Thursday, March 7, 2019

Hall of Fame Tracker – Catchers

In this investigation, we will rank Hall of Famers, future eligible Hall of Famers, and active players at each respective position through generating a formula that captures how talented a particular player is relative to the other best players in that specific era. 
Numerous conditions will be in effect:
  • HOF members who played solely in the NL (Negro Leagues) will be excluded from the comprehensive rankings because it would be illogical/imprecise to compare numbers from one league (NL) to another (MLB)
  • PED/Steroid users Javy Lopez, Jim Leyritz, and Benito Santiago will be excluded from the 5 year interval averages (which will be explained below)
  • Player must have played at least 5000 innings at primary position in order to be eligible for the list
  • Player must have amassed at least 4000 career PA in order to be eligible for the list
  • If a player is no longer eligible for the list (was not voted into the HOF), he will be excluded
  • When a player accumulates less than 150 PA in a season, stats from that year will be excluded.
  • If a player registers less than 250 PA in his penultimate season, offensive stats from that year will be factored out so long as he accrues less than 250 PA in his final season (in which case stats from that year would also be ruled out)
  • When a player plays less than 300 innings at his primary position, stats from that year will be excluded.
  • If a player plays less than 500 innings at his primary position in his 5th to last season (of playing his primary position – in this case catcher), defensive stats from that year will be factored out so long as he accrues less than 500 innings in each of his final 4 seasons (in which case stats from those years would also be ruled out)
  • If a player plays less than 10% of their games at a secondary position, the defensive stats he accumulated at that position will be unaccounted for
  • If a player qualifies for a secondary position, their stats (during a particular season) at that position will never be excluded (even if they play less than 300 innings at that secondary position)
  • Under the circumstances that a player’s secondary position is the OF — and the OF position he played is not listed — the positional adjustments (see below) for the 3 OF spots will be averaged
  • If a player plays his last year before 2002, TZ will be used as the fielding metric
  • If a player plays his first year after 2001, Fielding Value (which is based on UZR and can be found on FanGraphs) will be used (a player’s UZR at secondary positions will be subtracted from his overall Fielding Value)
  • If a player plays his first year before 2002 and his last year after 2001, Fielding Value (based on TZ before 2002) will be used (once again, a player’s TZ and/or UZR at secondary positions will be subtracted from his all-encompassing Fielding Value)
The following positional adjustments will be instituted (using FanGraphs’ Positional Adjustment tool as a basis tool) in regards to secondary positions:
  • DH: -2.5 (per 162 games)
  • 1B: +1 
  • LF and RF: +2.5
  • CF, 2B, and 3B: +5
  • SS: +7.5
  • C: +10
To view the “Hall of Fame Tracker – Catcher” spreadsheet (which I highly recommended viewing), click here
The equation used to calculate a player’s FINAL HOF SCORE (blue cells in spreadsheet) incorporates the following:
  • OFF-DEF Score – compares Player A’s AVG, OBP, HR, RBI, SB, and TZ/UZR/FIELDING VALUE to the ^average of a top 10 player in each category (in 5 year intervals) for the duration in which Player A played, plus any regular season MVPs, World Series MVPs, and/or AL/NLCS MVPs Player A won
^ = the averages (which are outlined in the left side of the spreadsheet) are calculated within 5 year intervals (the first one being 1880 – 1884 and the most recent one being 2015 – Present — 2019 will be the 5th year of the latter interval) 
  • Preliminary HOF Score – Player A’s OFF-DEF Score * (0.01 * PA)
  • Adjusted HOF Score – Player A’s Preliminary HOF Score / (&Average Preliminary HOF Score / &Average fWAR)
& = the average of all the catchers that are in the HOF (who played in the MLB)
  • Final HOF Score – (Player A’s Adjusted HOF Score + Player A’s fWAR) / 2
Here are the Final HOF Score rankings (KEY: Italicic = in the HOF; Bold = active player; Italic and Bold = retired player who is HOF eligible)
No.Player NamePrimary/Current TeamFinal HOF Score
1Johnny BenchCincinnati Reds81.5
2Ivan RodriguezTexas Rangers76.1
3Yogi BerraNew York Yankees75.5
4Gary CarterMontreal Expos60.4
5Carlton FiskChicago White Sox59.6
6Gabby HartnettChicago Cubs56.3
7Bill DickeyNew York Yankees55.6
8Mike PiazzaNew York Mets52.9
9Mickey CochranePhiladelphia Athletics48.3
10Joe MauerMinnesota Twins46.6
11Roy CampanellaBrooklyn Dodgers45.9
12Buck EwingNew York Giants42.5
13Yadier MolinaSt. Louis Cardinals37.7
14Ernie LombardiCincinatti Reds35.4
15Buster PoseySan Francisco Giants34.6
16Russell MartinLos Angeles Dodgers34.2
17Brian McCannAtlanta Braves34.1
18Roger BresnahanNew York Giants32.9
19Ray SchalkChicago White Sox31.7
20Victor MartinezCleveland Indians30.6
21Rick FerrellBoston Red Sox23.6
22A.J. PierzynskiChicago White Sox22.9
23Jonathan LucroyLos Angeles Angels20.3
24Matt WietersSt. Louis Cardinals18.4
25Kurt SuzukiWashington Nationals18.2
26Chris IannettaColorado Rockies14.8
1. Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds 
Photo: Baseball Hall of Fame
  • Career Duration: 1967 – 1983
  • Induction Year: 1989
  • Stats (factoring out excluded offensive and/or defensive seasons (except for TZ/UZR/FIELDING VALUE at secondary position[s] for all players when pertinent)
    • PA: 8576
    • AVG: .268
    • OBP: .343
    • HR: 388
    • RBI: 1370
    • SB: 68
    • TZ at primary position: 97
    • MVPs: 2
    • WS MVPs: 1
    • Final HOF Score: 81.5
      • fWAR: 75.2
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 87.9
2. Ivan Rodriguez, Texas Rangers
  • Career Duration: 1991 – 2011
  • Induction Year: 2017
  • Stats 
    • PA: 10133
    • AVG: .297
    • OBP: .335
    • HR: 308
    • RBI: 1313
    • SB: 127
    • TZ at primary position: 161.3
    • MVPs: 1
    • AL/NLCS MVPs: 1
    • Final HOF Score: 76.1
      • fWAR: 68.7
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 83.5
3. Yogi Berra, New York Yankees 
  • Career Duration: 1946 – 1965
  • Induction Year: 1972
  • Stats
    • PA: 8168
    • AVG: .285
    • OBP: .348
    • HR: 348
    • RBI: 1398
    • SB: 29
    • TZ at primary position: 29
    • TZ at secondary position (LF) + positional adjustment (per 162 games): 1.1
    • MVPs: 3
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 75.5
      • fWAR: 61.8
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 89.2
4. Gary Carter, Montreal Expos
  • Career Duration: 1974 – 1992
  • Induction Year: 2003
  • Stats
    • PA: 8990
    • AVG: .262
    • OBP: .335
    • HR: 323
    • RBI: 1219
    • SB: 37
    • TZ at primary position: 106
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 60.4
      • fWAR: 68.9
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 52.0
5. Carlton Fisk, Chicago White Sox
  • Career Duration: 1969 – 1993
  • Induction Year: 2000
  • Stats
    • PA: 9617
    • AVG: .271
    • OBP: .343
    • HR: 370
    • RBI: 1299
    • SB: 125
    • TZ at primary position: 34
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 59.6
      • fWAR: 67.9
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 51.3
6. Gabby Hartnett, Chicago Cubs
Photo: wgntv.com
  • Career Duration: 1922 – 1941
  • Induction Year: 1955
  • Stats
    • PA: 6949
    • AVG: .299
    • OBP: .373
    • HR: 229
    • RBI: 1138
    • SB: 26
    • TZ: 12
    • MVPs: 1
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 56.3
      • fWAR: 53.5
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 59.2
7. Bill Dickey, New York Yankees
  • Career Duration: 1928 – 1946
  • Induction Year: 1954
  • Stats
    • PA: 6889
    • AVG: .314
    • OBP: .383
    • HR: 200
    • RBI: 1197
    • SB: 37
    • TZ: 19
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 55.6
      • fWAR: 55.3
      • Adjusted HOF: 56.0
8. Mike Piazza, New York Mets
  • Career Duration: 1992 – 2007
  • Induction Year: 2016
  • Stats
    • PA: 7745
    • AVG: .309
    • OBP: .378
    • HR: 426
    • RBI: 1328
    • SB: 17
    • TZ at primary position: -36.4
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 52.9
      • fWAR: 63.7
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 42.1
9. Mickey Cochrane, Philadelphia Athletics
  • Career Duration: 1925 – 1937
  • Induction Year: 1947
  • Stats
    • PA: 5902
    • AVG: .322
    • OBP: .417
    • HR: 115
    • RBI: 803
    • SB: 63
    • TZ at primary position: -2
    • MVPs: 2
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 48.3
      • fWAR: 48.2
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 48.4
10. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
  • Career Duration: 2004 – 2018
  • Eligibility Year: 2024
  • Stats
    • PA: 7838
    • AVG: .306
    • OBP: .388
    • HR: 137
    • RBI: 906
    • SB: 52
    • TZ at primary position: -3.6
    • TZ at secondary position (1B) + positional adjustment: 21.8
    • MVPs: 1
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 46.6
      • fWAR: 48.0
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 45.2
11. Roy Campanella, Brooklyn Dodgers
Photo: roycampanella.com
  • Career Duration: 1948 – 1957
  • Induction Year: 1969
  • Stats
    • PA: 4816
    • AVG: .276
    • OBP: .360
    • HR: 242
    • RBI: 856
    • SB: 25
    • TZ at primary position: 17
    • MVPs: 3
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 45.9
      • fWAR: 38.2
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 53.6
12. Buck Ewing, New York Giants
  • Career Duration: 1880 – 1897
  • Induction Year: 1939
  • Stats
    • PA: 5668
    • AVG: .304
    • OBP: .352
    • HR: 71
    • RBI: 860
    • SB: 349
    • TZ at primary position: 51
    • TZ at secondary positions (1B and OF) + positional adjustments: 18.4
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 42.5
      • fWAR: 47.7
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 37.4
13. Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
  • Career Duration: 2004 – Present
  • Stats
    • PA: 0.282
    • AVG: .282
    • OBP: .334
    • HR: 146
    • RBI: 859
    • SB: 60
    • TZ at primary position: 82.0
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 37.7
      • fWAR: 37.9
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 37.6
14. Ernie Lombardi, Cincinnati Reds
  • Career Duration: 1931 – 1947
  • Induction Year: 1986
  • Stats
    • PA: 6231
    • AVG: .306
    • OBP: .359
    • HR: 186
    • RBI: 969
    • SB: 8
    • TZ at primary position: -21
    • MVPs: 1
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 35.4
      • fWAR: 41.5
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 29.2
15. Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
  • Career Duration: 2009 – Present
  • Stats
    • PA: 4691
    • AVG: .306
    • OBP: .375
    • HR: 133
    • RBI: 635
    • SB: 23
    • TZ at primary position: 18.4
    • TZ at secondary position (1B) + positional adjustment: 7.1
    • MVPs: 1
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 34.6
      • fWAR: 39.1
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 30.1
16. Russell Martin, Los Angeles Dodgers
Photo: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
  • Career Duration: 2006 – Present
  • Stats
    • PA: 6399
    • AVG: .249
    • OBP: .349
    • HR: 185
    • RBI: 751
    • SB: 100
    • TZ at primary position: 27.4
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 34.2
      • fWAR: 37.9
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 30.6
17. Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves
  • Career Duration: 2005 – Present
  • Stats
    • PA: 6534
    • AVG: .263
    • OBP: .338
    • HR: 270
    • RBI: 714
    • SB: 25
    • TZ at primary position: 15.8
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 34.1
      • fWAR: 36.9
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 31.3
18. Roger Bresnahan, New York Giants
  • Career Duration: 1897 – 1915
  • Induction Year: 1945
  • Stats
    • PA: 5231
    • AVG: .278
    • OBP: .385
    • HR: 25
    • RBI: 512
    • SB: 208
    • TZ at primary position: -1
    • TZ at secondary position (OF) + positional adjustment: 2.8
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 32.9
      • fWAR: 38.5
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 27.2
19. Ray Schalk, Chicago White Sox
  • Career Duration: 1912 – 1929
  • Induction Year: 1955
  • Stats
    • PA: 6112
    • AVG: .253
    • OBP: .340
    • HR: 11
    • RBI: 583
    • SB: 174
    • TZ at primary position: 47
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 31.7
      • fWAR: 22.0
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 41.4
20. Victor Martinez, Cleveland Indians
  • Career Duration: 2002 – 2018
  • Eligibility Year: 2024
  • Stats
    • PA: 8130
    • AVG: .295
    • OBP: .360
    • HR: 245
    • RBI: 1173
    • SB: 7
    • TZ at primary position: -13.7
    • TZ at secondary positions (1B and DH) + positional adjustment: -6.6
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 30.6
      • fWAR: 28.3
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 33.0
21. Rick Ferrell, Boston Red Sox
Photo: Baseball Hall of Fame
  • Career Duration: 1929 – 1947
  • Induction Year: 1984
  • Stats
    • PA: 6957
    • AVG: .281
    • OBP: .378
    • HR: 28
    • RBI: 722
    • SB: 29
    • TZ: -4
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 23.6
      • fWAR: 27.2
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 20.0
22. A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox
  • Career Duration: 1998 – 2016
  • Eligibility Year: 2022
  • Stats
    • PA: 7680
    • AVG: .280
    • OBP: .318
    • HR: 186
    • RBI: 894
    • SB: 14
    • TZ at primary position: -27.4
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 22.9
      • fWAR: 22.2
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 23.6
23. Jonathan Lucroy, Los Angeles Angels
  • Career Duration: 2010 – Present
  • Stats
    • PA: 4240
    • AVG: .277
    • OBP: .337
    • HR: 100
    • RBI: 509
    • SB: 30
    • TZ at primary position: 17.8
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 20.3
      • fWAR: 22.7
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 17.9
24. Matt Wieters, St. Louis Cardinals
  • Career Duration: 2009 – Present
  • Stats
    • PA: 4092
    • AVG: .249
    • OBP: .314
    • HR: 130
    • RBI: 501
    • SB: 8
    • TZ at primary position: 34.9
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 18.4
      • fWAR: 16.6
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 20.1
25. Kurt Suzuki, Washington Nationals
  • Career Duration: 2007 – Present
  • Stats
    • PA: 5319
    • AVG: .258
    • OBP: .315
    • HR: 114
    • RBI: 619
    • SB: 19
    • TZ at primary position: -1.1
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 18.2
      • fWAR: 18.9
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 17.4
26. Chris Iannetta, Colorado Rockies
  • Career Duration: 2006 – Present
  • Stats
    • PA: 3996
    • AVG: .229
    • OBP: .346
    • HR: 133
    • RBI: 471
    • SB: 11
    • TZ at primary position: -16.4
    • MVPs: 0
    • WS MVPs: 0
    • Final HOF Score: 14.8
      • fWAR: 18.0
      • Adjusted HOF Score: 11.7
1. Josh Gibson, Homestead Grays
Photo: Baseball Hall of Fame
  • Career Duration: 1930 – 1946
  • Induction Year: 1972
  • Stats
    • PA: 2119
    • HR: 113
    • RBI: 361
    • SB: 26
2. Biz Mackey, Hilldale Giants
  • Career Duration: 1920 – 1947
  • Induction Year: 2006
  • Stats
    • PA: 3969
    • HR: 57
    • RBI: 403
    • SB: 72
3. Louis Santop, Hilldale Daisies
  • Career Duration: 1911 – 1926
  • Induction Year: 2006
  • Stats
    • PA: 1312
    • HR: 16
    • RBI: 208
    • SB: 33

TGP Trivia and Fact of the Day for March 7th, 2019


Good morning Yankees family!

The Yankees pitchers threw 24 total shutouts in 1951, a club record. Allie Reynolds threw seven complete-game shutouts himself to lead the team.

And a special good morning to my beautiful, amazing wife. I love you so very much, more than I could ever put into words.

Predicting the 2019 Season: The Postseason



162 games are in the books, the field is set, and the new season is upon us. Welcome to October, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the postseason. If you tuned into the blog yesterday you saw the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics win their respective divisions in the American League while the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros clawed their way to the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. In the National League the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers captured their respective divisions while the Washington Nationals and the Colorado Rockies will battle it out in the one-game Wild Card playoff game in the National League. Who will win the pennant? Keep reading to find out!



American League Wild Card Game

Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros

Anything can happen in a one-game playoff, which is why the Houston Astros, despite how much pitching they lost during this offseason, at least have a chance in this game against the Boston Red Sox. Undoubtedly the Red Sox will have Chris Sale on the mound against Justin Verlander, so I expect a low-scoring affair for much of the night. The Astros are a scrappy team, and the Red Sox have a great offense, but the battle of the bullpens may decide it. If this were a seven-game series, or even a five-game series, I’d be inclined to pick the Astros because of the state of the Red Sox bullpen, but it’s not and I think Boston will be fine. Alex Cora will do whatever it takes to win, whether that is pitching David Price or Rick Porcello in relief, or simply running Sale out there until his arm falls off. Cora will do whatever he has to in order to win, and I think at the end of the day he will.

Winner: Boston Red Sox




National League Wild Card Game

Washington Nationals vs. Colorado Rockies

You have to wonder who the Nationals will pick to start this game. Will it be Max Scherzer or will it be Patrick Corbin? If it’s Scherzer you have to give the clear advantage, in my opinion, to the Nationals, but if the team uses Scherzer down the stretch to clinch this game at home the Rockies have a lot more of a fighting chance. At the end of the day I think the Nationals will win the game regardless, but only because I feel like they are a more complete team than the Rockies this season.

Winner: Washington Nationals




American League Division Series

New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox

The rematch of the century, but this time the Yankees have the home field advantage. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what I mentioned just a few paragraphs above in the AL Wild Card Game prediction. The Red Sox and their bullpen can, and in my opinion will, be exposed in a five-or-seven-game series. The Red Sox will likely have to use a starter in the AL Wild Card Game that they would prefer to start twice against the Yankees, but you can’t really plan for that and look past a team like the Astros. This will all work in the Yankees favor, but I still don’t see how this goes at least four or five games before we crown the New York Yankees the victor.

Winner: New York Yankees in five games



American League Division Series

Oakland Athletics vs. Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians have great pitching, but their bullpen is suspect, and their offense is not as high-powered as you would like. The Indians have really benefited from a weak division in the AL Central and that will never be more obvious than it will be in the ALDS against the Oakland Athletics. The Athletics have a great, young team that is only getting better, and I think the team will make easy work of the Indians in four games… and Billy Beane won’t see a single inning of it.

Winner: Oakland Athletics in four games




National League Division Series

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Washington Nationals
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the most games of any team in the league in 2019 and that will continue heading into the postseason. The Washington Nationals will give the Dodger their money’s worth in my opinion, pushing the series to five-games, but if Clayton Kershaw is healthy, I cannot see a way the Dodgers go out this early in the postseason. They are too talented and far too good to lose in an extended series.

Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers in five games



 National League Division Series

Atlanta Braves vs. Milwaukee Brewers

The Atlanta Braves are the new kids, literally and figuratively, on the block while the Milwaukee Brewers just grind out victories and find ways to win. If I were a betting man, I’d guess that we would see more Atlanta Braves highlights on Top Plays on Sportscenter and such than we will see the Milwaukee Brewers, yet I think it will be the Brewers that edge the Braves in four games in this series. Playing in the Midwest means a lot of casual fans don’t get to watch your games or pay attention to your team much, but the Brewers have a pretty damn good team that is stacked with talent. I can see first baseman Eric Thames having a huge 2019 season and an even bigger postseason, leading Milwaukee at least to the National League Championship Series.

Winner: Milwaukee Brewers in four games



American League Championship Series

New York Yankees vs. Oakland Athletics

In a rematch of the 2018 American League Wild Card Game the New York Yankees will play host to the Oakland Athletics in the 2019 ALCS. I think these two teams are more evenly matched than most people would admit or give Oakland credit for, but I think the Yankees are a much deeper and complete team. The Athletics may push the Yankees to six games, but I can see New York clinching their first American League pennant in front of the Bronx faithful since the 2009 season.

Call me a homer if you want to, but I truly believe in this team and I TRULY believe this team can be special.


Winner: New York Yankees in six games




National League Championship Series

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Classic David vs. Goliath. The Los Angeles Dodgers and their roughly $209 million payroll vs. the Milwaukee Brewers and their roughly $121 million payroll. The names on the Brewers roster will only pale in comparison to names like Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Corey Seager, and others, but where the Brewers lack in “names” they more than make up for it in the talent department. Christian Yelich is the reigning NL MVP, Eric Thames is one or two injuries away from having a huge breakout season in 2018, guys like Jimmy Nelson, Corey Knebel, Chase Anderson and others now have Yasmani Grandal to pitch to, and guys like Ben Gamel, Josh Hader, and others can only get better in 2019 in my opinion. The Dodgers will presumably want a fight, and a fight they will get from Milwaukee. Just remember though, LA, sometimes even the most dominant fighter gets caught leaning, ask Anderson Silva, and I can totally see that happening again this year.


Winner: Milwaukee Brewers in six games


Ladies and gentlemen, your 2019 World Series will include the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers. May the best team win, and good luck to both teams. Tune in tomorrow to find out the winner.