Wahoo's on First » Omar Vizquel

A Tribute to Omar Vizquel

Lewie Pollis — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 10:18:50 +0000

Lost in the news cycle of the end of the regular season was the announcement that Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Omar Vizquel was hanging up his cleats. Unless he changes his mind and pulls a Roger Clemens, October 3 will have marked the end of Vizquel’s incredible 24-year MLB playing career. (more…)

Are Kipnis and Cabrera the Best Keystone Combo in Baseball?

Steve Kinsella — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:49:45 +0000

In the movie City Slickers, three aspiring cowboys are sitting around reflecting on a simpler time of their youth and talking baseball. As soon as the name Willie Mays is mentioned, all three respond in unison with the name of Vic Wertz. That scene personifies what it means to be a baseball fan—they have a way of categorizing just about every individual aspect of the game, including linking players’ achievements together. (more…)

Why Didn’t Indians Sign Omar Vizquel?

Lewie Pollis — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:41:27 +0000

Omar Vizquel rounding the basepaths at Progressive Field—but in the wrong uniform. (Eric P. Mull-US PRESSWIRE)

The nine-year, $214 million contract that Prince Fielder got from the Tigers on Tuesday dominated baseball headlines this week—and with good reason. Fielder was the second-biggest free agent on the market this winter, and he just inked the fourth-biggest contract in MLB history. It’s no surprise that people are interested in it.

But in the midst of the hubbub about Fielder, another story got pretty much buried. One that, while less important, might mean more to Cleveland Indians fans: longtime Tribe shortstop and local icon Omar Vizquel signed a minor-league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.

That Vizquel is still playing is incredible—if he makes the Blue Jays’ roster, he’ll be an MLB player at age 45. But it raises an obvious question: Why didn’t the Indians sign him instead? (more…)