The 2012 class of the Baseball Hall of Fame will be announced Monday as part of a two-hour special on the MLB Network. The special begins at 2 p.m. and will be anchored by Matt Vasgersian. MLB Network’s Bob Costas, Greg Amsinger, Brian Kenny and Harold Reynolds; baseball writer Peter Gammons; and Hall of Fame voters Jon Heyman, Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci also will appear. The players eligible include Barry Larkin, Jack Morris and Don Mattingly.
Reynolds recently talked about the possible 2012 Hall of Fame class:
Are there any locks for the class of 2012?
Reynolds » “The name that comes closest to a lock is Barry Larkin, best shortstop of his generation and clearly Hall of Fame worthy. Then you have a guy like Don Mattingly who was another great player. I know that when I played I put my cap in my back pocket when I hit because ‘Donnie Baseball’ did it.”
Should the voting be expanded beyond the Baseball Writers’ Association of America?
Reynolds » “Yes. I know that in the old days the baseball beat writers were the only guys that followed baseball on a daily basis. Times have changed now. You have the radio and television broadcasters, the guys here at MLB Network, ESPN, TBS and Fox who follow every game played. There is no question that more people should be allowed to vote for the Hall of Fame beyond the baseball writers.”
What are your thoughts on the Nationals with and without Prince Fielder?
Reynolds » “I love what general manager Mike Rizzo and the Nationals ownership has built. It is a team with young star players and the willingness to add big time free agents. If they add Fielder to their team — and by the way, I think they will — the Nats will become an instant contender in the National League. If they don’t get Fielder, with such a great young pitching staff led by Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmermann, they will be good for years.”
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!, on washingtonexaminer.com.
