[Our man in washington]

http://www.baseball-reference.com has all the numbers, so we can discuss based on facts here.

If anyone wants to add discussion of recently retired players who deserve the Hall of Fame, old-timers who are neglected, or undeserving players who got in, feel free. The active-duty rosters was enough research for me.

[Billthedrill]

Bobby Ayala. Mariners fans will know who I mean...

[Sir Hailstone]

Hmm... I don’t see Pete Rose being considered. Nothing to see here move along.

[cripplecreek]

Can managers go?

My vote is for Jim Leyland simply because he’s had an amazing career. He’s beloved by fans where ever he goes and look what he’s done with the Tigers in 2 seasons.

[Bullish]

I’m a huge baseball fan (Dodgers), but I’ve never cared one way or the other about who makes it to the HoF. In fact, I wouldn't’t even cross the street to visit the hall.

I guess it’s the game I love, not memorabilia.

Just my 2 cents.

[dfwgator]

Jeter is a lock.

[ZGuy]

Based on statistics alone. . .

I agree. It should be on statistics alone unless there is some extremely rare occurrance that might find someone deserving to be enshrined for other reasons. It is a hall of FAME. Period. Rose should be in and Bonds should be in. To have kids go to the hall and not even hear that Rose or perrhaps Bonds ever existed would be, and is, is a greater crime than anything they may have done. /rant

[Mr. Mojo]

In the honorable mention category, Bobby Abreu is making a stealth run at the Hall of Fame.

Not even close. A .300 hitter who'll probably be around .290 when his career is through, and he only has 210 HRs in 12 seasons. Very average. Plus he can't field worth a lick.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Steve. Bartman.

[upsdriver]

John Smoltz is definitely HOF bound, not on the bubble.

[GOP_Raider]

I’m not so sure about Sosa to be perfectly honest.

I would tend to agree about Omar Vizquel as well, now that I’ve gotten the chance to see him play with my team (the Giants) at the twilight of his career.

[GOP_Raider]

*ahem*

[fkabuckeyesrule]

****the following hitters should go to the hall of fame if they retired today: Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey, Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza, Sammy Sosa, Jim Thome, Ivan Rodriguez, and Omar Visquel.....The following hitters are "on the bubble." and need a few more good seasons to be locks for the Hall of fame: Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter, Vladimir Guerrero, Jason Giambi, Carlos Delgado and Jim Edmonds.****

Well with stats you can say anything they say. My opinion on the Hall Of Fame is were the given players a dominating presence in the game for atleast a decade (give or take a few years). Perhaps the stats achieved the last 10 years or so one with just have to calculate that this was a steroid era. Kinda like the late 60's was a time dominated by pitching so the stats were lower for batters (something that has perhaps hurt Ron Santo's chances). I don't know about Gary Sheffield the steroid stories might be an issue for him. I'm not sure about I-Rod. Maybe they'll get in eventually but it will probably won't for atleast 10 years after retirement.

I can't imagine Derke Jeter not making the HOF unless he just completely goes "steve blass" on everyone. Chipper Jomes might end up with some decent stats and he made a living killing the Mets that for sure and that will help him get in. And as far as we know Chipper did it all on the up and up. I think Smoltz in definetely in the HOF and EDmonds I'm not sure. It depends on his offensive stats. I remember Gary Maddox (phillies) and Cesar Geronimo (reds) back in the 70's. Those guys were super awesome CF's and very strong arms who rarely get much support for the hall of fame.