Is Prince Fielder a future Hall of Famer?

[Bars and Bar]

I was just looking at his stats and was curious what y'all thought.

[StealingSecond]

No questions asked

[brewcrew8]

I don't like first baseman in the hall of fame but he has a chance if he keeps producing for a long enough time.

[xbignick]

Nope for me. Great bat, but position and defense drag value down.

Could he make it? Sure, depends on the voters at the time and how long he stays productive, but I would not vote for him.

[13goyankees13]

Continued production is the key. If he retired today, then no, he would not be. It all depends on if he can keep hitting as he ages or if he will have a huge drop off like A-Rod

[MarshallCutler6]

I don't see how playing 1st makes it so he isn't a hofer. If he continues at his current pace, then yes, no question.

[archiebunkerjr]

One thing that will hurt him is that he won't be playing first base much longer. He's a terrible first baseman. He will be a full time DH as soon as Victor Martinez' contract expires.

[37Jetson]

Career DWar is -17.2 Yikes!!!

He is still very young and could realistically put up 500 Home Runs if he does not eat his way out of baseball like his Pops.

I voted maybe on the HOF for Prince. For the sake of the Tigers in the next 6 years, I hope Prince puts up monster numbers.

[bballcollector]

Yes!!!!!!!!

[THE(NEXT)LEVEL]

Didn't he have some personal issues this year? He has a good chance, but not there yet.

[8lakers24]

tigers fan and i say no, hes going to have to put up some more 40 and 50 hr seasons if he wants to and as you can see thats not easy to do at comerica (unless your name is miguel cabrera)

[Kobe24>MJ23]

Lol 19, 19 and 19. Who will end the 3 way tie?

[xbignick]

I don't see how playing 1st makes it so he isn't a hofer. If he continues at his current pace, then yes, no question.

Not a premium position. You can plant about just anybody at first base. You can't have everyone patrolling shortstop, centerfield, or killing their knees at catcher. And then while he's at first, he's not a very good "Fielder" there.

[Melagoo]

I don't like first baseman in the hall of fame

WTF ...... ?

[Melagoo]

... HOF 1st baseman ... some of the greatest Sluggers

Cap Anson - Chicago White Stockings 1871–1897
Jake Beckley - Pittsburgh Pirates 1888–1907
Jim Bottomed - St. Louis Cardinals 1922–1937
Dan Brouthers - Buffalo Bisons 1879–1896, 1904
Orlando Cepeda - San Francisco Giants 1958–1974
Frank Chance - Chicago Cubs 1898–1914
Roger Connor - New York Gothams 1880–1897
Jimmie Foxx - Boston Red Sox 1925–1942, 1944–1945
Lou Gehrig - New York Yankees 1923–1939
Hank Greenberg - Detroit Tigers 1930, 1933–1941, 1945–1947
George Kelly - New York Giants 1915–1917, 1919–1930, 1932
Harmon Killebrew - Minnesota Twins 1954–1975
Buck Leonard - Homestead Grays 1933–1950 NLC
Willie McCovey - San Francisco Giants 1959–1980
Johnny Mize - St. Louis Cardinals 1936–1942, 1946–1953
Eddie Murray - Baltimore Orioles 1977–1997
Tony Pérez - Cincinnati Reds 1964–1986
George Sisler - St. Louis Browns 1915–1922, 1924–1930
Mule Suttles - Newark Eagles 1921, 1923–1944
Ben Taylor - 1908–1929
Bill Terry - New York Giants 1923–1936

[Bars and Bar]

Most balanced poll in Blowout's history?

[Gmrson]

I think another thing that has to be taken into consideration is that most of the time seeing him in the on-deck circle makes pitchers pitch to Miggy. Ruth was great in his own right but but having Gehrig behind him was a plus. The lineup in front of him also helped Gehrig to have so many career grand slams. Baseball is a team sport and there are many facets to a player beyond the stats. That being said, I answered Maybe above. I think it's a little early for a yes/no answer. Another thing I love about baseball is that we can have these discussions!

[WCTYSON]

I am going to say yes, if he paces himself. Since 2006, when he was an everyday player, he is in the top 5 among his peers at that position. There are a few future HOF players ahead of him and will surpass some before his career is over. Considering his defense and base running, his offensive numbers have still made him among the most valuable at the position.

I think Frank Thomas will be a fair comparison when it is all done for Prince Fielder. Very similar numbers and rates, with both being mainly offensive players and negative marks with defense and base running.

[superjames27]

wow I don't think ive ever seen a poll this close

[GOWIFB]

I voted yes assuming he doesn't break down in the next few years. Obviously if he retired today it would be a no. Prince is one of the most durable players out there right now so I would think he will play for a very long time and he will therefor get enough stats to make it

[batottu]

I don't see it happening. .285 hitter at first base means that he has to hit 500 homers to get there. He could hit 500, but he is getting to that age where a decline happens and he isn't exactly a physical specimen.

Is he better than Jeff Bagwell? I would say no and Jeff is having a tough time getting in.

[Bars and Bar]

How do you think this will affect him?

[Addison]

He'll be anxious as to where the the good local eateries are in his new environment.

[xbignick]

How do you think this will affect him?

I personally wouldn't put him in unless he stayed 2012-level productive for 7-10 more years, so no difference for my personal vote, but would have to think the improved offensive numbers with the ballpark change will make a difference to voters who disregard that and look at total counting numbers.

So basically helps.

[Bars and Bar]

Wow, a ton of "No" votes came in yesterday.

[Nyfancam01]

No way!!!!!!

[dherm360]

Hes 29, He could hit another 400 home runs--when he was a Brewer, his defense wasn't bad at all

[Bars and Bar]

Did everybody just recently decide Prince Fielder isn't HOF-material?

Is it because he was traded, negative publicity, or what?

There's been roughly 5 yes', 35 no's, and 5 maybe's in the past couple days.

[Tugarpj]

Did everybody just recently decide Prince Fielder isn't HOF-material?

Is it because he was traded, negative publicity, or what?

There's been roughly 5 yes', 35 no's, and 5 maybe's in the past couple days.

I think he just increased his odds of being inducted 2 fold with his moving to Texas.

[frozenntimesports]

I don't think he is going to be a productive player that much longer. He has extreme old man skills and just turned 30. The cliff season is coming sooner than many think.

[Archangel1775]

He's still got some time left assuming he takes pride in himself and loses some off that gut.

[timelovesahero]

Hes 29, He could hit another 400 home runs--when he was a Brewer, his defense wasn't bad at all

glad I'm not the only one who noticed.

[Feist]

I think Fielder will have a good chance at making the hof. He's a 6 time all star and he'll probably have a career triple crown.

[st0lenbase]

how do you people find these random threads that are 2 years old?

[CubsFanInTX]

how do you people find these random threads that are 2 years old?

There is a search function....

[SportsAutoFreak]

I think he'd need 500-600 home runs. I voted maybe.

[darealstunna]

no way.
that's all

[markinca]

Fielder better do a HELL of a lot in his next 10 years to even have a chance. Baseball-reference says that through age, 30, these are his closest comps:

Mark Teixeira (950)
Rocky Colavito (915)
Carlos Delgado (907)
Kent Hrbek (906)
Paul Konerko (906)
Greg Luzinski (903)
Boog Powell (901)
Shawn Green (898)
Jose Canseco (897)

Not a single hall-of-famer (or should-be HOFer) among them. I'm not saying all these players sucked - they were pretty darn good. But pretty darn good shouldn't get you into the HOF.

And just for context, Mike Trout has produced more value in his first 3 seasons than Fielder has done for his entire career.

[PejaD]

The quick answer is no considering his inconsistency over the last few years, unathletic build and supposed confidence issues.
To become a HoF he will need to play for a large market NL (forces him to not DH) team and put up numbers similar to what he did in Milwaukee until his late 30s/early 40s.
At least he is better than Avisail Garcia.

[Andrew Jones]

Can someone bump the Is Kent Hrbek a future HOFer thread next?

[88horsepower]

Can someone bump the Is Kent Hrbek a future HOFer thread next?

So you're saying there's a chance!!!

https://speakerdata.s3.amazonaws.com/photo/image/800707/BDfsIWxCYAEIhcK.jpg-large.jpg

[KryKslr]

As a former first baseman (high school, don't be too impressed).....first base isn't as easy as these guys make it out to be. SS/3B chucks a wild ball, you're responsible to clean it up and make the play. At the tail end of every shortstop web gem, there's usually a 1B snatching it out of the dirt to make it happen.

Not to mention the corners are generally power hitter zones. If you're a 3B or a 1B and can't hit, you'll have a rough time.

[coachnip13]

There is a search function....

So someone went searching for Prince Fielder Hall of Fame threads? Must have been a slow day at work.

[hairyharold]

greatest fielder of all time

[wwejhardyrox]

greatest fielder of all time

Better than his daddy.

[babybull]

He'll be anxious as to where the the good local eateries are in his new environment.

Double Cheeseburgers is bad.

[babybull]

As a former first baseman (high school, don't be too impressed).....first base isn't as easy as these guys make it out to be. SS/3B chucks a wild ball, you're responsible to clean it up and make the play. At the tail end of every shortstop web gem, there's usually a 1B snatching it out of the dirt to make it happen.

Not to mention the corners are generally power hitter zones. If you're a 3B or a 1B and can't hit, you'll have a rough time.

Ron Washington in Moneyball, " It's incredibly hard."

[phillies347]

Lol, I went to vote and then realized I voted 2 years ago

[Skipscards]

how do you people find these random threads that are 2 years old?

A better question is why? Unless there is some point, (like Fielder has actually blossomed into a no doubt HOFer), this should be a bannable offense. Where's the banhammer?

[Bars and Bar]

Assuming he keeps his current career averages and he somehow reaches 3000 hits and 500 home runs, is he a hall of famer?

What players are in the HOF with similar terrible DWAR?

[Skipscards]

Assuming he keeps his current career averages and he somehow reaches 3000 hits and 500 home runs, is he a hall of famer?

What players are in the HOF with similar terrible DWAR?

Frank Thomas.

[jmscoggin]

Which Hall of Fame is the OP referring to? High school? Hot dog eating? Weeble Wobble?

[Ottomatic]

Assuming he keeps his current career averages and he somehow reaches 3000 hits and 500 home runs, is he a hall of famer?

What players are in the HOF with similar terrible DWAR?

He could have been, but he looks done at age 32.

[rttrffg2012]

Who is the better Fielder?

For me, Cecil was more of a dangerous hotter than Prince.

Prince tends to produce in blow out wins. Also....STEROIDS!!!!

Cecil was a hit machine!

[88horsepower]

He could have been, but he looks done at age 32.

Batting under the Mendoza line with two home runs.

[whitesoxfan3579]

hall of shame...

[Big35Hurt]

Don't see it happening. He won't get to 3000 hits. He might get to 500 HR's if he can stay healthy, but I'm not convinced he will get there. So I will say no go.

[ajtilley72]

Can't see Prince making it to the Hall of Fame, 3,000 hits is out of the question and 500 HRs is a pretty big question mark at this point. I think he'll end up with numbers similiar to Carlos Lee with a few more HRs and a few less hits.

As for his .197 batting average, when Prince was in Milwaukee he always seemed to slump in April/May and then would turn it on in June through the remainder of the season, so him slumping right now doesn't bother me as much. If it comes to the All-Star Break and he is still hovering around the Mendoza Line and only a couple of HRs than I would start to be concerned...

(Full Disclosure: I would love to see Prince get to 3k/500, especially considering I have one of his BC RC Red Autos from 2006, along with the Orange, Blue, Xfractor, etc., but I just don't see it happening.)

[whitesoxfan3579]

Interesting to note that there are five 500 home run club members— Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Rafael Palmeiro*, and Alex Rodriguez* that are also members of the 3,000 hit club...

[whitesoxfan3579]

Frank Thomas.

Ouch, however I do take comfort knowing that the Big Hurt spent nearly 60% of his career games as a DH...

[Skipscards]

Ouch, however I do take comfort knowing that the Big Hurt spent nearly 60% of his career games as a DH...

Lol, don't sweat it. Take greater comfort in knowing nearly every 1st baseman in the Hall has a negative dWAR. The reaity is WAR doesn't value 1st base defense very much. Even most of the greatest defensive 1st baseman in history have negative dWAR (Mattingly, Keith Hernandez, as an example). I just mentioned Big Hurt because he was the first one to pop in my mind and it struck me funny he didn't pop in your head too. :)

[BoxBreaker72]

Nothing short of a miracle that Dombrowski was able to move most of that contract for an elite 2B in Kinsler.

[whitesoxfan3579]

Lol, don't sweat it. Take greater comfort in knowing nearly every 1st baseman in the Hall has a negative dWAR. The reaity is WAR doesn't value 1st base defense very much. Even most of the greatest defensive 1st baseman in history have negative dWAR (Mattingly, Keith Hernandez, as an example). I just mentioned Big Hurt because he was the first one to pop in my mind and it struck me funny he didn't pop in your head too. :)

Interesting.. I didn't know that nearly every first baseman in the Hall has a negative dWAR. Good thing they were much more potent with their bats:)

I have a tendency to focus on only the good regarding my favorite player of all time... For better and for worse...

[mfw13]

Are you kidding?

[jstasyk1121]

he actually has a nice career line to this point...but with what seems to be a quick decline happening...even tho last year was actually a pretty nice year(.305 23hr/98rbi)....

so far he is sitting at:

.284avg
846 runs
1612 hits
316 doubles
314 home runs
1010 rbi's
833 walks
1129 strikeouts
.383 obp
.509 slg
.892 ops
136 ops+
6x all star
3- top 4 MVP finishes(best was 2x 3rd place)
3x silver slugger

6yr peak from 07-12: .289, 95r, 38hr, 112rbi, 98bb, 120k, ops+=151

so i would say he is on pace for sure...but that would mean if he maintained even close to that for like 6-7 more years til he is almost 40....like if he averaged .265/25hr/75rbi/70r for another 6yrs....then you are looking at a guy that is probabably around:

.280
2500h
1250+runs
450+ doubles
450+ homers
1500+ rbi

like that is a nice career...but there is also other 1b out there that are probably around that number that really didnt come close to getting in...1b i think is pretty tough...you almost have to get to the big numbers...500 if not 550/600 homers...and still have all the other strong numbers to back that up...450 just wont get it done...Delgado for instance was actually better than i project out the "upside" of prince and i believe he fell off ballot in the first year...which is a shame to me....delgado basically had a 13yr career in which he avg 35hr a year for 457hr in that stretch(he had like 3 short nothing seasons before he broke out and one last season where he didnt play much)...so 95% of his damage was 96-08...457hr 1500rbi or so and he was 1 and done...

[Skipscards]

he actually has a nice career line to this point...but with what seems to be a quick decline happening...even tho last year was actually a pretty nice year(.305 23hr/98rbi)....

so far he is sitting at:

.284avg
846 runs
1612 hits
316 doubles
314 home runs
1010 rbi's
833 walks
1129 strikeouts
.383 obp
.509 slg
.892 ops
136 ops+
6x all star
3- top 4 MVP finishes(best was 2x 3rd place)
3x silver slugger

6yr peak from 07-12: .289, 95r, 38hr, 112rbi, 98bb, 120k, ops+=151

so i would say he is on pace for sure...but that would mean if he maintained even close to that for like 6-7 more years til he is almost 40....like if he averaged .265/25hr/75rbi/70r for another 6yrs....then you are looking at a guy that is probabably around:

.280
2500h
1250+runs
450+ doubles
450+ homers
1500+ rbi

like that is a nice career...but there is also other 1b out there that are probably around that number that really didnt come close to getting in...1b i think is pretty tough...you almost have to get to the big numbers...500 if not 550/600 homers...and still have all the other strong numbers to back that up...450 just wont get it done...Delgado for instance was actually better than i project out the "upside" of prince and i believe he fell off ballot in the first year...which is a shame to me....delgado basically had a 13yr career in which he avg 35hr a year for 457hr in that stretch(he had like 3 short nothing seasons before he broke out and one last season where he didnt play much)...so 95% of his damage was 96-08...457hr 1500rbi or so and he was 1 and done...

All good points. But it just shows how hard it really is. Putting up another 6 years at a decent level in your 30s just to get in to the conversation is clearly not a given.

On another note, Delgado looks like a classic Veteran's Committee selection. We'll see.

[whitesoxfan3579]

Delgado is one of six players to hit thirty or more homeruns in ten consecutive seasons. I did not like seeing his name drop off the HOF ballot after only one year of consideration.

[Big35Hurt]

Delgado is one of six players to hit thirty or more homeruns in ten consecutive seasons. I did not like seeing his name drop off the HOF ballot after only one year of consideration.

I liked him despite him playing for the Blue Jays for a good part of his career. I hope he gets in.

[ThoseBackPages]

i have honestly NEVER thought about Cecil's kid as a HOFer

are we stretching for names to be added to the HOF?

[bbplaya11]

No, adrian Gonzalez has better numbers and im not sure if hes a lock in

[douglasfir]

What happened to his power?!

[scottbdoug]

i dont think he will make it. 1st basemen are held to a higher standard for offensive numbers and i dont think he will make those numbers.

[scottbdoug]

I liked him despite him playing for the Blue Jays for a good part of his career. I hope he gets in.

whats wrong with playing for the Blue Jays?

[Ray27Ray52]

whats wrong with playing for the Blue Jays?

Maybe he isn't a fan of the Blue Jays. It's not exactly a brain buster.

[Skipscards]

Maybe he isn't a fan of the Blue Jays. It's not exactly a brain buster.

Plus they're in Canada. I mean, Canada.

[jmscoggin]

he actually has a nice career line to this point...but with what seems to be a quick decline happening...even tho last year was actually a pretty nice year(.305 23hr/98rbi)....

so far he is sitting at:

.284avg
846 runs
1612 hits
316 doubles
314 home runs
1010 rbi's
833 walks
1129 strikeouts
.383 obp
.509 slg
.892 ops
136 ops+
6x all star
3- top 4 MVP finishes(best was 2x 3rd place)
3x silver slugger

6yr peak from 07-12: .289, 95r, 38hr, 112rbi, 98bb, 120k, ops+=151

so i would say he is on pace for sure...but that would mean if he maintained even close to that for like 6-7 more years til he is almost 40....like if he averaged .265/25hr/75rbi/70r for another 6yrs....then you are looking at a guy that is probabably around:

.280
2500h
1250+runs
450+ doubles
450+ homers
1500+ rbi

like that is a nice career...but there is also other 1b out there that are probably around that number that really didnt come close to getting in...1b i think is pretty tough...you almost have to get to the big numbers...500 if not 550/600 homers...and still have all the other strong numbers to back that up...450 just wont get it done...Delgado for instance was actually better than i project out the "upside" of prince and i believe he fell off ballot in the first year...which is a shame to me....delgado basically had a 13yr career in which he avg 35hr a year for 457hr in that stretch(he had like 3 short nothing seasons before he broke out and one last season where he didnt play much)...so 95% of his damage was 96-08...457hr 1500rbi or so and he was 1 and done...

Even IF and it is a huge IF, he reaches those numbers, you just described Garret Anderson and there isn't a single living soul saying that he is a HOF'er. Prince is done and he should never be mentioned in the same sentence as the MLB HOF.

[Big35Hurt]

whats wrong with playing for the Blue Jays?

Maybe he isn't a fan of the Blue Jays. It's not exactly a brain buster.

Ray Ray replied a lot nicer than I would have. :D

[Lonewolf]

Not. a. chance.

[duwal]

Assuming he keeps his current career averages and he somehow reaches 3000 hits and 500 home runs, is he a hall of famer?

What players are in the HOF with similar terrible DWAR?


There's a slim chance where he doesn't reach 2,000 hits with how he is slowing down right now. He doesn't even have 30 homer power anymore. He had two really great dominating seasons, some all-star worthy seasons, just not enough to really be HOF material. His OPS the last 4 seasons - .819, .720, .841 and so far this season .573. So far in his career probably about 6-7 seasons that we would consider to be hall of fame worthy

[speedyjg13]

Even IF and it is a huge IF, he reaches those numbers, you just described Garret Anderson and there isn't a single living soul saying that he is a HOF'er. Prince is done and he should never be mentioned in the same sentence as the MLB HOF.

No way in hell Garret Anderson makes the HOF and Garret shouldn't be even considered for it either. Same thing with Prince, he shouldn't even be considered for the hall of fame. He's more likely to enter the hall of fame of Hometown Buffet than the MLB hall of fame.

[jmscoggin]

No way in hell Garret Anderson makes the HOF and Garret shouldn't be even considered for it either. Same thing with Prince, he shouldn't even be considered for the hall of fame. He's more likely to enter the hall of fame of Hometown Buffet than the MLB hall of fame.

You may want to go back and reread the post of mine that you quoted, that was my entire point other than the Hometown Buffet. Damn, now you've made me hungry.

[markinca]

"Man, someday my grandkids aren't going to believe I was alive when Prince Fielder was playing and that I got to see him play in person!"

-said literally no one ever

[Skipscards]

"Man, someday my grandkids aren't going to believe I was alive when Prince Fielder was playing and that I got to see him play in person!"

-said literally no one ever

"Was he as fat as they say?"