masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe 2011 Hall of Fame ballot has been released, and former Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro is on it.

Working in his favor: Palmeiro, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray are the only players in baseball history with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. Aaron, Mays and Murray are in the Hall of Fame.

Working against him: That failed test for performance-enhancing drugs in 2005.

Palmeiro could have been a first-ballot inductee, but not anymore. He might not make it at all.

Your…The 2011 Hall of Fame ballot has been released, and former Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro is on it.

Working in his favor: Palmeiro, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray are the only players in baseball history with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. Aaron, Mays and Murray are in the Hall of Fame.

Working against him: That failed test for performance-enhancing drugs in 2005.

Palmeiro could have been a first-ballot inductee, but not anymore. He might not make it at all.

Your thoughts?

Second baseman Roberto Alomar should make it after falling short by fewer than 10 votes last year. Players need to be included on 75 percent of the ballots. It’s hard to imagine him slipping in the voting.

Results will be announced on Jan. 5.

Can Bert Blyleven finally get into Cooperstown? Please?

B.J. Surhoff is on the ballot for the first time. So is Charles Johnson.

Here is the complete list of first-timers:

Juan Gonzalez, Jeff Bagwell, Larry Walker, Benito Santiago, Rafael Palmeiro, Kevin Brown, John Franco, Al Leiter, Kirk Rueter, Tino Martinez, John Olerud, Carlos Baerga, Bret Boone, Bobby Higginson, Marquis Grissom, Charles Johnson and B.J. Surhoff.

Here are the holdovers:

Roberto Alomar, Harold Baines, Bert Blyleven, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Lee Smith and Alan Trammell.