As an outspoken advocate of voting transparency in Hall of Fame elections, I figured I ought to reveal who I checked off on my ballot and why. My vote might not count for anything tangible, but nonetheless I’m happy—nay, eager—to share my selections.

There are three players whose names I checked without a moment’s hesitation: Jeff Bagwell, Edgar Martinez, and Tim Raines. With 449 home runs and a .948 career OPS Bagwell should have been a no-questions-asked first-ballot Hall of Famer. With five seasons of 7.0 fWAR or higher there’s no doubt his peak was good enough, and with 83.9 career wins above replacement no one can say he didn’t sustain his greatness long enough to merit enshrinement. (more…)