Tommy John Surgery

Sometimes I wonder... how much Hall of Fame consideration should be given to those who get Tommy John Surgery? The operation has drastically extended many careers, particularly among pitchers, and I wonder how much that weighs under the playing ability criterion in the Hall of Fame's own voting requirements. For example, Mel Parnell ended his career at age 34 because of arm troubles. Still a productive pitcher (he had a 123 ERA+ and a no-hitter in his final season), there was still much life in that arm, if only he could have tapped into it. He could have been a Hall of Famer, but at the time he didn't have the technology to prolong his career. On the other hand, John Smoltz got Tommy John Surgery in 2000. At 32, he had had a productive career to that point (157 wins, 2,098 strikeouts), but didn't make his case for Cooperstown until after the surgery. After the procedure, Smoltz pitched for nine more seasons, passed the 200 win and 3,000 strikeout milestones, and made four all-star teams. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2015. If Smoltz had pitched in Parnell's era, he wouldn't be considered for the Hall of Fame, but if Parnell had pitched in Smoltz's era, there is a good chance that he'd have a plaque today. It's just something to think about. 

WHY I THINK KENNY LOFTON SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK KENNY LOFTON SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Kenny Lofton was one of many stars unfortunate to play during the steroid era. Not only was he facing stiff competition, considering all the juiced pitchers he had to bat against, he also had to compete with guys like Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa for fame and good press. At a time when steroid eaters were constantly in the headlines for their Ruthian home run feats, guys like Lofton, who played the more traditional, speedier version of the game, were often brushed under the rug. Lofton didn’t have remarkable power (he had 130 career home runs), but he still produced a ton of runs, scoring over 100 of them in six different seasons and posting six additional seasons with 90 or more. Lofton was best known for his speed, which helped him lead the AL in stolen bases five years in a row from 1992 through 1996 on his way to a career total of 622. On the defensive side, his speed helped him to incredible range in centerfield, covering more ground than nearly everyone else in the league. 

Kenneth Lofton was born on May 31, 1967. As a youth he played both baseball and basketball, and excelled at both. Lofton received a scholarship to the University of Arizona as a basketball player, but also began to build a reputation as a base thief for the baseball team. Lofton played basketball all throughout college, but turned full time to baseball as a pro. He played three years in the Astros’ farm system, and made his MLB debut on September 14, 1991, collecting a double, two singles, a walk, and three runs scored. He was traded to the Cleveland Indians in the offseason for little return, and immediately made an impact for his new team, batting .285 and leading the AL in stolen bases en route to a second place finish in the Rookie of the Year voting. Proving he was no fluke, he topped the league in steals again in 1993 and upped his batting average to .325. 

Lofton was a key member of the successful Indians teams of the late 1990’s, leading the team to three postseasons and one pennant from 1995 to 1999. Even in the one season he missed, 1997, when he was with the Atlanta Braves, he was instrumental in the Tribe’s success. Just before the start of the 1997 season, Lofton was traded to the Braves for David Justice and Marquis Grissom. While Lofton was busy hitting .333 for the Braves and leading them through the NL playoffs, Justice and Grissom were playing very well for the Indians, and were instrumental in leading them to the World Series. Then, on December 8, Lofton signed as a free agent for the Indians, returning to Cleveland in less than nine months, and helped them to the playoffs three more times. 

Lofton’s 2001 season wasn’t among his best, and he was granted free agency after the season. He began the 2002 season with the White Sox, but was traded to the Giants at the deadline. Lofton played well for the Giants down the stretch, helping them reach the playoffs, and batted .292 with six stolen bases in three rounds of postseason action. He again saw time with multiple teams the following year, and turned in another productive season. As Lofton aged, more teams seemingly gave up on him, but the more he produced at the Big League level, the more interest he got from different clubs around the league. In total, he played for eleven different MLB teams, not counting his three stints as an Indian. After posting an .811 OPS for Philadelphia in 2005, he was offered a deal with the Dodgers, where he enjoyed near everyday playing time. At 39, most observers probably didn’t expect the strong season he would have in 2006, as he batted .301 with 32 stolen bases in 129 games. Lofton’s final season was 2007, which he began with the Texas Rangers, where he batted .303 with 21 steals in the first half before being traded to the Indians at the deadline. He had a rewarding final season, retiring in his most recognizable jersey after playing in his 20th different playoff series. 

When you think about the best players of the 1990’s, Lofton’s name is seldom mentioned, but not for lack of talent. While his .299 / .372 / .423 slash line (.794 OPS) is solid, it amounts to only a 107 OPS+, a testament to the era in which he played. If not for the Bondses and the Cansecos and the A-Rods, who routinely posted seasonal OPS figures around 1.000, thanks purely to their, uh, special help, Lofton’s OPS+ would appear much more respectable, perhaps 120 or higher. He was also a great bunter, a skill widely underappreciated in this day and age. While Lofton was good with the bat, it was not what he was best known for. He was a terror on the bases, swiping 622 bags in his career (15th most of all time, including pre-1898 figures), and had six individual seasons with at least 54. Lofton’s baserunning skill was not demonstrated solely in his eye popping stolen base totals, however, as he took extra bases on a hit about 55% of the time across his career, compared to the league average of 42%. His running helped him to 1,528 runs scored, including as many as 132 in 1996, and an average of 118 runs scored per 162 games across his career. Lofton was also arguably the best defensive centerfielder of his era, leading in assists four times and double plays twice (showing off an above average arm in addition to his range), taking home four Gold Glove awards. Finally, Lofton was a catalyst in many great postseason teams. He was the leadoff man for the 1995 Cleveland Indians, widely considered one of the greatest teams of all time by historians. In total, he led six different teams to eleven postseasons (20 series) during his 17 year MLB career, playing in a total of 95 career playoff games, ninth on the all time list. Only once every three years did Lofton’s team fail to make the postseason. All this adds up to a strong Hall of Fame case. At a quick glance Lofton’s numbers aren’t overwhelming, but on looking just a little bit closer, he comes out a pretty darn good candidate. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 2,103 season high: 154 in 1996 and 1998 

At Bats career: 8,120 season high: 662 in 1996 led AL: 662 in 1996 

Hits career: 2,428 season high: 210 in 1996 led AL: 160 in 1994 

Doubles career: 383 season high: 35 in 1996 

Triples career: 116 season high: 13 in 1995 led AL: 13 in 1995 

Home Runs career: 130 season high: 15 in 2000 

Runs Scored career: 1,528 season high: 132 in 1996 

Runs Batted In career: 781 season high: 73 in 2000 

Stolen Bases career: 622 season high: 75 in 1996 led AL: 66 in 1992, 70 in 1993, 60 in 1994, 54 in 1995, 75 in 1996 

Walks career: 945 season high: 87 in 1998 

Strikeouts career: 1,016 season high: 84 in 1999 

Batting Average career: .299 season high: .349 in 1994 

On Base Percentage career: .372 season high: .412 in 1994 

Slugging Percentage career: .423 season high: .536 in 1994 

Total Bases career: 3,433 season high: 295 in 1996 

Sacrifice Hits career: 72 season high: 7 in 1996 and 2003 

Fielding Percentage career: .984 season high: 1.000 in 2002 

Double Plays career: 35 season high: 4 in 1998, 2004, and 2007 led AL CF: 3 in 1994, 4 in 1998 led AL OF: 4 in 2004 (find a way to explain this without adding the also played section) 

Putouts career: 4,856 season high: 420 in 1992 

Assists career: 142 season high: 19 in 1998 led AL CF: 14 in 1992, 13 in 1994, 11 in 1995, 19 in 1998 led AL OF: 13 in 1994, 19 in 1998 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-finished fourth in the AL MVP Award voting in 1994, 11th in 1996, 15th in 1993, and finished 26th in the NL MVP voting in 1997 

-batted .357 with five stolen bases in six all-star games (1994 - 1999) 

-his 66 stolen bases in 1992 set a new AL rookie record 

-holds Cleveland Indians franchise records for both career stolen bases (452) and stolen bases in a single season (75 in 1996) 

-stole more bases in postseason play than anyone else in MLB history (34) 

-played in the postseason with more teams than any other player 

-led the AL in singles in 1993 (148) and 1994 (107)

-tied an AL record by scoring a run in 18 consecutive games in 2000 

-stole an Indians record five stolen bases in one game on September 3, 2000, and later won the game in the 13th inning with a walk off home run 

-had a 26 game hitting streak from April 29 through May 30, 2003 

-was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in 2010 

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/ken-lofton-1.html

WHY I THINK ROBIN VENTURA SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK ROBIN VENTURA SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

In an era clouded with steroid users, Robin Ventura’s name doesn’t really stand out. He wasn’t a walking heap of artificial muscle (he was 6’1”, 185 during his playing days), and he never hit 50 or 60 or 73 home runs in a single season (his season high was 34). Instead of impressing people with one tool power, Ventura made an impact with his consistency in all facets of the game, both offensively and defensively. He was probably the best defensive third baseman of his era, capturing six Gold Glove awards. Ventura was particularly adept at turning the double play, turning in eleven seasons with 20 or more, including 38 in 1998. At the plate, he was a catalyst in the middle of the lineup, contributing around 25 home runs and 80 walks year in and year out. A lefthanded batter, he hit well against both righties and lefties. One could only imagine how many all-star teams he could have made, or Silver Sluggers he could have won, if not for the power hitters who defined the “steroid era.” 

Robin Mark Ventura was born on July 14, 1967, in Santa Maria, California. The third of four brothers, who were always playing ball in the backyard, Robin started developing as a player from a very young age. Ventura first made his mark on the national scene in 1986, when he batted .469 as a freshman at Oklahoma State University (setting a new OSU batting mark) and led the nation in runs scored, RBI’s, and total bases. In 1987, Ventura had a 58 game hitting streak, a NCAA record at the time. In 1988, he won both the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award. A three time All American, Ventura finished his college career with a .428 career batting average and three OSU career batting records. To cap off his amateur career, he batted .409 in the 1988 Olympics and took home a gold medal. 

After his success in both college and the Olympics, everyone expected Ventura to have a long, successful career ahead of him. He was drafted by the White Sox in the first round of the June 1988 amateur draft, and was up with the big club for a cup of coffee by 1989. Ventura reached rookie status in 1990, finishing seventh in the Rookie of the Year balloting, and had a breakout season in 1991, batting .284 with 23 home runs and 100 RBI’s. Proving he was the real deal, he made his first all-star team in 1992. In the midst of all the expansion, strikes, and steroid scandals that riddled the 1990’s, Ventura continued to flourish into one of the best players of the decade, providing the White Sox with stability in an era of uncertainty and instability. 

On December 1, 1998, Ventura signed as a free agent for the New York Mets. He immediately made an impact for his new team, batting .301 with 32 homers and 120 RBI’s, leading the Mets to the postseason. Ventura became a hero in Game 5 of the NLCS, recording a walk off hit in the bottom of the 15th inning. With the bases loaded, Ventura deposited a 2-1 offering from Kevin McGlinchy over the fence in right center, giving the Mets a dramatic victory. However, a wild on field celebration ensued, and Ventura was unable to complete his trek around the bases. In fact, only the lead runner, Roger Cedeño, was able to cross the plate, and so the final score was 4-3. Ventura, who never touched second base, was credited with an RBI single. 

Ventura had a career year in 1999, but couldn’t produce the same kind of numbers in 2000 (.232 - 24 - 84; I guess Y2K did affect some people). After a similar season in 2001, the Mets decided to let him go - but he didn’t go far, as he landed a deal with the cross town Yankees. Ventura had one last signature season in 2002, hitting 27 homers and making his second and final all-star team. He hung around for two more seasons, still producing in a reserve role, before he retired as a player. Ventura wasn’t through contributing to baseball, however, serving as the White Sox’s manager from 2012 through 2016. He led the team to an 85-77 season in 2012, finishing second in the AL Central. 

Although nobody ever advocates for Robin Ventura’s induction into the Hall of Fame, his case is actually quite compelling. He was a strong power hitter, hitting more than 20 homers in nine different seasons and driving in over 90 runs eight times. Ventura also had fine plate discipline, combining an above average walk rate with a below average strikeout rate for a healthy .362 OBP, 95 points higher than his batting average. His .806 career OPS was good for a 114 OPS+, a very respectable figure considering the era in which he played. His OPS+ could have been 125 or higher if not for the steroid eaters. In the field, he posted a .958 fielding percentage at the hot corner, seven points above the league average. He combined a strong arm and sure hands with above average range, helping him to six Gold Gloves. Later in his career, when his legs failed him, he split his time between first and third base, and was above average at both positions. His solid MLB career, combined with what he accomplished as an amateur, make him a worthy member of The Cooperstown Advocate and, hopefully someday, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 2,079 season high: 161 in 1998 and 1999 

At Bats career: 7,064 season high: 606 in 1991 

Hits career: 1,885 season high: 177 in 1999 

Doubles career: 338 season high: 38 in 1992 and 1999 

Triples career: 14 season high: 4 in 1998 

Home Runs career: 294 season high: 34 in 1996 

Runs Scored career: 1,006 season high: 96 in 1996 

Runs Batted In career: 1,182 season high: 120 in 1999 

Stolen Bases career: 24 season high: 4 in 1995 

Walks career: 1,075 season high: 105 in 1993 

Strikeouts career: 1,179 season high: 111 in 1998 

Batting Average career: .267 season high: .301 in 1999 

On Base Percentage career: .362 season high: .384 in 1995 

Slugging Percentage career: .444 season high: .529 in 1999 

Total Bases career: 3,133 season high: 311 in 1999 

Sacrifice Hits career: 33 season high: 13 in 1990 

Fielding Percentage career: .963 season high: .980 in 1999 led NL 3B: .980 in 1999 

Double Plays career: 430 season high: 38 in 1998 led AL 3B: 29 in 1992, 22 in 1994, 34 in 1996, 38 in 1998 

Putouts career: 2,215 season high: 253 in 2003 (Ventura’s season high as a third baseman was 141 in 1992) led AL 3B: 134 in 1991, 141 in 1992, 133 in 1996 

Assists career: 3,616 season high: 375 in 1992 (372 as a third baseman) led AL 3B: 372 in 1992, 330 in 1998 led NL 3B: 320 in 1999 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-finished sixth in the NL MVP voting in 1999 and 20th in the AL MVP voting in 1991 

-was a 1990 Topps All-Star Rookie 

-hit 2-for-3 with a double in all-star competition 

-pitched one game in 2004 (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, GF) 

-led the AL with 15 intentional walks in 1999 

-led AL third basemen in games in 1992 (157), 1993 (155), and 1998 (161), and led NL third basemen in 1999 (160) 

-hit two grand slams in one game on September 4, 1995 

-is the only player in MLB history to hit a grand slam in both ends of a doubleheader (May 20, 1999) 

-batted .340 with the bases loaded in his career, and hit 18 career grand slams, fifth most in MLB history

-was inducted into the the inaugural class of the College Baseball Hall of Fame on July 4, 2006 

-was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame on February 19, 2018 

problem with range factor: increased strikeouts

Charles The Thin

    Did you know that Carlos Delgado means Charles the Thin? At 6'3" and 215 pounds, I don't suppose he really lived up to his name. 

https://thecooperstownadvocate.blogspot.com/2021/01/why-i-think-carlos-delgado-should-be-in.html 

Amazing Baseball Quote #11

"When Billy Martin reaches for a bar tab, his arm shrinks six inches." - Tommy Lasorda 

You hypocrite! Don't you know what Joe Torre said about you: 

"Tommy Lasorda will eat anything as long as you pay for it." - Joe Torre 

Requiescat In Pace, Vida Blue

Vida Blue passed away yesterday at the age of 73. 

Amazing Baseball Quote #10

"Branch Rickey had both players and money. He just didn't like to see the two of them mix." - Chuck Connors