Pujols signs his retirement papers

[Axeman33]

https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/statu...69922795495426

Albert Pujols officially has signed his retirement papers with the Cardinals, per @Feinsand.

[2014olympicgold]

Dude went out on fire at least. Got his HR numbers. Just didn't go far in the playoffs. What a career, and what a final season.

[Pengwin7]

100% first ballot. What a legend.

[Axeman33]

100% first ballot. What a legend.

Molina hasn't signed his papers yet but apparently will do so before the end of the World Series. I see both as potential 1st ballot guys.

I agree that Albert will get in. Not sure about Molina, but I think he will challenge for it.

FWIW, I am a big fan of how baseball deals with their HOF entries. Many dont like it because a lot of very good players never get in but that's what makes this one worthwhile. Dont even get me started on whether guys like Bonds, Clemens and others during the steroid era should get in after watching Big Papi get in there last year.

[2014olympicgold]

Molina hasn't signed his papers yet but apparently will do so before the end of the World Series. I see both as potential 1st ballot guys.

I agree that Albert will get in. Not sure about Molina, but I think he will challenge for it.

FWIW, I am a big fan of how baseball deals with their HOF entries. Many dont like it because a lot of very good players never get in but that's what makes this one worthwhile. Dont even get me started on whether guys like Bonds, Clemens and others during the steroid era should get in after watching Big Papi get in there last year.

I like how they do the "if no one deserves to get in, then there's no one getting in" approach vs the NHL

[Pengwin7]

Molina is a sure-fire HOF-er for me.
Unfortunate that it's hard to put a metric on a catcher's ability to get the most out of their pitchers.
And, I can't proclaim to be an expert on Catcher-to-Pitcher pitch-calling/locating value.
But... the Cardinals with Molina behind the plate have to have one of the better win% among all MLB catchers.
I'd like to see numbers on that, but I'd bet he's right up there with most MLB wins and best win% by a positional-catcher.

Catchers, I believe (correct me if I'm wrong), are generally considered the smartest of MLB players.
And Molina had to have been a brilliant one.

I wouldn't say Molina is "sure-fire" HOF... but I think he'll get in with sway/discussion if not on first try.

(That said - I can see "hockey smarts" having played a shit-ton of hockey... but I have to admit that I didn't play baseball, so I might be "off-base", pun intended, here.)

[Feenom]

Molina is a sure-fire HOF-er for me.
Unfortunate that it's hard to put a metric on a catcher's ability to get the most out of their pitchers.
And, I can't proclaim to be an expert on Catcher-to-Pitcher pitch-calling/locating value.
But... the Cardinals with Molina behind the plate have to have one of the better win% among all MLB catchers.
I'd like to see numbers on that, but I'd bet he's right up there with most MLB wins and best win% by a positional-catcher.

Catchers, I believe (correct me if I'm wrong), are generally considered the smartest of MLB players.

That's why they make pretty good managers. I'm guessing.