1 Walker's Hall of Fame support jumps from '16 Former Rockies slugger receives 21.9 percent of BBWAA vote By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | January 18th, 2017 DENVER -- Former Rockies star Larry Walker saw his National Baseball Hall of Fame voting percentage increase from 15.5 percent last year to 21.9 percent, although he wasn't close to the 75 percent needed for induction. Still, he will be on the ballot next year -- his eighth shot at Cooperstown. 2017 Hall of Fame election results Votes Player Percentage 381 Jeff Bagwell 86.2% 380 Tim Raines 86.0% 336 Ivan Rodriguez 76.0% 327 Trevor Hoffman 74.0% 317 Vladimir Guerrero 71.7% 259 Edgar Martinez 58.6% 239 Roger Clemens 54.1% 238 Barry Bonds 53.8% 229 Mike Mussina 51.8% 199 Curt Schilling 45.0% Complete voting results » "What it all boils down to is I'm still on the ballot," Walker said by phone. "That's a good thing for me. My dad sent me a text tonight, saying it's still an honor to be on that ballot, and I agree with him." MEDIA CLIPS – January 19, 2017
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MEDIA CLIPS – January 19, 2017mlb.mlb.com/documents/4/5/6/213887456/Clips_for_1... · MEDIA CLIPS – January 19, 2017 . 2 . Walker, who began his career in 1989 with the Expos
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Walker's Hall of Fame support jumps from '16 Former Rockies slugger receives 21.9 percent of BBWAA vote
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | January 18th, 2017 DENVER -- Former Rockies star Larry Walker saw his National Baseball Hall of Fame voting percentage increase from
15.5 percent last year to 21.9 percent, although he wasn't close to the 75 percent needed for induction.
Still, he will be on the ballot next year -- his eighth shot at Cooperstown.
2017 Hall of Fame election results Votes Player Percentage
Walker, who began his career in 1989 with the Expos and ended it in 2005 with the Cardinals, spent the bulk -- and the
best years -- of his time in the big leagues with the Rockies, for whom he batted .334 with a 1.044 OPS and 258 homers
from 1995 until he was traded to the Cardinals in late 2004.
Tim Raines, a teammate of Walker's in Montreal; catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez; and first baseman Jeff Bagwell were
announced Wednesday as the 2017 Hall of Fame class. Walker tweeted his congratulations:
Walker had warm words for Raines.
"Obviously, very well-deserved," Walker said. "The numbers speak for themselves. He's a great guy, to boot -- one of the
funnier guys I've met in the game. He could make you laugh almost with not even saying anything. His laugh was very
contagious -- fun to be around, a total gentleman."
This was Walker's seventh year on the ballot, and it was his second-highest vote percentage. He garnered 22.9 percent in
'12, his second year on the ballot.
Walker signed with the Rockies in 1995, the year that Coors Field opened, and the impact of playing there on his
offensive numbers has been a consistent factor in Walker's candidacy. It could be one that affects first baseman Todd
Helton, who will be eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot in '19.
"I could be frustrated by it all," Walker said. "I don't let it bother me. I guess I have a fault, and my fault is I played at Coors
Field. You're not going to find anything that's going to link me to any steroids or anything of that nature. I'm not worried
about that at all. That doesn't exist.
"Unfortunately, I still have a fault. But it was one that was out of my control. I played in the big leagues for the wrong team,
according to a lot of the voters."
But not according to Walker.
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"I can't help where I played, and I don't regret one minute of it," he said. "Not one game, not one inning, not one thing
about it. I played in Colorado. I had the opportunity to play for a great franchise in an amazing city and nobody's ever
going to take that from me. I'm grateful for that."
Walker was a five-time All-Star and won seven Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, three Louisville Silver Sluggers and the
1997 National League MVP Award.
His offensive numbers are similar to those of Vladimir Guerrero, who was nearly elected on the first ballot this year at 71.7
percent.
A native of Trail, British Columbia, Walker remains involved in coaching with the Canadian National Team. He was with
Canada's 2015 Pan Am Games team, which beat Team USA for the Gold Medal, and he will be with Canada's World
Baseball Classic club in this year's tournament.
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Murphy makes MLB Pipeline's Top 10 C Prospects list Converted infielder Kelly, Mejia grab top spots, Alfaro remains No. 3 By Jim Callis / MLB.com | @JimCallisMLB | January 18, 2017 MLBPipeline.com will unveil its 2017 Top 100 Prospects list on Saturday, Jan. 28, with a one-hour show on MLB
Network at 8 p.m. ET. Leading up to the release, we look at baseball's top 10 prospects at each position.
Heading into 2016, MLBPipeline's two top-rated catching prospects were Willson Contreras and Gary Sanchez. You
may have heard something about their exploits last year. Contreras took over the starting job on a Cubs team that won its
first World Series in 108 years, while Sanchez tied an 86-year-old record for fewest games needed (51) to hit 20 homers.
Top 10 Prospects by Position
RHP - Breakdown | List LHP - Breakdown | List C - Breakdown | List 1B - List revealed on Fri., Jan. 20
2B - List revealed on Mon., Jan. 23
3B - List revealed on Tue., Jan. 24
SS - List revealed on Wed., Jan. 25
OF - List revealed on Thu., Jan. 26
Top 100 - List revealed on Sat., Jan. 28
Our new Top 10 Catching Prospects list doesn't feature anyone likely to make that kind of instant impact, though it does
include several talented backstops. It starts with the Cardinals' Carson Kelly, a converted third baseman who just
made MLBPipeline's All-Defense Team, and follows with the Indians' Francisco Mejia, who established a modern
Minor League record with a 50-game hitting streak last summer.
Kelly and Mejia are far from one-dimensional, however, and the Phillies' Jorge Alfaro has all-around potential as well.
After that trio, most members of this Top 10 list have offensive games that overshadow their defensive ability or vice versa
-- underscoring just how difficult it is to find a complete catcher.
1. Carson Kelly, Cardinals
St. Louis has had one of the game's top catchers for years and has a worthy successor -- assuming Yadier Molina ever
• 11:45 a.m. -- Luncheon at Albuquerque Convention Center, fan meet and greet luncheon to benefit Lobo Little League,
hosted by the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
• 1:30 p.m. -- Lobo Little League Field, Albuquerque, for press conference and field tour
Saturday
Denver
Scheduled to appear -- Bridich, Black, Dunn, Gray, Ottavino and Story
• 10 a.m. -- Season Ticket Holder Hot Stove at Coors Field, hosted by Root Sports broadcaster Jenny Cavnar and 850
KOA Rockies Radio Network broadcasters Jack Corrigan and Jerry Schemmel (invitation only)
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Saunders: Tim Raines’ Baseball Hall of Fame selection overdue but worth the wait Raines was one of the best players to ever spend a summer in Denver By Patrick Saunders / Denver Post | January 18th, 2017
When baseball’s Hall of Fame class of 2017 was announced Wednesday afternoon, I was getting ready to saddle up my
high horse.
I was going to chastise some members of the Baseball Writers Association of America for pumping life into the Hall of
Fame candidacies of Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, both of whom climbed above 50 percent in their fifth time on the
ballot. As they move up the ballot, it looks like those two cheaters will eventually be inducted into Cooperstown. They
know they cheated, you know they cheated and I know they cheated. They disgraced the game and tarnished their own
legacies.
Next, I was going to complain about the lack of respect accorded former Rockies outfielder Larry Walker. He improved
from 15.5 percent to 21.9 percent of the vote from a year ago, but fell far short of the 75 percent needed for induction. I
don’t think Walker’s ever going to ever make the Hall of Fame, and I worry that the Coors Field Factor is also going to
haunt Todd Helton down the road.
But then, I thought about Tim Raines’ election to the Hall of Fame and the negative arguments melted away.
Raines’ feel-good moment was a long time coming. He made it on his 10th and final year on the ballot. I always thought
Raines was underappreciated, in part because he spent so many seasons playing in Montreal but also because he was
overshadowed by Rickey Henderson. But consider that Raines was one of only four men since 1900 to steal 800-plus
bases. He accomplished that while compiling the highest stolen-base success rate (84.7 percent) of all time. He was a
great leadoff hitter, with 10 seasons with an on-base percentage of .390 or better. Sabermetric baseball guys tend to love
Raines.
Yes, he fell short of 3,000 career hits (he had 2,605) and his career batting average was .294. But Raines made things
happen. He sparked his team, he changed games.
“It takes a real appreciation of baseball to understand what Tim Raines did,” former Expos general manager.
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As an aside, I’ll point out to all of those Colorado newcomers that Raines was one of the best players to ever spend a
summer in Denver.
In 1980, as a second basemen for the Triple-A Denver Bears, Raines won the The American Association batting title with
a .354 average. At age 20, Raines set a league record by stealing 77 bases and tied for the league lead with 11 triples.
He put up those gaudy numbers even though he spent 18 days with Montreal in July and August. Raines was named the
The Sporting News’ Minor League Player of the Year.
So, while there is plenty to argue about when it comes to the Hall of Fame voting, Raines’ election was the right call, just
in the nick of time.
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Trevor Hoffman misses Baseball Hall of Fame election by 5 votes Hoffman became baseball’s career saves leader on Sept. 24, 2006 By Patrick Saunders / Denver Post | January 18th, 2017
SAN DIEGO Well, Hells Bells, Trevor Hoffman didn’t make baseball’s Hall of Fame for the second straight season.
This time, it was agonizingly close.
The former closer with the menacing glare, high leg kick and wicked changeup fell five votes short of enshrinement when
balloting was announced Wednesday.
In his second year on the ballot, Hoffman received 327 votes, appearing on 74 percent of the ballots and just shy of the 75
percent needed to get a plaque in Cooperstown. Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Ivan Rodriguez were voted in.
“You hope that’s not your peak,” Hoffman said in a telephone interview from his home in suburban San Diego. “You hope
there’s a little more in the tank, really, from some of the writers that didn’t vote for you. To get so close is tantalizing, but
it’s that oh-so-close-but-oh-so-far-away scenario.”
Hoffman, who spent the bulk of his career with the Padres, received 67.3 percent of the vote in his first year on the ballot,
giving him hope that he might get in this year.
He said he’d occasionally check a popular online vote tracker run by Ryan Thibodaux of Oakland and saw that of 274
ballots made public, he gained 30 votes from returning voters but lost eight.
“To lose eight from last year to this year would have been the difference,” he said. “You hope the younger-trending voters
don’t hurt you. I don’t think I got huge support from the younger guys. It’s a bit disturbing but, again, I can’t go out and get
another save or do anything to change whatever I’ve done. That’s how the ebbs and flows go. You hope it corrects next
year.”
Hoffman is pragmatic.
“I’d rather be sitting where I am rather than sitting on 50 percent wondering which way I’ll go,” he said. “I’m certainly not
disgruntled or upset by any means. I’m ecstatic I moved up almost 7 percent.”
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The city of San Diego could have used a shot of good news. The NFL’s Chargers announced six days earlier they are
leaving for Los Angeles after 56 seasons in San Diego, leaving a massive hole in the city’s psyche and sports history.
Last year, Hoffman played golf in the hours prior to the announcement. This year he got a haircut and picked up dry-
cleaning.
“I tried to keep it as normal as possible for what could have transpired,” Hoffman said. “For what has gone on over the last
week, heck, back to when I got here, the support I’ve gotten in San Diego and the people that have wished you well on
the ballot, from the really tough times in San Diego, with what has gone on with the football team, or lack thereof, it was
amazing to get support around town.”
Hoffman had his first two career saves with Florida as a rookie in 1993 before he was acquired during the Padres’
infamous fire sale. After a rough start, he eventually became the closer, and his save opportunities became an event.
Starting during the 1998 season, Hoffman entered from the bullpen accompanied by the brooding opening riff of AC/DC’s
“Hells Bells.”
Hoffman became baseball’s career saves leader on Sept. 24, 2006, when he recorded No. 479 to pass Lee Smith. He
spent his final two seasons with Milwaukee, retiring after the 2010 season with 601 saves. He was passed by Mariano
Rivera of the New York Yankees, who retired after the 2013 season with 652.
Rivera won’t be on the ballot for another two years.
As it became clear he wasn’t going to get that special phone call Wednesday afternoon, Hoffman was a bit disappointed.
“It was like sitting around hoping to be asked to dance and it didn’t happen,” he said. “You’ve kind of got to put your ego in
check a little bit and take the high ground and be appreciative of being able to be part of the process.”
Colorado Rockies prospect Pedro Gonzalez has the potential to be a star Purple Row Prospect No. 16, Pedro Gonzalez By Jeff Aberle / Purple Row | January 19th, 2017
16. Pedro Gonzalez (431 points, 32 ballots)
Pedro Gonzalez is a player who has an extremely wide range of outcomes. With his tools and potential, he could become
an All-Star at the major league level. Or, he could flame out before Double-A ball.
Gonzalez was the big international signing during the 2014 period, receiving a $1.3 million bonus from the Rockies. A 6'3"
shortstop when he was signed, Gonzalez has now sprouted up to 6'5" at least and may still be growing. As a result,
Colorado moved him off the position before 2016, placing him in center field. You heard me: a right-handed hitting outfield
prospect!
Midseason Rank: 21
High Ballot: 8
Mode Ballot: 15
Future Value: 45+, potential big league regular
Contract Status: 2014 amateur free agent (DR), not Rule 5 eligible, three options remaining
MLB ETA: Late 2020
In the Dominican Summer League last year, Gonzalez started off gangbusters before settling into a .251/.318/.418 line
with eight homers (rating him 4th overall in the DSL) over 282 plate appearances—good for a 108 wRC+. Unfortunately,
the now 19-year-old Gonzalez struggled in 2016 in his stateside debut in Grand Junction. Against pitchers who were on
average 2.5 years older, Gonzalez posted a .230/.290/.394 line (69 wRC+) with 25 extra base hits in 258 plate
appearances. Thirty one percent of his plate appearances ended in strikeouts.
That’s disappointing, but there is some encouraging news here. Gonzalez had a .261 BABIP, indicating he might have
deserved better results. More encouraging was his post All-Star Break line of .276/.336/.500 in 104 plate appearances
Colorado Rockies prospect Ben Bowden could be on the fast track to the majors Purple Row Prospect No. 17, Ben Bowden By Jeff Aberle / Purple Row | January 18th, 2017
17. Ben Bowden (395 points, 36 ballots)
Ben Bowden seems destined to be the first player from the 2016 draft to hit the big leagues. After all, he was assigned
directly to Low A Asheville after the draft and he threw out of the bullpen exclusively—two markers of a fast mover through
the system. After being drafted early in the second round of the 2016 draft, Bowden signed for a slightly above-slot $1.6
million bonus after moving between Vanderbilt's rotation and bullpen during his collegiate career.
Midseason Rank: 27
High Ballot: 11
Mode Ballot: 19
Future Value: 45, MLB set-up man or mid-rotation starter
Contract Status: 2016 second round, not Rule 5 eligible, three options remaining
MLB ETA: Late 2018
The now 22-year-old lefty ended up in the bullpen in college and started that way in the pros, but the Rockies have not
ruled out a return to the rotation for him as soon as next year. At Asheville, Bowden threw 23 2⁄3 innings over 26
appearances for the Tourists with a 3.04 ERA. His 29 strikeouts in that time translate to a great 11.0 K/9, though his 5.7
BB/9 and 1.61 WHIP are worrisome—a .373 BABIP boosted the WHIP. Bowden held lefties to a .212 average as well,
which is always relevant for a lefty reliever prospect.
A second-round pick typically has at least one major league-caliber tool, and for Bowden it's his low- to mid-90s fastball
from the left-hand side. Importantly, Bowden is not a one-trick pony, boasting two secondary pitches and command that
grades out as average as well. MLB.com ranked Bowden 67th overall pre-draft and had this to say about him