Yeah….. Moose is a “bubble case.”  But, I’m going to be consistent here.  In my opinion, Jim Kaat is a Hall of Famer.  I don’t know why he’s not in.  He was a compiler to a certain extent, but he was very, very good.  And, Kitty Kaat was the greatest fielding pitcher —- ever.  Period.  So, I think I’m going to have cast the vote in the affirmative for Moose.  A quick scan of the factors in his favor:

- Along with Maddux, the best fielder pitcher of his generation.

- Moose was an “ace” from 1992 to 2003.  That’s long enough.

- Moose’s career ERA compares favorably to the league average, considering he pitched in the steroids era in the rough and tumble AL East.

- Moose’s post-season statistics are very good.  Never mind the won-loss record.  Look at his innings pitched to hits allowed, strikeout to walk ratio and earned run average over a long sampling.  It’s like 140 innings pitched in the post season. 

- And, 270 wins does count for something.  I’m usually not in favor of a “compiler” but as noted above, Moose was more than a compiler, he was an “ace” for a good part of his career.  And, the 270 wins was done during a time of the five man rotation.   I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but he is 100 games over .500 for his career?  If he is… end of discussion.

What puts him over the top for me was his defense.  I’m of the Jim Kaat school, that when the pitcher releases the ball, he becomes a defender.  I might have put him in anyway, but the defense just sealed it.