2008 Hall of Fame Candidates.

The 2008 Hall of Fame ballot has 11 new names added, this brings the total to 25 former players for the upcoming round of voting which writers must have posted marked by December 31, 2007. Voters are instructed to cast votes for up to 10 candidates; any candidate who receives votes on at least 75% of the ballots will be honored with induction to the Hall. Results of the 2008 candidates will be announced on January 8, 2008. Those candidates who receive less than 5% of the vote will not appear on future ballots, but may eventually be considered by the Veterans Committee. Also as long as you receive 5% of the vote you have 15 years to be voted into the Hall of Fame. Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) will distribute 575 ballots.The BBWAA is responsible for voting on MVP, ROY, Cy Young, Manager of the Year, and the Hall of Fame.

Last years ballot lost players Orel Hershiser(4.4%), Albert Belle(3.5%), Paul O'Neill((2.2%), Bret Saberhagen(1.3%), Jose Canseco(1.1%), Tony Fernandez((0.7%), Dante Bichette(0.6%), Eric Davis(0.6%), Bobby Bonilla(.04%), Ken Caminiti(0.4%), Jay Buhner(0.2%), Scott Brosius(0%), Wally Joyner(0%), Devon White(0%) and Bobby Witt(0%). Steve Garvey was also lost, not making the Hall of Fame in his 15 years on the ballot. His highest percentage of votes came in 1995 with 42.6%.

Introducing the new players on 2008 ballot:

Brady Anderson OF: Career Stats: BA =.256; HR = 210; RBIs =761 Career Highlights: Anderson played 15 seasons and is a 3-time All-Star. In 1996 Anderson broke Frank Robinson's Orioles single season club record with 50 home runs. By hitting 50 home runs and stealing 20 bases in the same year, Anderson made baseball history becoming only the second player to accomplish this feat along with Willie Mays (1955). Ken Griffey Jr. (1998) and Alex Rodriguez (2007) have since joined the 50-20 club.

DOES HE MAKE THE HOF = No chance. Suspected of using performance enhancing substances.

Rod Beck RP: Career Stats: 38-45, 286 Saves, 3.30 ERA Career Highlights: Beck played 13 seasons and is a 3-time All-Star. Won Relief Man of the Year in 1994. Ranks 23rd on MLB Career Saves list. Holds San Francisco's single season record for saves with 48 in 1993. Seven seasons with at least 20 saves -Beck passed away on June 23, 2007, waiving the normal five-year period before eligibility. His death is still unsolved with the Phoenix police department.

DOES HE MAKE THE HOF = Borderline I'm leaning towards No.

Shawon Dunston SS: Career Stats: BA =.269; HR = 150; Hits =1597 Career Highlights: Dunston played 18 season and is a 2-time All-Star. Tied a MLB record with 3 triples in a game on July 28, 1990. Seven season with at least 20 plus doubles and two with at least 30 doubles.

DOES HE MAKE THE HOF = No chance

Chuck Finley SP: Career Stats: 200-173, 3.85 ERA , Strikeouts = 2610 Career Highlights: Finley played 17 seasons and is a 5-time All-Star. Led the AL in complete games in 1993 with 13. Led the AL in IP in 1994 with 183 1/3. Often finished in the top 5 in the league in strikeouts. Won at least 15 games seven times. Pitched at least 200 innings nine times. Three seasons with 200-plus strikeouts. His 2610 strikeouts ranks him 23rd all-time.

DOES HE MAKE THE HOF = No, but should be on the ballot for the next 15 years.

Travis Fryman 3B: Career Stats: BA =.274; HR = 223; Hits =1776 Career Highlights: Fryman played 13 season and is a 5-time All-Star. Won a Gold Glove Award in 2000. Won the Silver Slugger Award in 1992. Seven seasons with 20 or more Home runs and 9 seasons with 20 or more doubles. Three season with 100 or more RBIs.

DOES HE MAKE THE HOF = No chance

David Justice OF: Career Stats: BA =.279; HR = 305; RBIs =1017 Career Highlights: Justice played 14 season and is a 3-time All-Star. NL Rookie of the Year in 1990. AL Comeback Player of the Year in 1997. ALCS MVP in 2000. 2-time World Series champion, 1995 and 2000. Won two Silver Slugger Awards in 1993 (NL) and 1997 (AL). Three seasons with a batting average better than .300. Three season had 100 plus RBIs. Played in 6 World Series. In March 2007 inducted into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame.

DOES HE MAKE THE HOF = Has an outside shot but most likely No. Suspected of using performance enhancing substances.

Chuck Knoblauch 2B: Career Stats: BA =.289; Hits = 1839; Stolen Bases =407 Career Highlights: Knoblauch played 12 season and is a 4-time All-Star. Won Rookie of the Year in 1991. 4-time World Series champion 1991, 1998-2000. Holds the Twins single season record for runs with 140 in 1996. Holds Twins all-time record for most stolen bases with 276. Won a Gold Glove Award in 1997. Won 2 Silver Slugger Awards in 1995 and 1997. Led AL in doubles in 1994 with 45. Led AL in triples in 1996 with 14. Six seasons with at least 100-runs scored. Three seasons of hitting .300 or better.

DOES HE MAKE THE HOF = Yes, but not this year.

Robb Nen RP: Career Stats: 45-42, 314 Saves, 2.98 ERA Career Highlights: Nen played 10 seasons and is a 3-time All-Star. Led the NL in saves in 2001 with 45. Ranks 15th on MLB all-time saves list with 314. Four seasons with 40-plus saves and seven seasons with 35-plus saves. When Nen retired he held both the Gaints and the Marlins all-time record for most saves (Giants = 206, Marlins = 108) A World Series champion in 1997.

DOES HE MAKE THE HOF = Yes, Has an outstanding chance, but not this year.

Tim Raines OF: Career Stats: BA =.294; Hits = 2605; Stolen Bases =808 Career Highlights: Raines played 23 season and is a 7-time All-Star. Won the NL Batting title in 1986 with a .334. Won a Silver Slugger Award in 1986. Won the All-star MVP in 1987. Led NL in stolen bases four times. Holds the NL record for the highest stolen-base percentage with .857 with at least 300 or more stolen bases attempts. Led league in on-base percentage in 1986 and doubles in 1984. Ranks fifth all-time in stolen bases with 808. A two-time World Series Champion 1996, 1998.

DOES HE MAKE THE HOF = Yes

Jose Rijo SP: Career Stats: 116-91, 3.24 ERA Strikeouts = 1606 Career Highlights: Rijo played 14 seasons and is a 1-time All-Star. A 1-time World Series Champion 1990. Won the World Series MVP in 1990. Led NL in strikeouts in 1993 with 227. Five seasons with 13 or more wins. Seven seasons of 150 or more strikeouts.

DOES HE MAKE THE HOF = No chance

Todd Stottlemyre SP: Career Stats: 138-121, 4.28 ERA Strikeouts = 1587 Career Highlights: Stottlemyre played 14 seasons. A Two-time World Series Champion 1992-93. Eight seasons with 10 or more wins. Two seasons with 200 or more strikeouts.

DOES HE MAKE THE HOF = No chance

Rounding out the other 14 candidates are: (years on ballot and % of votes in 2007)
Harold Baines(2nd/5.3%), Bert Blyleven(11th/47.7%), Dave Concepcion(15th/13.6%), Andre Dawson(7th/56.7%), Rich Gossage(9th/71.2%), Tommy John(14th/22.9%), Don Mattingly(8th/9.9%), Mark McGwire(2nd/23.5%), Jack Morris(9th/37.1%), Dale Murphy(10th/9.2%), Dave Parker(12th/11.4%), Jim Rice(14th/63.5%), Lee Smith(6th/39.8%) and Alan Trammell(7th/13.4%)

Who's In in 2008: Rich Gossage and Tim Raines

Who's in after 2008: Bert Blyleven, Mark McGwire, Lee Smith, Chuck knoblauch, and Rob Nen.