By BRENDAN MCGAIR

Sports writer

Today’s Hall of Fame announcement, slated for around 2 o’clock, concerns one thing and one thing only: Will Jim Rice finally become enshrined in baseball’s hallowed Hall?
“We’re all cautiously optimistic,” said Pawtucket Red Sox President Mike Tamburro, who like many around these parts will be waiting with baited breath for word to filter down from Cooperstown, NY.
Rice’s fate is held by the baseball writers privileged enough to determine who shall pass and who is stopped at the gate. Just another textbook case of the pen being mightier than the sword.
Rice made an appearance at the Boston Baseball Writers’ Dinner this past Thursday at the Westin Waterfront Hotel. The ex-Red Sox slugger was on hand to receive the Judge Emil Fuchs Award, bestowed upon someone for his longevity in baseball. The honor seemed secondary since all anyone wanted to focus on was whether the 15th – and final opportunity Rice can be elected by the writers – would turn out to be the charm.
In true Rice fashion, he pooh-poohed the notion he will be pacing throughout his home today, awaiting the all-important call from the Hall.
“I’m not thinking about it, it’s not on my mind,” said Rice, an eight-time All-Star and the American League’s MVP in ’78. “The votes are in (all ballots were due by New Year’s Eve), it’s going happen on Monday, you’ve got to let it go.”
Applying a slight twist of humor, Rice added, “I’ve been (in this wait-and-see position) nine times, so why think about it now?”
The worry-free approach Rice seems to carry allows for others to spread the word about the left fielder’s accomplishments. Slot Tamburro and longtime PawSox owner Ben Mondor at the top of the list of those championing for Rice’s rightful placement in the HOF.
Or to further illustrate, view Tamburro and Mondor as a tag-team simply looking to spread the gospel according to Jim Ed Rice, one of the most feared hitters of his era (1974-89).
 “Jim deserves fair consideration, which is all what we’ve ever asked,” said Tamburro. “He’s earned this opportunity.”
The reason why Mondor and Tamburro feel as passionately as they do stems from Rice being an original PawSox icon. Rice, who played in Pawtucket in 1973-74, visits McCoy Stadium several times throughout the season, thus the close relationship.
“He’s one of our own,” said Tamburro. “We saw a side of Jim that the general public didn’t get to see.”
Mondor and Tamburro have gone to great lengths to inform the public about Rice. Not surprising their target audience is those affiliated with the Baseball Writers Association of America. “Ben did a writing campaign before last year’s vote,” said Tamburro.
There was the enormous inflatable No. 14 jersey that was unveiled at Pawtucket’s home opener in April 2007. Fans passing through the turnstiles were encouraged to sign with the intention of bringing the jersey, covered in wall-to-wall signatures, to Cooperstown. These actions are simply Mondor and Tamburro’s way of shedding some light on Rice’s career. ‘It’s not about us, it’s about Jim and his numbers,” says Tamburro.
Rice appreciates Mondor and Tamburro going to bat for him. “Those are the guys that know baseball, the guys who look at players who have come through the game,” said Rice. “Ben and the rest of those guys, they compare numbers. When you own a ball club, you know what numbers are. You’re talking about someone a little older than I am who watched other guys, like a (Ted) Williams or a (Mickey) Mantle, they have an idea of the ability and the numbers that you put up to be able to perform every day.”
Why is Rice still receiving frost bite? Baseball centers around statistics, and Rice fell short in all the categories necessary to trigger automatic enshrinement. He didn’t reach 3,000 hits (2,452), nor club 400 home runs (382). The window of Rice’s dominance was too short (between 1977-83 he clubbed at minimum 39 home runs and drove in 100 on four occasions).
All of that is hogwash to Tamburro. “He was one of the best power hitters of his era. If the game was on the line, who would you want: Jim Rice or Wade Boggs? I’d take Jimmy.”
If there is a silver lining, it’s this: last year Rice became the 21st player to garner more than 70 percent of the vote yet fall short of the necessary 75. The previous 20 cases eventually received a bronze plaque to commemorate their achievements.
“Hopefully Jim will not set the precedent,” said Tamburro.
Guess that means Rice’s lucky number today is 21 along with 75.