The HOF is obviously a big honor and still a big deal, but do you think it is as highly thought of as it was in the past? There is so much gray area now about who should be considered, who was doing what etc. Plus sadly, I am not sure the younger generation cares as much about the history of the game just who is playing now or possibly who they watched while growing up (not to sound like an 85 year old curmudgeon). I could see it go either way for Mauer, although currently trending towards not. I think it might depend a little on how he plays the next few years and if in retrospect if it looks like his downtime was due to concussion or other issues. A world series win the next couple of seasons would help..... Too bad if he does not get in, because it did look like much more of a sure think 7 to 8 years ago, and it would have been fun to see a hometown player who seems in general to be a good guy to get in for his hometown team. It would have to be a bit of a disappointment for him, but he seems grounded enough where he will still be able to enjoy spending his post-career at his "cabin" and watching his girls win the high school championship for whatever sport they are playing and being a color commentator for some network (the last one might be somewhat unlikely) .