2 former Cleveland Guardians are now on the Hall of Fame ballot but don’t expect them to go in

Two former Cleveland Guardians in Jhonny Peralta and Mike Napoli are on the Hall of Fame ballot this year.

Johnny Peralta and Mike Napoli received an honor this week as they were named to the 2022 Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Hall of Fame ballot, joining Carlos Beltran, John Lackey, Jered Weaver, R.A. Dickey, Huston Street, Francisco Rodríguez, Bronson Arroyo, Matt Cain, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jayson Werth, J.J. Hardy, and Andre Ethier.

The only one with a good shot of making it is former Royals, Mets, and Astros player Beltran. He may not get in due to the Astros cheating controversy, however, but his talent and stats speak for themselves.

Considering the ballot still has players who are shoo-ins for the Hall like Scott Rolen, Todd Helton, and Billy Wagner, it seems unlikely that the likes of Ethier, Weaver, and Cain get in. Those aren’t all the names, however. Other names who you’d think would have gotten in by now who are still on the ballot include;  Andruw Jones, Gary Sheffield, Alex Rodriguez, Jeff Kent, Manny Ramirez, Omar Vizquel, Andy Pettitte, Jimmy Rollins, Bobby Abreu, Mark Buehrle, and Torii Hunter.

Guys like Kent seemed like a lock, as he’s one of the few guys who was wholly problematic during his era, and while he was a notorious jerk but he was clean. As was Jones, who may get close to going in. Other guys like Sheffield, Alex Rodriguez, Ramirez, and Pettite have long been linked to steroid use.

Yet, guys like Rollins, Abreu, Buehrle, and Hunter are unlikely to get in. While it makes sense that Abreu wouldn’t get in, Rollins, Buerhle, and Hunter are arguably the three best defensive players at their position during their prime. That alone warrants them getting in. they also put up great offensive stats, and Rollins even took home an MVP.

As for Vizquel, recent accusations about his treatment of others both personally and professionally will likely see his legacy tarnished too badly to ever get into the hall of fame.

Jhonny Peralta and Mike Napoli are not going into the Hall of Fame

It’s very hard to get into the hall of fame, as we see a whole host of names not going in who were stars in their era. While Peralta and Napoli were popular during their times in Cleveland, and All-Stars during their time in the league, that’s just not enough to warrant their admission to the Hall of Fame.

Neither man has 300 home runs, 1,000 RBIs, at least a .270 batting average, no MVPs, and only four All-Star nods between them.

Great players, especially in their prime, but neither falls into the category of Hall of Famer.