Derek
Table Setter
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My two favorite players during the duration of the Indians run were Lofton and Omar. Kenny was a great player everywhere he played on offense and defense. I'll ask you this though:
Edgar Martinez was a DH and is in the HOF only for his offensive contributions. Is it really that far- fetched to say the statistically best shortstop of all time shouldn't get in for his defense alone? I think Omar will get in, and he helped himself by switching to the Giants at the end of his career. Voters in the AL and NL had the chance to watch his excellence defensively.
Edgar's hitting was far more valuable than Omar's fielding. The guy was absolutely ridiculous at the plate, and was actually a solid 3B prior to tearing his hammy in '93. So yeah, he deserves it a lot more.
And no, Omar is not the statistically best SS of all-time. He'll probably get in eventually, and I'll be ecstatic as an Indians fan, but he's more Aparicio than Ozzie.