After stating last month that he is "51 percent" sure that he will retire, Blue Jays shortstop Omar Vizquel now seems certain that he will call it a career after the 2012 season. The 45-year-old told Didier Morais of NESN.com that he hopes to stay connected to the game after his playing days are through.
"This will be my last year," Vizquel said in Spanish. "I've enjoyed this game a lot, but I think it's time to pursue a new career as a coach or manager, and hopefully I'll get that opportunity in the future."
This season will be the finale of Vizquel's 24-year career, during which he earned eleven Gold Gloves and three All-Star nods. The shortstop spent time with the Mariners, Indians, Giants, Rangers, and White Sox throughout his career, including two World Series appearances with Cleveland. Baseball-Reference estimates that he has earned roughly $62.5MM dating back to his 1989 rookie season.
Too bad, I was hoping he’d make it to 3,000 hits before retiring but it’d take another 3 years.
Still should get a spot in the Hall.
Maybe in the “Hall of Really Good Players”, but Vizquel only had one reasonably good season offensively. He’s a tier below Ozzie Smith
He will absolutely get into the Hall. 2854 hits is enough offense to put him into consideration, but his defense puts him over the top.
Well, Vizquel’s amount of hits is more a credit to his longevity, and even then, the BBWAA are stubborn when it comes to number amounts. 2854 is not 3000.
Guys like Smith, Aparicio, Larkin, Ripken, they all had combinations of offensive and defensive awards, as well as tons of All-Star appearances. Silver Sluggers, MVP’s, Gold Gloves, you name it and they had it. Meanwhile, Vizquel’s only legacy was his glove (which there is no doubt he was great at). 11 Gold Gloves, but no MVP’s, no Silver Sluggers, no WS Rings, and only 3 All-Star appearances.
Vizquel was fantastic, but unfortunately, the BBWAA often judges what awards a nominee gathered during his career. If he does get in, you won’t see me arguing, but I doubt that he’ll be a definite first-balloter.
Oh I’ll agree with that. He won’t be going in first ballot, but I think he gets in.
Comparing him against other “glove first” SS and he has a great case for the HOF.
PA-Hits-Runs-BA-OBP-SB-GG-UZR-WAR
10,778-2,460-1,257-.262-.337-580-13 x GG-(+)239-70-Ozzie Smith
11,230-2,677-1,335-.262-.311-506-9 x GG-(+149)-63-Luis Aparicio
11,850-2,841-1,432-.272-.337-401-11 x GG-(+129)-48-Omar Vizquel
I also have to question the accuracy of the UZR ratings for any player prior to the mid 90’s when UZR came into effect, especially when one of the criteria is suppose to be an eyeball account of a players range ability even though the Wiz was obviously one of the best at that.
Great glove. Not a HOFer in my opinion, though.
A sure hall of famer.
One things for sure, the man can dance.
Omar goin’.
It’s a shame batting plays such a major role in HoF votes, otherwise Omar would be a shoe-in for his defense alone. (12th all time in defensive WAR at all positions, 2nd all time fielding % among SS)
Bar none the best defensive shortstop to ever play the game. Much smoother then that over-rated Ozzie Smith fellow. Also, a much better hitter and baserunner. If Smiths in the hall, it would be a joke if Omar isn’t.
Career offensive WAR:
Ozzie Smith: 44.5
Omar Vizquel: 28.3
Career defensive WAR:
Ozzie Smith: 43.4*
Omar Vizquel: 28.1
*10% better than any other player in the history of the game.
Here’s to a great career Omar, one of the last few players older than me…. I weep just a little…
Don’t worry, Jamie Moyer’s still out there…
…and on the Blue Jays. Maybe Omar just didn’t want them to come off as “the team of guys pushing 50” lol. Hats off though, he was fun to have on the Sox for a bit there.
I think Sabermetrics has opened a lot of eyes regarding defensive statistics, so I’m sure HOF voters will increasingly change from batting-oriented to overall performance, so Omar should be a shoe-in for the Hall in five years.
Even taking into account WAR accumulated through defensive value, Vizquel is about 25% below the average HoFer for his career.
I like the guy. And he deserves a front row seat in the Hall of the Very Good. But a Hall of Famer, he is not.
But where is he among defensive oriented position players? That’s what needs to be looked at.
It does, but so does everything else.
If you’re looking at great defensive players, the first guy that came to my mind – without looking at the stats, and regardless of position – was Keith Hernandez. Widely regarded as one of the best ever at HIS position with the glove. Captained his infields. Multiple Gold Gloves… and then when I did look at his numbers, he was a career .296/.384./.436 hitter with a 128 OPS+. Three top 5 MVP finishes, 1 win. Unlike Vizquel, his career ended relatively early at the age of 36.
He never came close. I think Vizquel will do better based on the longevity and highlight reels, but I’d argue that, if you’re considering the total baseball player, and the argument of “Who would you rather have?”, I’d take Hernandez.
The same argument can be applied to Ozzie Smith. No if Ozzie can get in with what he did at the dish so does Omar. They are by and large one and the same at the peak of there careers.
Not really though. Look at the core years of Ozzie Smith’s career (steals, hits, OBP, runs scored, WAR, etc.) and then look at the (really only 2) top years for Omar, and Ozzie is clearly a level above. This isn’t a criticism of Omar, just that he isn’t quite “THERE” to that level.
Agreed. Most people who say that Vizquel and Smith are comparable seem to be doing it based on a vague idea that both of them won a bunch of Gold Gloves and could hit .290 with some steals. They overlook two key things: first, that Smith wasn’t just “good” in the field, he was historically great–by most metrics, by reputation, by the word of his peers, or by simply using your eyes he was an otherworldly fielder multiple levels above other “good fielders”; and second, while their peak seasons may have been comparable, Smith got good younger and stayed good older than did Vizquel… his peak was longer and his career contribution offensively was far, far greater.
only one guy left from my early 90’s baseball card collecting days! omar had a great career. kudos to him.
Great career Omar, maybe not a first ballot HOFer but I would think he’ll get there some day
Vizquel is headed to the HOF, that´s for sure…
HoF or not, Omar has been one of my favorite players to watch. He has so much fun playing the game and he plays it the right way. I’ll miss his antics as a player. I remember during one of his games as a Giant, he dressed up as a grounds crewman and raked the infield one inning. After he was done, he walked by Felipe Alou, causing him to do a doubletake to figure out what the hell was going on. I hope he comes back as a coach in some capacity. Otherwise, the game will truly miss him.
Happy future Retirement Omar! I admire keeping the joy of playing alive and I also admire knowing when to hang up the spikes. I look forward to what will no doubt be an illustrious career in managing/coaching, you’ve certainly eliminated any doubt about what you’d like to do from here on out!
It would be cool to see him get added to the AL All Star roster, just out of respect for all he has accomplished.
It was great when they did that for Ripken and Gwynn, but since “now it counts”, I think there’s no room for those types anymore. It’s a shame, since this is Chipper’s fairwell tour as well.
If he goes to the Hall, then you have to put Cesar Izturis in after he retires also!
Isn’t this a much funner HOF debate than the typical PED ones that keep popping up here of late?
After Omar Vizquel the only player left who played in the 1980’s is Jamie Moyer if he makes it back. For those who remember the 1980’s great times. Anyone else left that I forgot?