Former Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel won 11 Gold Glove Awards, the second most by any shortstop in ... [+] history, behind Ozzie Smith's 13. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Its hard not to notice the irony: baseballs most significant, eagerly-anticipated annual announcement coming on the heels of one of baseballs most sordid scandals.

On Tuesday, the results of the Baseball Writers Association of America election for the Hall of Fame will be announced, while the sport itself, and its fans, are still trying to process the magnitude, repercussions and implications of the Houston Astros sign-stealing subterfuge, which has already cost three managers and a general manager their jobs, and seriously stained the reputation of an organization, and the game itself.

Talk about a sport that could use a large dose of some feel-good.

It arrives on Tuesday, with the announcement of the Hall of Fame Class of 2020, which, if there are enough like-minded voters, could include Omar Vizquel, one of the most feel-good players in the history of the game.

Should Vizquel garner the 75% of the votes required for induction, it would, with the stench of the Houston scandal still pungent, punch the ticket to Cooperstown of a player whose refreshing, exuberant approach to his job was a joy to behold.

More irony, still.

In the Hall of Fame voting, Vizquel is a battleground state, as it were, between the analytics hardliners and the I know a Hall of Famer when I see one crowd. Ive been a Hall of Fame voter for 25 years. I take that privilege very seriously. I would place myself somewhere in the middle ground between those two groups.

I acknowledge the value of analytics, and frequently use them as another tool to evaluate player performance. But I also use my eyes. If I didnt, thered be no point in going to games. I could just wait until the end of the season, when all the numbers are compiled, and use them to form my opinions. I prefer to watch the games.

In his staggeringly lengthy career, Vizquel played the bulk of it, 11 years (1994-2004), with the Cleveland Indians. As an Indians beat writer in those years, I saw virtually every one of the 1,535 games (including the postseason) Vizquel played with Cleveland. In my opinion, he was a Hall of Fame player.

I voted for him in his first year on the ballot, when he got 37% of the vote. I voted for him in his second year on the ballot, when he got 42.8% of the vote. And I voted for him again this year.

I have writer friends whom I respect that dont think Vizquel is worthy of the Hall of Fame. I have writer friends whom I respect that do think hes worthy. All of us are right, because votes are opinions.

The numbers are what the numbers are. Vizquel scores highest in the accumulative numbers, which doesnt impress analytics devotees. They, unlike me, dont, for example, feel playing an elite position (shortstop) as an everyday player for nearly a quarter of a century (24 years) is that big of a deal.

For me, its not just that Vizquel did that, its how he did that. He did it with electrifying athleticism, creativity, and crowd-pleasing elan.

Omar made fans smile. Almost every day. That alone wont, and shouldnt, get you into the Hall of Fame. But any player who consistently does things, for almost a quarter of a century, that sends to fans the message: Arent you glad you came to the game today? is a player worth celebrating now more than ever.

Because we seem to be going through a period of hard times in the toy department these days. The Astros cheating scandal is just the latest example of a team, or individuals, sucking the game out of the game. The egos, the transient superstars, the selfishness. Theres a lot not to like in professional sports today.

But theres also a lot to like. The announcement of a new Baseball Hall of Fame class is one of them. Its a celebration of greatness, excellence, and immortality that will hopefully drown out the banging on the garbage cans.

Vizquel may or may not make it into the Hall of Fame this year. He may or may not make it any year. But when I think of the most pristine, the most joyous moments Ive seen in professional sports, Omar Vizquel playing shortstop is high on my list.

Very high.

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Will One Of Baseballs Ultimate Showmen Get The Call From The Hall? - Forbes