Menu
A+ A A-
Committee Chairman

Committee Chairman

Kirk Buchner, "The Committee Chairman", is the owner and operator of the site.  Kirk can be contacted at [email protected] .

Pablo Sandoval

For a brief time, the baseball world fell in love with the "Kung Fu Panda" - and we don’t mean the one voiced by Jack Black. Pablo Sandoval, hailing from Venezuela, was a portly player but managed to move his weight around early in his career with the San Francisco Giants. He made his debut in 2008 and took over at Third Base, dazzling fans with his demeanor and unlikely acrobatics for a big man. 2009 was arguably his best season, where he set career marks in hits (189), home runs (25), RBIs (90), and the Slash Line (.330/.387/.556) and finished seventh in MVP voting.

Sandoval remained a good player over the next few years - he even went to the All-Star Game in 2011 and 2012 - but it was when the Giants won the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014 that he became nationally known. However, it wasn't all sunshine for him, as his extra weight became a problem and he was benched on occasions. Sandoval did not do much in his first World Series, but he blasted six home runs in the 2012 Fall Classic, including three in Game 1, and was named the World Series MVP, which was the highlight of his career.

The Boston Red Sox signed Sandoval as a Free Agent in 2015, but he wasn't the same player. Still overweight, Sandoval's hitting fell apart, and he was held to just six at-bats in 2016 due to shoulder issues. It was not much better for Sandoval in 2017, as he again struggled and was released. The Giants signed him back, and he was used in a bench role over the next few seasons. Sandoval even led the NL in pinch hits (18) in 2019 but was released again, this time during the 2020 season. The Braves picked him up to use in a reserve capacity, and he lasted until 2021. Though he was not on the playoff roster, he was awarded a World Series Championship Ring by the Atlanta.

As popular as he was at one time, Sandoval's overall numbers (1,279 hits, 153 home runs) are nowhere close to Hall of Fame worthy. However, those memories, oh boy, they sure were fun!

Neftali Feliz

Neftali Feliz began his baseball career with the Texas Rangers in 2009, playing over 20 games. Impressed by his performance, the Rangers appointed him as their closer early in the 2010 season. Feliz made it to the All-Star Game and won the Rookie of the Year award, recording 40 saves and leading the league with 59 games finished. He continued his success in 2011, recording 34 saves. However, he was moved to the rotation, but the experiment failed due to a sprained UCL that led to Tommy John Surgery. He missed most of 2012 and 2013 but managed 13 saves in 2014. Unfortunately, his performance declined, and he played for four different teams (Detroit, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, and Kansas City), with the latter releasing him in 2017.

Feliz struggled in the Minors, bouncing between various organizations after being released by the Royals. He made a comeback in 2021, playing five games split between the Dodgers and Phillies. However, it is unlikely that he will be included on the ballot in 2027.

Mike Daniels

Undersized for a Defensive End, Mike Daniels enjoyed a nice career in the NFL, spent mainly with the team that drafted him in the Fourth Round in the 2012 Draft, and after two years playing in a reserve role, he became Green Bay’s starting Right Defensive End in 2014.  While Daniels could be overpowered, his elusiveness made him a valuable asset for the Packers.  A Pro Bowl Selection in 2017, the former Iowa Hawkeye was released by Green Bay in a cost-cutting move a year later, and he signed with Detroit but was injured nine games in.  Daniels finished his career with two seasons in Cincinnati, but most of that time was spent on Injured Reserve.

Daniels had 30 Sacks over his career.

Le'Veon Bell

Le’Veon Bell was selected as the second running back in the 2013 draft when the Pittsburgh Steelers chose him with the 48th overall pick. Initially, he showed a lot of promise, with 1,259 yards from scrimmage in his rookie season. The following year, Bell's numbers exploded, as he rushed for 1,361 yards and added 854 receiving yards, accumulating a total of 2,215 yards from scrimmage. These numbers represent personal highs in Bell's time with the Steelers, and he finished as the runner-up in both yards from scrimmage and all-purpose yards. He also earned his first Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro honors in 2014.

Injuries and a drug suspension held Bell to only six games in 2015. In 2016 and 2017, he finished third and second in yards from scrimmage and all-purpose yards, with APY numbers below 2,000. However, he was still a Pro Bowler in both years, and earned his second First Team All-Pro honors in 2017.

Before the 2018 season, the Steelers placed the franchise tag on Bell, but he refused to sign it. He sat out the entire season and became ineligible to play after the ninth week of the regular season. This was a significant risk, as it cost him millions and a year of his prime. In 2019, Bell signed with the New York Jets as a free agent, but it didn't work out well. He rushed for 789 yards and scored three touchdowns, which was a considerable drop-off from his time with the Steelers.

After five games and an injury in 2020, Bell was released by the Jets after seeking a trade. He then signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, but was used sparingly, and it was clear he just wasn't the same elusive rusher he used to be. In 2021, he split his final season between stops in Baltimore and Tampa, and his career ended without much fanfare.

Throughout his career, Bell compiled 6,554 rushing yards with 42 touchdowns, which is good, but lower than what was expected based on his Steelers peak.