Quote:
Originally Posted by joefromchicago
No outfielder - in any field - has ever gotten into the HOF based primarily on his defensive abilities (in contrast to middle infielders, who often get in primarily on the strength of their defense). And a career OPS+ of 111 puts Jones on par with Vada Pinson and Adolfo Philips among center fielders. Better than a sharp stick in the eye, I'll grant you, but far from HOF material.
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I'm not saying he's going to get in, I'm saying he should get in. It's a shame that defense is not more highly valued because as the saying goes a run saved is every bit as important as a run scored, and Andruw Jones saved a ton of runs over his career. I don't see how Phillips belongs here because he only played nine seasons, and he was pretty much a part-timer with just over 2000 PA. Vada Pinson was a damn good player, not a HoFer, but a damn good player. His defense was slightly below average though, and that costs him in my book.
I think (and hope) that as we come to understand defense more, and are better able to measure it, guys like Andruw Jones, Kenny Lofton, Carlos Beltran, and Jim Edmonds will start getting the respect they deserve for the fantastic careers they had, and that's just centre fielders.