My ballot for the Cooperstown Class of 2021

​The closest thing I have to a holiday tradition is sharing my Hall of Fame ballot. Alas, this is my second-to-last time doing so.
Jumping right to the news, here are the guys I voted for, in alphabetical order … Todd Helton, Scott Rolen, Curt Schilling, Gary Sheffield and Billy Wagner.
Here’s how I picked them.

1. As always, I start with continuing to support everyone I voted for last year who’s still on the ballot. Thus Schilling and Wagner. While I consider Schilling an abominable person, his crimes against humanity are separate from his playing accomplishments; those remain Hall-worthy.
   
2. Next, I look at the newcomers. ... Making the Hall of Fame means you’re among the greatest players of all time. So how do you recognize the greatest among those greatest? You vote from them the first time they’re on the ballot. I didn’t see anyone worthy among this year’s first-timers: Mark Buehrle, A.J. Burnett, Michael Cuddyer, Dan Haren, LaTroy Hawkins, Tim Hudson, Torii Hunter, Aramis Ramirez, Nick Swisher, Shane Victorino, Barry Zito.
3. The final step is reviewing the rest of the candidates. Actually, this is a two-step process. ... I start with the “second-timers,” last year’s first-timers who deserve a closer look. There’s only one on the ballot: Bobby Abreu. I know many people have parsed the numbers to show how, statistically, he’s worthy. While I appreciate the new, improved view of his career, and have taken a closer look, I’m not ready to check that box. ... Lastly, I review the guys in years 3-10 on the ballot. Who haven’t I been supporting that I should? Put another way, now that other candidates have gotten in – or fallen off the ballot – whose candidacy looks better upon further review? ... If you’ve been following my ballot, you know I don’t believe in using all 10 votes that I’m allotted. So in seeking the next tier of Hall-worthy candidates that I settled upon Helton, Rolen and Sheffield. ... I’ll start with the one that might seem the most hypocritical: Sheffield. If I’m anti-Bonds/Clemens, why support him? ... Sheff used steroids but supposedly didn’t abuse. He said he was tricked by Bonds. He also said, “I would like to see testing. I mean you see how much guys are using it. Unless you’ve got something to hide, you won’t mind testing, right?” I’m well aware that similar claims were made by others who were caught cheating (looking at you, Raffy). I’m just choosing to believe Sheffield, or at least willing to give him the same benefit of the doubt that I gave Bagwell, Piazza, Pudge and others. ... It’s a slippery slope. This is how and where I’ve chosen to stand firm. ... When I think of Sheffield, I remember him as a constant source of controversy, a terrible fielder and perhaps the most ferocious-looking batter I’ve ever seen. The stare, the bat wave … and the results. ... He reached the majors at 19, won a batting title at 23, had his best all-around season at 27 and helped win a World Series at 28. Then, each season from ages 29-34, he slashed at least .300/.400/.500. (He got “the cream” before his age-33 season, which turned out to be his worst in a seven-year stretch.) He continued to make the All-Star team and earn MVP votes at ages 35 and 36. He played til 40, which helped him reach 509 homers. That’s remarkable longevity for a guy who broke in as a teenager. ... As menacing as he looked at the plate, the dude understood the strike zone. The most strikeouts he ever had in a season? 83. He walked at least 84 times in nine seasons, including the year he whiffed 83 times. For his career, he had 304 more walks than strikeouts. ... Rolen’s case comes down to the combination of bat + glove. Or maybe glove + bat. Put ‘em together and he’s probably among the top dozen 3B of all time, maybe even top 10. The more years he’s on the ballot, the more people become convinced of his merit. I held back for several years. Now, consider me sold. ... Helton is also a bat + glove guy, although the defensive metrics at first are less valuable than at third. And, of course, his offensive performance is considered inflated by the fact he played half his games at Coors Field. His home-road splits show it. ... Much like Emmitt Smith took advantage of the gaping holes provided by his blockers, Helton took advantage of the thin air and wide gaps at Coors. That slash line I mentioned for Sheffield’s prime? Helton exceeded it for his entire career: .316/.414/.539. He’s 18th all-time in OBPS, just ahead of Jeff Bagwell. Speaking of Bagwell, Baseball Reference lists him as the top comp for Helton’s career. Their Similarity Score includes several others I’ve supported in recent years: Edgar, Vlad and Larry Walker. (Also more BBs than Ks, a la Sheffield.) ... Helton doesn’t sail over my bar for what constitutes a Hall of Famer. But he clears it, which is all that matters.

The Class of 2021 will be announced Jan. 26, and (science-willing) inducted July 25, along with Derek Jeter, Larry Walker and the rest of the Class of 2020.

As for 2022, the big names on the ballot include David Ortiz and A-Rod and, perhaps, the final year for Bonds and Clemens. Should be a memorable year to cast my final vote.

Lastly, I’ve got to throw in a plug for “One Tough Out,” Rod Carew’s memoir that I had the privilege of co-writing. This terrific holiday gift is available in hardback, audiobook and Kindle. Hopefully you’ve already read it and maybe even posted a review on Amazon. (Please consider doing so, even if it’s just clicking however many stars you think it’s worth.) 

Most importantly, here’s hoping for a healthy, happy, safe holidays and New Year to you and your family.

Regards,
Jaime