MLB Hall of Fame: Breaking down the ballot

Chris Carpenter – 1st time on ballot

When he was healthy, Chris Carpenter was a star. The problem was that he was almost never healthy.

Over the course of his 15 years in the majors, Carpenter made 30 or more appearances only seven times. He reached the 200 inning mark five times, although he actually led the league in innings in 2011, firing 237.1 innings that year. However, that season, coupled with his 235 innings the previous year, took a toll on Carpenter, as he had arm and nerve injuries that sidelined him for most of 2012. Those injuries ended his career, as he was unable to return to the mound and no longer wanted to undergo the required surgery to fix the problems.

A three time All Star and the 2005 Cy Young winner, Carpenter showed glimpses of the pitcher he could have been. In his career, he posted a 144-94 record, with a 3.76 ERA and a 1.276 WHiP. In his 2219.1 innings, Carpenter struck out 1697 batters, while issuing only 627 walks. Carpenter was certainly one of the best of his era when he was on the mound.

If healthy, it is possible that Carpenter could have come close to 225 to 250 wins, giving him a stronger Hall of Fame case with the voters. instead, he is a player where one has to wonder what could have been, as he showed flashes of brilliance when he could take the mound.

However, the MLB Hall of Fame is not about what could have been. Chris Carpenter may get a vote of two, but this should be his only appearance on the ballot.