Four weeks ago, when the Hall of Fame announced the ballot for its “Modern Baseball Era” election, I speculated that the 10-man ballot had been rigged so that no one could get in the way of Marvin Miller’s long delayed election. Miller had appeared on a Hall’s veterans ballot six times and had been rejected six time.

In Miller’s 10- year period of rejection during his lifetime (he died in 2012), he saw Bowie Kuhn elected to the Hall, one of the most undeserved elections in the Hall’s history. Red Barber, the renowned baseball announcer, once declared that the three men who had made the greatest impact on baseball were Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson and Marvin Miller. He did not mention Bowie Kuhn, the baseball commissioner from 1969 to 1984.

Another election is upon us, and I have to admit I’m not so sure about …

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One of baseball’s four royal families has just added another jewel to its crown. Aaron Boone, brother of Bret, son of Bob and grandson of Ray, has introduced pinstripes to the Boone family coat of arms

This Boone was named manager of the Yankees last Friday, as strange as it may seem for a television analyst who has never sat in a dugout, major league or minor, as a manager or even a coach.

In his new position, he is the latest manager to become part of the trend that has consumed Major League Baseball. The game has been overrun by analytics, and they have prompted general managers, with ownership consent, if not encouragement, to assume control of the dugout as well as the front office.

The day may be near, if it isn’t here already, when the general manager fills out the lineup card in his office and sends it down to the manager in his office. To be sure, this is not …

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Major League Baseball has no more controversial issue than steroids. Even though the performance enhancing drug seems to have waned in its usage, it remains an issue, currently because of Hall of Fame voting. Yes, it’s that time of the baseball year, when eligible writers get to say which former players should be inducted and honored with bronze plaques in Cooperstown.

It’s a ritual from an earlier era, and it’s not about to fade away. Nor is the Hall of Fame or its officials going to change. The Hall is a private business and can do what it wants.

Joe Morgan, the Hall of Fame second baseman, is also the Hall’s vice chairman. He carries a lot of weight in Cooperstown, and that’s why the e-mail letter he sent to voting writers last week has to be viewed seriously.

The letter, nearly 1,100 words long, has to be taken seriously because it is the first time an influential HOF figure has inserted himself in the steroids debate.

Morgan, however, left himself open to question and criticism …

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