Standing “O”
Fan favorite and slick fielding short stop Omar Vizquel returns to Cleveland as the Indians play host to the San Francisco Giants for a three game set. This will be Omar’s first return to Cleveland since he last played for the Tribe in 2004. His years here were filled with Gold-Gloves and a top of the batting order eye at the plate. It will be great to again see him here prowling between second and third ready to gobble up a fast approaching ground ball with ease. Omar always seemed to make playing short look so effortless and he always did it with an enthusiasm and a smile.
When I’ve asked people what they remember most about Omar, the answers always seem to be one of two things, they either recall his bare-hand catch and throws, or the sights of watching him playing a kids’ game and enjoying every minute of it. His numbers aren’t that of what they use to be, as he is only hitting a mere .171 at the bottom of San Francisco’s line up and he may have lost a little of his range in the field, but that won’t stop the fans at Progressive Field from giving him the Standing “O”, that he deserves when he first takes the field for the Giants.
Matt has covered Major League Baseball and the "other two" Pro teams in Cleveland since 1994. He has been on the beat of the Indians in full-time mode since 1996, working for various raido and print networks around the country.
