The 2018 Fictitious Veteran Inductees

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Scott Kazmir

Scott Kazmir was a power pitcher who was initially drafted by the New York Mets. However, he never played for the team as he was traded to Tampa Bay while he was still in the minors. This trade would later receive a lot of criticism from Mets fans, particularly when Kazmir started going to All-Star Games with the Rays.

Kazmir made his debut for Tampa Bay in August of 2004, and while there was much to like about the southpaw, there were also some concerns. He had a good strikeout rate, but he also walked a lot of batters. Nonetheless, Kazmir rose to become Tampa Bay's Opening Day starter in 2006 and earned his first All-Star that year with a record of 10-8, 3.24 ERA, and 163 SO. He had an even better season in 2007, leading the American League in strikeouts with 239. Kazmir was an All-Star again in 2008 (12-8, 3.49 ERA, 116 SO), but he struggled with injuries and his performance declined. He was traded to the Angels during the 2009 season, where he finished strong. However, he had a disappointing 2010 season with an ERA close to six over 150 innings.

In 2011, Kazmir only played one game in the majors and was demoted to the minors, where his career seemed to be over. The Angels released him, and he played in several leagues in 2012 before Cleveland gave him another shot in 2013. Kazmir made the team and was respectable with a 10-9 record and a 4.04 ERA. He then signed with Oakland, where he went to his third All-Star Game, which was a significant achievement considering where he was just a few years before. Kazmir finished with a career-high of 15 wins and had a good start to the 2015 season but was traded to Houston during the season. He then played for the Los Angeles Dodgers for a year, but muscle issues forced him to leave a game in late September, which turned out to be his last game in the majors for the next five years.

Despite his ups and downs, Kazmir had a respectable career with three All-Star selections. He also played in other leagues and won a silver medal for the United States in the 2021 Olympics. Kazmir eventually got another chance in the majors with the San Francisco Giants but retired after that.

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Rob Gronkowski

The Gronk.

Half football player/half fratboy but all phenomenal, Rob Gronkowski was a 2010 Second Round Pick from Arizona and was the perfect fit to help Tom Brady and Bill Belichick add a new chapter to their dynasty.

Gronkowski became an immediate fan favorite in New England, and captured the attention of everyone throughout the NFL. While other Tight Ends would generate more yardage than Gronkowski, they were not as large as Gronk, who used his size to become the best blocking Tight End of his era. This additional skill set made gridiron life much easier for the Pats, as Gronk was often more physically intimidating than the defensive studs trying to get to Brady.

Despite his size, Gronkowski had sure hands. Gronkowski rarely dropped a ball; once he had it, he was a load to take down. Gronkowski amassed 7,861 Yards for the Pats over nine seasons but had 79 Touchdowns, showing how perfect he was for clutch and short-yardage situations. The charismatic superstar helped New England win three Super Bowls and was a four-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl individually. With nothing left to prove, Gronkowski retired in 2018, and two years later, he was named to the 2010s All-Decade and NFL 100^th Anniversary Team.

The lure of a new challenge brought Gronkowski out of retirement and joined Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. It worked, and Gronkowski won another Super Bowl. He retired for good after 2021 with 9,286 Yards and 92 Touchdowns.

Gronkowski is a lock to enter on his first attempt.

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Richard Sherman

Richard Sherman was known for being brash and outspoken, but also an intellectual leader both on and off the field. He backed up every claim he made, and for a time, he was considered the best cornerback in football.

Sherman began his college career at Stanford as a wide receiver, but after an injury, he was moved to cornerback, where he thrived. He was drafted by Seattle in the fifth round of the 2011 Draft, but Sherman perceived it as a slight and played with a chip on his shoulder for the rest of his career.

Sherman became a starter during his rookie year and finished well enough to win an All-Rookie spot. He dominated the next two seasons, leading the NFL in approximate value both years. In 2012, he earned a First Team All-Pro (despite being snubbed for the Pro Bowl), helped take Seattle to the playoffs, and had eight interceptions over the year. He was regarded as not only a devastating ball-hawk but also a shutdown corner who you did not want to let beat you.

Seattle was building something special, with Sherman as the centerpiece of what was called "The Legion of Boom." In 2013, Sherman was a First Team All-Pro again, finally made the Pro Bowl, and led the league in interceptions with eight. In that year's NFC Championship Game, Sherman caused a pass deflection late in the game off of San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick that led to an interception by his teammate and sealed the game. Sherman's profile (good or bad, depending on your view) rose when he made a choking gesture to Kaepernick. The Seahawks dominated Denver in the Super Bowl, and Sherman was now a champion. It was time for him to get paid.

Seattle made Sherman the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, and he did not slack with the financial respect. He was again a First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 2014, and helped take them back to the Super Bowl, though this time they lost to New England. Sherman went to the next two Pro Bowls, but his play was hampered by a sprained MCL in the second half of the 2016 season. Achilles issues also gave him trouble in 2017, and he was held to nine games. He was released after the season, but the enigmatic cornerback was far from done.

Sherman signed with the team he had tormented for years, San Francisco, and was still good, adding a sixth Pro Bowl in 2019, with a Second Team All-Pro.

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Ryan Zimmerman

Ryan Zimmerman has been a constant player for the Washington Nationals in Major League Baseball for the past sixteen years. He has been a valuable asset to the team, providing power and a solid batting average. While he may not be considered an elite player, he has performed better than the average Major League Baseball player. He has earned two Silver Sluggers, one Gold Glove, and made two All-Star Game appearances.

Zimmerman was a member of the Washington Nationals team that won the 2019 World Series Championship. He currently holds the record for the most games played (1,799), runs scored (964), hits (1,846), doubles (417), home runs (284), and RBIs (1,061) in the franchise's history.

Although he may not be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Nationals should honor him in some way for his contributions to the team.

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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!

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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.

neftali felliz

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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.

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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.

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Jared Cook

Jared Cook started his professional football career with the Tennessee Titans in 2009, after being selected as the third Tight End in the draft. He had a breakthrough season in his third year, recording 759 receiving yards, but his performance was inconsistent over the next decade.

Cook went on to play for five other teams, including the St. Louis Rams from 2013 to 2015, the Green Bay Packers in 2016, the Oakland Raiders in 2018 and 2019, the New Orleans Saints in 2019 and 2020, and finally, the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021. He was selected for the Pro Bowl two years in a row in 2018 and 2019. Throughout his career, he had six seasons with over 600 receiving yards, and his highest total of 896 yards came in 2018.

In total, Cook amassed 7,237 receiving yards and scored 45 touchdowns during his career.

jared cook

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Kyle Seager

Kyle Seager played for the Seattle Mariners for all eleven seasons of his career. Even though he wasn't considered a superstar, he was a dependable player during a crucial period for Seattle.

Seager debuted in 2011 and won the starting Third Base job the following season. He hit 20 Home Runs, beginning a streak of hitting at least 20 Home Runs in a season, which he still holds at the time of writing. In 2014, he had his best season in baseball, earning him the title of an All-Star and the Gold Glove award, while also leading the American League in Total Zone Runs. Seager is considered one of the best defensive Third Basemen in the league, having led all his peers in the AL three times in Assists and Double Plays.

Seager retired after the 2021 Season, which was his best year for power (35 HR, 101 RBI), although he batted a low .212. He left baseball with 1,395 Hits and 242 Home Runs.

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