Omar Vizquel Eager To Provide Texas Rangers Second Option During Ian Kinsler’s Absence

ARLINGTON - The Rangers’ signing of shortstop Omar Vizquel to a minor league contract in January appeared to be greeted locally with yawns and groans. Texas’ off-season free-agent budget landed the oldest position player in the majors.

It wasn’t known then that Vizquel would in part play Mr. Miyagi to Elvis Andrus. And the 42-year-old learned a new trick on the Rangers’ most recent trip to Oakland – playing second base, after 21 seasons on the other side of the bag. That will be his address on the 10-game trip that will begin in Oakland on Monday night since Ian Kinsler was forced to the disabled list before Sunday night’s 4-2 win over Seattle.

Vizquel has started at second since Kinsler pulled his left hamstring late Tuesday night. Prior to this stretch, Vizquel made only a handful of starts each month, mostly at shortstop to rest Andrus. (When Andrus was born, Vizquel was playing for Triple-A Calgary.) And maybe more starts than manager Ron Washington would have ordinarily provided if not for Vizquel’s pursuit of the career record for hits by a Venezuelan native.

“It’s nice to be on the field,” Vizquel said. He genuinely appreciates the opportunity to contribute. And, even with 11 Gold Gloves at short, he’s eager to improve his play at second. Specifically, his positioning.

“I don’t feel right there,” he said. “Maybe if I’m better located, I can get to other ground balls. That’s the hardest part.”

Well, he has that fake-the-popup play down, erasing Ichiro from the base paths on Sunday night in the fourth inning. He noted that an umpire usually will call the automatic out anyway unless the fielder successfully convinces him that he lost the ball.

Said Washington: “He hasn’t won 11 Gold Gloves and been in the league 23 years without pulling some tricks.”

Vizquel the leadoff replacement doesn’t try to match Kinsler’s power: “I know the job of the leadoff, what I have to do to get on base. That’s what I’m going to try.”

Kinsler on Sunday afternoon went through what had become a daily routine - running and stretching on the field with Jose Vazquez, the team’s strength and conditioning coach – before the decision was made to place him on the 15-day list. Retroactive to last Wednesday, Kinsler will be eligible to return when the Red Sox return to Arlington late next week.

“Doc checked him again and said it could be another three, four, five days,” Washington said. “At least when we get him back we know he’ll be healthy and we’ll have him for the rest of the year.”

Kinsler was one of two Rangers placed on the disabled list on Sunday evening. Reliever Jason Grilli has an inflamed pitching elbow. As his teammates hurried Sunday night to dress for the bus to the airport, he was still in his workout attire with a large wrap around his right arm.

Grilli said this has been an on-going problem and didn’t flare up after retiring two batters on Saturday night. When he allowed a run on Friday night in working two-thirds of an inning, that was the first one that he’d given up in 14 innings over 12 appearances. His ERA since being acquired from Colorado on June 9 is 1.53.

“The medical staff said this would probably be the best thing,” Grilli said. “I don’t want to hurt myself, and I don’t want to hurt the team. They know what I’m capable of doing. I want to be here for the stretch run.”

Washington said Joaquin Arias will get some starts at second on the trip to Oakland, Anaheim and Cleveland. Vizquel said he’s still battling remnants of the flu but has all of his energy back.

At 42, you can’t be too careful. It was suggested he make sure to take plenty of vitamins.

“Yes, more vitamins,” he answered enthusiastically. “A lot of Flintstone vitamins!”