Is This Finally Blyleven's Year?

.8 percent... 5 votes.  That is how close former Twins great Bert Blyleven got to finally making it in to the Hall of Fame in 2010.   After 13 years of falling short, Blyleven is likely to get the required 75% of votes this year.  Whats amazing, though, is how he has been snubbed for all this time.  In fact, history shows us that 21 candidates have fallen between 70-74.9%, and each and every one of them has eventually made it to Cooperstown.  Additionally, every one of those 21 were elected in their very next year.

Blyleven has the 13th best WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in MLB history.  Among full-time starters he is 21st in Win Probability Added, 18th in Runs Saved Above Average, along with 287 wins, 60 shutouts and 3,701 strikeouts.  So how could voters look past these amazing stats?  Well, surprisingly, Blyleven did fall short in a few key categories.  He made only two All-Star teams in his 22 seasons, had top-3 finishes in only two Cy Young elections, and is often 'criticized' for not reaching the all-important 300-win plateau.

Still, these shortcomings in no way outweigh his significant career achievements, and it's simply wrong that he hasn't made it to Cooperstown already.  So, will this be his year? Well, we'll find out Wednesday.