COMMENTARY | The St. Louis Cardinals have come to terms with ace pitcher Adam Wainwright on a five-year extension that makes the term “lifetime Cardinal” a real possibility just two years after they failed to do the same with Albert Pujols. Doing so shows that general manager John Mozeliak understood that this deal made a lot more sense than the potential investment in the team’s former first baseman would have.

Editor’s Note: I have joined Yahoo Sports as a contributor to the St. Louis Cardinals beat.  You will find my content there on a regular basis, as well as the first few paragraphs and a link to it here on I-70 Baseball.  This is my debut for them…

Just like many fans, I was extremely disappointed when the Cardinals were unable to come to terms with Pujols and he eventually found himself playing in Anaheim. The dust has settled on that deal and clarity has shown that many factors made sense for the team to allow its franchise superstar to leave.

This spring, many fans became concerned that history would repeat itself as the team and Wainwright entered negotiations. The feeling that, for the second time in a span of three years, a foundation piece of the organization would play for another franchise seemed to be developing into reality. The Cardinals and Wainwright announced during a March 28 press conference that the right-hander has been signed to a five-year extension through 2018.

Why was Wainwright retained and Pujols was not?

Read more by clicking here…

Photo Courtesy of Minda Haas

KANSAS CITY, MO (November 28, 2012) — The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Luis Santos and left-hander Luis Rico from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for right-handed pitcher Vin Mazzaro and first baseman Clint Robinson.  Santos and Rico have been assigned to the Surprise Royals.

The 21-year-old Santos pitched for both Dominican Pirates clubs last season, combining for a 6-3 record and a 2.44 ERA in 14 games, including 12 starts.  In 62.2 innings, he allowed 42 hits, walked 20 and struck out 74 while holding opponents to a .184 average.  The 6-foot Santos is from Bonao, Dominican Republic, and was signed by Pittsburgh as a non-drafted free agent on April 8, 2011.

Rico, who will turn 19 tomorrow, is a 6-foot-1, 180-pounder from Guanta, Venezuela.  He went 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA in 11 games (nine starts) in 2012 for the Dominican Pirates.  Rico made his debut in 2011 with the Venezuelan Pirates after signing with Pittsburgh as a non-drafted free agent on April 9, 2011.

Mazzaro, 26, and Robinson, 27, were designated for assignment by the Royals on November 20.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Larry Walker

Larry Walker
Walker spent 17 years as an outfielder for three different franchises. His debut came in 1989 for the Montreal Expos and retired as a St. Louis Cardinal in 2005. This is his second year on the ballot.

Why He Should Get In
Walker was known as a guy that could produce runs batted in and he did so to the tune of 1,311 in his career. He won three batting titles in his career and has a career average of .313. He has five All Star Games to his credit, three silver sluggers, the 1997 National League Most Valuable Player award, and seven Gold Glove Awards. He posted 383 home runs and 230 stolen bases as well as 2,160 hits and 471 doubles.

Why He Should Not Get In
Walker has a lot of really good numbers but not one outstanding one save his batting average. Ten years with the Colorado Rockies pre-humidor will have many writers question some of his career offensive numbers. One counting stat above and beyond the norm and he would be shoe-in.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Alan Trammell

Alan Trammell
Trammell spent his entire twenty year career playing for the Detroit Tigers. His debut came in 1977 and he retired from the game in 1996. This is his tenth year on the ballot.

Why He Should Get In
Trammell was one of the last great defensive short stops before the influx of guys that made the position an offensive juggernaut. Trammell would make five All Star appearances, four Gold Glove awards, three Silver Sluggers, and would garner MVP votes in seven different seasons. His 2,365 hits and 412 doubles with his .285 career batting average deserve a look.

Why He Should Not Get In
While his career was respectable, it begins getting overshadowed by the arrival of offensive minded shortstops that posted much better numbers in key categories. Had he been a bit more dominant in the defensive side of his game, it would help overcome his slightly low offensive numbers.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Rafael Palmeiro

Rafael Palmeiro
Palmerio enjoyed a long 20-year career in major league baseball, making his debut in 1986 with the Chicago Cubs and finishing it in 2005 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. This will be his second year on the ballot.

Why He Should Get In
Palmeiro was a premier player throughout his career, compiling 569 home runs, 585 doubles, 1835 runs batted in and 3,020 hits. He would make four All Star appearances, three Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger Awards. His .288 career batting average is fairly high for a player known for his power stroke.

Why He Should Not Get In
The Steriod Era captures a lot of players, but few are tarnished as much as Palmeiro. When players were called in front of the United States Congress on the matter, Palmeiro was adamant that he had not and would not use performance enhancing drugs. That took place in March of 2005, his 3,000 hit came later that year, as did a positive test result that he to this day swears was a simple mistake. One of only four players in Major League history to collect both 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, his final season in the league might harm him beyond repair.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Bill Mueller

Bill Mueller
The St. Louis native spent his 11 year career playing for four different franchises. His debut would come wearing the Giants uniform in 1996 and he would put the finishing touches on his career in 2006 as a member of their division rival Los Angeles Dodgers. This is his first year on the ballot.

Why He Should Get In
Mueller was a defensive player that managed to show an offensive side to his game. In his short career, he would win a batting title in 2003 with the Red Sox and finish 12th in the Most Valuable Player voting that year as well. That season would also bring Mueller’s only Silver Slugger Award.

Why He Should Not Get In
Mueller’s career was shortened by injuries and therefore remained a bit lack luster. Though his career batting average was .291, that only equated to 1,229 hits and 493 runs batted in. A career that had a lot of promise, as often is the case, simply never materialized.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Jack Morris

Jack Morris
Morris enjoyed an 18 year career with four American League teams spanning from 1977 to 1994. His debut with the Detroit Tigers would place him with the franchise he would know for 14 years before he would move around and finish up as a member of the Cleveland Indians. Morris is on the ballot for the 17th year.

Why He Should Get In
Morris was an ace for the Detroit Tigers for many seasons, winning the all important 20 games three times during his career in 1983, 1986, and 1992. He also led the league in wins with 14 during the strike shortened 1981 season. He would never win a Cy Young Award, but would finish in the top ten seven times during his career. He made five All Star game rosters and received Most Valuable Player votes on five different occasions, ranking in the top 20 four times. With 254 wins and 2,478 strike outs, he should be in the Hall already.

Why He Should Not Get In
The only thing holding Morris back is the fact that he falls below 300 wins and played for a team that was not consistently competitive, keeping his numbers and recognition down.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Edgar Martinez

Edgar Martinez
Martinez enjoyed an 18 season career and is the poster child for the Designated Hitter. He signed with the Seattle Mariners as an undrafted free agent in 1982, eventually making his debut for the club in 1987. His career would come to a close at the end of the 2004 season at the age of 41. This will be his third year on the ballot for induction.

Why He Should Get In
Martinez is the hope for all players that spend a majority of their career as Designated Hitters. By 1995 he had transitioned full time to that role for the Mariners and extended his career due to it. A fielder that was hobbled in the field, he found a career by hitting and hitting well. A career .312 batting average and 2247 hits demonstrates that ability. His numbers are low by most standards, but he is the bar by which the designated hitter standards are set.

Why He Should Not Get In
For a man that spent his career as a hitter, his numbers do not support the suggestion that he was a great one. He may have been one of the best designated hitters, but until voters can get a feel for what barometer to judge those players by, it will be hard to determine if Martinez was a great hitter or simply someone clinging to a few more years because he was in the American League.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Jeff Bagwell

Jeff Bagwell
One of the “Killer B’s” that spent his entire fifteen year career with the Houston Astros, Jeff Bagwell was one of the National League’s premier first baseman from his debut in 1991 until his final game in 2005. Bagwell is on the ballot for the second time.

Why He Should Get In
Bagwell’s career was littered with league leading statistics, consistent all-around play, and consideration as the premier player on his team. Bagwell was awarded the Jackie Robinson Award as the top rookie in 1991, the Most Valuable Player Award in 1994, appeared in four All Star games, won one Gold Glove, and three silver slugger awards. His home run total may clock in at 449, which many consider to low for automatic induction, but backed by 488 doubles, 202 stolen bases, and 1529 runs batted in as well as a career .297 batting average and Bagwell looks like a player that deserves to be bronzed in the halls of Cooperstown.

Why He Should Not Get In
On numbers alone, he falls short of the home run and hit totals that voters will look for. His career was cut short due to injuries, preventing him from reaching many career milestones. Though he did receive awards and recognition, it was up and down and not consistent year over year. He is from the steroid era and many raise an eyebrow due to his general size, but it should be noted that he has never been connected to performance enhancing drugs and that should not be a factor.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Bernie Williams.

Bernie Williams
Bernie patrolled center field in the Bronx for sixteen seasons, spending his entire career with the New York Yankees. A young man who made his debut in 1991 and played his final game in 2006, this will be the first year that Bernie appears on the ballot.

Why He Should Get In
Bernie was one of the premier center fielders of his generation, hanging just behind the big names like Ken Griffey, Jr. His 2,300 hits, lifetime .297 batting average, 287 home runs and 1,200 runs batted in are all solid number for the voters to consider. His four consecutive Gold Glove awards (1997 – 2000), five straight All Star appearances (1997-2001), and 2002 Silver Slugger award display his abilities and place high above his peers in multiple facets of the game. He took home a batting title in 1998 and holds a lifetime .381 on base percentage and .858 OPS (On Base Plus Slugging Percentage). Baseball-Reference ranks him with a Hall Of Fame score of 48 where the average Hall Of Famer ranks a score of 50.

Why He Should Not Get In
Bernie Williams is a bubble Hall Of Famer that will find his way into Cooperstown at some point. However, being his first time on the ballot, no matter how weak the class, will hold him out this year due to many voters feeling that first ballot is not a place for such a player. His stats are just under the marks for most Hall Of Famers, but he played during a time that is tainted with steroids and has never been connected to them himself, which will allow some voters to tout his ability to play a clean game. He fell short of some of the milestones most players feel they need to hit for induction. It will take time for Bernie Williams.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.