Paul Molitor

[Fuzzy Bear]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/molitpa01.shtml

His stats speak for themselves; if he were a 1B or LF for his entire career, he would be a shoo-in.

Molitor, however, played over 1,100 games at DH, almost 1,000 of them after 1991.

Molitor played the field prior to 1991; he played mare games at 3B than anywhere else in the field, and he played 457 games in the MIDDLE INFIELD, which counts for something.

However, if Molitor had not become a full-time DH in 1991, several things would have happened:

1. He would not have gotten 3,300+ hits.

2. He PROBABLY would not have gotten 3,000 hits.

3. He probably would not have hit .300 lifetime. Molitor's BA was under .300 until 1990, and he needed the boost of his 1990s years to get it over .300 and keep it there.

The reason Molitor went to DH was simple: INJURIES. Molitor was not a particularly durable player prior to 1991. He was injured often enough to presume that his batting stats would be not as impressive, nor his career as long as it was, had he been required to play the field.

Although he has nowhere near as many games in the field, much of this applies to Edgar Martinez. Martinez has been a GREAT HITTER who once played 3B. However, Martinez is considered to be a player who would not be in the HOF discussion were there no DH, and being a DH brings his admission to the HOF mix into question, in the eyes of many.

This is Molitor's first crack at the HOF. Will he be a 1st ballot selection. Will he wait, but get in later? And does he deserve to get in?

[Craig S.]

My gut feeling is that he gets in on his first try. While I'm not a huge fan of the DH, it also shouldn't be held against him, and his numbers really do speak for themselves.

One difference between Molly and Edgar is that Molitor played more games in the field than at DH. Edgar has played over twice as many at DH as he did in the field, and those numbers won't get any better.

So while I don't like the DH, I think Molitor wil get in and I think he deserves it. And I'd be supposed if he's not a first-ballot guy. I can't see the voters not choosing a guy who's got 3000 hits.

[Firpo Marberry]

He's an easy HOFer.

First of all, the DH is part of the landscape. You can't penalize a guy for it. I'll tell you why at the end of this.

Molitor played mainly at 3B in 88 and 89, when he played 150-plus games each season. His durability issues were rarely related to playing in the field. Actually, he was a player who became more durable as he aged, even when he was playing mostly in the field.

In '81, he moved to the OF and tore ankle ligaments running the bases, which would likely have happened had been a full-time DH, we can presume. It was not an injury that happened while playing defense, anyway. So he played 64 games, but I can't attribute it to defnese.

The year before he missed plenty of time, too, but he pulled a ribcage muscle while batting. Batting is what DHs do.

In '84, he missed the most games in any season. It was an elbow ligament injury. I guess we can say that had to do with defense, I guess.

In '86 and '87 it was a hamstring. Again, I can't attribute this to play in the field. In '90, it was two hand injuries and then a collision in the field that led to arm surgery. Obviously, the latter was a defensive injury, but it was a collision, not simple fragility. But mostly, these injuries where batting/running injuries.

Molitor was probably the best baserunner in the league even in his final year. He was an acceptable fielding player. There's no reason for me to believe had the DH never been in existence, he, as with so many players, would have found a place to play in the field. Before the DH, when a guy could hit, they found a position for him. Molitor could hit, run and field, right up to the end. They would have found a place for him. I also believe he would reached 3,000 hits. He finished with more than 3,300. That's a long ways past 3,000.

[pwdennis]

Molitor belongs in Cooperstown period. Whether he should be a first ballot selection is an open question, but as best as I can tell, the DH is a part of the game.

[sweaver]

I think, with 3000 hits, Molitor sails in on the first ballot. He also deserves to. There will be those who do not vote for him because of the DH thing, but then again no one has ever been elected unanymously.

[JamesI]

I would be flabergasted if Molitor is not in on the first ballot with at least 80%.

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Leaving a fine hitter and baserunner out because you don't like the DH is the same as leaving modern starting pithers out because they don't pitch dozens of complete games every season.

The game is not any easier on pitchers now because of the modern use of relievers, and it isn't any easier for hitters because of the DH. They still have to HIT.

[Firpo Marberry]

Originally Posted by Ytown Tribe fan

Leaving a fine hitter and baserunner out because you don't like the DH is the same as leaving modern starting pithers out because they don't pitch dozens of complete games every season.

The game is not any easier on pitchers now because of the modern use of relievers, and it isn't any easier for hitters because of the DH. They still have to HIT.

I read on one baseball BBS that to marginalize Edgar Martinez because he DHs is the same as marginalizing AL pitchers because they don't hit. The individual pointed out, in response to a post that DHs are "one-dimensional" was that AL pitchers are also one-dimensional."

Of course, that's a helluva stretch, being that one dimension accounts for probably 99.9% of the pitchers' purpose.

DHs do have to run the bases. Granted, most of them do it fair less proficiently than ol' Paulie did. And again, to suggest that without the DH teams would have found no place for most of these men to play is ridiculous. If you can find a place for people like Lou Brock and Dick Stuart to play, you can find a place for players like Molitor.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Originally Posted by JamesI

I would be flabergasted if Molitor is not in on the first ballot with at least 80%.

Were you flabbergasted when Ryne Sandberg not only was rejected, but achieved less than 50% of the vote, behind Bruce Sutter? (I know I was!)

I would vote for Molitor, but I would not be surprised if, in the process, he was treated like 320+ game winners Phil Niekro and Don Sutton, who, also, FAR exceeded what we normally consider to be a HOF "automatic" milestone. I'm sure he'll get in, and he SHOULD go right in, but I would not be surprised if he doesn't.

Another thing that works against Molitior is Sandberg's rejection. I think that Sandberg WILL get in this year. I think that many writers who didn't vote for Sandberg were truly astonished at the vote last year, and will want to correct that situation. Some of these guys may be reluctant vote for both Molitor AND Sandberg. We'll see soon enough, I guess.

[Craig S.]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy Bear

Were you flabbergasted when Ryne Sandberg not only was rejected, but achieved less than 50% of the vote, behind Bruce Sutter? (I know I was!)

I don't think Sandberg's rejection was as surprising as would be the same thing happening to Molitor. Ryno was a great player, and he'll make the HOF eventually. However, I think the voters were sending a message that he's not what they see as a "first ballot guy." Whether that's a justifiable way to vote is another issue.

If Molitor were to suffer the same fate - especially with the automatic ticket that 3000 hits brings - I'd be beyond flabbergasted, if that's possible.

[JamesI]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy Bear

Were you flabbergasted when Ryne Sandberg not only was rejected, but achieved less than 50% of the vote, behind Bruce Sutter? (I know I was!)

I was surprised by Sandberg not getting 50% but not enough to be flabergasted.

Molitor has 3000 hits. I can't see him not getting in because of that.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Originally Posted by JamesI

I was surprised by Sandberg not getting 50% but not enough to be flabergasted.

Molitor has 3000 hits. I can't see him not getting in because of that.

Are there any other hot newcomers on the B.B.W.A.A. ballot? I think Molitor is the big star this year.

Molitor is not such a big star that people are focusing on HIM, they way they will when, say Mark McGwire is eligible. This may work in favor of other candidates who have been passed over. I suspect Ryno will make it this year. I also think that this year may be the best shot ever for Jim Rice and Dale Murphy, as the competition isn't as stiff.

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Here's the list of future first-time eligibles for the next 5 years: http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/ho..._elections.htm

As far as the HoF monitor goes, Ecks and Molly stand out. No one else is really close.

[JamesI]

I agree Fuzzy. Molitor and Eck are teh only possible first ballot guys next year (heck the only guys I think are worthy new to the ballot) so Sandberg and a few others may have a shot in 2004

[KCBOOMER]

Molitor is a mortal lock. Being a DH will not be held against him because of the amount of hits he has. Also he played a position in 56% of the games he played. Molitor was also a darling of the media.

Beside Molitor has a better BA, OPS, OPS against the league, and almost as many RCAA's (13 less) as Pete Rose. And he was a vastly superior base runner. Only Rose's longevity as a position player gives him any advantage defensively.