Hall of Fame Candidate Thread: Ricardo Diaz

[RonCo]

Here's the place to talk about the career of:

Ricardo "Scholsy" Diaz

Pitcher

Active Career: 2019-2038 (20 seasons)
243-170, 3.18, 4,056 K, 1.07 WHIP, 88.9 WAR
Landis Memorial Winner 2024, 2035
Nebraska Winner: 2022, 2023, 2025, 2027
10-Time All-Star

Hall of Fame Metrics: (average HoF)
JAWS: 78.8 (70)
Black Ink: 68 (33)
Gray Ink: 265 (160)
HOF Standards: 52 (50)
HOF Monitor: 228 (127)
# The real question here, we suppose, is not whether Ricardo Diaz will be in the Hall of Fame, but instead, where he fits in the inner circle. I mean, yes, Nebraska was legendary, but yeah he was built that way. But Ricardo Diaz is something the same, yet different. An elite workhorse through age 36, then a comeback inpact player at times afterward. His performance in the 2035 post season brought tears to the eye.

Diaz pegs the ink tests. He led the league in ERA at age 23 and 24. Wins at age 29. Like counting stats? Diaz led the league in Ks for eight seasons in a row. Fancy figures? He led the league in WAR four times.

So, yeah, this thread isn't so much for discussion or arguement as it is wallowing in the aura of a guy who probably won't come along again for a while.

[usnspecialist]

ted make the case that ricardo diaz is the best non-Nebraska pitcher of all time.

[bcslouck]

One of the best.

[Ted]

ted make the case that ricardo diaz is the best non-Nebraska pitcher of all time.

Of course I did, but he's probably not. He was very very good. You should vote for him. He did struggled with the long ball in his early 30's some (was kind of average or just better than average after that point). The one thing that gets lost is how much offense was suppressed for most of his prime. His WAR totals would be even higher, if the gap between replacement level and top pitcher wasn't so narrow due to how pitching skewed the talent was in those days.

Compare that to today with our overpowered offenses, where the leading batters are 6-7 WAR and the leading pitchers are 8+ WAR and you can see the difference.

This holds true for lots of pitchers who played in the same time frame.

Still, before injury finally got to him at age 36, he made 513 (I think those last two starts in 2034 are after coming back) consecutive starts. The research was tough, but I'm pretty sure that's never been matched. Took the mound for his turn 513 times in a row without missing a turn. That may have been more remarkable that the strikeouts. I don't know. Both are pretty cool.

[7teen]

When I did my pyramid HOF, I had Jay Lee as a level 3, just one notch from the Pantheon.

I'd probably have Diaz around that same level. I'm on summer break. Perhaps rather than bore people with countless TNs I should update the Pantheon of HOFs.....

[Ted]

Just for further note on the WAR difference due to how different the league was.

Diaz in 2026 posted this: | 35 GS | 18-9 | 2.38 ERA | 245.1 IP | 180 H | 18 HR | 57 BB | 283 K | 0.97 WHIP | .276 BABIP | 2.55 FIP | 8.0 WAR

Feliciano Rafael in 2038: | 33 GS | 17-7 | 3.10 ERA | 235.0 IP | 209 H | 22 HR | 40 BB | 235 K | 1.06 WHIP | .299 BABIP | 2.87 FIP | 8.6 WAR

The bar for replacement is just so different these days. We are much more of a "stars and scrubs" league on the pitching side at least.

[usnspecialist]

When I did my pyramid HOF, I had Jay Lee as a level 3, just one notch from the Pantheon.

I'd probably have Diaz around that same level. I'm on summer break. Perhaps rather than bore people with countless TNs I should update the Pantheon of HOFs.....

yes, yes you should.

[Lane]

meh. I'd be good too if I pitched my whole career in a park the size of the Grand Canyon.

[RonCo]

Just for further note on the WAR difference due to how different the league was.

Diaz in 2026 posted this: | 35 GS | 18-9 | 2.38 ERA | 245.1 IP | 180 H | 18 HR | 57 BB | 283 K | 0.97 WHIP | .276 BABIP | 2.55 FIP | 8.0 WAR

Feliciano Rafael in 2038: | 33 GS | 17-7 | 3.10 ERA | 235.0 IP | 209 H | 22 HR | 40 BB | 235 K | 1.06 WHIP | .299 BABIP | 2.87 FIP | 8.6 WAR

The bar for replacement is just so different these days. We are much more of a "stars and scrubs" league on the pitching side at least.

Some of this difference should be related to ballpark adjustments, though.

[usnspecialist]

Ricardo diaz when compared to the mean of all HOF SP not named steve Nebraska. The mean does NOT include any of the guys currently on the ballot, and the bottom row is how close to the mean they are (1.0=mean).

[indiansfan]

Yes.

[RonCo]

Ricardo diaz when compared to the mean of all HOF SP not named steve Nebraska. The mean does NOT include any of the guys currently on the ballot, and the bottom row is how close to the mean they are (1.0=mean).

If you scale the counting numbers to IP, then Diaz's Hits and ER turn green. So really he's a bit heavy there just because he was 600 IP better than mean.

[usnspecialist]

Ricardo diaz when compared to the mean of all HOF SP not named steve Nebraska. The mean does NOT include any of the guys currently on the ballot, and the bottom row is how close to the mean they are (1.0=mean).

If you scale the counting numbers to IP, then Diaz's Hits and ER turn green. So really he's a bit heavy there just because he was 600 IP better than mean.

That is why I include ERA and all of the /9 categories on the far right side Fun to see how the raw counting and rate numbers compare. Most guys are going to be split, and if you are green on both you are pretty damn good (and conversely if you are red on both your candidacy probably has some serious issues).

[JimBob2232]

Yep.