SAN FRANCISCO -- Omar Vizquel is still making all the
acrobatic defensive plays that have defined his career for years
and catching opponents off guard with his crafty baserunning.
Anyone who thought the nine-time Gold Glove winner has lost a
step at age 37 only needed to witness his first week with San
Francisco to figure out otherwise.
He did the splits in the air over Los Angeles' Jeff Kent in the
opener to turn a tricky double play, then barehanded a high chopper
by the Dodgers' Cesar Izturis two days later before firing the ball
to first baseman J.T. Snow.
Such superb defense has been missing in San Francisco's middle
infield in recent years -- and without Barry Bonds in the lineup,
Vizquel is providing a much-needed spark. The fans love him
already.
"The way he's playing right now, I better not take him out,"
manager Felipe Alou said. "I believe people would crucify me if I
take him out."
When told of Alou's comment, Vizquel paused, chuckled and said,
"Well, that's nice to know."
Alou considered resting his shortstop Saturday against Colorado,
but that was the last thing Vizquel wanted during the first week
with his new team.
"I've been playing pretty good and I'm feeling great
physically," he said. "There is no reason to take a day off."
Vizquel, who spent the last 11 seasons with the Cleveland
Indians, signed a three-year, $12.25 million contract in November
to give the Giants some stability at shortstop and in the top of
their batting order. He's making an immediate impact.
He steps in at a spot where Rich Aurilia, Neifi Perez and Deivi
Cruz played the past few seasons. Ever so modestly, Vizquel
acknowledges that he's an upgrade.
"I think they're different players than I am," he said. "I
think I am a little more flashy. They've got a different style of
game."
Vizquel has hit safely in five of his first six games to help
the Giants, who were off Monday, to a 4-2 start. They lost two of
three to the defending NL West champion Dodgers then swept the
Colorado Rockies in a weekend series. Vizquel needs one more game
at shortstop to move into ninth place on the all-time list for
games played at the position.
He has stolen four bases, more than any Giants player in all of
April 2004. Alou ranks him right up there with Hall of Famer Ozzie
Smith, the Cardinals great who made 15 All-Star games and won 13
Gold Gloves during 19 big league seasons.
"Ozzie was a more spectacular guy," Alou said. "Vizquel is so
fluid, so natural. I saw him in 2002. I saw the same shape, the
same mind. ... He is so sure-handed. You don't see this guy bobble
the ball."
Despite 16 major league seasons behind him in a career that
began with the Seattle Mariners in 1989, Vizquel admitted he fought
nerves in his first game with the Giants, in a new league and new
home stadium. He still expects an adjustment period as he visits
the other National League ballparks.
At the same time, he appears comfortable. After it rained Friday
and the Giants couldn't take batting practice because of a large
tarp on the field, Vizquel passed the time during playing a long
game of catch with 9-year-old son, Nico.
Ace Jason Schmidt couldn't believe it when the Giants signed
Vizquel, who hit .291 with seven homers, 59 RBIss, 19 stolen bases
and played 148 games last season for the Indians after coming back
from knee surgery the previous year.
"I was shocked and excited," Schmidt said. "To get a guy like
that is a bonus."
Vizquel's legs aren't what they used to be, but he makes up for
it in other ways.
"I'm a little smarter," he said. "I felt a lot quicker
before. But you don't get the same ability mentally to do things
you're able to do now, because you're experienced. You get rid of
the ball quicker, you play the hitter better, stuff like that.
Before, it was pure ability."
It still seems to be pure ability.
"It's been a lot of fun," Snow said. "He's made a couple
plays already this year I've never seen as long as I've been here.
That goes a long way in the course of a season."