While not a CF, Larry Walker's stagnation at 20% is telling as well. Walker's counting stats are less, but his averages are vastly better, and he has the higher WAR. Beltran won't have the Coors field effect to deal with, but he is just missing that it factor. Despite playing in NYC for several years, I don't think Beltran ever really got the same attention others have ..
OK........ Mantle >>>>>> Berkman >>>> Beltran. So? I don't follow the point you're trying to make....... Berkman has no shot at the HoF.
I'd be stunned if he never got in. Lance Berkman if his body didn't break down he would be in the HOF (if he could play defense that would have helped too). Beltran has defensive value and played long enough to have the counting numbers needed. He still reached base nearly 4000 times , with over 2700 hits while hitting over 400 bombs. I'd guess every eligible non-roider is in with those numbers.
I was just spitballing the 3 best switch hitters I could think of. There has to be another one that I'm forgetting.
From Astros County ... Brent Strom talked to MLB Network Radio yesterday about how Carlos Beltran made his job easier. Strom:
Ah. OK. I think he (probably) has a better case than Berkman. But I think his path is tougher than people realize.
He was a significantly better base stealer than Jim Edmonds - which isn't unimportant. But offensively, Edmonds was better and I think his defensive peak is longer than Beltran's. Regardless, they're fairly equal and Edmonds was one and done.
I would love for him to be a coach next season with the Astros. Sounds like he will take a year off before coaching.
Beltran has more home runs, significantly more RBI, way more doubles, and overall crushes Edmonds offensively. Beltran also has like 800 more hits than edmonds. Its a no brainer. Nobody takes edmonds if given the choice in their primes.
Yes; Beltran has more counting stats because, you know, he played in 575 more games and totaled 3,051 more career plate appearances....... Edmonds: .284/.376/.527/.903; 132 OPS+; 60.3 WAR; 7,980 PAs Beltran: .279/.350/.486/.837; 119 OPS+; 69.8 WAR; 11,031 PAs Looking at just their 10-year peaks, it's still Edmonds: Edmonds ('96-'05): .293 /.392/.556/.948; 142 OPS+; 50.4 WAR Beltran ('03-'12): .282/.368/.509/.878; 130 OPS+; 48.4 WAR Beltran obviously had monster postseasons - but it's not like Edmonds was bad (.274/.361/.513/.874; 118) and he actually contributed to his lone WS ring. Edmonds may very well be the one of the 10 most underrated players in baseball history.
