This has led to a fun debate on a Facebook baseball group.

[happybat4]

Discuss!

[Stradling]

Abreu should be in the HOF. 

[happybat4]

4 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Abreu should be in the HOF. 

He is definitely borderline, I think there are a lot of players better who are not in.

[Stradling]

People hate when I compare his offensive production to Gwynn.   

[happybat4]

5 minutes ago, Stradling said:

People hate when I compare his offensive production to Gwynn.   

He got on base more than Gwynn. 

[REDneck]

I see no one has signed with the Halos today.

[Stradling]

13 minutes ago, happybat4 said:

He got on base more than Gwynn. 

Yep. 

[Erstad Grit]

Abreu might be the most underrated player I've ever seen. 

[Stradling]

5 minutes ago, Erstad Grit said:

Abreu might be the most underrated player I've ever seen. 

Especially considering his skill set is what teams covet now and the guys not voting him in are the ones writing about the importance of OBP these days. 

[stormngt]

2 hours ago, happybat4 said:

Discuss!

Stolen bases must mean a lot to War

[m0nkey]

I always think of this post when Abreu is mentioned on here.  RIP @Brandon

On 1/21/2020 at 5:40 PM, Brandon said:

One of my favorite players is also probably in this tier in Garrett Anderson......good/great, but not era defining. And GA is definitely better than Abreu.

 

 

[Stradling]

Anderson did not have a better career than Abreu. 

[Make Angels Great Again]

3 hours ago, Erstad Grit said:

Abreu might be the most underrated player I've ever seen. 

Abreu was good, but for me Kenny Lofton takes the prize of most underrated ever.

[Stradling]

10 minutes ago, Make Angels Great Again said:

Abreu was good, but for me Kenny Lofton takes the prize of most underrated ever.

He’s another one. 

[Angelsfan1984]

[REDneck]

Might as well put Jered Weaver, Tim Salmon and a few others in this conversation.

They were good and had great careers, just not good enough for the hall.

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

Dick Allen. 

[happybat4]

4 hours ago, REDneck said:

Might as well put Jered Weaver, Tim Salmon and a few others in this conversation.

They were good and had great careers, just not good enough for the hall.

They were nowhere near as good as Abreu.

[m0nkey]

6 hours ago, Stradling said:

Anderson did not have a better career than Abreu. 

Not even close, not sure what he could’ve been thinking when he said that

[Angel Oracle]

I look at the number of ASG appearances and SS awards as the big difference between the two players.

Wonder if the HOF voters also took a solid look at that.

Abreu was consistency.

Vlad Sr. was incredible talents.

[Stradling]

7 hours ago, REDneck said:

Might as well put Jered Weaver, Tim Salmon and a few others in this conversation.

They were good and had great careers, just not good enough for the hall.

Why?

[T.G.]

Bobby Grich has entered the conversation 

[Duren, Duren]

You do need pretty strict standards or the definition of all time great gets diluted. Even though there are some now in the HOF who are at the fringes or got in because of media friendliness and/or other reasons. And the market where players spend most of their career matters in terms of familiarity and recognition. 

Vlad spent a lot of great years in Montreal as the franchise was being dismantled. Undoubtedly the worst place at the worst time. Going to the Angels seriously brought him more attention though his output was consistent with both teams.

As well, metrics have been enormously expanded over the years. So easy to spin different narratives based on selected categories. But overall, I think the selections are still pretty solid. And the waiting period does give time for reconsideration and deeper comparisons. 

Not sure about Abreu. He's right at the margins. Popularity and campaigning may make a difference. 

[happybat4]

5 hours ago, Angel Oracle said:

I look at the number of ASG appearances and SS awards as the big difference between the two players.

Wonder if the HOF voters also took a solid look at that.

Abreu was consistency.

Vlad Sr. was incredible talents.

Abreu deserved more all star appearances. 

[cals]

11 hours ago, The Ghost of Bob Starr said:

Dick Allen. 

You love Dick!