Johnny Damon got his 2000th hit last night, is he on pace to reach the HOF?

Journeyman · May 31, 2007

I love the HOF debates :103631605

Damon reached hit #2000 last night.

Damon is still just 33 but appears to be slowing down some since arriving in the Bronx last year...hard nosed play and injuries usually keep him out of 12-17 games a season...

His numbers projected out for 2007 look like they will be way off the norm for him...is he slowing down or just off to a slow start?

Assuming he's at the 2/3's mark of his career , he is right on pace for 3000 hits which to date is an automatic election to Cooperstown.

other key numbers-

315 SB , he should reach 400
1215 runs, should get close to 2000 if he plays it out strong.
797 RBI from primarily the leadoff spot, he should end up with 1200 or so which won't make or break him.

His stats are right there, a WS Ring and his rock star type popularity in Boston have Damon right on the edge IMO...obviously at this point he still has a ways to go...

At this point I would say it's a 50/50...he is in position though if he finishes strong.

fhmesq44 · May 31, 2007

I'm staying out of this one. All I will say is that my HOF would be a lot more sparsely populated than the real one and many of your's.

Doug · May 31, 2007

I'd say it all depends on getting to 3,000.

JudgeWapner · May 31, 2007

I'd say doubtful he makes it.

Journeyman · May 31, 2007

fhmesq44 said:
I'm staying out of this one. All I will say is that my HOF would be a lot more sparsely populated than the real one and many of your's.

not many of mine..I don't like giving the borderliners a spot.

Point is he's on pace to get 3000 hits ...compare him to a guy like Molitar who at this point in Paul Molitar's career, he would have actually been behind this pace....do we start keeping guys with 3000 hits out?

Damon was also a late bloomer...if I had to bet I would say he will come up short, my hunch is he will tail off....his career numbers are not much off of Derek Jeter's though.

GreenDoberman · May 31, 2007

Journey,
Edit the title, it says 200th not 2000th.

Damon is on pace for 3000 hits, however MLB is littered with many who were "on pace" for the hall of fame.
The way he is looking now, I doubt he will keep up the pace and he will end up as a Bernie Williams type.

Doug · May 31, 2007

Journeyman said:
not many of mine..I don't like giving the borderliners a spot.

Point is he's on pace to get 3000 hits ...compare him to a guy like Molitar who at this point in Paul Molitar's career, he would have actually been behind this pace....do we start keeping guys with 3000 hits out?

Damon was also a late bloomer...if I had to bet I would say he will come up short, my hunch is he will tail off....his career numbers are not much off of Derek Jeter's though.

eventually 3,000 hits won't be enough by itself. Guys play for more years now ( Franco). It seems there are a lot more over 40 guys playing than 25 years ago.

RobFunk · May 31, 2007

We cheered Trot Nixon. We did boo Damon as a yank. But please dont jeer us, were not a bunch of shallow guys. We are the best fans in baseball, because we gave Trotter a warm welcome on Monday.

VIEJODINOSAUR · May 31, 2007

Damon in the Hall?? Tuff decision, love the way he plays...I kind of wish that the barometer of 3000 hits wasn't an automatic HOF entry, just not a big fan of longevity....

fhmesq44 · May 31, 2007

Journeyman said:
Damon was also a late bloomer...if I had to bet I would say he will come up short, my hunch is he will tail off....his career numbers are not much off of Derek Jeter's though.

I don't think he was a late bloomer, his numbers now aren't all that much different than when he was a 22 y/o rookie. Another guy that fits into the very good for very long category. Not that all star games are the measure of greatness, but great players make more than 2 all star games during their peak years.

And to answer one post, yes, we should start keeping out guys with 3000 hits, 300 wins, 3000 ks, 500 Hrs if the player isn't otherwise worthy. F*k Don Sutton, Blyleven, Niekro, Perry and Biggio.

Journeyman · May 31, 2007

Until a 3000 hit guy is passed over (which I don't see happening as of yet) it will be an automatic invite....this is the point I'm trying to make here.

3000 is a nice pretty number, like 1000 yards use to be, or 100 RBI or 500 HR or 20,000 points in basketball or 10,000 rushing yards...

I guess this goes back to Craig Biggio too, who will be getting his soon...will a 3000 hit guy be overlooked, I can't see it happening.

Doug · May 31, 2007

300 wins will get you in forever,IMO.

3,000 hits is iffy.

K's should mean nothing, an out is an out.

5teamparlay · May 31, 2007

Not at this point, bump in 5 years and then we can talk.
DAMON at #245 all-time, surprised he is so high up the list.
Rememeber on 26 MLB players ever have gotten to 3K hits.

Only 23 HOF'ers have gotten 3K hits (Rose, RICKEY H and Palmiero).

Jeter will be way up the HIT list when retires BTW.

Journeyman · May 31, 2007

Doug said:
300 wins will get you in forever,IMO.

3,000 hits is iffy.

K's should mean nothing, an out is an out.

I think 3000 hits and 300 wins are about the same...I'd give a slight edge to 300 wins being more impressive, but usually a player with 3000 hits also has other significant stats, like 400-500 HR or 1700 RBI or 500SB.

Journeyman · May 31, 2007

5teamparlay said:
Not at this point, bump in 5 years and then we can talk.
DAMON at #245 all-time, surprised he is so high up the list.
Rememeber on 26 MLB players ever have gotten to 3K hits.

Only 23 HOF'ers have gotten 3K hits (Rose, RICKEY H and Palmiero).

Jeter will be way up the HIT list when retires BTW.

No not at this point, the question his will he sustain his 3000 hit pace...he's surprisingly similar to Jeter in most offensive categories.

SmokeyLa · May 31, 2007

No shot....next

5teamparlay · May 31, 2007

Journey can you start a SUZUKI HOF thread, that would be interesting.

Journeyman · May 31, 2007

Smokey La said:
No shot....next

How can you say no shot, he's on pace for 3 dimes?

:think2: :missingte

Doug · May 31, 2007

The 300 wins is tough, remember 5-man rotations now, and more relief so you don't get a W, if you leave after 5 innings then your team scores runs in the 7th , when you are gone.