Edgar Martinez is ahead in the count.
There's still a month to go, but early returns in Hall of Fame balloting indicate the former Mariners designated hitter might be inching closer to enshrinement in Cooperstown.
Martinez, 54, has been named on 82.6 percent of baseball writers' ballots tracked by noted hall vote tabulator Ryan Thibodaux. Martinez, who has two years of eligibility remaining, needs to be on 75 percent of the ballots for election, but with only a small percentage currently turned in, Thibodaux advises caution.
"I don't think Edgar fans should get their hopes up too much for this year," Thibodaux told SeattlePI on Wednesday.