2025 BBWAA HOF Ballot

Happy New Year! It’s once again time to talk about the Hall of Fame, this time the writers’ ballot. There are plenty of worthy candidates returning to the ballot, and two standout first year candidates to watch. Japanese icon Ichiro Suzuki is a lock for induction this year. Although he didn’t debut until he was 27, the spry savant amassed over 3,000 hits, 1,400 runs, 10 All-Stars and Gold Gloves, not to mention two batting titles, a Rookie of the Year, and a MVP. He also holds the single season hit record, with 262 in the 2004 season. Although not the first Japanese player in MLB, his smashing success paved the way for other Japanese stars such as Hideki Matsui, Yu Darvish, and Shohei Ohtani. The only question about Ichiro is whether or not he’ll be unanimous.

Don’t sleep on ace lefty C.C. Sabathia’s chances on his debut ballot. As one of just three left handed pitchers with 3,000 strikeouts (Steve Carlton and Randy Johnson the other two), Sabathia was the definition of a workhorse. Add in 250 wins, a Cy Young, a World Series, and an ALCS MVP, and you’ve got a Hall of Famer, especially in this era.

Among the other first-year candidates, there are a few who could survive the 5% threshold to remain on ballot for another year. Félix Hernández was one of the most dominant starters in baseball from 2007 - 2015, but that might not be enough for the writers. Dustin Pedroia and Ian Kinsler were both excellent second basemen that frankly lack the longevity needed for enshrinement, but are certainly worthy cases to discuss, particularly on the same ballot as sabermetric darling Chase Utley. Russell Martin and Brian McCann come up short in the traditional counting stats that writers demand from catchers, but their advanced framing metrics put them in similar ranks as Joe Mauer, Buster Posey, and Yadier Molina.

Of the returning candidates, Billy Wagner came up just short last year (73.8%), and he will need a push to get over in his final year on the ballot. In his second to last year, Andruw Jones appears to be stalling around 60% of the vote, not far off from induction, but not close enough to be confident he’ll make it this year or the next. Carlos Beltrán and Chase Utley appear to be on track for induction in a few years time, though they’ll need to continue their growth. AROD, ManRam, and Andy Pettitte would be in the Hall if not for PEDs, and they’re not getting in anytime soon. How many will join Dick Allen and Dave Parker for a July celebration? Find out January 21st when the results are announced.

Audio clips from Youtube

#3,000 for Ichiro - Fox Sports Florida Sun - Rich Waltz

Laser Throw from Ichiro - Fox Sports Northwest - Rick Rizzs

Single season hit record for Ichiro - Root Sports Northwest - Dave Niehaus

CC gets 3K K’s - YES Network

King Felix Perfecto - RSNW - Dave Sims

Dustin Pedroia Leadoff WS HR - FOX - Joe Buck and Tim McCarver

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C..O.

With Winter Meetings just around the corner, and the Hot Stove heating up, it’s time to talk about the Baseball Hall of Fame, specifically the eight players on the Classic Era Ballot. This year, six former major league all-stars and two Negro League legends are up for enshrinement. Each of the position player candidates has won an MVP, and the two major league pitchers combined for over 500 career wins at the big league level, not to mention stellar postseason performances. These are players who remained on the writers ballot for many years, if not the full fifteen in some cases, and they’ve been under consideration in prior ‘Veteran’s Committee’ selections. They are all worthy candidates, but the committee members can only vote for three players. As is often the case on these committees, only one or two of these great players may get inducted this year, and the others will have to wait years to get another shot. Here are this year’s selections for the Classic Era Ballot:

• Dick Allen - 1B/3B for PHI & CHW, 1972 AL MVP, 1964 NL ROY, 7X AS

• Ken Boyer - 3B for STL, 1964 NL MVP & WS, 11X AS, 5X GG

• John Donaldson - LHP/1B in ’10’s & ’20’s, 400+ W & 5,000 K

• Steve Garvey - 1B for LAD & SDP, 1974 NL MVP, 10X AS, 4X GG

• Vic Harris - Player-Manger for the Homestead Grays, greatest Negro League team

• Tommy John - LHP for CHW, LAD, NYY, 288 W, 4710 IP, redefined injury recovery

• Dave Parker - RF for PIT, CIN, 1978 NL MVP, 7X AS, 3X GG

• Luis Tiant - RHP for CLE, BOS, 229 W, most by any Cuban born player

Results of the committee will be announced on Dec 8th. In my opinion, all of these candidates are deserving, and I would have no complaints about any of them being selected. I personally would vote for Dick Allen (who missed by just one vote last time), Luis Tiant (who we sadly lost this year), and Ken Boyer (who was brilliant at an underrepresented position). Who would you pick, and who do you expect to make it in?

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

2024 World Series Game Five - Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Yankees

We head into game five with the Dodgers just one win away from their eight World Series title, and what a ride it has been. Freddie Freeman has been the catalyst for the offense, homering in each game so far (and a record six straight World Series dating back to ’21) and driving in 10 runs, just two away from tying the record set by NYY 2B Bobby Richardson in 1960. Shohei Ohtani appears to be significantly hampered by his shoulder injury, but the offense keeps rolling thanks to contributions from Mookie Betts, Tommy Edman, and both of the Hernández brothers*. The LA starters have strung together solid outings, while the bullpen has carried things the rest of the way. When it has mattered, manager Dave Roberts has pushed all the right buttons, which was not something you could say about him in previous playoffs. They weren’t able to get the sweep in game four, but they aim to finish the job here in the Bronx tonight. They know they’ll be flying home to LA, and they hope it’s with the World Series trophy in hand.

The Yankees avoided elimination in game four, thanks in large part to a go-ahead grand slam from young shortstop Anthony Volpe, but if they’re going to extend the series any longer, Aaron Judge must step up. He has been downright awful in these playoffs, but it has not really hurt the Yanks until the World Series. With everything on the line, we’ll see if he can find some redemption. It will be ace Gerrit Cole on the mound for Bronx Bombers. The $300 million dollar man was excellent in game one, but the bullpen coughed up the lead and the game. Expect manager Aaron Boone to ride his horse as long as he can. On the other side, the Yankees will get a second crack at LA righty Jack Flaherty, who cruised through game one until he got beat by the long ball. Flaherty has been known to struggle the more times he sees an opponent. Will that trend hold?

These Yankees are talented, and these games have actually been close. In fact, the differential in this series is just a single run. Part of the reason the Yanks are trailing right now? Fundamentals. There have been misplays, base-running gaffes, mental errors, and even lack of hustle on display for New York. And up against a team as talented as these Dodgers, it’s at the margins where a series can be decided. The Yankees cannot afford any more lapses, or else they’ll see their best season in 15 years come to an abrupt end.

Audio clips from MLB.tv

LAD Radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday

NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman

FOX postgame - Kevin Burkhardt

As always shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.