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Baseball Hall of Fame 2017 ballot: Who’s in and who’s out?

By Joshua Sadlock

Jul 26, 2015; Cooperstown, NY, USA; The 4 Hall of Fame plagues of Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz installed and available for viewing in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 26, 2015; Cooperstown, NY, USA; The 4 Hall of Fame plagues of Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz installed and available for viewing in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 14, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners hitting coach Edgar Martinez during a MLB game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners hitting coach Edgar Martinez during a MLB game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Edgar Martinez

Let’s talk for a second about two awards handed out by the BBWAA and Major League Baseball — the Edgar Martinez Award for the best DH in the game and the Trevor Hoffman Award given to the best closer in the National League. Neither player, who the league felt so strongly about to name an award after them, is in the Hall of Fame. Hoffman will get in this year, but Martinez still has a wide margin to close before induction.

Martinez is facing an uphill climb as a DH who never really played the field or slugged home runs left and right. Frank Thomas was inducted, but did spend the early years of his career playing a passable first base. Thomas also hit over 500 home runs and won an MVP award. Martinez could not fully establish himself as a major leaguer until age 27 because of his defense.

David Ortiz reaching 500 home runs should all but guarantee his place in Cooperstown. Will that help Martinez up his vote total? if voters are willing to accept Ortiz because he hit 500 home runs, played well in the playoffs and smacked his gloves together and said funny things sometimes, then there has to be a place for Martinez in the Hall of Fame. Martinez wipes the floor with Big Papi when it comes to most advanced metrics, and even played more defense than him early in his career.

Verdict — Ortiz gives Martinez a boost, but it still takes another year or two for him to reach the Hall.

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