Omar Vizquel

In the past decade, a trend has taken over major league baseball front offices as they try to perfect their World Series formulas and put together the perfect baseball team. 

One of the most important decisions a general manager makes is not only who will play which position, but also who will reign over the team on a daily basis, make lineup changes, decide who pitches and control the clubhouse. 

The White Sox have had a busy offseason, piecing together a bullpen and nabbing a lefty bat in Adam Dunn. They have, as most would agree, gotten stronger since last season.

With the new mantra of “All In” leading the Sox into the new season, it raises the question of what could have or should have been done this offseason. Here are five moves the White Sox missed that would have helped them going into this season.

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It took 52 years, but the San Francisco Giants are World Series Champions.  I can now cross that first and foremost item off my sports fan bucket list.

The San Francisco Giants have given their fans numerous heartbreaks, too many to list in this article, but now, all is forgiven.  I have put together a fun piece to showcase the true Giant "hot dogs" who donned the orange and black. 

Three things are a given in this offseason. First, Omar Vizquel will be a free agent and has only a year or two left in the tank. Second, the Indians need a third baseman for one year, and badly. Third, career-shortstop Vizquel spent last year at third base for the Chicago White Sox and wasn't too bad there.

So, wouldn't it make sense to bring back one of Cleveland's finest from the glory years of the '90s?

The saying “defense wins championships” is generally a phrase left for the fans of the gridiron. The punishing hits and the game-changing interceptions are all things that can change the entire outcome of the game. While overlooked to a degree in baseball, defense is an integral part of today’s game.  This year, a few surprises on defense have made the entire White Sox team better overall defensively.

Various media outlets are reporting that 43-year-old Omar Vizquel, a potential Hall-of-Fame shortstop, is close to agreeing to a one-year contract to join the Chicago White Sox.

Vizquel would reportedly join the White Sox in a reserve role.

The White Sox have already made some changes to their infield this winter. Sox GM Kenny Williams dealt young second baseman Chris Getz and third baseman Josh Fields to Kansas City for Mark Teahen, and said he plans to play Teahen at third base in 2010.

I read a rumor last night that inspired me.

It set my mind in motion, and I came up with an idea so easy and exciting that I had trouble falling asleep.

Everyone knows that Omar Vizquel is one of the greatest defensive shortstops in the history of Major League Baseball.

The 1999 Cleveland Indians had one of the best lineups in the history of Major League Baseball.

They had incredible individual accomplishments. Three sluggers combined for 108 homers. Four hitters had RBIs in the triple-digits. Five players scored 100 or more runs.

They became the first team in nearly 50 years to score 1,000 runs in a season.

Omar Vizquel was never a dominating offensive player.

With a career batting average of .273 and never having more than 14 home runs in a season, Vizquel was not an "offensive player" by any stretch of the imagination.

But a defensive player, that he was.

Vizquel's 11 Gold Gloves speak for themselves, and his presence on the baseball field, even now at the tender age of 42 with the Texas Rangers, is still big. 

My question is, after 21 major league seasons and a closet full of hardware, should Omar Vizquel be a Hall of Famer?

I was forced to go to the game by myself last night because I just couldn't find anyone to go with me and I had to go.  I've decided it is actually good to go to a game by yourself every once in awhile.

I was able to really enjoy the game and just observe everything that was going on.  There were a few things that really stood out to me and reminded me why I love this game so much.

It started with Omar Vizquel before the game even started.