Blyleven, deserving of the Hall?

[lafabj23]

Bert Blyleven, deserving of the Hall of Fame or just another average pitcher with longevity?

https://www.sportscardforum.com/blog.php?b=968

[troygoesdeep]

No he doesn't and I'm a twins fan

[lafabj23]

reasons why not?

[superpieman]

i think he does. the man has 287 wins 3700 strikeouts and was darn near the last of the real pitchers. and by real i mean guys who actually went out with the goal of getting past 6 innings into a game. he had more then 20 comeplete games 3 times. there are pitchers now who wont throw 20 complete games in their entire careers. he threw more then 10 complete games 11 times i believe. he pitched 5000 innings and that includes a couple injury shortened seasons in which he threw under 100 innings. at the rate pitchers pitch today at about 6 innings a game a pitcher would have to stay totaly healthy his whole career and pitch around 25 seasons fully healthy to have a chance at 5000 innings. his ERA is only 3.31 which means that his so so winning percentage of .534 wasnt really his fault. im guessing most players with over 600 starts and career ERA that low probably have more wins and a better record so he cant totaly be faulted for "only" having 287 wins. look at some of his seasons

in 1972 he had an era of 2.73 and was only 17-17
in 1974 he had an era of 2.66 and was again only 17-17
in 1976 he had an era of 2.87 and was only 13-16

with that era he easily should have had an extra 30 wins over those 3 years which would give him 317 career wins and if he had that then his HOF status wouldnt be in doubt

so for all that yes i think he definatly deserves to be in the hall of fame

[steel75]

I feel the Hall Of Fame should be for greats of the game. Players that people talk about 50 years later. The fact that we are debating "should he get in" tells me he doesn't make the cut. He should be in the Hall Of Very Good.

[superpieman]

I feel the Hall Of Fame should be for greats of the game. Players that people talk about 50 years later. The fact that we are debating "should he get in" tells me he doesn't make the cut. He should be in the Hall Of Very Good.

but why isnt he one of the greats of the game? the numbers say he is one of the best pitchers of all time. if he played on teams that supported him better he would have well over 300 wins and this wouldnt even be a debate.

theres always going to be debate. andre dawson was debated for a long time before getting in but he deserves to be there.

[steel75]

When people talk about the great pitchers, I just don't his name getting brought up often or frankly at all. What did he win when he played? Any Cy Youngs? Lead the league in wins? Stockpiling numbers over a long career does not impress me more than dominating over a shorter career. Hell, he only made the All-Star team twice in his long career.....

[superpieman]

When people talk about the great pitchers, I just don't his name getting brought up often or frankly at all. What did he win when he played? Any Cy Youngs? Lead the league in wins? Stockpiling numbers over a long career does not impress me more than dominating over a shorter career.

just because someones name doesnt get mentioned as one of the greatest ever doesnt mean they arnt. it you look at his numbers its not his fault he didnt win more games. the guy had 3 seasons with ERAs under 3 where he finished .500 or lower thats not his fault. if he had played on a team that provided him run support more he would have had probably 350 wins or so and not even been up for debate. you have to look deeper into his numbers then just wins and cy youngs. his career era is 3.31 meaning that his record of 287-250 isnt all his fault and should have been much better. he did what he could control and thats what he needs to be judged on not just wins and cy youngs because those are things that cant be done on your own.

[garyg21]

He should be in the HOF.. just ask him.. he will tell you ;)

[lafabj23]

steel75- good point, however they would only have about 20 members!