.984 fielding %(best all time)
11 gold gloves(3rd al time)
all time leader in double plays
great range factor
Solid offensivley
.275 BA
2563 hits
1321 runs
75 HR
69 3B
411 2B
848 RBI
377 SB
.341 OBP
.358 SLG
All time leader in sacrafice hits and bunts. Is he the most underrated ever, is he a hall of famer and is he the best SS up to this point in time?
2007-08-02 10:55:31 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
You forgot he has the most hits as a SS ever too. Yes he is underrated, great fielder, still is but when he was in Cleveland he could make any play. Not the best ever, that's Wagner but he's probably in the top 5.
2007-08-02 12:30:05 · answer #1 · answered by red4tribe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is always hard to rank anything all-time because only few of us probably have true command of the other good, non HOF shortstops in both leagues for the past 100 years. I think he is an underrated player among baseball media but an overrated player on Yahoo Answers, where he seems to have a cult following.
I think it will be borderline if he makes the Hall. People make the comparison to Ozzie Smith, but Ozzie was the face of a successful franchise and also more importantly played in a different era. Vizquel's peers are Tejada, Jeter, Garciaparra, AROd and other guys who redefined the position in the 90s.
What has he done that truly makes him great as opposed to very good? THe Hall should be reserved for the great players of their era. Vizquel has not been an All-Star that many times and has no rings.
Dave Concepcion isn't in the HOF - a cornerstone on great teams. Larry Bowa had a very similar career to Vizquel and is not in.
With all due respect, being an all-time leader in sacrifice hits and bunts is more a mark of longetivity and lack of offensive production than greatness.
2007-08-02 18:07:34 · answer #2 · answered by Matt G 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think you can make a HOF case for him, but it would have to be his defense that carries him. He has a lot of hits, but he's no more than an average hitter - his .341 OBP is about league average, and that .358 slugging percentage is just ugly. He's definitely an incredible fielder, though.
As far as being the best SS up to this point in time, you don't mean all-time, right? I can't imagine comparing Vizquel to Honus Wagner or Ernie Banks.
2007-08-02 18:05:46 · answer #3 · answered by Craig S 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, if you know baseball you know that he is one of the best SS of all time. Average fans think he's old and that's about it, mostly because he's on the West Coast.
Of course he's a Hall of Famer, better glove than Ozzie, not as much range however, and Ozzie made the HOF based on his glove, certainly not his bat.
2007-08-02 18:53:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best shortstop in history is still Honus Wagner, despite his playing about a century ago.
If ARod leaves the Yankees and goes somewhere where he plays SS again, he can challenge Wagner for TBSSiBBH. No one else can.
Or, if he stays at 3B, he could challenge Schmidt for The Best 3Bman In Baseball History. Such a dilemma Alex faces.
2007-08-02 18:58:19 · answer #5 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't say he's the most underrated ever or the best ever, but certainly a Hall of Famer.
To me, he fits in the Hall of Fame very nicely with guys like Ozzie Smith & Luis Aparicio. Outstanding defensive player at an important defensive position. He played on a bunch of postseason teams. Not incredible offensive numbers, but very solid.
2007-08-02 18:04:58 · answer #6 · answered by ihateeverybodyexceptyou 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would definitely put him up there with the greats but the best ever-- sorry. I'd have to put Ernie Banks,Phil Rizzuto and Honus Wagner ahead of him.
Hall of Fame--definitely.
Sorry Red4tribe but Honus Wagner has over 3400 hits and Cal has 3100+ although some of those were at 3rd
2007-08-02 18:56:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He is a hall a famer, i got to see him alot when he was with us in cleveland. He gets over look because baseball is about offense and the long ball, A-rod fitted that for a while, Jeter won rings, Cal was mr. iron man, and Nomar was being pumped up in Boston. So he got over looked. Now he is old and isnt at the top of his game. But defensivily he is the greatest all time.
2007-08-02 18:06:40 · answer #8 · answered by JW 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Of course! He's gonna end up with better numbers than Ozzie, and he's always made better plays than Ozzie. But, he doesn't have a ring, thanks to Jose Mesa. Some experts think he's border line, but there are many less deserving in the HOF than him. Unfortunately, there are alot of excellent SS's coming eligible in the next few years, and ss" and 2nd basemen have tough times getting votes.
2007-08-02 18:02:37 · answer #9 · answered by Wego The Dog 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most underated of all time? No, that was Dave Concepcion of the Big Red Machine.
Hall of Famer? Should be.
2007-08-02 19:10:47 · answer #10 · answered by TK 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋