Comments on: Omar Vizquel snags a spot on Blue Jays’ bench at age 44

By: brownsapologist

brownsapologist — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 09:28:02 +0000

Wow, I remember when the Indians traded him because they thought he was done….6 years ago. I’m glad to see he is still around and will always be one of my favorites.

By: 24missed

24missed — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:03:22 +0000

Almost the b-day boy! Be happy for every day and breathe you take, it is a gift. At this age, anyway. Are you a nurse or studying to be? Sorry if I’m getting too personal on the boards, but the 12 hours remind me of those I know. Writing the papers remind me of my own personal journey. Working full-time and taking classes sucked, but I have some silly pieces of paper to show for it.

Does all this work mean you are not going to be able to catch ball games? I feel for you, you poor thing, if this is the case.

B-day is Aug. 20. Smack in the middle of the baseball season.

By: cur68

cur68 — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 05:27:20 +0000

Oh yeah. That. Funny you should mention it…April 3. I’ll be 44. Bleah. Figured its safe to come clean, since I’m working 12′s for the forseeable then I got thesis hell till a bit after, so I won’t be “around” anyways. And yours is…?

By: 24missed

24missed — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 01:20:20 +0000

Thanks for the history. Interesting.

O and I kinda sorta know McDonald in a round about way. He wouldn’t know me from a hole in the wall, but I would know him.

I need to check your profile thing. Is your b-day on there? I have to be able to hassle and harass my HBT guy on his b-day.

By: jwbiii

jwbiii — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:39:41 +0000

If Vizquel can fill a utility role while providing the benefits of experience to both the young Cuban

None of Gordon Beckham, Alexei Ramirez, or Brent Morel were particularly good last year, were they? Vizquel’s veteran leadership lead Beckham and Morel to horrible seasons and Ramirez certainly didn’t improve. Yet you propose that Vizquel’s veteran leadership will boost Hechavarria’s game while he is playing 2,000 miles away? If this is true, paying Vizquel to go sit at a team’s antipode might be an effective strategy, as being in the same clubhouse doesn’t seem to have any discernible effects which one could call positive.

By: bbk1000

bbk1000 — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:18:29 +0000

stlbb: haha, I just took a look at that and it gave me a chuckle….I just don’t believe leadership is any reason for a roster spot. Not sure what his range is anymore but his fielding was good in limited games last year, if he can play 3 infield positions affectively perhaps he’s worth the spot.

I’m thinking I did piss off some Blue Jays fans…….

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:36:51 +0000

In part, but you need players to fill that role too.

They’re not completely devoid of vets but they’re pretty close. Plus it seems like Vizquel brings more leadership qualities than any of our other vets do.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:29:42 +0000

which is exactly the point bbk was making Harold. Blue Jays fans are riled!

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:28:00 +0000

bbk: Not sure what the deal is with all the thumbs downs. I mean…both of the points you make have some merit. My guess is…you pissed off some Blue Jays fans with your second point.
Omar is going to come cheap and offer invaluable experience and tutelage.
But you still have a point with the old shortstop comment.

By: thefalcon123

thefalcon123 — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:25:22 +0000

Too late:

On Jose’s twitter page: “I saw bluejays signed 45 year old Omar vizquel. I’m only 47 with plenty of power and free”

Unrelated to Vizquel, but also on Jose’s twitter page:
“al gore was a head of his time .i miss him rest in peace buddy hug for u”

So…yeah. He thinks Al Gore is dead.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:50:33 +0000

Veteran leadership is what coaches are for….besides, it isn’t like the Jays are devoid of veterans.

By: bbk1000

bbk1000 — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:10:47 +0000

To me there aren’t enough spots for leadership positions….perhaps on expanded rosters..

By: bzz0

bzz0 — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 02:33:28 +0000

Sorry, didn’t see Cur’s comments below. What he said.

By: bzz0

bzz0 — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 02:29:16 +0000

Exactly, the Jays have a great prospect at Shortstop in Hechavarria, who’s only a couple years out of Cuba. If Vizquel can fill a utility role while providing the benefits of experience to both the young Cuban and not-old Escobar, I think they signed the right guy.

He’s taking the John McDonald roster spot.

By: mybrunoblog

mybrunoblog — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 02:27:57 +0000

Interesting. Last 2 guys of the 80s! Got me thinking. Anyone in uniform in the bigs who was in uniform during the 1950s?

By: cur68

cur68 — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:16:56 +0000

Yeah, everyone liked that guy. Solid defender, great bench guy, maybe a bit light in the bat, though. He went along with Aaron Hill to the Diamondbacks and we fans expected it was just for the balance of the season then he’d be back with the Lords Of Beaver Town for the start of this season. Unfortunately for us, the ‘Backs realized they needed all that solid D, bench presence in a big way too, and offered him a good deal. He re-upped with them. Now The Beaver Men need to replace that skill set. Vizquel is nearly my age, and Moyer is only 6 years older, so we must be talkin’ baseball years, but dang, this makes me feel old and decrepit.

By: 24missed

24missed — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:03:02 +0000

Hey you,

Kind of nice your team took a shot at Omar. He was really called elderly in this article, right? Maybe in baseball years.

Remind me why the BJs got rid of John McDonald again? Wasn’t he beloved there?

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:45:24 +0000

The Jays want their prospects playing baseball rather than sitting on the bench. The strength of the prospects is evidenced by the spring training performance of the Jays. As Dirty Harry likes to point out, the Jays have the best pre season record in baseball. This performance indicates that our minor leaguers are better than those of the other teams.

By: cur68

cur68 — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 22:04:00 +0000

Nah. Beaver Farm is stacked. Omar’s there to provide veteran presence, on field coaching and basically occupy the role John McDonald had with the team. Bautista handles the outfielders and Vizquel will run herd on the infielders.

By: bigharold

bigharold — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:59:48 +0000

Cur,

Am I over thinking this or does this say something about the B-Jays farm system, .. which if it does isn’t good.?

I like and respect Omar but if the Yankees signed him I’d be worried that there is a decency in their minor league system that needs immediate attention.

By: WhenMattStairsIsKing

WhenMattStairsIsKing — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:56:32 +0000

I dread the day the last 2 guys of the 1980′s retire. Best of luck to Omar and Jamie – I am rooting for them bigtime.

By: cur68

cur68 — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:51:59 +0000

If there is a Just & Kind Dog, we’ll see Moyer face Vizquel sometime this season. Nearly 100 years of baseball facing off.

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:38:17 +0000

???

My guess is he’s there to provide this young team with a bit of veteran leadership more than anything else.

By: bbk1000

bbk1000 — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:31:10 +0000

I can see a junk ball lefty situation pitcher lasting forever, Moyer is in this role as he ages.

On the other hand old shortstops mean your minor league scouts stink….

By: mybrunoblog

mybrunoblog — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:10:28 +0000

Omar is old enough to be many of his teammates dad. Amazing. Good for him.

By: shaggylocks

shaggylocks — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:36:52 +0000

Shhh, not so loud! Jose Canseco might hear!