Hall of Merit: Pitchers for the Hall of Merit

Let’s start discussing the pitchers here. I don’t have any adjusted numbers to post yet, but there’s no reason we can get the discussion cranking.

I take that back. I went through season by season a ways back and came up with pythagorean W-L records for each pitcher, based on his ERA vs. park adjusted league (season by season), adjusting for an average number of decisions in each season (based on the pitcher’s career IP/dec ratio for his career). Those numbers will be in the extended text.

Hall of Merit: Let’s pick a voting system

These were the systems presented. I think we’ve agreed to go with 15 players on the ballot (to increase the penalty for not being named, as well as increase the depth of our research).

1) 70-62-57-53-49-46-43-40-38-36-34-32-30-28-26

This closes the gap between 1 and 15 on the list, and gives a more substantial penalty for not being named on any ballots.

2) 15-14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

This system has larger gaps between the positions (on a percentage basis) and doesn’t penalize a player that is left off that ballot too much (it’s like a 16th place vote really).

3) 20-14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

Similar to the previous system, but gives a significant bonus for being dubbed the best player on the ballot.

4) 20-19-18-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (assuming 3 players get in that year)

This system changes based on the number of players to be elected in a particular season. Basically the same as above, except all players voted into an “election” spot get the six-point bonus.

5) 20-19-18-17-16-15-14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6

A combination of the first and last systems. This one increases the penalty for not being on the ballot (larger penalty than the first actually), but still has a very large gap between each spot on the ballot.

Those are the significant contenders as I see them. If I missed one, let me know.

I lean towards system 1. If anyone would like to make any final pitches to sway a “vote” please do. I could see a split vote among the last 4 systems, because they are similar, so maybe we should have some kind of run off to get it down to two, and then a final vote if no system is over 50%? I’m new to this election thing, so if I’m missing something, please let me know so we can choose the system fairly, as it is the backbone of our entire project.

Hall of Merit: Summer Vacation Over

Okay, my summer ‘vacation’ is over, almost. I had some personal things to tend to the last month or so, but I’m ready to get cranking again.

I say almost, because I’ll be out of town this weekend, and I’ll be in Vega$ for the first time ever from September 6-10.

Tuesday-Thursday next week, I’ll be working on getting pitcher Win Shares adjusted. I could use some volunteers again as well, drop me an email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you are interested (don’t forget to remove the NOSPAM). Basically, I’ll set up a spreadsheet where you have to put the pitcher WS by season in, and it will adjust automatically. If I can get the form setup by next week (using Charlie Saeger’s formula for splitting pitching/fielding as the backbone), and the volunteers could do the individual pitchers while I’m out West, we could be voting by the time the playoffs start.

We’ve got to decide on a voting system as well. I’ll set up a separate thread for that.

I’ll respond to the email I’ve received from the last month sometime in the next week as well. Thanks for your patience guys.

Hall of Merit: Been busy - apology

Guys, I’ve been very busy w/some personal issues the last few weeks. I might be dealing w/these for another week or two. That’s why I’ve practically vanished from this site (all of Primer, not just the HoM) since late July.

I’ll be back with you all shortly. I have been popping in to read every now and then, but I haven’t had any time to do any new work.

If anyone wants to run the formula Charles Saeger gave for pitching vs. fielding for all leagues 1871-1900, that’d be a huge help.

Rob Wood—great work with the voting studies. I guess we are going to have to make up our minds shortly.

Hall of Merit: Right Fielders

Here are the right fielders. Jim O’Rourke should be a LF, his stats are now over there.

Hall of Merit: Center Fielders

Here are the center fielders. A much better bunch than the LF’s.

Hall of Merit: Left Fielders

Here are the left fielders.

Hall of Merit: Catchers

Here are the catchers, I’ve updated this thread 9/19/2003. I’m going to remove anyone who isn’t a new eligible, or hasn’t received a vote from these threads; unless he has 175 WS (145 for the catchers), so these threads don’t get too cluttered.

Hall of Merit: Shortstops

Here are the SS’s. Pebbly Jack Glasscock is by far the best candidate here. George Wright may have a case on peak value once we have some NA data. Ed McKean has a case he may get in before the next generation’s big guns start hitting the ballot.

Hall of Merit: Third Basemen

Here you go . . . Patsy Tebeau has been added at 1B, he’s not a serious candidate though.

I considered Tom Burns a SS as opposed to a 3B, despite the 48%/44% numbers (48% 3B). Burns prime was as a SS, and a bad half-season late in his career that pushed him a little bit ahead on PT as a 3B. It’s a judgement call, and it means nothing, since WS take position into account already.

Ezra Sutton is by far the best candidate at 3B IMHO.