Alomar, Blyleven, Palmeiro
Dan Connolly
Baltimore Sun
To me, there are three slam-dunk candidates on this year's Hall of Fame ballot: second baseman Roberto Alomar, pitcher Bert Blyleven and first baseman Rafael Palmeiro.
Alomar, a 12-time All-Star who should have been elected in his first year of eligibility in 2010, and Blyleven, who is fifth all-time in strikeouts and ninth in shutouts but hasn't been able to break the 75 percent plateau in his first 13 tries, will get in this year.
Palmeiro, who has more than 3,000 hits, 500 homers and one failed drug test, has no shot this time. It will take him years — if ever — to be inducted.
Two other newcomers, Jeff Bagwell and Larry Walker, have legitimate arguments for Hall inclusion, but I'd be surprised if either makes it on the first try. Reds shortstop Barry Larkin, in my opinion, has the best credentials of any of the other holdovers.
dconnolly@tribune.com
Alomar, Blyleven
Juan C. Rodriguez
Sun Sentinel
Any Hall of Fame ballot has to start with Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven.
The best second baseman of his era, Alomar was denied first-ballot entry in 2010 because of his spitting incident with umpire John Hirschbeck. He'll make it easily this year. In his 14th year on the ballot, Blyleven's wait should end as well. Those who have withheld support say Blyleven was not a dominant pitcher. He only had four top-10 Cy Young finishes in 22 seasons. Nonetheless, he had a legendary curveball and the highest WAR (wins above replacement player) of any player on the ballot.
I would also support Barry Larkin, Jack Morris and Tim Raines, and continue evaluating first-timers Jeff Bagwell, Rafael Palmeiro and Larry Walker.
jcrodriguez@tribune.com
Alomar, Walker
Chicago Tribune
Forget the question about how to handle steroid cheats. This year's Hall of Fame ballot is a killer based strictly on playing credentials, with four demanding serious consideration and deliberation.
Roberto Alomar, Larry Walker (a complete player), Jeff Bagwell and maybe even Rafael Palmeiro will receive votes. Add in holdovers like Bert Blyleven and Lee Smith and strong candidates new to the ballot in the last few years and it is one of the toughest ballots I've tackled.
I'm not voting for players who have been linked to steroids, so I won't vote for Palmeiro, whose play I respect highly. I'm not going to vote for Bagwell, but that's because his resume isn't quite strong enough, not because of steroid suspicion. And if I'm not voting for Bagwell, I can't keep voting for Harold Baines (most hits of any eligible player not in the Hall) after four years of support.
progers@tribune.com
Blyleven, Alomar
Bill Shaikin
Los Angeles Times
It is likely Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar will be elected to the Hall. Blyleven fell five votes shy of election last year and Alomar eight, and history suggests players so close get the necessary votes the following year.
For an indication of how voters view the steroid era, watch the vote totals for Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro. McGwire has gotten between 21 percent and 24 percent of the vote the last four years. This election marks the first since McGwire admitted using performance-enhancing drugs.
Palmeiro is one of four players with 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, along with Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray. Palmeiro also was the first star player to fail a steroid test after players and owners had agreed to mandatory suspensions for first-time offenders.
bshaikin@tribune.com