It now appears it's a question of when, not if, Carlos Beltrán will be voted into the Hall of Fame. In fact, next year could be his time, with the ballot wide open. Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner were elected in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced Tuesday night.

For the first time, I have an official Hall of Fame ballot in my hands. As I write this, I'm about to mail it. I have done a virtual truckload of homework in anticipation of this and it all started when I was a little kid.

The trio of stars, each of whom spent part of their career in New York, will be inducted in Cooperstown on July 27.