2011 MLB Hall of Fame Ballot

On January 5, 2011, The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) will reveal their selections for the Hall of Fame Class of 2011. The rules for the most part are simple: A candidate must be selected on 75% of ballots and one cannot be on baseball’s ineligible list (MLB). So for those who think Bud Selig needs to re-instate Pete Rose so he can go to the Hall of Fame, think again, because the writer’s made their own rule.

Naturally, I do not have a vote, but being a baseball fan, I have an opinion. Prior to reading this, I encourage you to visit the link below, which features this year’s eligible list. Once eligible (5 years after retirement), a candidate can appear on a ballot 15 times before they are taken off the ballot. The Veteran’s Committee will then have their say on candidates 15 years after they fail to enter via the BBWAA’s writers. This year, Bert Blyleven will appear on the writer’s ballots for the 15th and final time.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_2011.shtml

So, without further delay, here are my selections on my mock ballot. Warning: Sabermetrics will be mentioned during some of these selections.

Bert Blyleven (15th appearance, 74.2% of ballots in 2010).
287-250, 3.31 ERA, 242 Complete games, 3701 K’s

Between 2005 and 2010, Blyleven’s name appeared on ballots but it was rather weird to see his name go up and down and then up (40.9% in 2005, 53.3% in 2006, 47.7% in 2007, 61.9% in 2008, 62.7% in 2009, and 74.2% in 2010). Therefore, one cannot assume that Blyleven will finally get that 75% total needed in this 15th and final year. However, after analyzing Blyleven and some names similar to his with the numbers he put up, I cannot argue against Blyleven’s HOF candidacy. His WAR (wins above replacement) is higher than some notable HOF pitchers such as Steve Carlton, Robin Roberts, and Nolan Ryan) and is slightly below Randy Johnson (another future HOF). It’s time to give Blyleven his due, and his plaque in Cooperstown. With Blyleven’s induction, he will no longer be the guy on the most win’s list without being in the Hall of Fame. That honor will go to Jim Kaat, who’s eligibility amongst the writer’s has come and gone (that’s another column).

Roberto Alomar (2nd appearance, 73.7% of ballots in 2010)
.300/.371/.443, 2724 Hits, 474 Stolen Bases, 10 Gold Gloves

Unlike Blyleven, I don’t forsee Alomar having an issue this year. There are a number of BBWAA writers who for whatever reason, never vote for ANYONE in their first year of eligibility. Why that is I don’t know. I mean, if you didn’t vote for Nolan Ryan or George Brett you shouldn’t have a vote (or a soul in my mind). If everyone comes back from last year, and those hard headed writers come around, Alomar will have his plaque come July 2011.

Alomar’s 10 Gold Gloves are the most amongst any second baseman and he only failed to win the Gold Glove at second base one time (1997) during a period between 1991 and 2001. When you think of the great second basemen to ever play the game, Roberto Alomar’s name belongs among them. And he deserves to have his name in Cooperstown with guys like Ryne Sandberg, Joe Morgan, and Frank White (oh wait, Frank White isn’t in, well, that’s another column...well kidding).

Lee Smith (9th appearance, 47.3% of ballots in 2010)
478 career saves (3rd all time behind Rivera and Hoffmann, 3.03 ERA)

Other relievers with less saves are in the Hall of Fame below him. Surely Rivera and Hoffmann will one day be in the Hall of Fame. So why is the man who held the all-time save record for so long not in the Hall of Fame? I’m puzzled.

Jeff Bagwell (1st appearance on ballot)
.297/.408/.540, 449 homers, 1529 RBI’s

My fourth and final name on my mock ballot is a first time candidate. I went back and forth on this; however, I believe at the end of the day that Jeff Bagwell is a Hall of Fame player. Once traded for Larry Anderson (yep, who?), Bagwell was a staple in the Houston Astros organization for 15 seasons. While he put up major numbers in the now infamous “steroid era”, Bagwell was never directly linked to steroids (unlike another first time candidate Rafael Palmeiro who was caught). Bagwell won the MVP in 1994 and finished in the top 7 an additional 4 times before calling it a career in 2005.

Apologies to Jack Morris (lifetime ERA of 3.90 during mainly a dead ball era), Barry Larkin, Tim Raines, and Larry Walker.

No apologies to Mark McGwire or Rafael Palmeiro.