MLB: Beat reporter Jim Street answers Mariners fans’ questions

about having the first Partial Hall of Fame Vote of the season!  Woooooooo!

Like many Mariners fans, I think Edgar Martinez was the most loyal, most dependable, and most productive of anyone to ever put on a Mariners uniform. I loved Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez when they were Mariners, but Martinez was a cut above in many ways. Is there anything fans can do to help get him into the Hall of Fame next year?

Well, Dennis, unless you are a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, there really is nothing you can do. The voters consist of BBWAA members who have covered baseball for a minimum of 10 consecutive years.

That includes me and I intend to vote for Martinez next month when my Hall of Fame ballot arrives. I expect it to be a close call for Gar, mainly because he spent most of his career as the designated hitter and National League writers seem to be reluctant to vote for a DH, which does not exist in the Senior Circuit.

It seems fitting that Martinez would become the first DH inducted into the Hall of Fame. After all, the award is named: The Edgar Martinez Designated Hitter Award.