re: HOF
Disclaimer - I am a diehard Yankees fan. Born in the mid-70s, first game at Yankee Stadium in 1979, season ticket holder in 1998. Lifelong fanatic of the Bronx Bombers who supports them religiously. All that said, only ONE player deserved to get in the Hall this year: MARIANO RIVERA.
And congrats to Mo for the honor. It was an honor watching him pitch for the Yankees and do it with dominance and class throughout his career.
As for the others, congrats (and congrats to the late Halladay's family), but here's why if I was a voter, I couldn't do it:
Moose - GREAT pitcher, loved him. But aside from a couple of seasons, he was never dominant. He was never "the best" at his craft, even for a stretch. he was always, generally, aside from a couple seasons, a clear #2 pitcher. Killer competitor, reinvented himself well to keep his career going, went out on top (20 wins, 3.3 ERA his final season), etc. I love the guy, and I'm a fan. But in my book, he's simply a great ball player. Not one of the greatest ever. Simple as that.
Halladay - He had a dominance streak that Moose never had. That said, he also didn't have the consistency or long tenure that a guy like Moose had. This is going to sound wrong, but I think this is a sympathy induction, and its wrong. I respected Halladay's career. Man, in his dominant streak, that guy was phenomenal. But looking at his entire career, I don't see Hall of Famer. I see a #1 starter who developed a bit late, and never really was able to reinvent himself at the end. He flamed out, but he did so too quick. Had he had another three seasons of dominance, then I think its a different story. But his career clearly, at least to me, is not HOF-worthy. But then again, I don't vote, so no one cares.
Martinez - NOPE. I have softened over the years on his case. But the fact remains, other than his first two seasons, the guy never played the field. He essentially rested in the dugout and then hit. He hit well for sure. HOF-level hitter (borderline) that didn't accumulate the numbers I would have been OK with to put him in. Not a lot of hitting milestones achieved for a guy that all he did was hit. I'm not doggin' him -- he was a great hitter, a great Mariner, and despite being a Yankees fan, I respected the hell out of his bat. But he was essentially a part time player. Just like I didn't think Harold Baines should be in, Edgar should not be in.
Here's my question as a Yankees fan. Don Mattingly was my second favorite Yankee (Reggie, Donnie Baseball, Derek, and now Judge). I am pretty firm that Donnie Baseball, regardless of my love for him, is NOT a Hall of Famer. But if you let in guys like Edgar who didn't play the field, why was Mattingly not voted in, given his ELITE level glove and defensive awards, along with a lifetime .307 average and MVP, and his short, but excellent prime?
Again, if you're watering down the Hall of Fame, to be the Hall of Very Good (which is happening), then how are Baines and Edgar in, and not Mattingly? It is a travesty.
To be clear, I don't think any of those guys SHOULD be in. Im saying if you let Edgar in, and Baines, WHY THE HELL was Mattingly not voted in. It's not right.