Hot Stove Lunch: Hall of Fame Day is Here

One of the big days on the baseball calendar has arrived: Hall of Fame Day. The results of the BBWAA's voting will be announced at 6 p.m. Monday evening on the MLB Network.

I've had the great privilege of voting for the Hall for better than 20 years, and it's not an honor I take lightly.

Earlier this month, I wrote about my ballot. To (quickly) recap, I included Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Derek Jeter, Andruw Jones, Curt Schilling and Larry Walker.



Jeter is a slam-dunk choice, of course. The only question is whether he, like former teammate Mariano Rivera, will be a unanimous selection.

Walker is in his final year of ballot eligibility and seems destined to either just clear the 75 percent threshold -- or miss out by a handful of votes. That will be tonight's nail-biter.

Schilling is inching closer to election, but may have to wait another year. As for Bonds and Clemens, who continue to be divisive figures due to their suspected PED use, they, too, appear to need another year or two.

I have no illusions about Jones being elected, but as I noted in the original column, find him to be criminally underrated.

For all the vitriol associated with the voting process, baseball can claim this distinction: interest in Cooperstown -- who gets in and who doesn't -- outstrips the interest in the three other major league sports combined. For that, baseball should be thankful.

Elsewhere...

AL EAST

A look back with the scout who found Derek Jeter for the Yankees.

Some questions abound about the Orioles roster.

The Jays boast a lot of versatility with their young stars.

AL CENTRAL

Trevor Bauer comes to a rather obvious conclusion about his departure from the Indians.

Rocco Baldelli isn't worried about his starting rotation.

There's still time for the White Sox to improve their roster.

Could Dave Dombrowski get dragged into the Red Sox' sign-stealing mess?

AL WEST

Eduardo Perez is on the Astros' list of managerial candidates.

The Rangers have high expectations for 2020.

Oakland may have found a gem in the Rule 5 draft.

Felix Hernandez has found a new home beyond Seattle.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

The Colorado Rockies have managed to alienate their franchise player.