David Schoenfield makes great case for Edgar Martinez for the Hall of Fame

A recent blog by David Schoenfield looks at the production one could expect from Albert Pujols over the next ten years.  Assuming that Albert will remain elite, the post looks into the past, finding the best players  (highest WAR), at his position (1B / DH), at ages 33, 34, ... up to age 41.  As one would expect, there is a general decline from ages 32-34, where the top WARs are in the 6.2 - 7.2 range, through ages 35-38 where top WARs average 5.6, and beyond age 38 they rapidly decline into the 2.5 - 3.5 range.  Based on this, the Angels may regret their deal after seven years.

But I was pleasantly surprised to see Edgar Martinez appear so often on the list.  For four of those ten ages (if you include age 32 which for some reason Schoenfield doesn't) Edgar was the best 1B/DH in baseball. For five of those ten years he was the second best player, by WAR.  And for two of those the "best" was Mark McGuire who deserves a large asterisk.

So, if you discount McGuire, from age 32-41, for six of those ten years, Edgar Martinez was the best first baseman / DH in baseball.  And for three he was the second best in baseball.  This is dominance over an extended period.  And Edgar wasn't too shabby in his younger days either, posting OPS+ well above 100 in 1990, 91, 92 and 1994.

Hopefully the Hall of Fame voters will take notice.  Last time he received a paltry 33%.  Which is actually a slight decline from 36% the previous year.