Active players going to the hall...

                                            This summer will be the first one in a decade and a half that there will be no one inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  I could go on a rant about this, but I already did that back in January.  Instead, I'd like to ponder what active players could possibly be enshrined in the future.  So here we go, team by team...

Yankees: Jeter and Mariano are shoo-ins, but from there, it gets a little tricky.  Oh sure, Ichiro will go in on his first try, but it'll be as a Mariner.  C.C. will have to put in a few more years to be considered, and even then, it's a big fat "maybe" (no pun intended).  Petitte will fall the way of Jack Morris and Tommy John; maybe he'll get in, but it'll take a while.  Cano will need a few more years of being Cano, and Texieria will have to avoid injuries.

Red Sox: Could Papi be the first D.H. to make the hall? Who knows...probably not. As for Pedroia, see Cano above.  Everyone else is to young or just not up to HOF standards. Ellsbury has two good years for every injured one...If he changes that pattern, he could be an interesting choice...but let's not get carried away.

Orioles: A talented team, if a little too young (the first of many times I'll say this, btw), Baltimore has Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, Chris Davis and a host of talented young players...history will determine their future...sorry for sounding so pretentious.

Blue Jays: Bautista was a late bloomer, and besides, his averages have been going down.  Reyes gets hurt too much, Buerle seemes to have peeked, and everyone else is a little green or a little gray (haired).  Although, R.A. Dickey is a knuckleballer, so it's quite possible he could pitch into his '50s...

Rays: Both Longoria and Price could be good choices if their health holds up. The biggest problem; will it be with Tampa?  They are a small market team, and one of the few franchises with no HOF members.  So, hopefully the team holds onto at least one of them...I could see Longo as the Rays 'George Brett.

Tigers: This team has had the last two AL MVPs in Verlander and Cabrera, both of which may be bound for Cooperstown.  It also helps that they're both on a very good team that's picked to win it all in 2013 and beyond.  I feel that Fielder will suffer from Mo Vaughn's disease (too much time at the buffet table)...actually, I could have said his dad, Cecil, but Vaughn came to mind first.

Royals:  For the first time in years, K.C. is a threat.  However, the team is too young to have a HOF worthy player at this point.  Big game James needs to pitch many more big games to qualify, and Alex Gordon, Moustakis, etc. need to make it to the postseason and or All Star game a number of times to attract more attention to their talents.

White Sox: I believe Konerko will eventually make his way in (although, hopefully after worthy retired players like Fred McGriff), and there's a couple of other players a bit too young to make a call on...mostly pitchers (Sale comes to mind).

Indians: If Absdrubal Cabrera has the same kind of endurance as former Indian great Omar Vizquel (who I believe will go in eventually), then, he has a chance...the rest of the team is filled with Nick Swisher types that are useful, if unspectacular players...the one exception is catcher and former Latin Rock guitarist, Carlos Santana.

Twins: Mauer is one of the greatest hitting catchers ever, with 3 batting titles already under his belt.  And although he's catching less and less these days, he'll probably spend most, if not all of his career with the same team, which is attractive to HOF voters.  Now if the team could only get good again...

Rangers: If you told me five years ago that Adrian Beltre was HOF worthy, I would have laughed.  He has seemed to resurrect his career with first, Boston, then Texas. Big Puma needs about three more good years to make him truly HOF worthy, but he'll go in as an Astro. Their pitching staff is strong, but not seasoned enough for consideration, and Nelson Cruz just hurt himself as I wote his name...

A's: The epitome of a talented, yet too young to even speculate about future enshrinement, players.  Coco Crisp's fro should be entered into the Afro hall of fame, right next to Oscar Gamble's (unless Crisp has reverted back to braids).  "Rage" Balfour does hearken back to the "Mad Hungarian", Al Hrabowsky days of closers, but he's not been consistent enough for Cooperstown.

Angels:  Pujols will go in as a Cardinal, and Josh Hamilton has to find his groove again.  All others are talented, but young, or just good players.  Maybe Weaver, whose absence is being felt big time, as this talented team has gotten off to a horrible start in 2013, could string together some great years.

Mariners: Ichiro is playing out his twilight years in the Bronx, King Felix needs to put about five years of greatness in a Seattle uniform, and I can't really name anyone else with a straight face...O.K., maybe Jason Bay...I'll be honest, I don't have a straight face now.

Astros: I'm not even going to dignify this with a response...

Braves: There's been a lot of hoo-ha about Tim Hudson getting 200 wins, and how he's HOF bound, but let's not start etching his name into a plaque just yet.  Maybe when he gets to 250 or so (and even that's sometimes not enough).  The Upton Brothers (well, Justin anyway), Jason Heyward etc. could maybe/sorta make a mark, but I think Brian McCann, as a good hitting catcher, may be the best bet among their offensive player.

Nationals: Too fast, too soon (I think that's the name of The New York Dolls second album), is a good way to describe the chances of Harper, Strasburg, Gonzalez and the rest of the Nats...the only player who is old enough to consider is Jason Werth...and he ain't going.

Phillies: As far as the Phighting Phils have falling from their 2007-2010 heyday, they have at least three Cooperstown hopefuls; Howard, Rollins and Mike Young (who, if he goes in, will do so as a Ranger) .  I would have thought Halladay was on his way there, til the last few years, in which he has looked more like Anthony Young than Cy Young.

Mets:  David Wright may be the Ryne Sandburg of his generation; a great player, doomed to spend his entire career on a team that never makes it to the World series, yet maybe makes it to the Hall. He has the advantage of being at a position (3rd base) that has the least amount of players inducted.  The rest of the team is...well, ask me in 7 years about Matt Harvey...

Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton...yeah, he's only in his mid twenties, but really, he's the only serious contender.

Cardinals: Beltran is a sorta/maybe, Fred McGriff/Harold Baines type, and Pujols is on the Angels ..and John Jay and Ryan Ludwick are younger than my nephew, so shut up.

Reds:  People make a fuss over Votto, but I believe the real Hall candidate is Brandon Phillpis; Gold glove, good bat...almost a less speedy version of Reds Hall of famer, Joe Mogan.  Here's just hoping he doesn't get into broadcasting too.

Pirates: The Bucs are good this year, thanks to their bullpen, with closer Jason Grilli leading the way.  However, the star of the team is undoubtedly Andrew Mcutcheon, who is maybe too young to start retiring his number in Pittsburgh.  Him staying in the steel city may go a long way to ponder an inclusion in the hall.

Cubs:  Alphonso Soriano...yeah, I know, but it's all I could come up with.  Theo's got a lot of work to do.

Rockies: Although Tulowitski is a great player, and maybe someday, blahblahblah...the real definite is Todd Helton.  Sure, his numbers may have been inflated by playing in the mile high city, but even into middle age, he's been a productive player, who should get to 3,000 hits.  As for their pitching...they're in Denver...'nough said.

Giants: Lincecum has two Cy Youngs, but he needs to get back to his late '00s form to get to HOF status.  Posey has all the makings of a HOF catcher, but you never know.  All others are speculations and/or past their prime...

Diamondbacks: Inconclusive, to say the least...maybe if Heath Bell stays and remembers how to be good, and "Tat man"...sorry, forgot his name...

Dodgers:  A team filled with players that should have been potential Hall of famers, but decided not to be, somehow... Carl Crawford (who should have stayed in Tampa), Matt Kemp (inconsistent), Kershaw (needs more good years) and Hanley Ramirez, who I have nicknamed "Poison", as in he's poison to a clubhouse, no matter how talented he is. ( Not to be confused with Paul Waner and Lloyd Waner, who were known as "Big Poison" and "Little Poison",)

Padres: Chase Headley had a good year last year...hey, ten more of those, and he's a big maybe...everyone else is...well, everyone else...

O.K., I may have missed someone, but I don't believe it's anyone major...yet.  Which makes this list a little superfluous, but hey, you read it!