Let's talk about a player who deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame, but has been overlooked - Jim Edmonds, the St. Louis Cardinal.
When we reminisce about the legendary Cardinal teams of the early 2000s, a few names instantly come to mind as timeless icons. Among them, Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina are undeniable Hall of Famers. But there's another player who deserves equal recognition: Jim Edmonds.
While I hold Scott Rolen in high regard as one of the finest Cardinal third basemen, his hitting prowess simply couldn't match Jim Edmonds'. And when it came to defense, Edmonds was nearly as exceptional. It was an honor to have these two legends on the same team back in 2004! But what set Edmonds apart was his ability to launch home runs from center field.
Now, I'm not here to diminish Scott Rolen's Hall of Fame credentials; he's one of my favorites too. But Rolen had a more stoic approach, making elite defense look effortless. I'm not one for a small Hall of Fame, but I do find the current system flawed and biased. It's become increasingly selective, and I question whether it can keep up with the influx of talented players.
The voting process is set to improve with the integration of new statcast technology, which is now a staple on MLB's website and in stadiums. The BBWAA will have to navigate the delicate balance between offensive and defensive value, comparing current players to past greats. Players like Nolan Arenado will undoubtedly spark intense debates when their time comes.
Let's compare Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen using Fangraphs:
Scott Rolen:
- Career WAR: Around 70
- Peak Year (2004): 9 WAR, 159 wRC+
- 4 Seasons with 4+ WAR
- Over 300 HR, over 1200 RBI
Jim Edmonds:
- Career WAR: 64.5
- Peak Year (2004): 8.3 WAR, 168 wRC+
- 10 Seasons with 4+ WAR
- Nearly 400 HR, just shy of 1200 RBI
This comparison is a bit like comparing apples to oranges. Rolen might have slightly better overall stats, but Edmonds shines with more consistent high-value seasons. Additionally, Rolen's value came primarily from his elite defense, while Edmonds was a better hitter based on career wRC+.
Perhaps the argument boils down to longevity? Edmonds played in 2011 games, while Rolen played in 2038. Or maybe it's about sustained excellence? Rolen had 4 seasons with 6+ fWAR, while Edmonds had 6.
My argument could also be seen as a case for Arenado's potential Hall of Fame candidacy. If Rolen is in, why not Edmonds? Center field is a premium position, but elite defense at third base is equally valuable. If you're a small Hall advocate, perhaps neither should be inducted.
Nolan Arenado has a long way to go to match either Rolen or Edmonds in terms of WAR. He's currently just over 50. He has more home runs than Rolen, but he's still over 200 games away from reaching the 2,000-game milestone. He'll need a resurgence in the desert to get there.
Arenado does have 4 seasons with 6+ WAR, which is notable. However, Edmonds' decline in his final seasons might have left a sour taste with the BBWAA. Arenado's on-base percentage took a nosedive after his career year in 2022 (7.2 WAR), and people might remember him more for losing his plate skills than for his elite defense.
When it comes to home run power, Arenado has had three 40+ HR seasons and seven 30+ seasons. Rolen had no 40 HR seasons and three 30+ seasons, while Edmonds had two 40+ and four 30+. So, peak Arenado might be considered the best home run hitter of the three. But the Coors effect in Denver can't be ignored, and overall, the three players are quite similar, with Arenado lacking in longevity so far.
It will be fascinating to see if Arenado can match Rolen's game count, but it's a worthy goal. They are similar players in many ways.
According to Baseball Reference, Rolen retains his WAR total, but Edmonds falls behind. BR's defensive evaluation of Edmonds is less favorable than Fangraphs'. So, both players could be considered borderline cases.
And then, Andruw Jones enters the conversation. He's now a Hall of Famer, and his career WAR total falls between Edmonds and Rolen. He had 6 seasons with 6+ fWAR and nine seasons with 4+ WAR. But Edmonds still has him beat with 10 seasons of 4+ WAR. Jones had a monster 50+ HR season and over 400 HR in his career, and he played in more games than either Edmonds or Rolen.
Using Baseball Reference, Jones' WAR total falls back to around 60, still higher than Edmonds. It's a close call, and it seems Edmonds might have been overlooked by the voting system, falling through the cracks.
It's worth mentioning that former Cardinal Carlos Beltran has also been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Known for his incredible postseason hitting and a certain scandal, Beltran had an exceptional career. Beltran and Jones had similar WAR totals, and both had four seasons with 6+ fWAR and nine seasons with 4+ WAR. But again, Edmonds had ten seasons with 4+ WAR. It certainly feels like a snub. Can anyone explain the logic behind Jim Edmonds' exclusion? Was it his broadcasting career that turned voters off?
One wonders if Edmonds had played one more season, he might have crossed the 400 HR and 1200 RBI threshold, which he fell just short of. He could have used one more award or achievement to push him over the edge. He played in an era with an abundance of talented players. Edmonds had a career OPS of .903! Jones had a much lower career batting average and OPS. Jim Edmonds made elite defense look fun, and his moonshot home runs were a sight to behold. He deserves his place in the Hall.
Now, let's look at the accolades:
Edmonds:
- 4-time All-Star
- 8 Gold Gloves
- 1 Silver Slugger
Rolen:
- 7-time All-Star
- 8 Gold Gloves
- 1 Silver Slugger
Beltran:
- 9-time All-Star
- 3 Gold Gloves
- 2 Silver Slugger Awards
Jones:
- 5-time All-Star
- 10 Gold Gloves
- 1 Silver Slugger
- Led the league in HR and RBI in 2005
Arenado:
- 8-time All-Star (like Edmonds and Rolen)
- An incredible number of Platinum Gloves
- Highest MVP career share rank based on Baseball Reference
- 5 Silver Sluggers
Arenado might be showing signs of wear and tear, as he's 7th among active players in at-bats. In a couple of years, he'll likely be near the top of that list if he stays healthy. If he retired today, he'd be in the top 100 all-time in slugging percentage with .507! He's currently 100th all-time in career home runs.
Postseason numbers won't put Arenado over the top. He's 1-4 in postseason series with a .385 OPS. On the other hand, Andruw Jones had a much better postseason batting average of .796 OPS! But Arenado hasn't experienced the heartbreak of losing two World Series, unlike Jones.
Scott Rolen had a solid postseason record, appearing in 7 series with the Cardinals. He had a .678 OPS and won most of the series he played in, except for the 2004 World Series. He made up for it by winning the trophy in 2006. His peak postseason performance came in the 2004 NLCS against Houston, where he hit 3 home runs, helping the Cardinals advance to the World Series.
Jim Edmonds' postseason performance should be a key part of his Hall of Fame case. He played in 46 postseason games and had 263 plate appearances. He hit 13 home runs with an .874 OPS! That's a home run every 20 plate appearances or so. He won more postseason series than he lost, with his best performances coming in the 2000 NLDS against Atlanta (1.886 OPS), the 2002 NLCS against the Giants (1.105 OPS), the 2004 NLCS against Houston (7 RBI), and the 2005 NLDS against the Padres (1.280 OPS). No wonder they called him Jimmy Baseball.
Beltran, like Edmonds and Rolen, had a 1-1 record in World Series play. But Beltran's postseason numbers were on another level. A postseason OPS over 1.000 is legendary, and Beltran achieved exactly that with a 1.021 OPS. He won 9 postseason series and lost 6, appearing in 65 games with 256 plate appearances. He had 16 postseason home runs, more than Edmonds' 13, but Jim did it in far fewer postseason games. Both Beltran and Edmonds had 42 RBI in the postseason, which is impressive. It's hard not to wonder if Edmonds was snubbed by the Hall of Fame. He came so close, but perhaps fell through the cracks in the voting process.
As for Arenado, it's fair to say he hasn't had the opportunity to accumulate postseason numbers like the other players due to being on less successful teams. His current postseason performance could be attributed to a small sample size.
In conclusion, Jim Edmonds' case for the Hall of Fame is strong. His all-around skills, longevity, and postseason heroics make him a worthy inductee. The voting system might have overlooked him, but his impact on the game is undeniable.
Now, let's shift gears and talk about music! I've compiled a list of the best songs of 2025, drawing from my own favorites and year-end lists from various sources. I started with 600 songs and narrowed it down to a mega playlist of 76 tracks. There's also a heavy metal version available.
Here are some of my current happy songs to get us through the winter blues:
- Holy Scum - 'All We Have Is Never'
- Lychgate - 'Precipice'
- Grails - 'Miracle Music'
- Dax Riggs - '7 Songs for Spiders'
- Neptunian Maximalism - 'Le Sacre Du Soleil Invaincu'
- Tortoise - 'Touch'
- Yowie - 'Taking Umbrage'
- Stratford Rise - self-titled EP
- easterlin - 'reverb claymore EP'
Honorable mentions:
- FACS - 'Wish Defense'
- Martröð - 'Draumsýnir Eldsins'
- Swans - 'Birthing'
- Mary Halvorson - 'About Ghosts'
- Haunted Horses - 'Dweller'
- Nourished By Time - 'The Passionate Ones'
- Cheer Accident - 'Admission'
- Earthball - 'Outside Over There'
- Sallow Moth - 'Mossbane Lantern'
- Cloutchaser - 'Spongebob'
- Tulpa - 'Plum Pinball'
- Lifeguard - 'Ripped and Torn'
- Matmos - 'Metallic Life Review'
- The Mars Volta - 'Lucro sucio; Los ojos del vacio'
- Barren Path - 'Grieving'
Added this week:
- Imperial Triumphant - 'Goldstar'
- Patricia Brennan - 'Of the Near and Far'
- Open Head - 'What Is Success'
- Water From Your Eyes - 'It's a Beautiful Place'
That concludes my 2025 music coverage. Thanks for joining me on this journey through baseball and music. Pitchers and catchers will be reporting soon, and we'll be through the winter before we know it! Rock on, everyone.
