This link dump admits to using ANdro, but generally, is not here to talk about the past.

The 2007 ballot for induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame has been released.  The notable first-time inclusions on the ballot are Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken, and Mark McGwire.  Gwynn and Ripken may as well make their plane reservations today.  

The interesting one, of course, is McGwire, who represents the first HOF litmus test for how perceived steroid users will be treated by voters.  Frank Robinson thinks that McGwire does not belong, and an anonymous voting writer with whom Robinson discusses the issue at a card show agrees:

"Why aren't you voting for McGwire?" Robinson asked.

"Steroids," the writer answered. "McGwire admitted he was taking andro back in the 1990s. It's the same thing as steroids - the steroids he won't admit to taking. Andro turned McGwire into something he wasn't created to be."

"That's exactly right," said Robinson. "Who else?"

"I'm not going to vote for (Sammy) Sosa after that, or (Barry) Bonds after that," the writer said.

"Good, good," said Robinson, nodding.

A woman standing nearby chimed in: "Once it's proven they were on steroids, their records should be stricken."

The rules for voting make it pretty clear that you're obliged to at least consider this issue:

Listed as No. 5 on the Hall's guidelines for voters -- but it might as well be the cardinal rule -- is the phrase that defines the qualifications of a Hall of Famer. It reads: "Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played."

It's not an easy call, especially since no proof is available unless the player has admitted taking steroids (Caminiti, Canseco), or has tested positive (Palmeiro).  He is 7th all-time in home runs, and 13th in OPS, which are pretty compelling numbers.  On the other hand, he was also a career .263 hitter and a pretty one-dimensional player.  I strongly suspect that he won't make it this time, but will make it on a subsequent ballot.  

In hot stove news, the Orioles and Danys Baez have agreed to terms on a 3-year, $19MM contract.  I wonder what affect, if any, this will have on the kind of money Kiko Calero gets in arbitration.  If $6MM+/per is the going rate for set-up men, Kiko is going to be well paid, and could be a very valuable trade asset this offseason.  

The Brewers and D-Backs completed the biggest trade of the offseason to date, swapping LHP Doug Davis, LHP Dana Eveland, and OF Dave Krynzel for C Johnny "CHiPs" Estrada, RHP Claudio Vargas, and RHP Greg Aquino.  I like how the D-Backs made out in this one.  Doug Davis is a big upgrade for their rotation, and Eveland is young and talented.  I don't see how this helps the Brewers a lot, since they already had Damian Miller.  Sure, Estrada is better, but Miller isn't bad.

Across the Bay, we have a signal that the Barry Bonds era in San Francisco may indeed be over, as the Giants have had "serious discussions" with the Red Sox about acquiring Manny Ramirez.  At 34, Ramirez almost makes their minimum age requirement, but the article rightly wonders what the Red Sox would want from the Giants:

Another obstacle is the talent Boston would seek in return. The Red Sox are seeking relief help (so are the Giants), a shortstop (Omar Vizquel is staying put) and prospects (the Giants' best hope).

The Giants' farm system is pretty weak, so unless they would part with Jonathan Sanchez and Vizquel, I don't see how they could do it without involving a third team--and even that's a stretch.  I also don't know if Manny would want to go there.  Does he think they're going to win games when their plan is to sign 35-year-old Dave Roberts, 35-year-old Gregg Zaun, 35-year-old Rich Aurilia, and 35-year-old Mark Loretta to multi-year deals?  That's one osteoporitic offense.

No news on the A's hot-stove front, and I am starting to think we shouldn't expect any.  We might see one late-season OF signing (like Trot Nixon, Jose Guillen, or David Dellucci), but the more I think about it, the more I think that Daric Barton is going to be given a chance to win a job in spring training.  The A's brought up Miguel Tejada (3 AAA ABs) and Eric Chavez (194 AAA ABs) before you could accurately call them "ready," because both were supremely talented, and the A's thought they would both benefit from developing in the majors.  I wouldn't be at all surprised if they do the same thing with Barton.  I'll be shocked if we don't see him next year, if not on the opening-day roster.

That's all the links I have to dump.  Have a great day, AN!

Poll

Should Mark McGwire be in the Hall of Fame?

30%

Yes, on the first ballot

27 votes

33%

Yes, but not on the first ballot

30 votes

35%

No, he shouldn't

32 votes

89 votes | Poll has closed