Who Joins the Class of 2022?

We already know that there will be a Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony this year.  The Era Committees took care of that, electing six new Hall of Famers.  As for the BBWAA ballot, it could easily be another shutout.  The top three vote-getters last year are all in their final year on the ballot, but with the controversy surrounding each of them, I think it's doubtful any of them get in.  And the top two newcomers have their own share of controversy, so their chances are probably 50-50 at best.  So, it's good to know that we'll at least have somebody getting in (and two living inductees who'll be there to give their own speeches).

The Hall of Fame tracker (which is amazing if you've never seen it before) pretty much confirms that David Ortiz is the only player who a legitimate shot at election.  Bonds and Clemens always have more support on the ballots that are released publicly than among the voters who keep their votes private, and I'm just not sure they'll get enough support, even with the traditional final-year bump, to make the jump.  (They've both gained only three votes on the public ballots.)

As you know, I've always been a Bonds and Clemens guy.  You can't write the story of baseball in the 90s and early 2000s without them.  I've also never considered them "cheaters" because they weren't breaking any rules!  Which is more than I can say for Alex Rodriguez.  It might sound like I'm contradicting myself by taking the opposite stance on A-Rod, but that's not the case at all.  A-Rod was suspended an entire season for his steroid use!  That's why he doesn't make the cut when he would otherwise be a no-doubt-about-it first-ballot choice.

All 10 players that I "voted" for last year are still on the ballot, so you would think that would make things easy, but it, of course, doesn't.  Because I'm adding two first-year guys, which means two players have to go. 

One is Curt Schilling, who was No. 3 on my board last year, but has made his feelings on being elected to the Hall of Fame by normal means pretty clear.  You want off the ballot, Curt?  Too bad!  But the fact that you're staying on doesn't mean the people you're insulting have to vote for you.  In fact, you're giving them plenty of incentive not to!  The other is Omar Vizquel, who I had at No. 5.  Again, this'll sound crazy because of my support for Bonds and Clemens, but, after the allegations against Vizquel, I can't bring myself to say he belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Ortiz is obviously a no-brainer "Yes" vote, even for this Yankees fan.  And I've already told you I'm not voting for A-Rod.  So who's the other one?  It's A-Rod's teammate on the 2009 Yankees, who I'm shocked has only gotten one vote so far!  Will Mark Teixeira really be a one-and-done?  I sure hope not!  And, hey, at least he's got me!

1. Barry Bonds, Outfielder (1986-92 Pirates, 1993-2007 Giants): They've been lumped together for 10 years.  People either vote for both of them or they don't vote for either.  And, for the 10th straight year, I'm a "Yes" on both.  Sorry, but it's ridiculous that the Hall of Fame, which is supposed to honor the greatest players in the game's history, is missing both the all-time hits leader AND the all-time home run leader.  I've heard every argument of the anti-Bonds crowd.  I don't find any of them convincing enough to keep possibly THE greatest hitter of his era out of Cooperstown!

2. Roger Clemens, Pitcher (1984-86 Red Sox, 1997-98 Blue Jays, 1999-2003 Yankees, 2004-06 Astros, 2007 Yankees): Ditto on Roger Clemens.  The two greatest right-handed starting pitchers over the last 30 years are Roger Clemens and Greg Maddux.  He was the ace of every team he pitched on (which is the same argument I made about Jack Morris for all those years).  That should mean something.  As should the fact that hitters legitimately feared him.  As someone who remembers watching Roger Clemens pitch, a Hall of Fame without him doesn't feel complete.

3. David Ortiz, Designated Hitter (1997-2002 Twins, 2003-16 Red Sox): Is there any player over the past 25 years who was more clutch than Big Papi?  Every time he came up in the postseason, it was in a big spot, and he always delivered.  Frankly, it's not a coincidence that as soon as he arrived in Boston, the Red Sox went from a team that was cursed to one that won three World Series titles in 10 years.  Getting cut by the Twins and signing with Boston turned out to be the best thing for both team and player.  It was both career- and franchise-changing!

4. Andy Pettitte, Pitcher (1995-2003 Yankees, 2004-06 Astros, 2007-10 Yankees, 2012-13 Yankees): My hope for Andy Pettitte is that he continues getting enough support to stay relevant in the conversation and maybe, eventually, get voted in by an Era Committee.  Because, frankly, he deserves to get in based on his postseason success alone.  He pitched in eight World Series and has 19 career postseason wins.  Sure, playing on the Yankees' dynasty helped those numbers.  But those Yankee teams also aren't a dynasty without him!

5. Jeff Kent, Second Baseman (1992 Blue Jays, 1992-96 Mets, 1996 Indians, 1997-2002 Giants, 2003-04 Astros, 2005-08 Dodgers): Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe turned in a ballot with only Jeff Kent's name on it.  While I've never been a fan of voters doing that, it's nice to see Kent finally getting some long overdue support.  Because, as I've said repeatedly in this space, he was the second-best second baseman of his era, behind only Roberto Alomar, who was elected overwhelmingly in his second year on the ballot.

6. Andruw Jones, Outfielder (1996-2007 Braves, 2008 Dodgers, 2009 Rangers, 2010 White Sox, 2011-12 Yankees): If Andruw Jones had never played another Major League game after leaving the Braves, he'd still have a pretty strong Hall of Fame case.  It might even be stronger, actually!  The three pitchers, Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox all have plaques in Cooperstown already.  Andruw Jones deserves to be the sixth member of those Atlanta teams with one.  As five-tool a player as there's ever been, he won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves in center field while also hitting 30 home runs a year and, for quite a long stretch, playing every single day.

7. Todd Helton, First Baseman (1997-2013 Rockies): Now that Larry Walker is in, Rockies Nation will turn its attention completely on Todd Helton, who was also the backup quarterback to a certain Pro Football Hall of Famer while at Tennessee.  Helton's consistency was incredible.  He hit .300 in 10 consecutive seasons, including a ridiculous .372 in 2000!  He also hit 42 home runs that year and 49 the next!  And not to mention his solid defense at first base.  For 17 years!

8. Billy Wagner, Pitcher (1995-2003 Astros, 2004-05 Phillies, 2006-09 Mets, 2009 Red Sox, 2010 Braves): Whether he's elected by the writers or not, you've gotta think Billy Wagner's chances to eventually get in (even if it's via the Era Committee) have to be pretty good.  He's the best eligible relief pitcher who isn't already in.  So what if he's only the third best closer of his era?  That's pretty good when the two in front of him are Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman, arguably the two greatest ever!  I wasn't always in the Billy Wagner camp, but I've come around.  He belongs.  So he gets one of my 10 votes.

9. Mark Teixiera, First Baseman (2003-07 Rangers, 2007-08 Braves, 2008 Angels, 2009-16 Yankees): Had injuries not limited Teixiera towards the end of his career, his Hall of Fame candidacy would be much stronger.  Because during his prime, Tex was one of the most feared power-hitting first basemen in all of baseball!  He was so coveted that he was traded at the deadline in back-to-back years before singing that big free agent deal with the Yankees...and helping them win the World Series in his first season!  And, let's not forget, even with all the injuries, he still got to 400 home runs, one of just five switch-hitters in MLB history to do that!  Three of the other four (Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray, Chipper Jones) are already Hall of Famers, and the fourth (Carlos Beltran) isn't eligible yet.

10. Gary Sheffield, Outfielder (1988-91 Brewers, 1992-93 Padres, 1993-98 Marlins, 1998-2001 Dodgers, 2002-03 Braves, 2004-06 Yankees, 2007-08 Tigers, 2009 Mets): Last year, I had one available spot remaining and had to choose between Sheffield and Scott Rolen.  I went with Sheffield then, and I'm going with Sheffield again now.  My reasoning is the same.  Sheffield was remarkably consistent for a long time.  His 162-game averages were 32 homers and 105 RBIs over the course of a 22-year career!  (Next year, when Bonds and Clemens drop off the ballot, Rolen will likely return to mine.)