Yes on Trammel, the VC someday needs to give serious thought to his DP partner, “Sweet” Lou. Big Mac, yes, he has simmered enough, Tim Raines yes, and i would go yes on Dick Allen and Santo if I has VC input. After that, the best player not in would be Joe Torre

making players “wait” a few years is the most contrived nonsense I’ve ever heard. if a player is good enough to get in, vote yes. if not, vote no. i don’t understand how waiting until the 4th or 5th eligible year to change a vote to yes is somehow showing respect to the HOF or the voting process.

If you feel that Trammell belongs, how about his DP partner Whitaker?  I haven’t looked in a long time, but IIRC their stat lines are eerily similar.

Agreed, but if they are statistically similar,then it would stand to reason that they should both be inducted.  Not that I’m advocating either one’s enshrinement.  I never really decided whether I thought either one of them were deserving.

I do know that AT was somewhat of a media darling in Detroit and elsewhere, while LW was much more reclusive, and I think that, and a few other things have a lot to do with why we hear only about Trammell and not about both of them.  Personally, I thought Whitaker was the more talented one, but that’s just my opinion.

I’ve been saying the same thing about Rice and Parker for the past few years.  If you think Rice is a Hall of Famer, then you should also be championing the cause of Dave Parker.  Furthermore, if Rice goes in, the Parker should also.  During Rice’s so-called peak years of 1975-1986, the two compare very similarly offensively and on impact (MVP voting, All-Star selections, Silver Slugger awards), but Parker was also a Gold Glover with one of the more memorable throwing arms in MLB history.  His throw during the 1979 All Star game to nail ironically enough Jim Rice at the plate still makes the highlight reels.  Personally, I don’t think either one should be enshrined so they get no’s from me, but I wouldn’t be upset if either was honored.

As for the rest of the ballot, I differ from you on Tommy John, Tim Raines, Lee Smith and Alan Trammell, but I don’t feel strongly about any of them except John.  In John’s case, I’d like to see Jim Kaat enshrined first but I think John belongs and not just because of the ligament replacement surgery that bears his name.

The only thing I’ll say about McGwire is this… he still had to hit the ball.  He gets my vote.

PS. Yes, Rickey was a blowhard, but I loved watching him play.

Justin Zeth, thanks for the Frank Tanana mention. I’m old enough to have seen him when he was nasty, and he was a bad-ass pitcher until he blew his arm out by at 24.  (Correction:  The Angels blew his arm out. He pitched nearly 250 innings as a 19-year-old from minors to majors, and that abuse continued for the next four seasons.) He went from throwing 98 to 88 in just about one season. It would be as if Randy Johnson transformed into Jamie Moyer when he was 25.  I can’t think of any comparable pitcher to Tanana.

Craig-

33 comments and counting, ya’ gotta love the move! Much greater exposure. Congrats!