Sunday Notes: A Hall of Fame Ballot (With Noteworthy Changes) Explained
Baseball Hall of Fame Ballots and Beyond
Hall of Fame Ballot Explanations
As a Hall of Fame voter, I feel a strong sense of responsibility to explain my ballot choices, a valuable practice for all voters. This year, my ballot differs from previous ones following an analysis of how players' PED suspensions post-implementation impacted their eligibility.
"Big-Hall" voter that I am, it was a difficult decision to drop Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez despite their impressive statistics. However, I ultimately chose to include other deserving candidates, including Félix Hernández and Dustin Pedroia.
2025 Hall of Fame Ballot
My 2025 Hall of Fame ballot includes:
- Bobby Abreu
- Carlos Beltrán
- Félix Hernández
- Andruw Jones
- Dustin Pedroia
- Andy Pettitte
- CC Sabathia
- Ichiro Suzuki
- Chase Utley
- Billy Wagner
Injury Impact on Dustin Pedroia
In explaining my choice for Pedroia, I refer back to my previous column highlighting his exceptional pre-injury performance. Before his career-altering setback, he had amassed 45 WAR, multiple All-Star appearances, and both Rookie of the Year and MVP honors.
Six-Man Rotations: A Philosophical Perspective
Regarding the potential use of a six-man rotation by the Boston Red Sox, I sought the perspective of chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. He emphasized the importance of player health and the need for capable multi-inning relievers for such an approach to succeed.
Article Insights
Explore a myriad of baseball-related topics within the article, including:
- Random hitter-pitcher matchups
- Platooning strategies
- Obscure former players (Dave Brain)
Statistical Trivia
Test your baseball knowledge with these intriguing facts and stats:
- Jimmy Rollins holds the record for most hits in Phillies history with 2,306.
- Albert Pujols and Frank Thomas had similar batting stats, but Thomas was arguably the better hitter based on wRC+ and wOBA.
- Dustin Pedroia had a remarkable slash line against the Minnesota Twins but struggled against the Seattle Mariners.