2047-0006: Talons Fans Ask: Is Feliciano Rafael a Future Hall of Famer??

[jiminyhopkins]

Phoenix, AZ--

What with all the Hall of Fame voting going on these days, and the number of former Talons on the ballot, Talons fans are wondering if their current #1 starter Feliciano Rafael could someday join fellow Talons Carlton Winson and Lumpy LaLoosh in the Hall.

Everyone is well aware of Rafael's injury woes throughout his career. And honestly, the reputation is a bit overblown, as only four of his 14 seasons have seen him throw less than 170 IP. But when healthy, he has been an absolute force on the mound, amassing 57.7 Wars so far. But those Wars are more of a story of accumulation, as only three of his seasons could be truly considered "dominant" (6+ War). So, here we have an injury prone pitcher who may very well have a hall of fame career not due to a peak, but due to longevity.

Rafael is under contract through 2050, but as always with Phoenix there are team options in the mix. But it stands to reason that this guy could have 2-3 good years left in the tank; pitching decent through age 36 isn't too much of a stretch. Besides, the Talons think they have figured out a way to manage his early season workload; both Rafael and Don Smith were healthy for the entirety of 2046, no small feat considering their histories.

So what say you, fans? Is Rafael a future HoF entrant? Or will his arm blow up with one of those famous Talons Torn Labrums^TM? Have your say below, and vote in this poll because we want the extra two points!

Go Talons!

[usnspecialist]

He definitely is making a legit case. It is also worth noting that in 34/35 he made every start, was just part of a 6 man rotation i experimented with which depressed his overall numbers.

[lordtoffee]

I could see it.

[recte44]

My knee jerk reaction to the question is yes.

[RonCo]

He's hit 69 batters. Not sure we want to reward that kind of behavior.

[CTBrewCrew]

He's hit 69 batters. Not sure we want to reward that kind of behavior.

Your right....he needs to be rewarded at 70