This is a daily BSJ off-season feature that will arrive in time for your lunch, Monday-Friday.
A spin around the leagues with the latest news, notes, and rumors around Major League Baseball
RED SOX
Over time, the Red Sox franchise has been home to some of the game's greatest stars: Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice -- and that's just one position (left field). The Sox , it seemed, always had individual talent, but seldom much in the way of team achievement.
Now that the team has seen its fortunes change in the last 15 or so years, with three championships, the picture has been reversed. The Sox have been more about titles and less about individual glory.
Think about it: when all is said and done, it's quite likely that, of the 2002-2010 period, the only Red Sox players gaining admission to Cooperstown could be Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz. Martinez, of course, is already in and Ortiz won't be on the ballot for another three years.
Manny Ramirez saw his vote total decline this year. Curt Schilling is making incremental progress, and though he has four more years of eligibility remaining, is far from assured election. Nomar Garciaparra has already come and gone from the ballot. Same for Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield.
Next year, Kevin Youkilis and Derek Lowe will appear on the ballot for the first time, but frankly, I'd be surprised if they remain for a second. There's no shame in that - just being placed on the ballot is an honor that the vast majority of players fail to achieve.
Perhaps, if his knee holds up and he plays at a high rate for the next few years, Dustin Pedroia can make the case down the road. But for now, Red Sox' representation in Cooperstown from the team's decade of dominance appears to be rather modest.
AL EAST
Roch Kubatko has some thoughts on the Orioles.
The Rays' Christian Arroyo has recovered nicely from hand surgery
Randal Grichuk expects a big season with the Jays.
AL CENTRAL
The Royals signed infielder Ryan Goins.
Bill Livingston looks back on Jim Thome's time in Cleveland
Detroit GM Al Avila addressed the Tigers' rebuild at a Fan Fest.
White Sox lefty Carlos Rodon won't be ready for the start of the season
AL WEST
The Angels are going to go with a six-man rotation this season.
The Rangers may be rebuilding, but that doesn't mean they should trade away some veterans.
A top A's pitching prospect is recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Edgar Martinez will have to wait until next year.
NL
People in Atlanta knew long ago -- Chipper Jones was bound for Cooperstown.
TAKE I MAY REGRET IN A MONTH:
Former Red Sox infielder Kevin Youkilis took to social media last night to ask why former players and coaches don't get a vote for the Hall of Fame.
It's a common complaint heard from players, who like to trot out the "you-never-played-the-game'' card to writers. Fair enough.
But I would respond with two points to Youkilis:
- Although the voting process (and results) aren't perfect, I think the track record of the BBWAA is pretty good. Nearly every voter I know takes the responsibility seriously and puts a lot of time and effort into research and casting a vote.
- If players voted, work would need to begin immediately on adding new wings to Cooperstown. Players tend to be overly generous with their praise for teammates and others. If you think writers complain about the 10-man limit on ballots, players would make the criticism seem like a whisper by comparison. If players had their way, every borderline candidate would get the benefit of the doubt and be elected.