Here is the full 2018 Ballot (courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com)
There are a few major factors that cannot be ignored when it comes to voting.
1) The specter over the Hall will continue to be Performance Enhancing Drug (PED) use in baseball primarily in the 1990s, an era for which many players accused are now appearing on the Hall of Fame ballot. There are players whose performance clearly merits first ballot election, however because of their associated with substances that enhanced their performance, members of the BBWAA has been hesitant to cast votes their way. This may have taken a turn in the 2017 vote when Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, two who have the most clear credentials, surpassed 50% for the first time. This could be in response to the induction of Mike Piazza who many believed used PEDs but was not directly linked. Many believe the same for Ivan Rodriguez, who was implicated by Jose Canseco, a source who has proven reliable at times, and not so much other times. Will this break down the mental conundrum that may writers have? Early returns show more support for Bonds and Clemens. Because the official voting rules include the words "integrity, sportsmanship, and character" and integrity, so their reluctance is justified in my mind. For my selection, I will not presume guilt, but if there is legal (including Mitchell Report) or strong anecdotal evidence of PED use, I will strongly weigh against voting.
2) A batch of candidates making their way onto the ballot or relief pitchers who specialized in finishing games in which their team was winning by 3 or fewer runs. In other words, closers. To date, Bruce Sutter, Rollie Fingers, Dennis Eckersley, and Goose Gossage are the modern day versions in the Hall. Two candidates on the ballot have more saves than each of them. It's a measure of how the game has changed (with the advent of the specialty closer) whether or not they get strong consideration from the BBWAA.
3) A final point of discussion is how to handle starting pitching. Whereas the 300 win plateau used to be a norm, it's become increasingly more difficult to get wins in the era of specialty relievers with starters leaving the game before the end of the sixth inning many times in close games. Conversely, however, one would think this would benefit starting pitchers ERA by seldom going through a lineup more than 3 times. In the end, I strongly weigh dominance over a discernible period of time, along with Cy Young Awards, All-Star games, Win titles, and ERA.
4) There is also first and last ballot bias. First ballot some BBWAA voters will hold their vote to protect some sort of integrity of being a "first ballot hall of famer". Evidence, three voters who did not include Ken Griffey Jr. in 2016. Likewise, when a player is on his last ballot, as Tim Raines was last year, voters who previously withheld tend to pay a bit more attention to their candidacy considering it's a final shot. So a bump is normal (up to 15% for a candidate close to election).
With a limit of ten players on a ballot, here are the players I would put on my ballot (in order of credibility). I don't use all ten votes.
Factors against him: Short of 500 HR, could have won more World Series titles, first ballot bias
Chipper is pretty much a slam dunk. First ballot bias may keep him around 95%, but there is hardly a case against him (the above is pretty weak).
Factors against him: Never won an MVP, never won a World Series, only led the league in HR once, never led the league in RBI, first ballot bias.
Because of the power era in which he played, some may discount his power. He never looked the part of a PED user. He won't get as many votes as fellow 600 HR member Ken Griffey Jr., but should finish in the mid to upper 80% range and get in on the first ballot.
3) Vladimir Guerrero - I'm surprised he did not get in last year. Clearly has the numbers, so it must have been first ballot bias. Vlad was a five tool player (.319 average. 449 HR, top arm/glove in the league, and plus speed). Nine All-Star Games, an MVP, and a hit title. His career numbers fall short of some major benchmarks (like 500 HR) as he retired at age 36. If he had taken PEDs he might have played another 5 years and approached 600 HR. No doubt one of the most feared hitters for a decade or so.
Factors against him: Lack of single team identity, no World Series titles, short of 500 HR
To me, he meets all of the criteria and should get in with about 80% of vote.
Factors against him: reliever bias, played in a small market, was probably never the best reliever in the game at any given time
This is his year. The NL reliever of the year award is named after him, he'll get in with 81% of the vote or so.
Factors against him: Perceived higher numbers due to playing in Colorado, soft-spoken personality, injury-prone (only 4 seasons of 140+ games).
He only received 22% of the vote last year (very slight up tick), that needs to trend up significantly for people to start noticing. He's not going to make it.
Factors against him: Primarily a DH, played in small market, lack of speed
He was voted for the affirmative on 59% of last years ballots, moving up 15% which was a big jump. I've seen more buzz about Edgar this year than in years passed. This is his penultimate appearance on the ballot and I think he falls just short at 73%. Then gets in on his last ballot.
Factors against him: relief pitcher bias, lack of postseason success
He got about 10% vote each of his first two years. He needs to start climbing or I don't think he can ever reach the top. I'm guessing he never gets in during the 10 year window, but may get in on a veteran ballot in decades to come once the Hall figures out how to handle relievers.
Factors against him: Very average on defense, played in a power era in which his home run numbers aren't considered extraordinary, cold to media
With about 17% of the vote the last two years, no reason to think he'll move significantly now, or over the next five years.
First four out
9) Mike Mussina - Without 300 wins or a dominant ERA, he's not quite Hall worthy in my opinion. No Cy Young Awards, a one-time 20 game winner, five All-Star games. Career ERA is 3.68, not spectacular even in the power era (considering he didn't face line ups four times in most starts).
Factors against him: Doesn't have 300 wins, not dominant, played on winning teams but never won a World Series.
At 52%, he has surpassed Curt Schilling and may be on a trajectory for eventual induction, which was not looking as good last year.
10) Fred McGriff - You can't ignore the near 500 home runs, but he hung on a while to get so close and wasn't elite enough in his prime to warrant the Hall. Average defense, below average speed, not an outstanding OBP. He also never broke 110 RBI in a season.
Factors against him: Unspectacular batting average, lack of dominating seasons, lack of speed
At only 22% last year, he's not moving much. I doubt he gets much closer in this, or his final year on the ballot in 2019. Could be a veteran ballot candidate, was very popular with teammates and media and did things the right way.
11) Curt Schilling - Seems to get way more media discussion than others as deserving (like Kent or Mussina or even a Bagwell). 3.46 ERA and barely over 200 wins (216). For careers starting after World War II, only Don Drysdale has fewer wins in the Hall (six fewer seasons, ERA half a point better). Postseason success aside, it's not a strong case at all. His willingness to share his unpopular political views also seem to reduce his support.
Factors against him: Low wins, unspectacular ERA, political opinions
At 45% of the vote, he took a step back in 2017. While sharing of ones political opinions, whether popular or controversial, should not be a factor in the Hall election, it seems to be. The more he talks, the less support he gets. I think he will never cross the 75% threshold and is also unlikely to get in on a veterans ballot.
12) Andruw Jones - Power, speed, and defense, he was a 5-tool player. Started his career at 19, but wore out at Age 35, he still hit well over 400 HR. His .254 batting average really drags him down, with a lack of huge walk numbers it leaves him only .337 OBP. His defense was his calling card, but also won a Silver Slugger and narrowly missed the MVP in 2005 to Albert Pujols.
Factors against him: Low batting average, barely was a factor after age 30.
The remaining repeat candidates fall into the PED category. Their stats are more than deserving, even before they might have juiced, but would not get my vote): Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens, Manny Ramirez, Gary Sheffield. All would easily be in without it.
Newcomers that might stay on the ballot (besides those mentioned above): Scott Rolen, Johan Santana
So my opinions aside, here's who I think gets in (in order by vote percentage).
Chipper Jones
Jim Thome
Trevor Hoffman
Vlad Guerrero
They will join "Modern Baseball" enshrinees Jack Morris and Alan Trammell along with J.G. Taylor Spink Award (writers) winner Sheldon Ocker and the Ford C. Frick Award (broadcasting excellence) winner Bob Costas. The Modern Baseball ballot is intriguing in the recency of the inductees to the writers ballot and may be discussed on a future Blog. The induction ceremony is a homecoming of baseball elite, and will be July 29, 2018.
