"They are forever enjoined in Mariners history, rising to their greatest heights on that magical October night at the Kingdome.

Randy Johnson striding in from the bullpen. Edgar Martinez lashing the ball into the left-field corner. The human pile of joy at home plate. The images are eternal.

And now they are enjoined again, Johnson and Martinez. Big Unit and Papi. The electric, enigmatic left-hander and the spectacularly steady hit machine.

The one that got away, and the one that never left.

Johnson on Tuesday announced his retirement, starting the clock on a Hall of Fame vote in five years that will be merely ceremonial. He'll be a no-brainer, first-ballot choice. The only mystery is whether he'll be wearing a Diamondbacks or Mariners hat on his plaque.

And today, when the 2010 Hall of Fame vote is announced, Edgar finds out how steep a road he'll have to climb to eventually earn his rightful place in Cooperstown with Johnson (and, eventually, with three other former Seattle teammates: Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez and Ichiro - and perhaps Omar Vizquel as well).

It's unrealistic to expect Martinez to make it on his first try. His cumulative numbers aren't quite eye-popping enough (at least, for those who don't look deeply), given the anti-designated hitter prejudice Edgar is also fighting.

But if Martinez can establish a high-enough base in this initial appearance on the ballot - some Web sites that are monitoring announced votes by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America have him at about 40 percent - I'm encouraged he will eventually make it.

I hope it will be sooner, but maybe the magic moment will occur for Edgar in, oh, 2015, when Johnson will sail in, riding the glory of those 303 victories, those five Cy Young awards, those 4,785 strikeouts, the perfect game, the no-hitter, the World Series co-MVP trophy."