Forget Bert Blyleven – Larry Walker’s going to have a real gripe in 2011 if the voters ignore the Canadian:

Over 17 seasons until he retired in 2005, Walker batted .313, whacked 383 homers and collected 2,160 hits and 1,311 RBIs, statistics that compare favourably with several Hall of Fame outfielders, including Jim Rice, who will be inducted in July. And Walker amassed them in 100 fewer games than Rice.

Of course, he did play at Coors (where his batting average was .100 points higher than other ballparks) …

In fact, Shearon argues, injuries cost Walker the equivalent of three full seasons. If he’d played those games, he believes Walker would have approached 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, both virtual guarantees of inclusion in the Hall of Fame — in the era before steroids, at least.

That’s another point in his favour. Walker, among the best power hitters of his time, was never linked to performance-enhancing drugs. In fact, when he was named to Canada’s Baseball Hall of Fame — he’ll be inducted in June — he said only half-jokingly that each time one of his contemporaries is tied to drug use, it improves his chances to make it to Cooperstown.

Well, that seals the deal for us. Especially since Rafael Palmeiro’s up that year, too.

Open and shut (Ottawa Citizen)