With this year's baseball Hall of Fame elections complete, we take a quick look at next year's ballot. Three names are likely to dominate the discussion: Rickey Henderson, Jim Rice, and Mark McGwire (again).

Rickey Henderson is the most notable new name on the 2009 ballot, and will certainly get in, barring him deciding to play again. Other newbies that could get some support (i.e. not fall off in one year) including David Cone, Mark Grace, and Jesse Orosco. However, the new class is all about Henderson. The only question is how many moron writers won't vote for him because he's Rickey.

The next biggest story is the final appearance of Jim Rice. He came just 16 votes shy of election this year. History points to Rice being inducted next year, but it's not certain. What is certain is another year of endless arguments both for and against him.

After that, it's Mark McGwire, because every time sportswriters can get on their soapbox about steroids, they will. For them, McGwire is like a yearly physical. Obviously, McGwire won't get a sniff of election.

After their big jumps this year, Andre Dawson and Bert Blyleven have an outside shot of election next year. Rickey's presence will probably prevent either from making, because that's how this works for some reason. Top new candidates always hurt the backlog.

Everyone else that got at least 5% of the ballot will return, except for Dave Concepcion, who has used up his eligibility. Don't expect big moves for any of them unless the Tim Raines campaign starts convincing people.

Who would you vote for the 2009 ballot? Right now, I'd go with Rickey (of course), the "sabremetric darlings" Raines, Blyleven, and Trammell, and McGwire (not going into it now). I'd still consider Murhpy, Dawson, and maybe Cone in a "you shouldn't fall off the ballot right away" way.