Matt:

 

First, just want to say I just discovered your guys' site the other day, and I LOVE it - great commentary, analysis, humor, etc.  I haven't gotten anything done at work the last couple days, constantly flipping between what I'm supposed to be doing and your site.  Great Job!

 

So, maybe this is something you were going to bring up this year, but just wondering what you thought of Tim (Rock) Raines chances of make the Hall when he's eligible.  Obviously, Lou Brock was (is) overrated, but Rock was seems like he was way better than Brock - much better OBP, fewer Ks, many more walks, much better SB% - the list goes on and on. 

 

So, do you think he'll get the respect he deserves when it comes time for the BBWAA to vote?  And will you guys give him the respect he deserves? 

 

Can't wait to find out, and keep up the great work!

 

 

Keith:

 

I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying the site, even if it's negatively affecting your productivity.

 

As far as how the three of us feel about Raines, take a gander at our composite top 100 list.  We'll be putting together top 200 lists around the All-Star break, so check that out, too. 

 

As for the BWAA, I think that they're slowly getting the idea that things like OBP and SB% are pretty darn important.  It hurts Raines that he ceased to be a full time player six years before he retired, since his greatness will not be as fresh in some of the writers' memories.  However, it helps him to have hung on one more year after 2001 so that he's not in the same Hall class as Ripken, Gwynn, McGwire, etc.

 

Basically, I'm sure that he'll enter Cooperstown, but he still may not do so in his first year of eligibility, which is a shame.

 

As far as comparing him to Brock, don't forget about defense.  Raines finished with an OF F% 7 points higher than the league average and with 80 more assists than errors.  Brock's F% was 17(!) points lower than his league's average, and he collected 54 fewer assists than errors.  Brock may have been the worst defensive outfielder of the 20th Century.

 

 

PS - Did you notice that Baines and Raines switched roles with the White Sox?  Raines is now the bench coach and Baines is now the 1st base coach.  Apparently, they'd rather have Harold's baserunning expertise!