Both ESPN and Sports Illustrated have done their annual articles about which current MLB'ers should and will get into the Hall of Fame. Despite not being just utterly fantastic with numbers, I thought I'd throw my own hat into the ring for a few of the players currently playing...

Roger Clemens - He's a lock. He's 100% getting in. There just isn't any debate worth having on this one. I mean, you'd have a better time debating whether or not he's the greatest pitcher of all time (which I don't think he is), than whether he should or shouldn't make the HOF. For my two cents, I think Cy Young and Nolan Ryan were better pitchers.

Barry Bonds - Well, he should be a lock, but there's that whole BALCO thing hanging over his head. I think he'll get in, solely for the fact that his pre-steroid days numbers were good enough. I'd say he's a safe bet to get in.

Greg Maddux - He's more of a lock than Barry Bonds. He's classy, he has the numbers, and he has a Championship, which are all qualities that the voters look for.

Tom Glavine - The Braves starting pitching staff in the 90's ranks as one, if not the, greatest staffs in Baseball history. Glavine may not have 300 wins (I doubt he'll make it), but he's had FIVE 20 game winning seasons, and 2 Cy Youngs. And he has a ring.

John Smoltz - I think Smoltz will get in, but I think there will be more of a debate than with the other Braves pitchers. He's one of the best closers of the past few years that isn't named Gagne, but some of his starting pitching numbers don't seem to be quite up to what the HOF is usually looking for. I think he'll get in though, if for nothing else than he helped anchor that fantastic Braves roster for so long, that his name brings up good mojo.

Mariano Rivera - Yeah, he'll get in. But his image has been greatly tarnished by his blown saves these past few years.

Derek Jeter - I think he'll get in as well. He's the anchor and team leader to a 4 time World Series Champion. He'll probably have either 3000 hits, or pretty damn close to it. The rings and the hits will be enough.

Albert Pujols - Jeez. This guy can hit. I'll hold off final judgment until he's been around longer, with consistent numbers. Here's to hoping that he doesn't turn into the next Griffey...wait, I'm an Astros fan, he's to hoping that he does. ;-)

Alex Rodriguez - He's a lock. The only debate worth having is whether he'll rank as one of the all-time greats.

Ken Griffey jr - Man. This guy was supposed to be the next Willie Mays or Hank Aaron. Shows you what a bad hamstring will do to you. It's a shame. I thought he was one of the most exciting players I've ever seen. He has one of the all-time prettiest bat swings in MLB history.

and now for the two Astros

Craig Biggio - Well, I just don't see him as a lock. But even though I don't see him as a lock, both ESPN and SportsIllustrated do see him as a lock. Who knows. He's one of those guys that when you look up, he's got all these pretty kick ass records and milestones. I'd love for him to get in, but I'm not holding my breath.

Jeff Bagwell - Once again, I don't see him as a lock. When it comes to power hitters, he just doesn't have the numbers. And he doesn't have the rings. But even still, both ESPN and SportsIllustrated see him as a lock to get in. When compared to other first-basemen who have gotten in, he compares pretty favorably. I guess we'll see.

That's all I got. No one who reads my journal really likes baseball, so I guess this post was more for myself than anything else.

matt out