career, similar to Dale Murphy, Gary Gaetti, and Ken Boyer.

Santo is a borderline candidate; the same way Murphy is a borderline candidate. Yet, we put Bill Mazeroski in the Hall of Fame strictly because of one hit and his defensive prowess. Can we do the same for a third basemen? And, if not, what are the real qualifications third basemen need to achieve? Mike Schmidt only comes along once a generation.

There's certainly a campaign and a sympathy vote out there for the guy. Santo is a tremendous player, and this vote will be close. The 'Table was 50-50 split on this one, so no real verdict initially. As a tiebreak, we went to what we feel the guys that have votes will likely do.

If he played a different position, this one is easy. At third base, much tougher.

Our Verdict: Out, but it will be REALLY close. (Please, don't throw things, Cubs fans).

The beer has gone warm, and the debate has gone on long enough. So join in, belly up to the bar, and let us know what you think. Just don't touch the jukebox.

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