SportsPulse: Steve Gardner sits down with Jorge Ortiz and Bob Nightengale to discuss who is a lock for the Baseball Hall of Fame and who might have trouble getting in. USA TODAY Sports
Of all the endeavors in which baseball writers participate, nothing generates as much debate, dissent, discussion and, to be honest, sharp criticism, than casting Hall of Fame ballots.
Later today (5 p.m. CT on the MLB Network), the 2017 class will be revealed for the Hall of Fame, so stay tuned for that. There has been a lot of build-up to this year's reveal, as is usually the case.
Despite the flak that often comes with revealing choices, I still consider it an honor to vote and also a responsibility that I take with the utmost seriousness. So, having said that, here are the 10 names I had on my ballot this year, in alphabetical order:
1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Vladimir Guerrero
4. Trevor Hoffman
5. Chipper Jones
6. Edgar Martinez
7. Fred McGriff
8. Mike Mussina
9. Curt Schilling
10. Jim Thome
The Baseball Writers' Association of America is criticized often for not letting enough former players into Cooperstown and I agree, which is why I have voted for 10 players for several years now. And that’s the limit that the Hall of Fame folks allow, or I would have also voted for these players:
Andruw Jones, Gary Sheffield, Billy Wagner and Larry Walker.
I just hope none of those players fall off the ballot by not getting the requisite 5% of the vote (another stupid rule by the HOF).
I believe we are in store for a banner group of players getting into the Hall, perhaps equaling the first and largest class of five players. Polling shows that Guerrero, Hoffman, Chipper Jones and Thome have great chances to be elected, and perhaps Martinez as well.
So, on to my choices. I will start with Bonds and Clemens, the two lightning rods on the ballot. We all know the PED taint that comes with those players, and when they originally came on the ballot, I didn’t vote for them because of that taint.
Then, after monitoring much intense discussion and putting considerable thought into the subject, I changed my mind. All of us have to draw the PED line somewhere, and this is where I drew mine: If you flunked a drug test or admitted to knowingly taking PEDs, I wouldn’t vote for you. That’s why Manny Ramirez will never get my vote.
Another factor that made me change my thinking on Bonds and Clemens is that BBWAA members are certain we already have put some PED users into Cooperstown. I’m not going to name names. But just look at recent induction classes and you probably can come up with the same names we suspect.
Two other smaller lightning rods on the ballot are Hoffman and Martinez, the first because some folks consider saves a bogus statistic and others think DHs don’t belong because they didn’t play in the field. I don’t think either argument holds enough water to keep these great players out of the Hall.
Say what you want about saves but only two players in MLB history have 600 – Hoffman and Mariano Rivera, who I guarantee you will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. No one else even has 500! So, if it’s so easy to record a save, why have only two closers surpassed 500 (and on to 600)? Forget the save statistic and consider what closers do – they secure team victories. The object of baseball is to win the game and these pitchers lock down those wins.
I’ve seen many relievers thrust into the closer role and be unable to handle the mental and physical pressure. The hardest outs to get are those final three, and by far the hardest one is that last one. If you can do it for 15 to 20 years and not crumble under the pressure of the role, you are elite in what you do.
Hoffman finished his career in Milwaukee and though he no longer was the totally dominating pitcher he was earlier in his career, I like to think I know a Hall of Famer when I see one. And Trevor Hoffman is a Hall of Famer.
