This years hall of fame eligible list has been released.

I saw this in the main thread and thought it would be a good distraction for the day.  We will have a bcb HOF selection.

Two rules here:

-Electors may vote for as few as zero (0) and as many as ten (10) eligible candidates deemed worthy of election. Write-in votes are not permitted.

-Any candidate receiving votes on seventy-five percent (75%) of the ballots cast shall be elected to membership in the BCB Hall of Fame.

Hope this will work in the poll...

The Ballot
Brady Anderson (first year on ballot)
Harold Baines (5.3 percent in 2007)
Rod Beck (first year on ballot)
Bert Blyleven (47.7 percent in 2007)
Dave Concepcion (13.6 percent in 2007)
Andre Dawson (56.7 percent in 2007)
Shawon Dunston (first year on ballot)
Chuck Finley (first year on ballot)
Travis Fryman (first year on ballot)
Goose Gossage (71.2 percent in 2007)
Tommy John (22.9 percent in 2007)
David Justice (first year on ballot)
Chuck Knoblauch (first year on ballot)
Don Mattingly (9.9 percent in 2007)
Mark McGwire (23.5percent in 2007)
Jack Morris (37.1 percent in 2007)
Dale Murphy (9.2 percent in 2007)
Robb Nen (first year on ballot)
Dave Parker (11.4 percent in 2007)
Tim Raines (first year on ballot)
Jim Rice (63.5 percent in 2007)
Jose Rijo (first year on ballot)
Lee Smith (39.8 percent in 2007)
Todd Stottlemyre (first year on ballot)
Alan Trammell (13.4 percent in 2007)

Update [2007-12-27 10:30:36 by slink]: New Rules. A flaw in the polling system has led to a change in direction. One vote per person, aside from Dawson, who would you elect?

I know you don't want hear Gauis spew about how he has won the day, but just delete the damn account just so Gauis can say "I win" and we can be rid of him.  But in reality, don't we all win.

I think that's a resounding yes.

The depth of his obsession with your blog is disturbing...let him voice it in his own little world.

4 years and 48 mil is the starting point folks, and that isn't going to get it done.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5822932

I personally don't feel he's worth a whole lot more than this, and I'm not sure that I'd want the Cubs to offer him 5 years either.

Acquiring this guy is going to be costly.  Although, now that he's shot down the Brewers offer, I imagine they'll likely rush a trade.  Unfortunately, I don't see the Cubs as having a chance of matching what the other clubs listed have to offer.

Must be a slow news day, but this is front page material on ESPN.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2524132

I believe I remember similar news reports earlier this year, but find it hard to believe he'll have many MLB teams giving him a look.  He'd be a hell of a sideshow for some Japan team though.

He's still up to his usual politik:

"Many people, including kids, asked me why I wasn't playing anymore during the trip. That's why I'm not going to retire yet," said Sosa.

Ahh sammy...always there for the kids.

Should Sammy Sosa be placed in the hall of fame if he were to retire today? According to espn online poll, he should not.  Not even in the Cubbies home state!  47/50 States and 58% of all people feel that he's not.  That surprises me.  Even with his precipitous fall from grace, his contribution to baseball seems to merit the hall to me.  What's the concensus here?

In my younger days I spent a good 5 years of my life as an avid baseball card collector.  About 15 years ago I put them all in a box and just recently thumbed through them.  I found several that I thought may be worth something, but am having trouble finding a resource.  I know as a kid I used to purchase a price-guide magazine, but the name of it escapes me.  Does anyone know of any reliable resources, in print or online, for card value appraisal?

According to mlbtraderumors the Sox have offered two options:

Option 1: Jose Contreras, Juan Uribe, and one minor league prospect for Tejada.

Option 2: Brandon McCarthy, Juan Uribe, 20 year-old southpaw Alex Woodson, and another minor leaguer for Tejada.  In this scenario, the White Sox would get cash back from the Orioles in the third and fourth years of Tejada's contract.

Now I've posted on this site that I don't want Tejada in a Cubs uniform given the cost, but I don't know what I'd do if he helped the Sox to another Pennant.  

Does this compete with what the cubs have offered?  Will Hendry be pressured to step up his offer?  Will he give up altogether on Tejada (please)? Head spinning...