Cleveland Indians: Omar Vizquel’s Hall of Fame candidacy now in focus

Former Cleveland Indians great Omar Vizquel didn’t come close to making the Hall of Fame in 2018, but he should receive more support as the years go on.

The big news surrounding the Cleveland Indians this week had nothing to do with any former players. Instead, it had to do with an all-time great.

Jim Thome cemented himself as a baseball legend by being elected to the Hall of Fame, but he wasn’t the only former Indians great on the ballot.

Omar Vizquel appeared on the ballot as well, receiving only 37 percent of the vote. A player must receive 75 percent of the vote to be inducted. Manny Ramirez was also on the ballot, but he would likely go in as a member of the Boston Red Sox if ever elected.

Vizquel is an interesting case for several reasons. The first point has to do with his defense, which some consider elite due to his 11 Gold Gloves.

Then comes the fact he played from 1989-2012, finishing his career with 2,877 hits. However, some view the last five years of his career as rather pointless when it comes to his Hall of Fame worthiness.

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If Vizquel’s career slash line of .272/.336/.352 was a bit higher in each category, he would likely be over the 3,000-hit mark and may be a better choice for induction.

But right now, he just looks like a player who was elite in his prime, but not someone who stands out as one of the greatest players we have ever seen.

There are plenty of players elected in the past who aren’t worthy or who made it in because the voters liked them, but that isn’t a case to say Vizquel automatically deserves to be inducted as well.

Vizquel missing out on induction in 2018 will anger some Indians fans, but there is still plenty of time for him to make it in.

If Edgar Martinez wasn’t good enough to make it this year, there was no way Vizquel was going to jump him.

The good news is that the shortstop finished with 37 percent of the vote in his first year. For comparison, Martinez only received 58.6 percent of the vote in 2017, which was his eighth year on the ballot. That jumped up to 70.4 percent this year.

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Omar’s case will continue to be debated until he makes it in or falls off the ballot, but he will always remain a star in the minds of Indians fans.