FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Three of our writers (Jason Cook, Doug Bird and John Quemere) debate the Hall of Fame candidacy of Omar Vizquel. Note: Doug Bird’s piece was posted earlier, only to have some lame editor accidentally delete it. Apologies to those readers who had posted comments on Doug’s original column.

Jason Cook: No, No, No to Omar in the Hall

Defensive wizard Omar Vizquel’s career appears to be coming to a close. One of the better glove men at shortstop during his generation, many wonder whether Vizquel belongs in the Hall.

Let me say this: “no, no, no, no.”

The Hall of Fame is a funny thing. One can make arguments for or against many “borderline” HOFers - see Rice, Jim and McGwire, Mark.

But is this day and age of advanced statistics we can come close to measuring a players chances for the Hall of Fame compared with other players. The Hall of Fame Career Standard Test gives a score based on a number of achievements. An average HOFer has a score of about 50. Vizquel stands at 33 – less than Andres Galarraga (35) and John Olerud (38).

Vizquel looks better if we use the Hall of Fame Monitor, which calculates the likelihood (not the worthiness) of enshrinement. A “good possibility” for the Hall will score 100, while 130 is “a near clinch.” Vizquel comes in with a score of 104, just above a “good possibility.” But when we look at who’s ahead of Vizquel, the argument weakens. Galarraga (114) again, Juan Gonzalez (120) and Nomar Garciaparra (112) are all ahead of Vizquel.

The Monitor score for those most comparable to Vizquel (six* of the 10 HOFers) don’t help much.

• Luis Aparicio*: 149.5
• Ozzie Smith*: 142.5
• Rabbit Maranaville (1912-35)*: 59
• Dave Concepcion: 106.5
• Nellie Fox*: 163
• Red Schoendiest*: 109.5
• Bill Dahlen: 78.5
• Pee Wee Reese*: 99.5
• Willie Randolph: 92
• Bert Campaneris: 76

He outscores only two of the HOFers and is beaten by a wide margin by his two most comparable players. Another, Concepcion, seen as very borderline, outscores him.

Without using Hall of Fame metrics and using good ‘ol regular stats it is still difficult to recommend Vizquel for the Hall.

• .273 BA – tied for others at 795 all-time, but ahead of HOFers Phil Rizzuto and Joe Morgan
• .339 OBP – 848 all-time, ahead of Ozzie Smith
• 83 OPS plus - not in the top ~1,000 all-time
• 71% stolen base rate; number 21 on caught stealing list all-time
• Three career all-star games and one top 20 MVP finish

I understand he was playing with the A-Rod/Jeter/Nomars of the world, but only three ASGs?

Vizquel is a one-dimensional player who is not worthy of Hall of Fame induction. There are players who have yet to be admitted at his position (Alan Trammel tops among them) who need to be in their first. If a DH (Edgar Martinez) doesn’t get into the Hall, then please leave these defensive specialists out.

Doug Bird: Omar Vizquel Belongs

The career of San Francisco Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel seems to be in its final stretch, as the 41-year-old is hitting just .171. But it’s a career that in a few years should result in his election to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. His list of career accomplishments and awards is as impressive as it is lengthy, and he is one of the greatest shortstops of his generation, if not all-time.

Vizquel began his major league career in 1989 with the Seattle Mariners, after signing as an undrafted free agent in 1984. He moved on to the Cleveland Indians in 1994, the team with whom he enjoyed his greatest personal and team success. He’s been with the San Francisco Giants since the 2005 season. Vizquel was and continues to be regarded as a spectacular defensive player and one of the top fielding shortstops in the history of major league baseball.

Although early in his career he was considered great field but no hit, Vizquel, in his fourth big league season, began to add accomplished hitter to his resume as well. Over the span of his lengthy career, Vizquel was a human highlight reel defensively and an important offensive contributor and clubhouse leader with the great Cleveland Indian teams of the 1990’s.

Vizquel won nine consecutive Gold Glove awards (1993-2001) and also won the award in 2005 and 2006. In those same two seasons Vizquel became the oldest player to ever receive a Gold Glove at his position, at ages 38 and 39. Only Hall of Famer Ozzie smith has won more Gold Gloves at shortstop. His fielding percentage of .984 was, as of 2007, the highest in baseball history. He tied the American League record for most consecutive games without an error (95), and on May 25 of this season he became the all-time leader in games played at shortstop. He has been part of more double plays than any shortstop in history, and he is tied for the record of fewest errors in a season by a shortstop (3).

But being a one dimensional player usually doesn’t get you into the Hall of Fame. Vizquel has been much more than that and has been steadily climbing up the charts in some all-time offensive statistics as well. Some stats:

• Has 2,616 hits and in 2007 became the 83rd player to reach 2,500 hits
• Second all-time in hits by a shortstop behind only Luis Aparicio
• Career batting average of .273
• Number four in runs scored while playing shortstop
• Active player leader in hits and at bats
• Seventh in career stolen bases by a shortstop
• One of only three American League players to get six hits in a nine inning game
• Three time all-star
• Integral part of two AL championship teams (Cleveland Indians 1995 and 1997) six division winning teams (Cleveland Indians 1995-1999 and 2001).
• Won the Hutch Award in 1996, and was the only non-American player to ever do so
• In 2007 won the Heart and Hustle Award, embodying the “values, spirit and tradition of the game”
• Member of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame

While the old arguments against electing defensive-first players into the Hall of Fame still may have some validity, any player who has dominated his position defensively, standing head and shoulders above his peers, has to be seriously considered for election into the Hall of Fame. We have to remember that until recently, middle infielders were expected to consider defense their number one priority. Omar accomplished this and provided offense. He would get my vote for the Hall of Fame.

John Quemere: Omar Vizquel Doesn’t Make the Cut

I remember watching a Mets broadcast about two years ago when the Mets were playing in San Francisco. Around the bottom of the second or third inning the Mets broadcasters introduced Omar as the “Future Hall of Famer Omar Vizquel”. I hadn’t really thought about it before, but Omar Vizquel a Hall of Famer? I began to hear this statement more and more since Giants games were being broadcasted as often as “I Love Lucy” reruns because of Barry Bonds.

Many of the Broadcasters proclaimed that Omar had won 11 gold gloves and Ozzie had 13 so accordingly Omar should be in the Hall of Fame. First off, I’m not a big fan of the gold glove award because it’s not based on any statistical measurement. Secondly, it’s selection process seams completely arbitrary. And finally, cherry picking stats or awards to come up with reasons why your candidate belongs in the Hall is specious reasoning.

For example, Bill Madlock won 4 batting titles while Joe DiMaggio and Hank Aaron won two titles each and Mickey Mantle one title. Would anyone use that comparison as logic for why Bill Madlock should be in the Hall of Fame?

One of my main problems with Vizquel is that he was never considered a great player during any time in his career. Almost 20 years in the Majors and he only appeared on the MVP Vote ONE time – a 16th place finish in 1999. Ozzie Smith, with whom he is so often compared, appeared six times on the MVP vote and was the runner up in 1987. Actually it’s kind of insulting to compare Ozzie Smith to Vizquel.

Vizquel’s name only started to be mentioned as a possible Hall of Famer when he started passing such career milestones as games played at short and most hits at short. To me Vizquel has been an above average player who because he played for almost 20 years has compiled many career numbers that make his career seem more impressive than it actually was.

Some analysts like to say that passing career mile markers turns someone into a Hall of Famer, but I don’t agree with that logic.

If I take the SAT and get above average test scores 20 times, I’m still not getting into Harvard. You have to have some GREAT test scores to get into Harvard and Vizquel doesn’t have them.

But the main problem when you’re dealing with a player whose main contribution is defense is finding a matrix that properly expresses the value of that player. Win Shares is a pretty good statistic that values defense as well as offense. Let’s look at Vizquel’s career numbers. Anyone not familiar with win shares, a quick summary.

• 40-50 win shares: immortal seasons, Ruth-23, Wagner-08, Mantle-56, Bonds-01, etc.
• 30-39 win shares: MVP Seasons, Kent-00, Schmidt-80, Parker 78, etc.
• 20-29 win shares: All Star Seasons, Posada-07, Jeter-07, and Reyes 07
• 10-19 win shares: solid major league regular-Hermida-07, Teahan-07, Furcal-07
• 1-9 win shares: Bench players, weak players, injured players, and rookies.

Omar’s Win Share Totals:

• 1989-3
• 1990-2
• 1991-14
• 1992-12
• 1993-12
• 1994-7
• 1995-17
• 1996-16
• 1997-14
• 1998-18
• 1999-22
• 2000-16
• 2001-12
• 2002-19
• 2003-5
• 2004-17
• 2005-20
• 2006-19
• 2007-11
• 2008-2
• Total: 261

There are NO great seasons in his career. The total is good, but there are plenty of players with similar career numbers who are nowhere near the Hall.

In his 2000 Historical Abstract Bill James had Omar ranked as the 61st best shortstop in major league history. I think if he were to update his rankings today he would probably drop him down to 40th place around Larry Bowa, Gary Templeton and Marty Marion.

For me the line starts at Alan Trammel. It’s a sin that he isn’t in the Hall already.

Then after Trammel guys like Fregosi, Wills, Pesky, Dahlen and Stephens would be next in line.

Heck, Vizquel was nowhere near as good as Tony Fernandez, Bert Campaneris and Dave Concepcion – who not only put up great career numbers but also had MVP caliber seasons as well. Fernandez only received 4(!!!) Hall of Fame votes when he retired, but they want to vote for Omar Vizquel?

To me its mind boggling that some of the same reporters who never voted for Omar as a MVP candidate, (and with good reason) are now prepared to vote for him to the Hall of Fame.