Tracy Ringolsby's weekly baseball notes package

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Time for one last pitch, which will be swung at and missed.Shortstop Dave Concepcion is on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the 15th and final time. He has managed to draw the 5 percent support each year to get another shot, including being named on 13.6 percent of the ballots cast last year - 74 of 545.Concepcion is often overlooked because of the talent of the Big Red Machine, but he was the stabilizing force up the middle.He hasn't come close to being enshrined, though, because the intangibles he adds to his statistics never have been seen as enough to gain the support.He'll get at least one more vote in his final year of consideration by veteran members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.Others who will get at least one vote:-- Bert Blyleven was a workhorse who ranks fifth all time in strikeouts, 10th in starts, ninth in shutouts, 13th in innings pitched and 25th in wins. His curveball is the one by which others are judged.-- Goose Gossage was the trailblazer for the modern-day closer. The role has evolved so that Gossage's numbers are no longer eye-popping, but the man changed the way the game is played.-- Jack Morris led pitchers in victories in the 1980s, made 515 consecutive starts, which was a record until Roger Clemens broke it in 2001, and is tied for second all time with 14 Opening Day starts, two shy of Tom Seaver.-- Lee Smith was replaced by Trevor Hoffman as the game's all-time saves leader, but the seven-time All-Star did have 13 consecutive seasons of 20-plus saves, including 10 of at least 30.-- Alan Trammell didn't turn somersaults and took an occasional day off, but for his leadership, strong play and overall career, there is no reason he should take a backseat to Ozzie Smith and Cal Ripken Jr., two shortstops of his era who are already enshrined.Can't get caught up in the Jim Rice bandwagon. Can't say that his offensive stats are lights out better than Andre Dawson and Dale Murphy, but while Dawson and Murphy were Gold Glove outfielders, Rice was a designated hitter who survived at times in left field at Fenway Park.Rice, like lefty Tommy John, are both in their 14th year on the ballot, meaning they make it this year or next or wind up relying on the Veterans Committee for any chance of enshrinement.No Mark McGwire, either, but it has nothing to do with questions about performance-enhancing drugs. He was a dramatic power hitter, but a Hall of Famer needs to have total greatness.His defense was OK, at best, and it's interesting that, according to Baseball Reference, the most similar players statistically to McGwire are Jim Thome, Jose Canseco and Carlos Delgado, none of whom have Cooperstown on their horizon.OVERHEARD-- Texas is interested in oft-injured left-handed reliever Eddie Guardado on a one-year contract, hoping he can help mentor lefty C.J. Wilson on becoming a closer.-- Cincinnati needs a veteran starter and is interested in signing either Jon Leiber or Livan Hernandez.-- Philadelphia is looking to add bullpen depth and has touched base with former Texas closer Akinori Otsuka, who missed the final three weeks of the 2007 season with right elbow soreness.READER'S TURNRobert Burney asks, "Why is it that the Rockies felt Luis Vizcaino was worthy of a two-year deal and not LaTroy Hawkins?"Robert, first, let's consider that given the increase in the Rockies' budget, the team was interested in signing both, adding that veteran bullpen depth.As for the one-year offer to Hawkins, it was about market as much as anything. Hawkins did sign a one-year deal with the Yankees so he did not have a multiyear market. He indicated a preference to return to the Rockies, and they offered him $3.5 million. Hawkins opted for $3.75 million to sign with the Yankees - a $250,000 difference.As for Vizcaino, the Rockies are counting on him to fill the role Hawkins was originally signed to fill -- a right-hander who can come on in the eighth and strike out a batter.There is better balance for the coming season, with lefty Brian Fuentes penciled into helping in that role, too. Had Hawkins returned, the Rockies were looking at him as more of a sixth-inning, seventh-inning option.For responses to other questions or to ask questions of your own, check out the Rockies Inbox at Rocky MountainNews.com/sport.TWO CENTS' WORTHHow affected will the current players be by the talk of steroids and human growth hormone?Time does seem to heal wounds.When debates begin about Tim Raines' Hall of Fame consideration, seldom does his cocaine-tainted past get mentioned.Raines admitted that he used to get high during games.He told reporters he would keep a vial of coke in his pocket and would slide headfirst to make sure the vial wouldn't break.NUMBERS GAME-- 48: Home runs hit by Washington at RFK Stadium last season, fewest home park HRs in the National League. That figures to change with the move to their new park next year, where the Nationals will find the center-field fence at 403 feet, 7 feet closer than RFK, and a power alley that was 395 feet at RFK reduced to 377 in left-center field and 370 in right-center field.MORE BUDCommissioner Bud Selig has his term expire in two years, but there is a movement among ownership to extend the contract, even though he will be 75 at the time.SO MUCH FOR MANAGINGOutfielder Gabe Kapler is making a comeback at age 32 after managing in the minor leagues with Boston last season. Kapler signed a one-year deal with Milwaukee, which has been stymied in its efforts to fill its outfield void by acquiring a third baseman and moving defensively challenged Ryan Braun to left field.Kapler has hit .270 with 64 home runs and 302 RBI in 850 major league games with the Tigers, Rangers, Red Sox and Rockies. Last season, Kapler managed Class A Greenville (S.C.) to a 58-81 record, 14th in the 16-team South Atlantic League."We're counting on him bouncing back," said Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, who was the Texas GM when Kapler played for the Rangers. "He has been a good defensive outfielder and runs well ..."HE SAID IT"I don't want to run into any walls or break any noses, but I'm an aggressive outfielder and I take it just as seriously as he did."Phillies free-agent acquisition Geoff Jenkins, on replacing center fielder Aaron Rowand in Philadelphia.(Contact Tracy Ringoslby at ringolsbyt@RockyMountainNews.com.)(Tracy Ringolsby writes for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, Colo. E-mail ringolsbyt(at)RockyMountainNews.com.)