Dwight Evans = Hall of Famer

by Wicklow on Feb 10, 2012 12:55 PM EST

I've said it before, and it seems Bill James agrees.

He wrote this article yesterday for Grantland: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7555836/an-open-letter-mlb-hall-fame-dwight-evans-rightful-place-cooperstown

Anyone who hasn't yet, read it, please do.

James loses focus every now and then, and ends up defending almost everyone he discusses, but he does a good statistical analysis of Evans' career.

I have always believed Evans deserves the Hall nod, and it's exceptionally insulting he isn't yet in now that Jim Rice is. This may be a can of worms for Red Sox fans, but in my opinion Evans was worth more over his career to the Sox than Rice.

Dwight Evans is one of the most underrated players in the modern era of baseball, and more than that he is a Hall of Fame-caliber player.

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Best RFer I've ever seen play

and this is attempting to remove my obvious Red Sox bias

by BobZupcic on Feb 10, 2012 1:42 PM EST reply actions

I'd say

It’s Dewey or Ichiro, based on guys I’ve seen, with an edge to Ichiro.

"Man you are one pathetic loser. No offense." - Lloyd Christmas

"To every complex problem, there is an answer that is simple, easy to understand and wrong." – H. L. Mencken

by Lloyd Christmas on Feb 11, 2012 7:14 AM EST up reply actions

Absolutely a HOF'er

Even before the voters started watering down the criteria.

by ritz on Feb 10, 2012 2:51 PM EST reply actions

Using Fangraphs Leaderboards

Evans played as a primary starting player from 1974 – 1989

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=1989&month=0&season1=1974&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&players=0

4th name down from the top

by BobZupcic on Feb 10, 2012 3:56 PM EST reply actions

i loved watching dewey play when i was growing up he was one of my favorites

but i dont think he is hall of fame material. he was very good for a very long time and had a few great years sprinkled in but i just dont think he makes the cut.

by brady12mvp3 on Feb 10, 2012 3:59 PM EST up reply actions

I don't really get the argument against him

I mean Eddie Murrray got in without much argument in fact many people backed Murray, yet Evans’ career statistically is very similar. Murray has the 500 homers and all, but Dewey played a tougher defensive position well and was arguably a better hitter (0.374 wOBA for Evans vs. 0.365 for Murray). There career WAR’s are 78.8 (Murray) vs. 71.4 (Dewey)

by BobZupcic on Feb 10, 2012 9:10 PM EST up reply actions

eddie murray was way better the evans

not only did he have 500 homeruns he also had over 3000 hits. he coulda hit 200 homers and still made the hall of fame.

by brady12mvp3 on Feb 11, 2012 8:49 AM EST up reply actions

He was probably better

but “way better” seems a bit of a stretch, he had over 3000 hits because he played longer yes and if he hit 200 homers he most arguably would NOT be in the hall since that would have affected his slugging prowess. Over their careers Murray was about 7 wins better than Dewey

by BobZupcic on Feb 11, 2012 9:08 AM EST up reply actions

3000 hits gets u in the hall of fame

eddie played 21 seasons dwight played 20 seasons. eddie was way better in my opinion. if u get 300 wins your in u get 500 homers non steroids your in 3000 hits your in .

by brady12mvp3 on Feb 11, 2012 9:52 AM EST up reply actions

You may be in

But that does not necessarily make you a better player or “way” better. You are using a counting stat to define how good a player was over his career yet you deny defense or even just how good a hitter the players were, again I’ll use wOBA, wRC+

Evans – 0.374 wOBA, 129 wRC+
Murray – 0.365 wOBA, 128 wRC+

I’m not denying that Murray was a great player and he deserves his Hall call, I’m just showing that Evans was not that far behind yet he gets no glance.

by BobZupcic on Feb 11, 2012 10:06 AM EST up reply actions