Top News:
Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
Is The Hall of Fame Too Small? — Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven were inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame this afternoon, becoming the 234th and 235th players so honored. — Others were left on the sidelines, however. Jeff Bagwell, the Astros slugger who according …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, King Kaufman, Associated Press, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, baseballmusings.com, Mariners blog, OMGreds and Tedquarters
RELATED:
Kuiperfan / Joe Posnanski:
The Hall of Fame Recap — Bert Blyleven ranks fifth all time in strikeouts (3,701) and ninth in shutouts (60). (AP) — Well, for the most part, Hall of Fame day went as expected. Roberto Alomar didn't just go into the Hall of Fame, he received 90% of the vote, a higher percentage than Jackie Robinson …
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
The Hall of Fame gives voters a clear signal: moralize about steroids even more — In the past couple of weeks many Hall of Fame voters expressed dismay at the dilemma they faced regarding PED users and the character clause in their voting instructions. Some — including Ken Rosenthal …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Crashburn Alley and It's About The Money
Bill / The Platoon Advantage:
Is Jeff Idelson Lying or Incompetent? Either Way, He's Trying to Ruin the Hall — I sat down this evening and was all set to write a nice, light-hearted (if, hopefully, thought-provoking and properly shaming) response to The Common Man's elegant but misguided manifesto on Morris and Hall of Fame voting from the other day.
John Romano / St. Petersburg Times:
Fred McGriff at a disadvantage with Hall of Fame voters because numbers don't rival steroid users' — ST. PETERSBURG — There are a number of ways of looking at the steroid era when filling out a Hall of Fame ballot. — For instance, you can choose to believe steroid users were cheaters …
Discussion:
Bats and New York Times
Sports Illustrated:
Palmeiro on Hall of Fame snub: ‘I feel like the forgotten man’
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Blyleven, Alomar elected to Hall of Fame
Discussion:
The House That Dewey Built, Boston Globe and Lookout Landing
Jim Caple / ESPN:
HOF voters need to open their eyes
Discussion:
TYU, Baseball Crank and HardballTalk
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Cooperstown calls for Alomar, Blyleven — NEW YORK — Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday as part of the Class of 2011, ending a year of anxiety and trepidation for the pair of stellar players. — Alomar was named on 90 percent …
RELATED:
AaronGleeman.com:
Bert Blyleven, Hall of Famer
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Lone Star Ball, Minor League Ball and True Blue LA
Associated Press:
Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven in Hall
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing, MLB Daily Dish, Halos Heaven and River Avenue Blues
Baseball Hall of Fame:
Alomar, Blyleven Elected to the Hall of Fame
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Sox Machine and Baseball-Reference Blog
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
Me vs. reality: 2011 Cooperstown
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Red Reporter
Dallas Morning News:
Why Gold Glove 3B Adrian Beltre is a Ranger: ‘I want to win’ — ARLINGTON - The Rangers satisfied the vast majority of the items on Adrian Beltre's wish list as he looked for a new place to play in 2011. — Above all, the free agent wanted to play for a playoff contender …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers land Beltre with six-year deal
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Over the Monster
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Yankees claim RHP Brian Schlitter — The Yankees have claimed right-hander Brian Schlitter off waivers from the Cubs. — Schlitter is a 25 year old who pitched out of the Cubs bullpen seven times last year. He spent most of the season with Triple-A Iowa, going 2-1 with 13 saves and a 3.15 ERA …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Franco disappointed by lack of Hall support — NEW YORK — After he had taken the first couple of hundred flights in his 21-year big league career, John Franco understood what little control he had over at least one critical factor in his life. He put it into words Wednesday evening.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
eric chavez — Ex-A's infielder to hold workouts — Eric Chavez will work out for the Dodgers on Jan. 20, the longtime A's third baseman told The Chronicle, and his agent said that Chavez will hold private workouts this month for two American League teams (not the A's) as well.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and ESPN
MLB.com:
Coonelly discusses contracts with fans — Pirates president Frank Coonelly participated in his monthly live online chat with Pirates fans on Wednesday. During the chat, Coonelly answered questions about possible contract extensions, the club's top prospects, any more potential moves …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Tim Marchman / Improve Conditions:
Kevin Brown gets the call — CHICAGO, IL.—The waiting is finally over for Kevin Brown. Garnering 77% of the vote on his first try today, he is the newest member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. — “It's a great day,” said Brown from his home in Macon, Ga. “This is what you dream about when you're a kid, and I'm just so honored.
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals Wednesday chat transcript — Joe Strauss: Happy New Year from atop the big wave. As promised, 2011 has ushered in greater urgency regarding Albert Pujols' uncertain status beyond the upcoming season. The team has entered talks with Pujols' agent and we'll see where things go from here.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
