Second verse, same as the first: Elect Gar-ed to the Baseball Hall of Fame

The Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF) will release the names of Major League Baseball players eligible for Cooperstown immortality. Again, the Dog Denizens of Genesee Park (DDGP) makes the case for at least 75 percent of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) voters to elect Seattle Mariner Edgar "Gar-Ed" Martinez for induction next July.

Although he played primarily as a designated hitter, Marinez put out offense-driven statistics that deserve due consideration. In 18 seasons -- some cut short with injuries -- Martinez cranked out 2,247 hits in 7,213 at-bats for a .312 career batting average. Martinez belted 514 doubles and 309 home runs, and drove in 1,261 runs. His average, on-base (.418) and slugging (.515) percentages exceed those of indisputable first-time HOF selections Ernie "Mr. Cub" Banks (.274, .330, .500), Reggie "Mr. October" Jackson (.262., .356, .4900 and "Captain" Carl Yastrzemski (.285, .379., 462).

Martinez continues to face the designated-hitter bias and bashing of so-called baseball authorities including sportscaster Bob "Mr. Know-It-All" Costas. But other -- and larger -- obstacles loom. First, because the BBWAA selected only one ballplayer -- a very deserving Andre "Hawk" Dawson -- to the HOF for 2010, the next ballot is cluttered with overlooked candidates who will garner more votes this time around. These individuals include: Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven (in his 14th year of eligibility), Barry Larkn, Tim "Rock" Raines and Lee Smith. The 2011 rookie crop of HOF candidates includes those likely to earn HOF selection sometime in the next 15 years -- sooner if not later (Jeff Bagwell, John "Generalissimo" Franco, Julio Franco, Larry Walker). Another group includes those players whose candidacies will receive serious consideration (Kevin Brown, Marquis Grissom, Tino Martinez, John Olerud, Benito Santiago, B.J. Surhoff). Yet another group will receive votes but not enough to remain on the 2012 ballot (Carlos Baerga, Bret Boone, Raúl Mondesi, José Offerman, Rey Sanchez).

And then there's the 180-pound -- probably more now -- proverbial elephant in the living room (aka, Rafael Palmero) with whom voters likely share conflicting emotions. Does the BBWAA place more weight on the HOF stats (.288, 3,020 hits, 569 home runs, 1,385 runs batted in) than the positive test for steroids in Palmeiro's last season? We'll know in January.

Edgar received votes from 36 percent of the BBWAA this year. Martinez now must compete with a large pool of contenders and hope to receive the compulsory five percent of votes to stay on the 2012 ballot.

Last year we likened Martinez to a chocolate lab at the Genesee Dog Park. The HOF needs more chocolate labs than pit bulls.

Things would been less complicated if the BBWAA listened to us last year and voted Martinez in the 2010 HOF.