Would Omar Return as a ......

[DougHeil]

player? Would the Indians swap out utility players in Carroll and Omar Vizquel? It's something to certainly consider. The Dolans would have to know Omar would get some fans to the park just, well, just because he's Omar.

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2009/11/would_cleveland_indians_be_hig.html

Would Cleveland Indians be "high-profile" enough for Omar Vizquel to return?
By Starting Blocks
November 12, 2009, 5:20PM

The Cleveland Indians, Vizquel's team from 1994-2004, probably don't fit that category, but then again, the American League Central Division the Indians play in is not loaded with juggernauts.

Word is Vizquel - a Hall of Fame candidate because of his wondrous play at shortstop, but now a utility shortstop/second and third baseman - will probably not return to the Texas Rangers next season.

Major league general managers are meeting in Chicago, and though Vizquel is not a centerpiece topic of discussion, neither is his availability being ignored. Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi are covering the meetings for FoxSports.com, and their report includes:

Free-agent shortstop Omar Vizquel will not be back with the Rangers, major-league sources say.

Vizquel, 42, had 195 plate appearances last season, and is looking for the same type of utility role.

He would prefer a higher-profile team, one source says.

The Indians, with Asdrubal Cabrera, are set at shortstop, and most likely, too, at second base, with Luis Valbuena. Their top utility infielder the last two seasons, Jamey Carroll, is a free agent.

Writes Rhett Bollinger for MLB.com, first noting that the top free agent shortstops are Miguel Tejada, Orlando Cabrera and Marco Scutaro (emphasis on Vizquel is Starting Blocks'):

The class is a bit top heavy with Tejada, Cabrera and Scutaro being the only legitimate offensive threats, but there are plenty of veteran shortstops who could certainly fill a few team's needs in the middle infield.

For teams seeking a defensive wizard, there's Jack Wilson, Adam Everett, Alex Gonzalez and Omar Vizquel, while there are also plenty of quality utility players who can man short when needed, such as Juan Uribe, Juan Castro, Alex Cora, Jerry Hairston and Craig Counsell.

In addition, there are two relatively young reclamation projects out there in Khalil Greene and Bobby Crosby, who followed up success early in their careers with disappointing seasons.

 

[Gunther]

That would be fun. Maybe help sell a few more tickets.

Edit: Actually, Manny Acta and Omar look a lot alike. It would creep me out a little. But what the hell, I love me some Omar. If he's got one more productive season left, he should spend it in Cleveland. Maybe he can help round out Cabrera's game.

 

[DougHeil]

Yes. Lots of fun.

Maybe we could lure him for one year... more if it works out, but also give him assurances of a spot on the coaching staff after his playing days are over?

 

[Chris]

In before Boobie boo-boos this idea.

 

[elcheato]

I would love to have Omar back..

 

[JayP146]

HAY GUYS I THINK WE SHOULD HIRE OMAR AS OUR MANAGER HE WOULD MAKE A GOOD MANAGER



On a more serious note ... I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to having him on the coaching staff, but now that he's spent the past few seasons in SF and Texas, not entirely sure he'd be interested in returning.

 

[DDJ7777]

Omar actually played well here this year. I'd love for him to play a utility role with the Indians.

 

[-Akronite-]

Ummm... we ain't goin' nowhere... why the hell not bring back one of the most beloved players in Indian history?

 

[Chardon]

It worked good for Lofton. But again we made the playoffs

 

[chiefwahoo]

Doesn't Branson Wright come up with that "Starting Blocks" stuff on cleveland.com? Anytime I see anything under that posting I just ignore it. Most of it is fantasy land gossip and nonsense.

 

[macbdog]

Depends on what the goal is. If the idea is to appease the fans, then I guess bring him back. If the idea is to sign the best available utility infielder, that is clearly Jamie Carroll. Vizquel's anemic bat has gotten even worse; with Valbuena needing a platoon buddy the utility infielder has to be able to hit against lefties. Vizquel can still pick it defensively but he offers absolutely nothing at the plate anymore. He has now posted 3 straight seasons with an OPS under .660. That is bad, folks.

I think Carroll is the likely route the club goes and the best. I would like to see Jason Donald get a shot at the utility position- I think in the next year he will supplant Valbuena and we see Luis become a super utility guy- but I think the team would rather see Donald start out healthy at Columbus before bringing him north. If I wasn't so partial to Jamie Carroll I would disagree with them, and if Carroll decides to go elsewhere then I would like to see Donald given a realistic shot out of spring training.

 

[sjeppe]

We arent going to do anything next year anyway, might as well sign Omar to watch someone who actually used to be stud player. Even if its just for Shiz and Giggles..

 

[Ajak0410]

If we aren't going anywhere next year(and we aren't) and Carroll isn't going to be our utility infielder, then we should let one or more of our young players compete for that spot. I agree that I'd like to see Jason Donald get some PT sometime next season.

It sounds like Omar is only going to play if he can join up with a contending team and get one last shot at winning it all. I doubt he'd want to come be a sideshow on a terrible team even if it's the Indians. Being a utility infielder for the team you spent the prime of your career starting for and playing a meaningless season(assuming a world series ring is what Omar is after) in a stadium at one quarter capacity would, in my opinion, just be depressing.

Omar is one of my favorite players of all time so my immediate reaction was to get him on this team but it would just serve as a reminder of how far this franchise has fallen while simultaneously preventing future piece from seeing the field.

 

[Gunther]

If we aren't going anywhere next year(and we aren't) and Carroll isn't going to be our utility infielder, then we should let one or more of our young players compete for that spot. I agree that I'd like to see Jason Donald get some PT sometime next season.

It sounds like Omar is only going to play if he can join up with a contending team and get one last shot at winning it all. I doubt he'd want to come be a sideshow on a terrible team even if it's the Indians. Being a utility infielder for the team you spent the prime of your career starting for and playing a meaningless season(assuming a world series ring is what Omar is after) in a stadium at one quarter capacity would, in my opinion, just be depressing.

Omar is one of my favorite players of all time so my immediate reaction was to get him on this team but it would just serve as a reminder of how far this franchise has fallen while simultaneously preventing future piece from seeing the field.

That's a great post. You've made me change my mind. Next year is all about the kids, so let them play.

Besides, I wonder if Omar would really want to sit on the bench and watch Peralta play every day, the guy who replaced him.

 

[Spectre]

What, is Carlos Baerga not available?