By Blaidd Drwg
The 2012 HOF ballot has been released. Here is the list of player for your review:
Jeff Bagwell
Jeromy Burnitz
Vinny Castilla
Juan Gonzalez
Brian Jordan
Barry Larkin
Javy Lopez
Edgar Martinez
Don Mattingly
Fred McGriff
Mark McGwire
Jack Morris
Bill Mueller
Terry Mulholland
Dale Murphy
Phil Nevin
Rafael Palmeiro
Brad Radke
Tim Raines
Tim Salmon
Ruben Sierra
Lee Smith
Alan Trammell
Larry Walker
Bernie Williams
Tony Womack
Eric Young
If I had a vote, it would be Bagwell, McGwire, Palmeiro, Raines, Trammell and Walker. I am not sure any of these guys will get in, but considering the talent that is going to be on the 2013-2017 ballots, this might be the last chance for Larkin, Edgar, Morris, Murphy, Raines, Smith and Trammell to build any real momentum for getting in. Heck, I am pretty sure that if these guys don’t get in on this ballot, they won’t get elected by the BBWAA. Your thoughts? Who gets your vote?
FlatbreadGarden 
Your list looks good. I’d add Barry Larkin and probably drop Larry Walker.
I also feel like Don Mattingly is a Hall of Famer, though his body of work doesn’t support it. He was about as famous as anybody for a while.
Brad Radke will have his supporters too I think.
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Homer: You’re Darryl Strawberry.
Darryl: Yes?
Homer: You play right field.
Darryl: Yes?
Homer: I play right field, too.
Darryl: So?
Homer: Well, are you better than me?
Darryl: Well, I never met you… but… Yes.
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I keep going back and forth on Larkin. I think Trammell was probably a better SS, so I he would have to get in first. (Larkin’s #1 Comp on BBreference is Trammell. Oddly Larkin is Trammell’s #2 comp by a shade. Who is #1 for Trammell – Edgar Renteria!)
Mattingly – no way. He had 5 great seasons and 8 total good seasons and essentially fell off a cliff after that (he was essentially done as anything more than replacement level at age 29). My justifications for him not being a HOFer – his top 2 comps on Baseball-reference: Cecil Cooper (933) and Wally Joyner (907). Do either of those guys belong in the Hall?
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Like I said, Mattingly’s body of work does not support a HoF induction, but he was *famous*. Probably 100 times as famous as Cecil Cooper, and definitely more famous than Joyner (10 times?).
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