Oakland Tribune columnist Dave Del Grande ridicules Ron Santo's Hall of Fame credentials, comparing Santo with Sal Bando and Matt Williams. The commenters at Baseball Think Factory provide the appropriate shredding of Del Grande's waste of electronic space.

The Veterans Committee Hall of Fame announcement is set for approximately 1pm CT today. As we all know, Ron Santo, as one of the top ten third basemen in baseball history, deserves to be there. As we await the announcement, 'cubfever7' at AllCubs.com has a good story demonstrating Santo's kindness.

Bob Feller was one of the game's finest pitchers, and he served our country admirably during World War II. He is also an example of why the Veterans' Committee has no business deciding who gets into the Hall of Fame.

Cub Town's Phil Bencomo spoke to Feller recently and asked him about Ron Santo, whose omission from the Hall of Fame is "the most egregious mistake ever made by the Baseball Writers Association of America." Said Feller, "I think Riggs Stephenson has a much better chance of getting in than Ron Santo. Ron Santo is borderline, and he may make it. I predicted it and hope he does. ... I have put his name on my list ... I hope he can make it, and I hope Riggs Stephenson makes it, as well as Lefty O'Doul and two or three others."

Oh, boy. The same person who complains about pitchers not throwing complete games in today's game thinks that two position players who rarely played full seasons should be in the Hall of Fame. Both O'Doul (career 143 OPS+) and Stephenson (130) could hit the ball. But O'Doul played in at least 140 games in just three seasons (he got a very late start after failing as a pitcher in his 20s); Stephenson in just two seasons. Santo did that in 12 seasons, hitting almost as well on a rate basis (with peaks just as high or higher), and playing great defense at a more important defensive position.

Sam Reich, baseball evaluator, sports law attorney and author, has a mission: making sure only the best veteran candidates are inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He’s argued the case for each candidate on his new website, www.waitingforcooperstown.com , a prelude to his forthcoming book, Waiting for Cooperstown: Baseball’s Veterans (1901-1972) and the Hall of Fame.

Both the website and book include Reich’s unique framework for selecting candidates and the “Reich Top 10,” based on his analysis of who should be inducted in the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Former Chicago Cubs third baseman Ron Santo is listed No. 1 on Reich's Top 10.

Ron Santo is still not in the Hall of Fame, despite being one of the ten greatest third basemen of all time. We can't do much about that, but we can sign this petition.