Disclaimer: Trammell belongs in the HoF; so does Smith. However, they aren't as comparable as Trammell is with Barry Larkin, who is in the Hall as well. Well, I just got finished writing a million words at b_b, who almost certainly doesn't want to read them, so I won't add too much here, despite the fact that I think this article is clearly wrong. But I can't let this slide:
-pointlessly and hopelessly enraged Cards fanhow much better [Trammell] was at getting on base and scoring runs.
Smith scored a few more runs than Trammell did, in about 1000 more ABs. Which means that they're as close as to make only a very small difference. Trammell's OBP is slightly, slightly better than Smith's -- but adjust them for league and park (lgOBP) and see what happens. And additionally, Smith walked twice as much as he struck out, and Trammell did both equally. So it's a bit ridiculous to say that Trammell clearly had Smith on getting on base and scoring.
Wrong. I do want to read them, and I think you make some great points. Let's not lose sight of my original point, which is supported by this and that thread. My point was that the BBWAA is garbage who will do anything SportCenter tells them to do. The mere fact that we and others can even seriously debate whether Smith or Trammell was the better SS supports my position that its ridiculous that Smith is is first ballot HoFer while Tram probably won't get in. That's the main thrust of my argument. To me, they were the two best SS's of the 80's. Smith had pizzazz; Tram did not. BB writers have no cred. That is mainly the point I was making.