Trot never lived up to what we hoped he would be but his OPS vs. Clemens (in 16 AB) was .984; and I recall him hitting a very satisfying ninth inning home run vs. the Rocket.Ok, I'll be that guy. Pedroia and Papelbon sure. Pedroia is underrated as an easy top 10 all time Red Sox (higher career bWAR (with Boston) than Fisk, Nomar, Rice, Mookie, Manny and many others that people instantly mention when talking about greatest Red Sox ever). Papelbon is 4th all time in games played (among pitchers), and has almost twice as many saves (I know, I know) than any other reliever we've had. They were both big parts of Championship teams too.
But Trot? Now we're just rewarding mediocrity. He was not a big part of the 2004 season due to his injury (one of my favourite nuggest of info about him is that he only had TWO hits against lefties all season - sure he only played in 48 games, and was usally platooned off the lineup against lefties, but still as close to an automatic out - OPS 321 - as you'll ever find). And he was SO bad defensively. He got an undeserved good fielding reputation because he was always diving to make catches, because he was just slow and took bad routes. Those same catches JD Drew would be camped under and make look routine.
I don't know who else is in it, so maybe there's a very low bar and he clears it, and I should be happy for him, but I feel like there are probably more deserving guys who have been excluded.
That's a metric shit-ton of attitude right there
agree with both of these posts fullyOk, I'll be that guy. Pedroia and Papelbon sure. Pedroia is underrated as an easy top 10 all time Red Sox (higher career bWAR (with Boston) than Fisk, Nomar, Rice, Mookie, Manny and many others that people instantly mention when talking about greatest Red Sox ever). Papelbon is 4th all time in games played (among pitchers), and has almost twice as many saves (I know, I know) than any other reliever we've had. They were both big parts of Championship teams too.
But Trot? Now we're just rewarding mediocrity. He was not a big part of the 2004 season due to his injury (one of my favourite nuggest of info about him is that he only had TWO hits against lefties all season - sure he only played in 48 games, and was usally platooned off the lineup against lefties, but still as close to an automatic out - OPS 321 - as you'll ever find). And he was SO bad defensively. He got an undeserved good fielding reputation because he was always diving to make catches, because he was just slow and took bad routes. Those same catches JD Drew would be camped under and make look routine.
I don't know who else is in it, so maybe there's a very low bar and he clears it, and I should be happy for him, but I feel like there are probably more deserving guys who have been excluded.
I think team-level Hall of Fames should be fine with commemorating "players that succeeded and were just really, really popular". Fame is, after all, how big a part of the zeitgeist someone is. If you spent any time around a teenage girl in Massachusetts circa-2001, you'd know how big a part of the fandom was Trot Nixon.I don't know who else is in it, so maybe there's a very low bar and he clears it, and I should be happy for him, but I feel like there are probably more deserving guys who have been excluded.
Pretty sure you're taking this way too seriously. The Red Sox HOF isn't about being the best player or having the highest WAR, it's about being a good, and perhaps more importantly, popular Red Sox player. Looking at the list of inductees, it seems like pretty much anyone who played more than 6-8 years in Boston has made the cut. Trot Nixon checks all of those boxes. It's arguable he's overdue to be inducted based on some guys who had much lesser/shorter Red Sox careers (though some excelled with other clubs also) who are already in the Sox HOF: Mike Lowell, Curt Schilling, Ellis Burks, Marty Barrett, Rich Gedman, Rick Burleson, Bob Stanley, Tommy Harper. The full list of inductees is here.Ok, I'll be that guy. Pedroia and Papelbon sure. Pedroia is underrated as an easy top 10 all time Red Sox (higher career bWAR (with Boston) than Fisk, Nomar, Rice, Mookie, Manny and many others that people instantly mention when talking about greatest Red Sox ever). Papelbon is 4th all time in games played (among pitchers), and has almost twice as many saves (I know, I know) than any other reliever we've had. They were both big parts of Championship teams too.
But Trot? Now we're just rewarding mediocrity. He was not a big part of the 2004 season due to his injury (one of my favourite nuggest of info about him is that he only had TWO hits against lefties all season - sure he only played in 48 games, and was usally platooned off the lineup against lefties, but still as close to an automatic out - OPS 321 - as you'll ever find). And he was SO bad defensively. He got an undeserved good fielding reputation because he was always diving to make catches, because he was just slow and took bad routes. Those same catches JD Drew would be camped under and make look routine.
I don't know who else is in it, so maybe there's a very low bar and he clears it, and I should be happy for him, but I feel like there are probably more deserving guys who have been excluded.
Why isn't Ellsbury in yet and Benintendi better be getting in then 3 years post-retirement.If you spent any time around a teenage girl in Massachusetts, you'd know how big a part of the fandom was Trot Nixon.
He represents such a fun era of the team and that deserves to be remembered and honored.
Benintendi won't be getting in until at least after he retires (if ever), but I would not be surprised to see an Ellsbury induction in the near future.When are Ellsbury and Benintendi getting in?
Both for his work here, and on the Yankees.I would not be surprised to see an Ellsbury induction in the near future.
Ellsbury beats Nixon in most measures as a Red Sox OF. In the 8 points he loses to OPS+ (from power/HR), he gains in rings, ROY finish, MVP finish, and is way ahead in speed/SB/range. I think he's ahead in t-shirt sales too but can't prove it.If one of the metrics for Red Sox Hall of Fame entry were "number of T-shirts spotted on Jersey Street with this players name on it" I would be okay with it. It's just a good vibes thing, and I think there is nothing wrong with that. Some things should just be about fun.
Thinking about Trot brings back a lot of great memories and I love that.
Another great point.Both for his work here, and on the Yankees.
Trot played 2 more years than Ellsbury and only had 1 season where he didn't play 100+ games. Ellsbury only played 4 season with 100+ games. Benintendi's Sox career was only 5 years (three 100+ games). Like others mentioned, the team HoF is more than stats. Trot was a lock in RF for his whole Red Sox career.Why isn't Ellsbury in yet and Benintendi better be getting in then 3 years post-retirement.
But I'll just add if you are discrediting Trot for NOT being a big part of 2004, he should get credit for having the 2nd highest OPS (between Manny & Papi) on a team that was a stone's throw from winning in 2003. The narrative on Trot would be totally different if that team won it. (So would Nomar's narrative.)Ok, I'll be that guy. Pedroia and Papelbon sure. Pedroia is underrated as an easy top 10 all time Red Sox (higher career bWAR (with Boston) than Fisk, Nomar, Rice, Mookie, Manny and many others that people instantly mention when talking about greatest Red Sox ever). Papelbon is 4th all time in games played (among pitchers), and has almost twice as many saves (I know, I know) than any other reliever we've had. They were both big parts of Championship teams too.
But Trot? Now we're just rewarding mediocrity. He was not a big part of the 2004 season due to his injury (one of my favourite nuggest of info about him is that he only had TWO hits against lefties all season - sure he only played in 48 games, and was usally platooned off the lineup against lefties, but still as close to an automatic out - OPS 321 - as you'll ever find). And he was SO bad defensively. He got an undeserved good fielding reputation because he was always diving to make catches, because he was just slow and took bad routes. Those same catches JD Drew would be camped under and make look routine.
I don't know who else is in it, so maybe there's a very low bar and he clears it, and I should be happy for him, but I feel like there are probably more deserving guys who have been excluded.
You can't tell the Red Sox story in my lifetime without mentioning the Gerbil, even if it's a negative reflection.I'd take Trot Nixon for the Red Sox Hall of Fame over 2010 inductee Don Zimmer pretty much every day from now until forever.
(Are we sure the Zimmer thing was not a joke?)
Same goes with Grady Little, do we want him the Sox HOF too?You can't tell the Red Sox story in my lifetime without mentioning the Gerbil, even if it's a negative reflection.
Only if he takes Pedro outSame goes with Grady Little, do we want him the Sox HOF too?
I think the injury really cut into his chances but I always maintained that he had a case if he could remain productive through his mid 30’s (fuck you, machado). His career numbers and defensive reputation looked a lot like Roberto Alomar’s at one point.I still think Pedroia has a shot at the big Hall of Fame. His career was cut short by an injury that wasn't his fault, but before that he was a great defender, really good hitter, and inner circle Hall of Fame personality.
This is a good point.Pretty sure you're taking this way too seriously. The Red Sox HOF isn't about being the best player or having the highest WAR, it's about being a good, and perhaps more importantly, popular Red Sox player. Looking at the list of inductees, it seems like pretty much anyone who played more than 6-8 years in Boston has made the cut. Trot Nixon checks all of those boxes. It's arguable he's overdue to be inducted based on some guys who had much lesser/shorter Red Sox careers (though some excelled with other clubs also) who are already in the Sox HOF: Mike Lowell, Curt Schilling, Ellis Burks, Marty Barrett, Rich Gedman, Rick Burleson, Bob Stanley, Tommy Harper. The full list of inductees is here.
Woah woah woah - lesser? My 8-12 year old self remembers Mr. Barrett being the best dang 2B around.[snip] … some guys who had much lesser/shorter Red Sox careers…who are already in the Sox HOF: Mike Lowell, Curt Schilling, Ellis Burks, Marty Barrett, Rich Gedman…[snip]
Evans?This is a good point.
If you asked me to close my eyes and name the 10 players that should be in the Red Sox HOF whom I've seen play personally, shading out the most recent, I don't think Trot Nixon would be in that group. Maybe he's in a group of 20.
That said, he's not an outrageous choice in any sense.
It would be an interesting exercise though without stats: Boggs, Evans, Clemens, Garciaparra, Vaughn, Pedro, Manny, Ortiz, Pedroia, Betts.
Then: Rice, Wakefield, Beckett, Youkilis, Lowe, Lowell, Valentin, Hurst, Greenwell, Burks.
Then: Varitek, Naehring, OLearly. . .I probably put Trot in here somewhere.
(Yaz and Eckersley I have little memory of as a kid)
Are you questioning whether Dwight Evans is an obvious/deserving choice for the Red Sox Hall of Fame? Or do you think RR omitted him (he's the second name on the list)?Evans?
Your sarcasm meter is on the fritz.Same goes with Grady Little, do we want him the Sox HOF too?
He also survived Jimy Williams’ attempts to destroy him.Trot was a solid player. My four memories:
Throwing the bat at the Tampa goon on the hill who was drilling guys.(oops it slipped)
Dominating Clemens repeatedly including the ridiculous Clemens Pedro game at the Bronx where he smoked a no doubter in the 9th- still one of the best regular season games you’ll ever see.
Big hit off Flash Gordon in the 8th to put Roberts on third - he would eventually score on the Tek sac fly (hope my memory is right)
Partying with Sox fans in the stands after game 7 ALCS in 04- may have even brought champagne in the stands with him.
And smoked that 3-0 pitch with the bases loaded in Game 4 of the World Series.He also survived Jimy Williams’ attempts to destroy him.
Was just coming here to add this. I was at that game and the place was insane. First playoff game I ever attended. It was around that time that I joined this board (hence the name).All very deserving.
Trot should be in for his 2003 ALDS 10th inning walk off HR alone.I was at that game (and G4) and the place was nuts.
I was also at this game. My brother and I drove down from the Toronto area for it. It was my first playoff game too. It was the best atmosphere of any game I've ever attended. I've watched the replay of Trot's bomb so many times I have Jon Miller's call engrained in my memory.Was just coming here to add this. I was at that game and the place was insane. First playoff game I ever attended. It was around that time that I joined this board (hence the name).