Special_K19
04-29-2003, 04:42 PM
Even Omar can feel the blues
04/29/03
Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Omar Vizquel specializes in sunny-side-up optimism. He smiles, he jokes, he bounces around shortstop like a puppy chasing a stick.
He turned 36 Thursday in Seattle, the day after manager Eric Wedge made him the oldest leadoff hitter in the big leagues following Milton Bradley's hamstring injury. Vizquel doesn't like hitting leadoff, but he fits the job better than anyone else on the roster.
"It makes me feel young," he said. "I'm taking it as a compliment. Leading off at my age is great."
But on the Indians' just-completed 10-game trip through Chicago, Seattle and Oakland, there were times when Vizquel felt the years. One of those days came Sunday after the Indians lost to Oakland, 4-3, to end the trip with a 2-8 record.
"Sometimes it can be hard," he said. "After a game, you sit in the locker room and you think about how you've played most of your career with veteran players. This is a completely different situation."
Not only are the Indians young and inexperienced, but at 7-18 they have the second worst record in baseball.
The Indians aren't being embarrassed. Of their eight losses on the trip, seven were by four or fewer runs. They lose because they don't do the right thing at the right time.
"In bunt situations, we've got guys hurrying when they don't have to," Vizquel said. "We make mental mistakes running the bases and haven't hit with guys in RBI situations. It's like you have to go all the way back to the beginning again."
So Vizquel watches and talks and passes on advice whenever possible.
"The talent we saw in spring training is still here, but it needs to be polished," he said. "This is a good test. We're facing veteran players who know what to do and where they're supposed to be in every situation. We just have to learn from our mistakes and not keep repeating them."
Vizquel is the last vertebra of the backbone that carried the Indians to the 1995 and 1997 World Series and six division titles. In spring training, he said he would try to be a more vocal leader than he was in the past.
"I talk to guys a lot about situations," Vizquel said. "I hope they listen. But there aren't a lot of guys that listen the way they should. They think that because they're in the big leagues, they're big-leaguers.
"Maybe they came up through the minors as a prospect. And with some prospects, people are afraid to tell them how to do things. But when you get to the big leagues, this is where you really have to listen and learn.
"I'm still learning. [Bench coach] Buddy Bell teaches me stuff every day. So does Eric Wedge . . . he's been awesome."
When the Indians opened the season in Baltimore, Vizquel said two players held the key to the team's offensive success - Bradley and Karim Garcia.
"I still feel the same way," Vizquel said. "But they've both been hurt . . . Milton has been bothered by his hamstring and Karim with his wrist. Those two have to be in the lineup every day and they have to be producing."
Bradley was hitting .375 (30-for-80) with 10 doubles, 16 runs, three homers and 13 RBI when went on the disabled list.
"He's so good," Vizquel said. "He's shown he can hit from both sides of the plate and score a lot of runs. He reminds me of Kenny Lofton in the 1990s with a little more power."
Garcia is hitting .208 (15-for-72). He leads the team with five homers and is second with 12 RBI.
"Karim can carry this team by just swinging the bat," Vizquel said. "I don't think he knows how good he can be."
Vizquel, hitting .278 (27-for-97), was repeatedly asked in spring training why he didn't waive his no-trade clause and move to a contender. He said he enjoyed Cleveland and wanted to remain an Indian.
"I still don't think I want to be traded," he said. "Let's see what happens at the end of the year. It's way too early to be worried about that."
04/29/03
Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Omar Vizquel specializes in sunny-side-up optimism. He smiles, he jokes, he bounces around shortstop like a puppy chasing a stick.
He turned 36 Thursday in Seattle, the day after manager Eric Wedge made him the oldest leadoff hitter in the big leagues following Milton Bradley's hamstring injury. Vizquel doesn't like hitting leadoff, but he fits the job better than anyone else on the roster.
"It makes me feel young," he said. "I'm taking it as a compliment. Leading off at my age is great."
But on the Indians' just-completed 10-game trip through Chicago, Seattle and Oakland, there were times when Vizquel felt the years. One of those days came Sunday after the Indians lost to Oakland, 4-3, to end the trip with a 2-8 record.
"Sometimes it can be hard," he said. "After a game, you sit in the locker room and you think about how you've played most of your career with veteran players. This is a completely different situation."
Not only are the Indians young and inexperienced, but at 7-18 they have the second worst record in baseball.
The Indians aren't being embarrassed. Of their eight losses on the trip, seven were by four or fewer runs. They lose because they don't do the right thing at the right time.
"In bunt situations, we've got guys hurrying when they don't have to," Vizquel said. "We make mental mistakes running the bases and haven't hit with guys in RBI situations. It's like you have to go all the way back to the beginning again."
So Vizquel watches and talks and passes on advice whenever possible.
"The talent we saw in spring training is still here, but it needs to be polished," he said. "This is a good test. We're facing veteran players who know what to do and where they're supposed to be in every situation. We just have to learn from our mistakes and not keep repeating them."
Vizquel is the last vertebra of the backbone that carried the Indians to the 1995 and 1997 World Series and six division titles. In spring training, he said he would try to be a more vocal leader than he was in the past.
"I talk to guys a lot about situations," Vizquel said. "I hope they listen. But there aren't a lot of guys that listen the way they should. They think that because they're in the big leagues, they're big-leaguers.
"Maybe they came up through the minors as a prospect. And with some prospects, people are afraid to tell them how to do things. But when you get to the big leagues, this is where you really have to listen and learn.
"I'm still learning. [Bench coach] Buddy Bell teaches me stuff every day. So does Eric Wedge . . . he's been awesome."
When the Indians opened the season in Baltimore, Vizquel said two players held the key to the team's offensive success - Bradley and Karim Garcia.
"I still feel the same way," Vizquel said. "But they've both been hurt . . . Milton has been bothered by his hamstring and Karim with his wrist. Those two have to be in the lineup every day and they have to be producing."
Bradley was hitting .375 (30-for-80) with 10 doubles, 16 runs, three homers and 13 RBI when went on the disabled list.
"He's so good," Vizquel said. "He's shown he can hit from both sides of the plate and score a lot of runs. He reminds me of Kenny Lofton in the 1990s with a little more power."
Garcia is hitting .208 (15-for-72). He leads the team with five homers and is second with 12 RBI.
"Karim can carry this team by just swinging the bat," Vizquel said. "I don't think he knows how good he can be."
Vizquel, hitting .278 (27-for-97), was repeatedly asked in spring training why he didn't waive his no-trade clause and move to a contender. He said he enjoyed Cleveland and wanted to remain an Indian.
"I still don't think I want to be traded," he said. "Let's see what happens at the end of the year. It's way too early to be worried about that."