Traditional winter activities have always included arguing about the Hall of Fame.
The new faces on this year's ballot:
Garret Anderson, Brad Ausmus, Luis Castillo, David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds, Troy Glaus, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark Grudzielanek, Mike Hampton, Trevor Hoffman, Jason Kendall, Mike Lowell, Mike Sweeney, Billy Wagner, Randy Winn.
Griffey will be elected, of course. I would think that Edmonds, Hoffmann, Wagner will at least get enough support to stay on the ballot. That's an outside possibility for Anderson and Glaus as well, even if neither is very likely to ever be elected.
The holdovers are:
Jeff Bagwell, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Mike Mussina, Mike Piazza, Tim Raines, Curt Schilling, Gary Sheffield, Lee Smith, Sammy Sosa, Alan Trammell, Larry Walker..
And I think Piazza and (possibly) Schilling may make the cut this time. Obviously there's more than three worthy candidates, and the backlog just keeps growing, but last year was the first time in sixty years that four players were chosen. I don't want to count on the BBWAA to do it again.
The new faces on this year's ballot:
Garret Anderson, Brad Ausmus, Luis Castillo, David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds, Troy Glaus, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark Grudzielanek, Mike Hampton, Trevor Hoffman, Jason Kendall, Mike Lowell, Mike Sweeney, Billy Wagner, Randy Winn.
Griffey will be elected, of course. I would think that Edmonds, Hoffmann, Wagner will at least get enough support to stay on the ballot. That's an outside possibility for Anderson and Glaus as well, even if neither is very likely to ever be elected.
The holdovers are:
Jeff Bagwell, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Mike Mussina, Mike Piazza, Tim Raines, Curt Schilling, Gary Sheffield, Lee Smith, Sammy Sosa, Alan Trammell, Larry Walker..
And I think Piazza and (possibly) Schilling may make the cut this time. Obviously there's more than three worthy candidates, and the backlog just keeps growing, but last year was the first time in sixty years that four players were chosen. I don't want to count on the BBWAA to do it again.