Getty Images There are two notable things about this article in the Detroit Free Press:
- It catches us up with former Pirates and Braves shortstop Rafael Belliard, who is friends and neighbors with Luis Salazar. Belliard passes along some encouraging words Salazar told him during a recent hospital visit; and
- There’s a picture of Belliard — who is now an infield coach for the Tigers — showing current Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta how to field his position.
I defy anyone to look at that pic and tell me that, at least defensively speaking, you wouldn’t rather have Belliard as your shortstop — at age 49 — than Peralta right now.
-
- Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward - Mar 18, 2011 at 2:04 PM
-
J-HONNY! I kid, but I like his spelling of his name.
-
- nps6724 - Mar 18, 2011 at 2:09 PM
-
If only Raffy could’ve hit .260. One of the best fielding SS I’ve ever seen.
-
- yashraba - Mar 18, 2011 at 3:00 PM
-
him and Rey Ordenez..sick gloves…if only they could hit
-
- clydeserra - Mar 18, 2011 at 2:19 PM
-
I didn’t have to look at the picture to say that.
-
- The Rabbit - Mar 18, 2011 at 3:32 PM
-
Raffy looked like Dark Helmet when he came to bat. His batting helmet always seemed to be three sizes too large. I loved watching him play, though.
If memory serves, he was for a time the major league player with the most AB’s without a HR. I actually saw him hit his second and last HR. I think it was late 1997 against the Mets.
-
- sfbookreviews - Mar 20, 2011 at 8:51 PM
-
Belliard was always one of my favorite Bucs, but man was he a rally killer. Happy to see him and about 100 former Pirates coaching in Detroit (either now or recently). Makes them one of my favorite AL teams just because of that.
