“John Smoltz should be in, he was absolutely dominant”

The new members of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame will be announced Tuesday at 2pm ET. The results of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America election committee may have the most inductees since the first year of the HOF.

On the ballot in alphabetical order – Rich Aurilia, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds, Aaron Boone, Tony Clark, Roger Clemens, Carlos Delgado, Jermaine Dye, Darin Erstad, Cliff Floyd, Nomar Garciaparra, Brian Giles, Tom Gordon, Eddie Guardado, Randy Johnson, Jeff Kent, Edgar Martinez, Pedro Martinez, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Mike Mussina, Mike Piazza, Troy Percival, Tim Raines, Curt Schilling, Jason Schmidt, Gary Sheffield, Lee Smith, John Smoltz, Sammy Sosa, Alan Trammell, Larry Walker.

Many believe first time balloters Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez will be shoe ins for this class but the intriguing questions heading into Tuesday at 2pm will be who after them and how many after those two guys will hear their name called on Tuesday.

Ryan Thibs updates his excel sheet as he sees others post their ballots – so regularly at this moment.  This is incredible information and a must see.  As Lee pointed out, the current tracking sits at – Randy (98.6%), Pedro (97.9%), Smoltz (87.3%), Biggio (81.0%), and Piazza (78.9%) with about 30% of last year’s vote total locked in.

Players must receive 75% of the votes to get their name called to join the MLB Hall of Fame.

Other names who are close to the 75% cliff are Tim Raines 68.3%, Jeff Bagwell at 66.9%, Curt Schilling 53.5%, Barry Bonds at 45.8%, Roger Clemens 45.8%, Mike Mussina 38.7%, Edgar Martinez 27.7%, Alan Trammell 23.9%, Jeff Kent 13.4%, Fred McGriff 13.4%.

These stats do come from the voters who decide to go public with their sheets.  These guys are most likely to choose more than the voters who decide not to go public because pretty much they want more people to like them.

So currently, former Atlanta Braves starting and relief pitcher John Smoltz is looking positive to make the HOF in his first year on the ballot.  Smoltz will join his former teammates and coach in the HOF as Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and Bobby Cox all went in last year.

In my book, there’s no way Smoltz doesn’t make this years inductee list.  With  213 wins, 154 saves, eight All-Star appearances, a Cy Young award and a World Series – how about we just edge his name right into the cement.

Former Houston Astros manager Phil Garner told MLB Network Radio that “Smoltz should be in, he was absolutely dominant”

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