All this Pete Rose talk just reopened the case for another Reds' Hall of Fame snub

Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame. While fans, pundits, and so-called experts may want to debate the legitimacy of Rose's candidacy based on several off-the-field factors, his on-field résumé speaks for itself. Rose, however, isn't the only former Cincinnati Reds great who belongs in the Hall of Fame. It's time for Dave Concepción to get the recognition he deserves, and that includes a plaque in Cooperstown.

Concepción, unlike Rose, spent his entire major league career with the Reds. The shortstop debuted in 1970 at the age of 21, and was a part-time contributor through his first three major league seasons. From 1970-1972, Concepción hit .222/.278/.276 while averaging 117 games per season.

Concepción became an All-Star for the first time in 1973, and in 1974 began a string a four straight Gold Glove Award-winning seasons. From 1973-1982, Concepción was arugably the best defensive shortstop in the game while hitting .282/.334/.389. He finished in the top-15 of the NL MVP voting three times during that span, went the All-Star Game nine out of 10 years, won five Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers, and was a key contributor of the Big Red Machine's dominance during the 1970s.

All this Pete Rose talk just reopened the case for another Reds' Hall of Fame snub — Dave Concepción

It's not as if Concepción wasn't considered for inclusion in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Five years after a player's career comes to a close, the Baseball Writer's Association of America has up to a 10-year window to vote on a player. Concepción's final time on the ballot (2008) only saw him collect 16.2% of the BBWAA vote.

Concepción has the highest defensive bWAR (21.4) among all Reds players. In Reds' history, Concepción has more runs scored than Tony Perez (Hall of Famer), more games played than Barry Larkin (Hall of Famer), more doubles than Johnny Bench (Hall of Famer), and more hits than Joey Votto (likely Hall of Famer). His No. 13 hangs above the playing surface at Great American Ball Park, but it's time for his bust to be installed in Cooperstown.

Both Harold Baines (38.7 bWAR) and Dave Parker (40.1 bWAR) have been elected to the Hall of Fame. Yet, Concepción (40.1 bWAR) has not. Former St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina will soon be up for the Baseball Hall of Fame debate, and most anaylsis feel as if he's a lock to be elected on the first-ballot. Molina's bWAR (41.6) is just a touch over Concepción's, and he's certainly not getting in based on what he did with his bat — it's his defense and leadership that will likely push the longtime Cardinals' backstop into the Hall of Fame. That same standard should apply to Concepción.

Ozzie Smith is another example. Side-by-side, Concepción's offensive stats look eerily similar, if not better than Smith's. Concepción hit .267/.322/.357 with an 88 OPS+ while Smith posted a career slash line of .262/.337/.328 with an 87 OPS+. It was Smith's speed on the base paths and elite-level defense at shortstop (plus some good ole Cardinals' bias) that helped land the Wizard of Oz in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

There was reason to include Concepción when he was on the BBWAA ballot, and there's absolutely no excuse for the Era Committee not to induct the former Reds' shortstop into the Hall of Fame. Unlike Rose, there's actually a chance for the Hall of Fame to do the right thing and enshrine Concepción in Cooperstown before he's no longer around to enjoy the honor.

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