In a time when there is still so much uncertainty in the world, there are some things we do know for a fact as it relates to the 2021 baseball season. Spring training started on time and was completed without any serious hiccups. The Nationals will start their 2021 campaign eventually, even after a player returned a positive COVID-19 test yesterday and opening day against the Mets was postponed. There is no universal designated hitter and the regular 10-team postseason is back, while the...

The Nationals honored two of baseball's newest Hall of Famers, former Nationals catcher Iván "Pudge" Rodríguez and longtime Expos left fielder Tim Raines, by inducting them into the Nationals Park Ring of Honor on Monday night. Rodríguez was also honored by the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation earlier Monday when they named the renovated Mason District Little League Park in Annandale, Va., as Iván "Pudge" Rodríguez Field. "For me, it's just an honor to be back in...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Tim Raines has been involved in baseball for more than 40 years, including 15 years now since he last played a game. Wherever he goes, wherever he's introduced, he's greeted warmly and viewed as one of the best players of his generation. But there's been a new wrinkle to the process in the last two months. Or, more accurately, three new words added in front of his name. He's no longer simply "Tim Raines." He's now (and forever) known as "Hall of Famer Tim...

One player with thin ties to the Orioles will be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame later this year in Cooperstown, N.Y. Tim Raines received 86.2 percent of the votes in his final year on the ballot, an increase from 69.8 percent in 2016. A player must garner at least 75 percent to be inducted. First baseman Jeff Bagwell and catcher Ivan Rodriguez will join Raines. Bagwell received 86 percent, an increase from 71.6 percent last year. Rodriguez received 76 percent and joined Bench as the...

There is no greater responsibility in this job than serving as a Hall of Fame voter. In the seven years since I first qualified, once I had been a member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America for 10 consecutive years, I have put a whole lot of time and energy into this. And I'm not alone in that regard. Every fellow voter I've ever discussed this with feels the same way and puts the same time and effort into voting for the Hall of Fame. Now it's a cardinal rule of journalism that...

The Hall of Fame inductions are fuel for discussion and debate. The ballots from the Baseball Writers' Association were due on Dec. 31. The new inductees will be announced Jan. 18. Early vote totals say that Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are going to make huge jumps in voter percentage this year, and each could finish with more than 70 percent of the vote. It takes 75 percent to get into Cooperstown. Both Clemens and Bonds are connected to steroids, so I don't see the logic in a huge upturn...

Ten former Orioles are included on the latest Hall of Fame ballot released today by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The most prestigious newcomers are Vladimir Guerrero, Manny Ramirez and Ivan Rodriguez. Guerrero concluded his 16-year career with the Orioles in 2011, batting .290/.317/.416 with 30 doubles, 13 home runs and 63 RBIs in 145 games. The 13 home runs were his lowest total since he hit 11 in 90 games with the Expos in 1997. Other former Orioles include first-timers...

Trea Turner stole two bases in the first inning Friday to help begin the scoring for the Nationals in their 4-1 win over the Mets. Playing center field, Turner has excelled in the leadoff spot with 20 stolen bases in 45 games this season. Turner is the first rookie in franchise historyto steal at least 20 bases since Mike Lansing stole 23 for the Expos in 1993. We had this discussion on Wednesday at "Nats Xtra," with Ray Knight asking to name some of the top leadoff men in the history of...

Five former Orioles return to the latest Hall of Fame Ballot, which has been released today by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Mike Mussina, Tim Raines, Curt Schilling, Lee Smith and Sammy Sosa are included among the 32 candidates for election. Outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., a 13-time All-Star who ranks sixth on the all-time home run list with 630, and closer Trevor Hoffman, who ranks second to Mariano Rivera with 601 career saves and 856 games finished, are counted among 15...

There's not a lot of Nationals love on the 2015 Hall of Fame ballot announced this morning. Only one former Nat - infielder Aaron Boone - is listed among the 17 new additions to the ballot, which feature three pitchers (Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz) who combined to win nine Cy Young Awards and two hitters (Gary Sheffield and Nomar Garciaparra) who claimed batting titles in their careers. Boone played one season for the Nationals, hitting .241 with six homers and 28 RBIs in 104...

Five former Orioles are included on the 2015 Hall of Fame ballot, which was released today by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The ballot contains 17 newcomers and 17 holdovers, and is being mailed this week to more than 575 voting members of the BBWAA. The former Orioles are pitchers Mike Mussina, Curt Schilling and Lee Smith, and outfielders Tim Raines and Sammy Sosa. The list of newcomers to the ballot includes pitchers Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz, infielder...

Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa and Joe Torre will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July. Now, it is up to the Baseball Writers' Association of America to determine if any players will join the three managers at the Cooperstown, N.Y., ceremonies. The most dramatic story this year is pitcher Jack Morris, who is in his final year on the ballot. The most underrated candidates are Tim Raines and Alan Trammell, and it will be interesting to see how the voters evaluate former Orioles...

Another Hall of Fame ballot, another smattering of former Nationals and Expos who will likely be on the outside looking in when results of balloting of Baseball Writers' Association of America members is announced Jan. 8. Among the 19 new candidates, there is only one ex-National: catcher Paul Lo Duca, who played 46 games in a Washington uniform in 2008 before being released. Lo Duca, a .286 hitter in 11 major league seasons, batted only .230 with 12 RBIs for the Nats. There are still some...

The 2013 Hall of Fame ballot is out, released today by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Members with 10 years under their belts get a vote, and 75 percent of the votes is the threshold necessary for election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Last year, the first National appeared on the ballot: third baseman Vinny Castilla. He received only six votes among 573 ballots cast, meaning he's no longer eligible, relegated to the answer to a trivia question....

The annual announcement of the Baseball Writers' Association of America balloting for the Baseball Hall of Fame always brings polar opposites in emotions: elected candidates thrilled yet humbled to be recognized among the game's immortals and the lamentations of those bypassed or ignored who don't understand why. In that way, voting results are much like the game - there are clear winners and losers. But debate about those not elected goes on long after the lucky party - in this case, Barry...