Detroit Tigers Links 1/9/2014: Active Hall of Famers, ZiPS Projections, and Starting Pitching

Aug 26, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt (21) signals to intentionally walk Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) in the seventh inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Which Active Players Are Going To Cooperstown? – Dave Cameron – FanGraphs

"5. Miguel Cabrera, +55 WAR…Thesse guys have the rate stats to get inducted, and essentially just need to ensure that their counting stats get up near Hall of Fame levels for voters who prefer milestones. They don’t even have to be good for the next few years, as long as they stay healthy and keep playing most everyday.…11. Justin Verlander, +44 WAR"

What the Baseball Hall of Fame can learn from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – HookSlide – Bless You Boys

"Unlike the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame focuses less on career duration or span-of-lifetime achievements, and more on the level of impact a given artist had on the rock music world. Les Paul may not have had a string of Number One Hits (he didn’t have any, actually), but he invented a guitar that changed rock history. The emphasis, in other words, is more on the word “fame,” and perhaps this is a concept that needs to be given more weight in the Baseball Hall of Fame. By the numbers, maybe a pitcher like Jack Morris doesn’t quite make the cut, but he certainly left an impression on the baseball world for what he accomplished during his lengthy career."

Thoughts on ZiPS Projections – Lee Panas – Detroit Tiger Tales

"The Tiger who figures to improve the most is catcher Alex Avila. After hitting for a .695 OPS last year, ZIPS has him down for .737 in 2014. Most projection systems are optimistic about Avila, probably because they “remember” his glorious 2011 season. If he can stop getting beat up so badly behind the plate, he does seem capable of improvement."

Detroit Tigers trying to keep their Big Three pitchers for long time – Anthony Fenech – Free Press

"But to get that third piece of the puzzle in place, American League Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer, the Tigers will have to bridge a sea of dollar bills awaiting the righty after the 2014 season.And make no mistake, they will do whatever they can to extend Scherzer and further what the Braves cemented as the best model for long-term success."