Li'l "O"

[Old Sweater]

MIAMI (AP)—San Francisco Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel was forced to wait at least one more day before claiming another place in the major league record book.

Vizquel was seeking to tie Luis Aparicio’s major league record for most games played at the position before Saturday night’s game at Florida was rained out.

The game was rescheduled to be made up as part of a double-header on Sunday.

“Some things happen that you can’t control,” Vizquel said of the rainout.

Vizquel said he planned to play in Sunday’s first game, and then would talk to Giants manager Bruce Bochy before deciding whether or not to play in the second game. Vizquel even suggested he could start the second game and come out after an inning.

Vizquel was activated from the disabled list on May 10. He missed all of spring training and the start of the season following off-season arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

“I’m more concerned about my knee than the record,” Vizquel said. “At this moment, my knee and being able to play all season is most important.”


Vizquel, 41, has played 2,582 career games at shortstop and can tie and break Aparicio’s record against the Marlins on Sunday.


A baseball fan looks out onto …

AP - May 24, 8:11 pm EDT
“It’s a historic moment,” Bochy said. “He’s excited, and we are, too. I’m proud of Omar, and I’m proud to say I’m here for it.”

Aparicio, who like Vizquel is a native of Venezuela, played from 1956-73 with the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox.

Vizquel, an 11-time Gold Glove winner, owns the major league record for most double plays (1,660) as a shortstop and the highest lifetime fielding percentage (.984) for players with at least 1,000 games at short.

He became the oldest shortstop (39) to win a Gold Glove in 2006 and his nine-year run of winning the award while playing in the American League from 1993-2001 is the longest streak by an AL shortstop since the award’s inception in 1957.

Vizquel also begins Sunday as the active career hits leader with 2,609 and has the seventh most hits all-time by a switch hitter.


http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...e=lgns&print=1

One of my fav's for years. Guy has had quite the career!

[blacksilverfan12]

Probably the most underrated shortstop of the 90's, lost behind A-Rod, Nomar, and Jeter

[blacksilverfan12]

He tied the record today! The Giants and Marlins have a doubleheader today, so he could break it today also

[blacksilverfan12]

He started the second game and set a new record. Way to go Omar!

[Seattle1]

The best play of his career was when he bare-handed a grounder to seal Chris Bosio's no-hitter in 1993.

:twocents:

[Old Sweater]

Vizquel breaks shortstop record
05/25/2008 5:33 PM ET
By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com

MIAMI -- Omar Vizquel made history Sunday, overtaking Luis Aparicio as baseball's shortstop iron man.
In the second game of a doubleheader at Dolphin Stadium, the 41-year-old shortstop played in his 2,584th game, passing Aparicio for most games appeared in as a shortstop.

That's a lot of games for a 5-foot-8, 175-pound guy playing one of the most demanding positions in baseball.

"It's a historic moment," said Bochy, who moved into 49th place on the all-time wins list for managers with his 1,042nd victory Friday. "He's excited, and we are, too. I'm proud of Omar, and I'm proud to say I'm here for [the record]."

But Vizquel's career has been about a lot more than quantity. The Venezuelan, who has made bare-handed plays on sharp ground balls look almost routine over the years, owns 11 Gold Gloves -- second only to Ozzie Smith's 13 -- and sports a career .274 batting average. He's also first among all shortstops who have played in over 1,000 games with a .984 fielding percentage and has been a part of an all-time-leading 1,658 double plays.

On top of that, he is one of only four shortstops in history -- and the only Venezuelan -- to have played 20 seasons in the Major Leagues.


Super shortstops
Most career games played at short
Rank Player Games at SS
1. Omar Vizquel 2,584
2. Luis Aparicio 2,583
3. Ozzie Smith 2,511
4. Cal Ripken 2,302
5. Larry Bowa 2,222
6. Luke Appling 2,218


"To me, it's just like any other game. It's nothing new for me," Vizquel said recently. "I wish I could be healthier to be able to enjoy it more. But at this moment, my knee and being able to play all season is most important."

Vizquel's record-setting year started off a bit questionable. He missed all of Spring Training after arthroscopic left knee surgery on Feb. 27, and then sustained a bone bruise that delayed his recovery.

Since then, however, Vizquel has played in 12 of the last 13 games -- starting 11 of them -- and is hitting .275 without making an error on the field.

Giants third baseman Jose Castillo, also a native Venezuelan who has the locker right next to Vizquel in Miami, is one of many who have been inspired by Vizquel over the years.

"He deserves it," Castillo said. "He's a companion who is always there if you need him. I know he will be in the Hall of Fame one day, and I hope to be the first one to congratulate him [when he ties the record]."

http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/mlb/y2008/m05/d24/c2763041.jsp

WTG Li'll "O"

Omar made an error in each game of the doubleheader??? How ironic for the best hands I ever seen play the game.

[Old Sweater]

Couple of great pictures.


Loaded the little pic by mistake so there is the same picture twice.

San Francisco Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel, right, is hugged by teammate center fielder Aaron Rowand (33) after setting a record for the most games played at shortstop at 2,584 games during the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Sunday, May 25, 2008. Luis Aparicio held the previous record with 2,583 games.

San Francisco Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel acknowledges the crowd after setting a record for the most games played at shortstop at 2,584 games during the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Sunday, May 25, 2008. Luis Aparicio held the previous record with 2,583 games.