So I'm sitting here thinking about how boring this week in sports usually is. And I am trying to busy myself, and I started thinking, who on the Sox past or present has an outside shot at making it to the Hall of Fame? Obviously Frank will make it, but after that, I couldn't think of anyone. Then I started thinking about Buehrle. He would have to be the closest person right now, right?

 

He has some pretty good numbers. He's been the staff ace for the better part of a decade. His career ERA isn't awful. He has a world series ring, along with a victory and a save in the series as well. He's been to several all-star games and has an ASG victory. He's only 29 and with the way he pitches he could pitch for a while longer. I worry about his velocity, but if he can keep that under control, he's got a few years left in him.

 

He's never won a Cy Young, but he's been close, right? Like in the top 5?

 

I'm just bored and throwing this out there. I just want to see what Soxtalk has to say about this.

 

One thing is for sure, I think he definitely deserves a spot on that outfield wall when he retires, and hell, a statue somewhere in the park too.

He'll have to pitch successfully until late 30's and possibly 40, and his best years will have to be now through the next 2-3 years, with some Cy Young-like seasons.

Jim Thome will clearly make the hall of fame, but aside from that the Sox probably don't have another hall of famer on the roster (currently).

 

Mark Buehrle would be a guy that if he stays healthy and does what he's been doing for another 5 to 6 years you clearly would have to put him in consideration. He's never been dominant but given this era of baseball he may finish with more wins than almost anyone to play during the same period/era as him.

Something pretty close to zero unless he goes crazy for about a five year period.

If he can put up his more-or-less typical seasons - winning record, ERA in the 3's, etc. - and play healthy until he's 40... then he has a shot. A small one. If he can put up 1 or 2 Cy Young caliber seasons sometime soon, then its slightly more than a small shot. Overall, I'd say 5% chance, or less.

 

 

In my book, as much as I love Buehrle, he's not a Hall of Famer. I think Hall of Fame, Buehrle just doesn't fit the bill.

I say he's got almost no chance, saddly. He's a pretty inconsistent pitcher, as most of us know. When he's on, he's solid. When he's off, he's way off. This doesn't sound like a Hall of Famer to me. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy. He's a class act, and he's been a great pitcher for this team for years, and hopefully a few more years to come. But I don't see him getting into the Hall.

 

Jim and Frank for sure though.

 

Bold prediction coming here... Quentin.

If Buehrle goes another 9 full seasons posting similar numbers you are talking about a guy that will be a borderline 250 game winner. I think 250 is the new benchmark to get into the hall, thus he has a chance. However, his past two seasons have definitely hurt him (2 years ago he sucked, last year he got royally screwed in the wins department).

As others stated he would have to pitch a long time and get in on a win total.

I didn't mention Thome because I doubt he'll go into the Hall with a Sox hat on. He may ask to go in with the Sox, but the Hall now has the final say. And they usually go with where the player played during their peak. I bet Jim will go in as an Indian, despite the fact that he is still getting booed there.

Key things to keep in mind working against Mark...

 

-He has never won 20 games

-He has never placed higher than 5th in the Cy Young voting.

-His lowest single season ERA is 3.12

-He doesn't strike out a lot of people

-He doesn't play in NY, BOS, or Wrigley Field

 

The Hall of Fame requires something sexy. Even with a guy like Ozzie Smith whose numbers weren't great, he was a national fan favorite, and playing just incredible defense. Mark is perfectly content hiding in the backroom somewhere.

 

Mark Buehrle really doesn't have that wow factor anywhere in his numbers or his career. He would need a stretch where he wins about 100 games over a 5-6 year period, or the Sox make a few more deep playoff pushes with Mark as the leader, or He wins a Cy Young or two, and he pitches until he is at least 40 and wins close to 300 games.

1 of 3 things will have to happen.

 

1. Close in on/get to 300.

2. Step it up for a couple seasons and pull off at least one Cy Young.

3. Some major additional postseason heroics, where he's looking at more than one additional ring.

 

It's the hall of fame, not the hall of very good. Mark has spent his whole career so far at the very good level. If you're hanging out at very good, you need to hang out at very good for an extra long time or perform in several postseasons.

Can he top 261-150, 57 CG, 23 SHO, 2731 K to only 770 BB, 3.70 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 5 time AS, 6 times finishing in the top 5 of CY voting but no wins and 6 gold gloves?

 

Because this guy probably isn't getting in and I'd say they're going to have fairly similar careers.

 

I'd say Mark has a less than 1% chance of becoming a hall of fame caliber starter.

Can he top 261-150, 57 CG, 23 SHO, 2731 K to only 770 BB, 3.70 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 5 time AS, 6 times finishing in the top 5 of CY voting but no wins and 6 gold gloves?

 

Because this guy probably isn't getting in and I'd say they're going to have fairly similar careers.

 

I'd say Mark has a less than 1% chance of becoming a hall of fame caliber starter.

Also, this guy is having a hard time getting in:

 

287-250, 242 CG, 60 SHO, 3701 K to 1322 BB, 1.20 WHIP, 3 times in Top 4 for Cy Young, 3 time AS, and pitched 4970 innings.

 

The odds of Buehrle going to the Hall are pretty good....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a vistor just like you and I

At one point a few years back when Maddux won 300, the only 2 other SPs to be on pace (at that time) were Sabathia and Buehrle. I wonder if that is still working for Mark...

At one point a few years back when Maddux won 300, the only 2 other SPs to be on pace (at that time) were Sabathia and Buehrle. I wonder if that is still working for Mark...

10 straight years of 18 wins starting this season won't even get Buehrle to 300.

Ask Jamie Moyer if he thinks he has a shot.

10 straight years of 18 wins starting this season won't even get Buehrle to 300.

To talk about 300, Mark needs to both start getting his win totals a bit higher than he has the last 2 years (get back in to the 15 win a year range) and he needs to hold those kind of numbers until his mid 40's.

He'll retire too early to go hunting.

Maybe Hawk will get in as a broadcaster.

Maybe Hawk will get in as a broadcaster.

He was actually a Frick award finalist like a year or two ago and I think he'll get that eventually. Like him or not, he's been an institution on the south side for decades now.

He was actually a Frick award finalist like a year or two ago and I think he'll get that eventually. Like him or not, he's been an institution on the south side for decades now.

 

Really. No green needed for the first post. I really believe Hawk will be an MLB Hall of Famer for his broadcasting career.

Really. No green needed for the first post. I really believe Hawk will be an MLB Hall of Famer for his broadcasting career.

 

I can't pinpoint specific things, but his actions, words, demeanor (Searching for the correct word) for the past few years has me thinking he's thinking about it as well.

 

Also, this guy is having a hard time getting in:

287-250, 242 CG, 60 SHO, 3701 K to 1322 BB, 1.20 WHIP, 3 times in Top 4 for Cy Young, 3 time AS, and pitched 4970 innings.

He would have to string together some dominant 20-win seasons with at least one Cy Young and several more All-Star appearances.

 

Also, eclipsing 4,000 IP would be a pretty nice achievement in today's era. Right now Mark is the youngest pitcher on the Active IP list at 29. He is 29th. Vazquez is 16th at 31.

 

Comparing the others pitchers posted, other than wins, Mark looks pretty good if either of these make it.

 

Mussina - (18 seasons)

261-150 (.635%)

All-Star - 5

Cy Young - 0

No-hitters - 0

20-win seasons - 0

 

Blyleven - (22 seasons)

287-250 (.534%)

All-Star - 2

Cy Young - 0

No-hitters - 1

20-win seasons - 0

 

Buerhle - (9 seasons)

113-83 (.577%)

All-Star - 3

Cy Young - 0

No-hitters - 1

20-win seasons - 0