White Sox Sign Vizquel To One-Year Deal
I guess they won't mind a backup infielder who can't hit. Yes, he'll help their young infielders with their defense.
about 2 years ago
Al Yellon
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Kenny Williams understands how to fill the roster
Two year deals for backup middle infielders are not needed.
by rlpete on Nov 23, 2009 2:45 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
True.
But in general, one-year deals for 43-year-old infielders who can’t hit aren’t needed, either.
If they wanted Vizquel to tutor their kids, they should have hired him as a coach.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I agree on that point too
Not sure I’d want Vizquel either but even at 43, he might outhit the Cubs middle infielder who was signed for 2 years. He did hit .261 last season.
With a .614 OPS.
Andres Blanco did better than that, .644.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I never thought the Cubs
could have a worst player than Neifi Perez but they found one in Miles.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Nov 23, 2009 4:03 PM CST up reply actions
Amazingly, yes.
Miles makes Neifi look like an All-Star.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
As I recall, Hank White was widely credited for helping Geo during his rookie year.
Vizquel has been credited for helping Elvis Andrus during his rookie year.
I think the difference is sometimes players listen more to their teammates than to coaches. I imagine it may have something to do with being able to relate to a teammate more than a coach.
The White Sox has also lost quite a bit of veteran leadership with Dye and Thome gone. I imagine that may be another reason Vizquel was signed.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Nov 23, 2009 3:59 PM CST up reply actions
Of course...
… if it were the Cubs doing this move you’d be talking about how Vizquel 2010 will be Bowa 1983. However even at 44 yrs old Omar will probably be better than Bowa at 39 yrs old.
Omar will be fine for the role given him, as a role player.
"People shouldn’t bust your chops just because you’re a Sox fan on a Cub board — but I know it happens. FWIW, I think sites like this are more interesting when fans of other teams join in the conversation." by Shanghai Badger on Mar 13, 2009
Not exactly
If the Cubs did this move, I’d be talking about how Vizquel 2010 would be Bowa 1985.
by Jody Jody Davis on Nov 24, 2009 4:11 PM CST up reply actions
I guess Luis Aparicio wasn’t available
Numbers may not lie, but they don’t tell the whole truth (and nothing but the truth), either. -- Doug Glanville
Julio Franco might be willing to come out of retirement.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 23, 2009 3:52 PM CST up reply actions
NEVER MENTION THAT NAME TO ME.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 23, 2009 4:06 PM CST up reply actions
lol
Numbers may not lie, but they don’t tell the whole truth (and nothing but the truth), either. -- Doug Glanville
Mention Rey Ordonez to her, too, and see what happens.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Oh right I meant Rey Ordonez
Rey Sanchez is ok. Hey all how bout the Cubs sign Aurilla now that he is available ?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 23, 2009 4:56 PM CST up reply actions
Pay no attention to Jessica here.
She’s just trying to bait me.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Moi ?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 23, 2009 10:26 PM CST up reply actions
So it worked ?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 24, 2009 11:42 AM CST up reply actions
Light the Crawdad beacon!
We need some inside perspective on how Sox fans feel about this move.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
Well, I'm no Crawdad...
…but I’m a big fan of Alexi Ramirez. I think the White Sox have a real gem in him, but right now it’s fair to say he’s still rough and unfinished. I would not be surprised at all if the only reason KW signed Vizquel was to mentor Ramirez. And that’d be reason enough for me.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I agree.
"People shouldn’t bust your chops just because you’re a Sox fan on a Cub board — but I know it happens. FWIW, I think sites like this are more interesting when fans of other teams join in the conversation." by Shanghai Badger on Mar 13, 2009
Sad to See Vizquel Now
Perhaps for a 43-year old, he’s a good defensive shortstop, but he’s 43 and doesn’t have the range anymore. Vizquel in his prime was one of the best glove men ever. I believe he’s got a decent shot at the HOF. Ozzie Smith made the Hall but didn’t play until his wheels were about to fall off. Vizquel’s a shell of his former self. The way he’s hitting at the end of his career reminds me too much of how poorly Bowa hit for the Cubs in the mid-1980’s. I liked Bowa’s defensive skills back then more than most Cubs fans, but I can’t deny that his range was noticably diminishing. That meant even Bowa’s defense couldn’t keep him in the big leagues.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
Larry Bowa was never very good in the field
His rag arm during the tailend of his career with the Cubs was painful to watch. Bowa added a definite leadership dimension, but did virtually nothing in the field or at the plate while a member of the Cubs.
"Cubs will win 79 to 83 games." BLou (7/21/09)
Dunston's Arm and Range
Dunston had a much better arm than Bowa. There’s absolutely no question about that. Dunston’s range was a lot better, too. I just wish Dunston hadn’t made so many errors at short. It seemed that Bowa played defense with more discipline than Dunston. Bowa did a good job on the balls to which he got. Of course, Bowa wasn’t able to get to as many balls as Dunston was.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
When the Cubs got Bowa...
… Dunston hadn’t even been drafted yet (he was selected in Bowa’s first year with the Cubs). Bowa was a stopgap and everyone knew it. He played acceptably for three years, then declined in a hurry.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
A wise move by the Sox
Omar Vizquel, in my opinion, should go into the Hall of Fame. Vizquel ranks as one of the best defensive middle infielders the game as ever seen. And yes, he still can play the game some and will provide invaluable mentoring to Alexi Ramirez. Just like he did Elvis Andrus in Texas.
Keep in mind that Vizquel and Ozzie Guillen are fellow countrymen too.
"Cubs will win 79 to 83 games." BLou (7/21/09)
I doubt that had anything to do with signing him
Wink wink, nudge nudge
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
by Musicdude10 on Nov 25, 2009 12:58 PM CST up reply actions
After initially scoffing at this idea...
…I’m going to give Kenny Williams and the White Sox some credit here. As essentially a player/coach, Omar Vizquel could absolutely pay dividends. With Alexei and Beckham projected to be the middle infield next season, a sure-handed veteran to back up both youngsters on the field and in the dugout seems like a pretty shrewd move. And, per this Fangraph article, Vizquel seems to be hanging on to his defensive prowess – though the sample sizes from the last few seasons are rather small.
A couple potential downsides: If the primary reason to sign Vizquel was to help improve Alexei’s defense, it may not have been necessary. In 1293.2 innings of play in ‘09, the Cuban Missile’s UZR numbers were 2.3/2.4 UZR/UZR 150. That’s not spectacular, but it’s better than a league-average replacement. What Alexei really needs help with is his bat – as his wOBA fell from .336 in ’08 to .319 in ’09.
The other downside is simply the risk that either Alexei or Beckham will hit the DL for a prolonged period, leaving Vizquel in the starting lineup. That would essentially transform the Sox into an NL team offensively.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
Alexi Ramirez has the tools to be a plus defensive shortstop
The White Sox games I have seen show a Ramirez that has excellent range in the field. The problem is he is still learning how to play shortstop. Also, he seems to play like a dog from time to time, as Ozzie so aptly points out. Ramirez is a lot like Yunel Escobar in Atlanta. Both are immense talents but both have yet to reach their potential and have to fixate themselves on dedication to craft.
"Cubs will win 79 to 83 games." BLou (7/21/09)
I love this deal for the White Sox
And I too think Vizquel should be in the Hall when all is said and done, though given the markets he played in during his prime I doubt this will happen.
Course if he plays for 8 more years or so he could get to 3000 hits.
Really starting to dig Kenny Williams as a GM, though the Rios thing could be a killer.
Other than some minor league deals, is this the first FA signing of the season?
"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman
by BucknerKongCardenal on Nov 24, 2009 10:45 PM CST reply actions
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