How many Hall of Famers are playing now?

[taxman]

Toronto: Halladay (I said Hall of Very Good, the group said BL),Frank Thomas

Roy Oswalt has to be ahead of Hallady in any discussion.

[MaskedMan]

If Edmonds gets in, so should have this guy:

295/369/564, 381 HR, 1239 RBI, 974 R. 5X all-star; 1 MVP, 3 other top five MVP finishes. He wasn't near the defensive player as Edmonds, but his numbers are better in a shorter career.

This guy should go in before Edmonds as well:
295/343/561; 434 HR; 1404 RBI; 1061 R; 3X AS; 2X MVP with 2 other top five finishes. Not a defensive player like Edmonds, but much more feared as a hitter.

Edmonds is a good ball player; he's not HOF in my book.

Does Ozzie Smith have the numbers of these other two players???

I think the biggest differentiation is Edmonds peak seasons, as RC21 pointed out, were just crazy. Add that to one of the best defensive CF'ers EVER during his peak and you have an Ozzie caliber HOF'er.
JMO, tho...we'll see how he ends up the next couple years

[JL21]

If Edmonds gets in, so should have this guy:

295/369/564, 381 HR, 1239 RBI, 974 R. 5X all-star; 1 MVP, 3 other top five MVP finishes. He wasn't near the defensive player as Edmonds, but his numbers are better in a shorter career.

Not even close. He was a TERRIBLE defender and he played a position where offense is more readily available than Edmonds does. Plus, the OPS+'s are very close (143 for your guy, 137 for JimEd).

This guy should go in before Edmonds as well:
295/343/561; 434 HR; 1404 RBI; 1061 R; 3X AS; 2X MVP with 2 other top five finishes. Not a defensive player like Edmonds, but much more feared as a hitter.

Edmonds is a good ball player; he's not HOF in my book.

This one has more merit because I suspect that by the time Edmonds is done, he'll be on the same bubble. But for all the "fear" he put into pitchers, his OPS+ was actually quite a bit worse than Edmonds' (119 for your guy, 137 for Jim E.).

My opinion? Edmonds isn't HOF now, but if he has one more big year and another one like 2006, he will be. He's close but not quite there.

[StL Dan]

Don't stone me...I haven't really looked at his career numbers....but, could Izzy be considered BL HOFer if he continues to average 25-35 saves per year for the next 3-5 years?

[Redbirdruss]

Todd Helton is a pretty good bet

These guys are not playing but should be in soon:
Roberto Alomar
Rickey Henderson
Rafael Palmeiro
Mark McGwire
Jeff Bagwell
Larry Walker
Roger Clemens
John Franco

Pujols retired? Crud. It's going to be a long season.

--P--

My bad
RBR

[MaskedMan]

I think all of the playoff appearances in the 2000's will help him also. You can't really talk about the decade of the 2000's without mentioning the Cards and the engine's Pujols and Edmonds

[vance]

I think all of the playoff appearances in the 2000's will help him also. You can't really talk about the decade of the 2000's without mentioning the Cards and the engine's Pujols and Edmonds

If playoff appearances count into the equation, Bernie becomes a lock.

[TimeForGuinness]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Ozzie will be the last person to get into the HOF based on his defense. (Yes he had some offense, but he got in for his GGs)

Rolen and Edmonds will have a hard time getting in. IMHO.

[vance]

Furthermore, does Edmonds really have a case over this player?

279/323/482; 438 HR; 1591 RBI; 1373 R. Eight time AS; 1 MVP (2 other 2nd place finishes); 1 ROY; 8 GG.

This player played in an era where offense was not nearly as prevalent as Edmonds. If Edmonds goes in, it should happen after this player's induction.

[vance]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Ozzie will be the last person to get into the HOF based on his defense. (Yes he had some offense, but he got in for his GGs)

Rolen and Edmonds will have a hard time getting in. IMHO.

Along those same lines, Ozzie was considered the best defensive SS ever. Whether that's true or not, that perception carried him into the HOF just as Brooks Robinson used that distinction at third to assist his induction.

Edmonds, while good defensively, isn't the best defensive CF of his era. Some would argue that Andruw Jones has been just as good over the same time frame. Torii Hunter could enter that discussion. Until injuries took their toll, so could Junior Griffey. So, while Edmonds gets consideration for his defense at a tough defensive position, he won't get the boost that many are thinking he might.