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December 21, 2018

Sun-Times, Cubs radio voice Pat Hughes receives multiyear contract extension https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-radio-voice-pat-hughes-receives-multiyear-contract- extension/

 Chicago Sun-Times, Sports media: For Marquee to be YES, Cubs must overcome new, bigger challenges https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/sports-media-cubs-marquee-yankees-yes-network- blackhawks-bulls-white-sox--sports-chicago-1576549/

 Cubs.com, Cubs sign radio announcer Hughes to extension https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-extend-radio-announcer-pat-hughes/c-302088024

 NBC Sports Chicago, Cubs Mailbag: Javy Baez, , , rumors and more https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/cubs-mailbag-future-javy-baez-and-potential-trade- rumors-mlb-russell-descalso-zobrist-harper-rizzo-bryant

, Pat Hughes signs multiyear deal to continue as Cubs radio announcer: 'How much luckier can a guy be?' https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-pat-hughes--radio-contract- 20181220-story.html

 Chicago Tribune, Assessing all 35 candidates on the 2019 Hall of Fame ballot, from to to Freddy Garcia https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/ct-spt-baseball-hall-of-fame-ballot-ranking- 20181221-story.html

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Chicago Sun-Times Cubs radio voice Pat Hughes receives multiyear contract extension By Jeff Agrest

One of my favorite days of the year is the day of the Cubs’ first spring-training radio broadcast with Pat Hughes on the call. Whatever the weather is outside, it immediately feels like summer.

That’s the effect Hughes has on people, and it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Hughes received a multiyear contract extension to remain the Cubs’ radio play-by-play voice on The Score, the team and the station announced Thursday.

An eight-time Sportscaster of the Year winner, Hughes will enter his 24th season with the Cubs. Analyst returns to call the action with him.

Hughes, 63, has been calling major-league baseball for 36 consecutive years. He began in 1983, at age 27, as the Twins’ TV play-by-play voice. He then spent 12 years calling Brewers games on the radio with Hall of Fame broadcaster .

Hughes’ first season with the Cubs was in 1996. He worked alongside for 15 years, until Santo’s death in December 2010. Their broadcasts became known as the “Pat and Ron Show” because they weren’t just calling a baseball game, they were having a conversation open to the public. was with Hughes through 2013, and Coomer came aboard the next season.

Through it all, Hughes has been the epitome of professionalism. You’ll hear him open a broadcast by saying, “This is Pat Hughes reporting,” which is unique. You might not consider an announcer a reporter, but in essence, that’s what Hughes is. He’s breaking the news of every pitch and every play to his listeners. And he does so with great attention to detail, down to the color of the players’ shoes and socks.

Hughes has the distinction of being the only Cubs announcer to call a winner in the franchise’s 142 seasons in the . The first game broadcast on radio was in 1921, and the Cubs’ previous world championship team was in 1908.

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Chicago Sun-Times Sports media: For Marquee to be YES, Cubs must overcome new, bigger challenges By Jeff Agrest

What channel is Marquee?

That was the first question I was asked on about the Cubs’ TV network that will debut in 2020.

Obviously, I didn’t have an answer, and we can only hope there will be one by 2020.

Distribution will be the Cubs’ biggest challenge as they launch their own with the help of . Will their asking price keep them off cable and satellite providers at the start? Dodgers games have been available on just one carrier in Southern for five years.

But the Dodgers’ disaster has been an outlier among RSN disputes. The Cubs likely fashion themselves as the Yankees of the National League and figure they can recreate the Bronx Bombers’ hugely successful YES Network in the Midwest.

However, if distributing Marquee is the Cubs’ biggest challenge, creating content will be close behind.

Do the math: There’s 365 days in a year and 162 games in a regular season, but the Cubs won’t carry all of those games. If, say, 12 are picked up by ESPN and Fox, Marquee is down to 150 games. Will the Cubs keep them all or sell some off to an over-the-air station? The Yankees were on WPIX in New York 21 times last season. If the Cubs aired 20 games on, say, WGN, Marquee is down to 130 games.

The Yankees share air time with the NBA’s Nets, MLS’ Football Club and various college sports. With the Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox reupping with NBC Sports Chicago next October, the Cubs don’t appear to have another major local partner. They likely will have lots of original programming and rerun old games — which YES does, too — but can that carry the network for most of the year?

More important, will the content justify the price the Cubs will ask distributors to pay?

Their ratings for games likely will. According to Maury Brown of Forbes, baseball ranked first in prime time on cable in every U.S. MLB market except last season. The game is struggling with TV ratings on a national stage, but it remains strong locally.

Still, will the Cubs continue to move the needle as they have since 2015? Much could change in the early years of Marquee. ’s contract has the first of two club options after next season. Javy Baez, and are eligible for free agency after the 2021 season. And with ’s deal expiring after next season, the Cubs might be introducing a new along with their new network?

What about the cord-cutters? This isn’t exactly the best time to launch a start-up, with 30 million U.S. cord-cutters this year and 65 million expected next year. So expect streaming to play a role in the Cubs’ plans, and there are all kinds of questions that come with that. Would fans have to subscribe to Marquee to stream games? Would there be an over-the-top option? What would that cost?

Those are some of the balls the Cubs will juggle. But they’re likely banking on fans doing what they’ve done for decades: show up. Demand providers carry Marquee, watch it year-round and provide the team with the ratings and advertising revenue it’s seeking.

This isn’t to say Marquee can’t be the YES of the Midwest. But it’s facing more challenges, and different ones, than its predecessor.

Spinning the dial

Choose: Zach Zaidman doing play-by-play for Cubs games or DePaul games? To me, it’s not even close. Zaidman is outstanding calling the Blue Demons on The Score. He sets the scene, pays attention to detail and is as enthusiastic as they come. Granted, it’s difficult to judge Zaidman on one of a baseball game each day, but from what we’ve heard, seems to come naturally. You can hear him on 670-AM at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, when the Blue Demons host Boston College. The Blackhawks’ pregame show before home games on WGN Radio can be a tough listen, and it has nothing to do with host Chris Boden and analyst Troy Murray. Both are great at their jobs. But the nonstop music blaring out of the speakers in the background can be very distracting. Moving the show elsewhere in the building might be tough logistically, but it’d be for the best. Remote patrol

The Week 17 “Sunday Night Football” game is still up in the air. Word is, Eagles-Redskins and Colts- Titans are the front-runners, assuming the results in Week 16 keep those teams in playoff contention. An announcement is likely to come Sunday night. ESPN released half of the schedule for its 30th season of “,” and the Cubs are set for at least two games. They’ll visit the Dodgers on June 16 and play the Pirates in the MLB Little League Classic on Aug. 18 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

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Cubs.com Cubs sign radio announcer Hughes to extension By Jordan Bastian

As much as 's ivy-covered brick walls or the singing of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," hearing Pat Hughes calling games on the radio has become synonymous with baseball on the North Side of Chicago. Fans can rest assured that he will continue on as the voice of the Cubs.

On Thursday, the Cubs and Entercom announced that Hughes has been signed to a multi-year extension to serve as the team's radio play-by-play man on WSCR-AM 670 The Score, alongside color analyst Ron Coomer. The 2019 campaign will mark Hughes' 24th in the radio booth for the Cubs.

"For more than two decades, Pat has brought Cubs games to life for our fans as the radio voice of the Cubs," Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney said in a release. "He has delivered countless monumental play-by-play calls from walk-off victories to no-hitters and of course, our win.

"We look forward to Pat continuing to make history with our team and deliver many more memorable moments for our fans."

Hughes, who joined the Cubs' booth in 1996, is an eight-time recipient of the Illinois Sportscaster of the Year Award, and he was nominated again for his work during the 2018 season. Prior to joining the Cubs' broadcast team, Hughes spent a dozen years working alongside Bob Uecker on Brewers broadcasts. He cut his baseball broadcasting teeth calling Minor Leagues games with the San Jose Missions ('78-81) and ('82).

"Pat is the iconic voice of the ," senior vice president and market manager for Entercom Chicago Jimmy de Castro said in a statement. "We are both proud and honored to have him on our team at 670 The Score and Entercom Chicago. Pat is the eyes and ears for so many Cubs fans both in Chicago and worldwide. We are thrilled he will continue as the radio voice for multiple years to come."

Multiple reports also surfaced earlier this week that the Cubs are exploring partners for the launch of their own regional sports network (reportedly to be called "Marquee") following the 2019 season. Cubs games are currently aired on NBC Sports Chicago, but the deal expires in '19. Chicago has not made any formal announcements on that front.

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NBC Sports Chicago Cubs Mailbag: Javy Baez, Addison Russell, Bryce Harper, trade rumors and more By Tony Andracki

Welcome to our final Cubs mailbag of 2018!

A heartfelt thank you to everybody who read, watched or listened to any of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs content this year and we hope you all have a fantastic and joyous holiday season.

Now, onto the questions about Javy Baez, Bryce Harper, Addison Russell, , future trades and more:

What is the plan with Javy start at second or SS? — hola (@buck3y31)

Mr. Mago will start at for the Cubs in 2019. There is no question about that with Russell suspended for the first 28 games of the season and his future beyond that very much in doubt. Even if Russell does complete his redemption tour and make it back to the field in a Cubs uniform (which may be tougher now that even more disturbing details about his past have surfaced publicly this week), he still hasn't been a very valuable overall player the last couple seasons. Meanwhile, Baez was the runner- up in NL MVP voting last season and is certainly more than capable of playing shortstop over the long haul.

Until proven otherwise, Baez is the Cubs' answer at shortstop both in the short-term and long-term.

Everyone expects Javy to take a step backwards this year after having a breakout season. However I expect him to take even another step forward this year and solidify himself as a top 5 player in the MLB. Agree or disagree? — Sterling Clay Temple (@TheLillyBros)

I disagree, but that doesn't mean I'm not high on Javy for 2019 or beyond. It's just that becoming the Top 5 player in the league on an annual basis is an awfully lofty goal to meet. If I was starting a franchise from scratch, I'd probably rather have a few guys over Javy, including Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant, , Christian Yelich and , just to name a few.

Javy still has a lot of holes in his game/swing as he still hardly walks, chases a ton of pitches out of the zone, swings-and-misses a lot even in the zone and often gets himself out. He was fantastic in 2018, proved he's made some serious strides in his game and very well may continue to develop, but it's also totally possible he takes at least a small step back in 2019.

Is Addison on the team when starts? — Ted Gruber (@tedgruber)

I don't know. A week ago (or even a few days ago), I would've said yes for sure because they tendered him a contract and seemed intent on providing him aid and support. But the information that came out publicly this week is jarring, though it's also possible the Cubs already knew those details. They talked to Russell's ex-wife, Melisa Reidy, in depth about the situation and how they can improve as an organization in lending support to wives, girlfriends and families in the future. Reidy also cooperated with on the investigation this fall, which resulted in the 40-game suspension, so it's very likely these disturbing details were divulged in that process.

I'm going to say he is on the team when the Cubs report to Mesa, Ariz., but I know most fans are hoping that's not the case, which is totally understandable.

Why descalso and who gets traded now? — pd (@FlipWilkesBooth)

Descalso is known as a quality clubhouse guy and can potentially grow into a role as leader and trusted/valued voice within the locker room. That was one of the main areas the Cubs wanted to address this winter and they handed Descalso a multi-year deal (two years with an option for a third season) at a very affordable rate, so it doesn't hurt the budget and allows the veteran utility guy the security/stability to earn his new teammates' trust and find his voice. He also checks a lot of boxes as a left-handed bat who can play all over the field.

As for trades, there is absolutely no reason to think a trade is coming because Descalso is on the roster. If the Cubs do trade anybody this winter, it will not be directly correlated to signing the veteran. Descalso essentially takes the roster spot of , and there is no current roster crunch for position players.

What’s does the Cubs signing of Descalso mean for Addison Russell? — Joey Huberts (@_thejhub)

Nothing. Strictly from a baseball sense, Descalso signing doesn't change anything with Russell given that Descalso isn't really a shortstop anymore and is only going to keep aging. Even if Russell makes a return to the Cubs, Descalso can play every position but and and will be more of a reserve anyways.

The only thing that means anything for Russell is his therapy/rehab and how the Cubs view the steps he's taken in an effort to improve significantly as a person, father and husband.

So how likely is it the @Cubs will move Zobrist or Heyward or Chatwood or Russell... — John barger (@Jbarger1967)

I don't think it's likely at all for any of the guys, but we'll break down each individually.

Heyward: His contract is immovable at this point with five years and more than $100 million remaining. Plus, he's still a valued voice in the clubhouse, provides Gold Glove defense and showed some signs of life with the bat in 2018.

Chatwood: He led the entire league in walks last year despite hardly pitching in the final two months of the season. Nobody wants to pay $25.5 million over the next two years for a guy with that profile, thus he's basically impossible to trade unless the Cubs ate a bunch of that money or included a top prospect to help get the contract off the books.

Russell: The Cubs tendered Russell a contract for 2019 a few weeks ago and have made a lot of statements this winter about how they feel the need to support him and continue to help him get the therapy and help he needs to turn his life off the field around. Even with the disturbing details that have come out this week, it would seem awfully hypocritical if the Cubs opted to then deal the embattled shortstop for any assets in return. If the Cubs get rid of Russell, it basically has to be via a straight release and not a trade.

Zobrist: He's only under contract for one more season and is coming off a fantastic 2018 where he managed to stay healthy and was once again one of the Cubs' most valuable hitters. The Cubs may want to shed salary, but they also want to win and retaining Zobrist is a great way to find success in the W column. Here's what said at the last week about how Zobrist leads by example for this young team:

"This is a perfect example — like this is the kind of at-bat we want. Watch this guy and watch the way he does it and the way he battles and thinks about the at-bat in his preparation before the game, the way he thinks about it in the on-deck circle, the way he executes his gameplan. The way he hits is as professional as it gets. Having those kinds of examples around is really important."

If signing Bryce Harper meant losing Anthony Rizzo 3 years from now would you do it? — Sterling Clay Temple (@TheLillyBros)

This is a great question, Sterling. Really made me think. I believe Rizzo may actually give the Cubs a bit of a discount in a couple years to remain with the franchise for the rest of his career (it helps that his agent is not and he's already given the team a massive discount), but he also may choose to take that as his only opportunity to truly cash in before his career is over. With everything Rizzo has meant to this team as the face of the franchise as they ended the historic drought, any move that means he doesn't finish his career as a Cub is a tough one to stomach.

That being said, if this were just a video game or fantasy baseball or something like that, I would choose Harper now than Rizzo 3 years from now. Rizzo would be entering his age-32 season at that point and his history of back injuries is at least a slight cause for concern, even if they've been unrelated incidents. Either way, these next 3 years is the true window of contention for the Cubs and in my mind, they should go all in to try to win at least another ring in those years. Harper would be a HUGE step toward that goal.

Are the Cubs even a playoff team anymore? — Johnny (@Pcengrat)

Yes. So many things went wrong for the Cubs in 2018 and so many things went right for the Brewers, yet the Cubs still won 95 games and owned first place in the division until Game 163.

They also haven't lost any core members of the 2018 team, with the biggest subtractions being (who played only a little over a month with the club), Tommy La Stella (a part-time pinch- hitter/role player) and a pair of arms in and , who will still need to be replaced this winter.

The Cubs also have for all of 2019 and are hoping for a healthier season overall from the roster, but namely Kris Bryant and .

Any idea what there gonna do about Joe? Extend, play out the deal and move on from him? Very confusing as to how this has been going on — Everything Niners/Cubs (@Ninerfan4Martin)

Honestly, a lot of that has to do with how the 2019 season plays out. If the Cubs underwhelm again, it's much more likely the Cubs choose to cut ties with Maddon and let him walk instead of working out an extension. But even if 2019 is a dream season (meaning another World Series championship), it's still possible this is Maddon's last season as Cubs manager. The front office may want to go in a different direction or maybe Maddon would want to seek another opportunity elsewhere.

For all the crap he's gotten — and still gets — on social media, whenever Maddon does leave Chicago, he'll go down as arguably the best manager in Cubs franchise history and will certainly wind up in the game's Hall of Fame down the line.

What is on the Cubs Christmas Wish List? — Shawn Hairald (@SHairald23)

Bullpen arms (yes, plural), a veteran catcher, more infield depth (namely shortstop) and — maybe most of all — Bryce Harper willing to give the Cubs a ridiculous discount just to play at Wrigley Field alongside his buddy Kris Bryant and potentially win a championship. That last one would take nothing short of a miracle to occur, but hey, 'tis the season, right?

Will the Chicago Cubs promote to bench or hire someone from outside the organization? — Rowan Campbell (@RustaRow)

That's a good question and Venable may be a good option for the job. The Cubs certainly want continuity within their coaching staff, as they proved by bringing back former organizational hitting coordinator as the new hitting coach and promoting from within as pitching coach. That said, it's probably more likely the Cubs go outside the organization to hire their bench coach, as 2018 was Venable's first year as a coach and it may be a bit of a jump to immediately move to Maddon's right-hand man in the . The Cubs do need a trusted voice for that spot and isn't coming for that spot, so anything could happen.

Remember when Rizzo started hitting a ton after using Szczur's bat in the '16 playoffs. How about Heyward using a different stick? I had a tall, lanky friend in H.S. who was slumping until he started using my shorter bat. He got around quicker and started smacking line drives. — Alfio (@AJinLA)

Good question and I don't know if Heyward has ever switched to a shorter/lighter bat while in a Cubs uniform. It's definitely something I will inquire about in spring training or next season.

But when it boils down to it, I don't think it's the bat that is causing Heyward some trouble. He's better when he gets his hands in the right spot to start and carry that through the hitting zone instead of coming on top of the ball. He made an adjustment in that regard in the middle of last year and then fell back overall. With a full offseason to work on it and some recent success to build off of, maybe Heyward comes back a better overall hitter next year. Of course, Cubs fans have heard that before...

1. What Reliever do you think the Cubs ultimately sign? 2. Bears cover -4 in SF this weekend? 3. Favorite Xmas movie 4. How many suits does @thekapman own? 5. If you were stranded on an island with one Cubs player, who would you hope it was & why? — Brandon Spinner WAFF (@wxSpinner89)

Holy questions, Spinner. Let's do this lightning round:

1. They're going to look for low-risk/high-reward type bargains, so put me down for a guy like Carson Smith, A.J. Ramos or . 2. Yes, Bears will cover. 3. It's a between Christmas Vacation and Elf. I *have* to watch both each Christmas season. 4. Kap probably owns twice as many suits as I have T-shirts. He's the best dressed dude I know and you're second on that list, Spin. 5. . I was tempted to say Kyle Schwarber because he's my favorite guy to talk to in the clubhouse, but Hendricks is a close second in that regard and he's an Ivy League educated dude who probably would be able to engineer some sort of boat for us to utilize or find a way to signal the search parties.

- Is there a legendary Hall of Famer that you'd compare Eddie Jackson to? - Will the Brewers be the MLB's Jaguars of 2018 and regress after a season where everything came together? - Which vet is most likely to regress: Lester, Zobrist, Hamels - N*Sync or Hanson Christmas album? — Mark Strotman (@markstrot)

Another lightning round!

1. Duh, Strot, Eddie Jackson is very clearly the second coming of Ed Reed. Clown question, bro. 2. I don't think the Brewers will be competing for the No. 1 draft pick next season the way the Jags are this year, but I do expect some regression. It's possible they completely fall off the map, but I'd be shocked if they do. They still have so much talent, a great coaching staff/front office and now feel like they have unfinished business from the way 2018 ended so close to a World Series bid. 3. I'm going to say Hamels here. Lester keeps finding ways to get outs and Zobrist held up remarkably well last year thanks to regular rest. Hamels struggled for years before coming to the Cubs last July and he has a ton of on his arm, so a regression is coming at some point. Either way, don't expect Hamels to pitch to a 2.36 ERA all season given the fact he's only turned in a full season with a sub-3.00 ERA twice before in his career (2014, 2011).

What do you think the theme/slogan will be for the 2019 season? — Kathy Kummer (@PrincessKathy)

Great question, Kathy. I don't know, but Maddon said he's already been thinking up a lot of ideas for slogans/messages in 2019. Maybe he goes somewhere along the line of "Mouthwash" because the 2018 season left such an ugly taste in the mouths of everybody within the organization?

If you mean the slogan Tom Ricketts unveils at Cubs Convention each year as part of the PR ploy, I'm not sure about that. It's usually something very simple and given the Cubs are coming off a disappointing season, how about we go with: "Get after it."

Is "positive regression" a thing??? And since it's not, please tell me why you think it is... — Slavko Bekovic (@SBekovic)

Classic Slav, always hatin'.

"Positive regression" is a real thing, Mr. Bekovic, but I agree that it doesn't really make sense as a phrase. It's an oxymoron, like "jumbo shrimp." This is a rather popular term around sports, but particularly within baseball. It means a regression to the mean, but since people take that phrase to indicate a guy falling back to earth after exceeding expectations, "positive regression" was invented and now used to indicate a player rebounding off a tough season or stretch. A perfect example of "positive regression" is Kris Bryant, who I would bet very good money on having a 2019 season much more in line with the rest of his career and 2018 becoming the outlier. if the #Bears don't get a playoff bye, who do you want them facing in the first round? do you think the Rams will lose one more and #Bears win out? — Kyle Gore (@Cubsfan122112)

I don't think the Bears will get a first-round bye, as the Rams have an easy schedule remaining and the Bears will have to go into Minnesota next week and beat a team that will likely be playing for their postseason lives.

As for first-round opponent, I'd probably rather have the Bears host the Eagles than anybody else. The Seahawks are starting to scare me with the way they've been playing the last couple months and it'd be awfully dangerous on the Bears to play the Vikings in Week 17 and then host them again the next week with the season on the line.

Yes, the Eagles just surprising the Rams at home, but Jared Goff and Co. have been broken for a few weeks now and their defense is nothing like the Bears' unit. Philly is also without their franchise QB (Carson Wentz) and at some point, Nick Foles' magic will probably out.

What is the Bears’ franchise record for rushing yards in a playoff game by a QB? With how mobile Mitch Trubisky is, is he about to set that record come playoff time? — Cubs 2016 Champs (@Spartacus217)

I don't know the answer — that's a question better suited for Chris Kamka. But to answer your second question: YES.

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Chicago Tribune Pat Hughes signs multiyear deal to continue as Cubs radio announcer: 'How much luckier can a guy be?' By Phil Rosenthal

Whatever changes the Cubs make in the next couple of years, at least one thing will remain constant: Pat Hughes has signed a multiyear deal to remain the team’s radio play-by-play announcer.

The Cubs and their station WSCR-AM 670’s parent, Entercom Communications, announced the deal Thursday. It’s a two-year deal with an option for a third season.

“I have every reason to think it will be a full three-year deal,” Hughes said. “I feel great.”

Hughes, 63, has been voice of the Cubs since 1996, initially paired with the late Ron Santo on WGN-AM 720. More recently Hughes has worked alongside Ron Coomer on The Score.

“I was thinking today, I work with Coomer, a great guy,” Hughes said. “Mitch Rosen (WSCR’s operations director) is a wonderful guy to report to. The Cubs give us total freedom, and we’ve had a playoff team for four straight years, and I hope many more in a row. And we have the best fan base on the planet.

“So I feel like, ‘How much luckier can a guy be?’ I certainly have covered my share of bad teams.”

The 2019 season, Hughes’ 24th with the Cubs, will be his 37th as a major-league announcer. He broke in with the in 1983 after minor-league stints with the San Jose Missions and Columbus Clippers, then spent a dozen seasons with the Brewers.

Hughes also was the longtime voice of Marquette University basketball and was an announcer for the , the and Badgers as well as a contributor to Minnesota North Stars telecasts.

An eight-time honoree as Illinois Sportscaster of the Year, Hughes is a finalist again this year.

Hughes also has carved out a niche business preserving sportscasting history, producing CDs dedicated to various announcing greats with clips of their most memorable work as part of the ongoing “Baseball Voices” series.

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Chicago Tribune Assessing all 35 candidates on the 2019 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, from Sammy Sosa to Ted Lilly to Freddy Garcia By Paul Sullivan

The Hall of Fame Class of 2019 won’t be announced until Jan. 22, but the baseball writers’ ballots must be submitted by Dec. 31.

Along with the annual debate over PED-tainted candidates, the recent selections, and — whose career numbers weren’t deemed worthy by writers during their eligibility period — has complicated this year’s ballot a bit.

Will their selections lead voters to support others who have been overlooked on previous ballots?

Here are the 35 candidates placed in six categories, from the shoo-ins to the why-are-they-on-the-ballot guys.

Shoo-ins : Greatest reliever in baseball history and all-time saves leader. Only question is whether he’ll be the first unanimous selection. (Spoiler alert: No.)

Edgar Martinez: Close but no cigar in 2018 with 70.4 percent, the Mariners has gained ground steadily and is expected to be elected in his 10th and final year of eligibility.

On the cusp : When recording wins meant something, “Moose” was among the best with a .638 career . Of modern-era starters with 250-plus wins, only , , , and Grover Alexander have a higher percentage.

Roy Halladay: Two-time winner with two no-hitters, including a and one of only two postseason no-nos (the other was ’s perfect game in the ). With 67 complete games, Halladay was the throwback.

Long climb ahead : Disappointing 37 percent total in his first year on the ballot, but he could take the long route like Martinez and . Had 11 Gold Gloves and 2,877 hits over 24 seasons.

HOF purgatory : All-time home-run king and best hitter of his generation denied entrance because of PED use. Has four more chances with writers before putting his fate in the hands of a veterans committee.

Roger Clemens: Seven-time Cy Young winner would be another no-brainer if not for steroid allegations. Like Bonds, he’s waiting for the older Baseball Writers’ Association of America voters to die off.

Manny Ramirez: With 555 home runs and eighth in all-time slugging percentage (.585), he would be a first-ballot pick without the PED suspensions. Manny being Manny.

Gary Sheffield: Another member of the 500-homer club (509), once a milestone that signaled automatic induction. Unfortunately he admitted to unknowingly using a steroid called “the cream” during workouts with Bonds in 2002.

Sammy Sosa: With 7.8 percent of the votes in 2018, Slammin’ Sammy barely surpassed the 5 percent necessary to remain on the ballot, despite his 609 home runs. In 2009, anonymous lawyers told that Sosa tested positive in an anonymous drug test in 2003, leaving him on the outside looking in.

Curt Schilling: Polarizing player for his political views, Schilling was one of the best postseason of his era (11-2 with a 2.23 ERA in 19 starts) and ranks 15th all time in (3,116). But he might be his own worst enemy when it comes to trolling voters.

Miguel Tejada: An MVP and six-time All-Star, Tejada received a 105-game suspension for amphetamines in 2013. Probably not a viable candidate anyway.

Andy Pettitte: Holds the all-time postseason record for wins (19), finished with a stellar .627 career winning percentage and won five World Series rings with the Yankees. But he admitted to using HGH twice in 2004.

Baines/Smith effect

Fred McGriff: With 493 home runs and eight seasons of 100-plus RBIs, “Crime Dog” should benefit from statistical comparisons with Baines. But it’s his last year on the ballot and he received only 23.2 percent of the votes in 2018.

Larry Walker: An MVP winner with seven Gold Gloves and a .565 career slugging percentage (12th all time), Walker has two more chances to convince voters he wasn’t just a creation. Too late to make the long climb from 34.1 percent in 2018.

Scott Rolen: Eight Gold Gloves at third base with 10 seasons of 20 or more home runs, Rolen was a great all-around player who just wasn’t good enough to make the cut.

Jeff Kent: MVP whose 351 home runs as a are the most by anyone at the position, Kent’s candidacy has never gained steam. He got only 14.5 percent of the votes last year in his fifth year of eligibility.

Andruw Jones: Ten Gold Gloves with 434 home runs. Only , Ken Griffey Jr. and have more homers and 10 or more Gold Gloves.

Todd Helton: First-time eligible, Helton ranks 19th all time in OPS (.953) and .300 or better in 12 seasons, including an NL-leading .372 in 2000. Will he suffer from the Coors Field factor like Walker?

Billy Wagner: Dominant finished with 422 saves and a career 2.31 ERA, lowest among left-handed pitchers in the live-ball era with at least 500 innings. Smith’s selection may help fellow closers, but at 11.1 percent of the votes in 2018, he’s too far off to have a shot.

Ballot fillers : Cubs fans in the left-field bleachers once waved Twinkies at the not-so-svelte Berkman, a good sport who then ate one to a loud ovation.

Rick Ankiel: Transitioned to the outfield after getting the as a . Not anywhere close to being a Hall of Famer at either spot.

Ted Lilly: Punched a manager, slammed his mitt to the ground after serving up a postseason homer in 2007 and smashed water pipes in the visiting dugout after the Cubs lost to the Dodgers in the 2008 NLDS. First-ballot pick in the Instigator Hall of Fame.

Juan Pierre: Former Cubs and White Sox was a great guy with blazing speed but can’t steal his way into Cooperstown.

Roy Oswalt: Solid starter who was once praised during a Cubs-Astros game by announcers and , igniting a feud with Cubs players that ultimately sank the 2004 season.

Jason Bay: taped Bay’s baseball card to his locker to remind him that Bay “owned” him. But Bay didn’t own too many other pitchers.

Derek Lowe: Winning pitcher for the Red Sox in drought-ending Game 4 of the . That experience should be reward enough.

Freddy Garcia: Winning pitcher for the White Sox in drought-ending Game 4 of the . (See Lowe.)

Jon Garland: Came to the White Sox in one of the worst deals in Cubs history and helped them win a ring in ’05. Good guy — but no chance.

Travis Hafner: Average slugging percentage of .611 and OPS of 1.030 from 2004-06 with Indians but couldn’t maintain that HOF-worthy pace.

Kevin Youkilis: Good all-around player with two rings. Should be honored just to be on the ballot.

Vernon Wells: Nice five-season stretch with the Blue Jays from 2002-06 but leveled off thereafter.

Michael Young: Solid shortstop with .300 career average and seven All-Star Games but could be one- and-done on the ballot.

Placido Polanco: Has as good a chance at the HOF as Placido Domingo.

Darren Oliver: Wait a sec. Isn’t he still pitching?

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