Vizquel builds strong resume, but is he first-ballot pick?
Of all the Hall of Fame cases coming up over the next 10 years, I’m most interested in seeing how Omar Vizquel is treated. The points in his favor are obvious:
- 11 Gold Gloves at the game’s toughest or second toughest position
- All-time record for most games at shortstop (he’ll pass Luis Aparicio this weekend)
- 2,700-2,800 hits (2,609 right now)
- No steroid controversy
The negatives are almost as clear:
- Just three All-Star appearances
- Received MVP votes just once (1999, 16th place)
- Career OPS+ of 84
Not counting 2008, Vizquel has had an OPS+ over 80 in just 10 of his 19 seasons. In several years, he was a below average player despite his strong glove. Even in his best years, he was typically the third- or fourth-best player on his team. He’s never won a World Series, and his postseason numbers are subpar.
Still, the 84 OPS+ ranks right between Aparicio’s 82 and Ozzie Smith’s 87. Vizquel would seem to have at least as much right to be enshrined as Aparicio and Bill Mazeroski (84 OPS+) did.
I really don’t like the thought of a guy who was never once viewed as one of the top 10 players in his league going into the Hall of Fame. However, it’s probably going to happen. Not on the first ballot, but soon thereafter. I’d at least like to see 12-time All-Star Barry Larkin and six-time All-Star Alan Trammell get there first.
