MLB Network to air Hall of Fame Roundtable on Friday

As they have done in previous years, the MLB Network will air a Hall of Fame roundtable discussion this Friday at 9 PM ET/8 PM CT.

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The roundtable discussion, likely to be moderated by Bob Costas, will feature Ron Darling, Brian Kenny, Peter Gammons, Al Leiter, Ken Rosenthal, and Tom Verducci. They will debate the first-year eligible nominees, returning candidates, the election process, and touch on those candidates who deserve more consideration. The show will air two more times prior to Tuesday afternoon’s election announcement on the MLB Network.

Some advance quotes from Friday’s roundtable:
Tom Verducci on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot:

“I think there are more than three Hall of Famers, but when you do the math on this, I’d be shocked if we get a fourth in.”

Verducci on John Smoltz:

“His numbers are plenty good enough to be a Hall of Famer. Even as a starter, they’re that good, [and] especially with the Postseason component. He lost only four games in his Postseason career. His teams scored a total of four runs in those four games. He was almost unbeatable.”

While many of us, myself included, will always consider Smoltz as a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, he retired with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009. Other former Cardinals on the ballot include Lee Smith, Mark McGwire, and Larry Walker.