Vizquel and Alomar Rated As Best Middle Infield Duo in Majors - Omar Vizquel and Roberto Alomar, baseball players - Brief Article

Baseball Digest, Nov, 2000 by John Kuenster

THEY MIGHT BE LIKENED TO A PAIR OF MAGICIANS AS THEY EXERCISE THEIR defensive skills in the middle of the infield, often flipping the ball between them with nonchalant grace and perfect timing during a double play.

They aren't kids anymore, but there have been no signs that age has detracted from their ability to work together or individually with consistent smoothness.

They are shortstop Omar Vizquel, 33, and second baseman Roberto Alomar, 32, of the Cleveland Indians.

Now, after rounding out their second full season together, they have been classified by some observers as one of the best middle infield tandems in the recent history of the game.

Hall of Fame manager Al Lopez, who saw many great shortstop-second base combinations during his long career and once piloted the Indians, says, "Today, it's hard to beat them as fielders and hitters."

If shortstop Rey Ordonez of the Mets had not suffered a season-ending broken arm earlier this year, he and second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo would share equal billing with Vizquel and Alomar as the majors' top defensive duos in the center of the diamond.

Since that probability was eliminated, the focus of this column will be on Vizquel and Alomar.

When it comes to fielding finesse, major league teams often feature an outstanding gloveman at either shortstop or second base, but not too often at both positions at the same time.

Cleveland pitchers have to relish the thought of having Vizquel and Alomar poised behind them, ready to gobble up any grounders hit their way.

Vizquel, especially this year, was virtually flawless on defense. Through the Indians' first 126 games of the season, he had committed only two errors in 520 total chances.

Alomar was a bit off his game, being charged with 13 miscues in 592 chances over the same span of games, but between the two of them, they again formed a strong backbone on defense for the injury-riddled Indians who struggled through most of the season to stay in contention in the American League Central Division.

"I can't be with anyone better than him at second base," said Vizquel. "We are like family." After playing with 15 different second basemen following the Indians' trade of Carlos Baerga in 1996, Vizquel was happy as the proverbial clam to have Alomar, a eight-time Gold Glove winner, as his second base partner starting with the 1999 season.

Alomar was snapped up as a free agent by general manager John Hart in November, 1998 after finishing three seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.

Charles Nagy, one of Cleveland's veteran starters, was asked about the defensive wizardry of Vizquel and Alomar.

"Have I ever seen a better pair?" he asked. "No. They work so well together, and they do some things that are amazing."

Gold Glove awards for defensive excellence were introduced in 1957. Since that time, only eight shortstop-second base duos, including Vizquel and Alomar, have won the honor in the same year while playing together.

Hall of Famers Luis Aparicio and Nellie Fox of the White Sox earned the award in 1959-1960; Gene Alley and Bill Mazeroski of the Pirates, 1966-1967; Jim Fregosi and Bobby Knoop of the Angels, 1967; Dave Concepcion and Joe Morgan of the Reds, 1974 through 1977; Mark Belanger and Bobby Grich of the Orioles, 1973 through 1976; Belanger and Davey Johnson, 1969 and 1971; Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker of the Tigers, 1983-1984, and Vizquel and Alomar with the Indians in 1999.

In all, Vizquel owns seven Gold Glove awards, two with the Mariners and five with the Indians, while Alomar owns eight similar citations, five with the Blue Jays besides two with Baltimore and one with Cleveland.

Vizquel's barehanded plays on slow bounding balls and Alomar's far-reaching range constantly frustrate opposing batters.

"Robbie and Omar have a style of play that's very instinctive," said coach Jim Riggleman, "but what makes them so special is they are consistent on the routine play. Omar reminds me of Ozzie Smith. And Robbie may be the best player in the league in turning double plays."

"I don't know how much better they can get," said manager Charlie Manuel.

While Alomar was born in Puerto Rico, Vizquel represents another link in the chain of gifted shortstops from Venezuela, a chain that includes Chico Carrasquel, Luis Aparicio, Dave Concepcion and Ozzie Guillen.

Growing up in Caracas, Vizquel fell in love with baseball early, during a time when the Reds were a dominant force in the game, so it was only natural his role model was Concepcion, whose fluid play held Cincinnati's infield defense together during the 1970s.

"Davey Concepcion was my hero growing up," Vizquel said. "I have two pictures, One is me when I was a kid, posing next to Concepcion, and the other one is me as a major leaguer standing next to him in the same pose. I show them side by side.

"Being a ball player like Concepcion, that was it for me."

Vizquel's teammates are unrestrained when it comes to praising the fielding ability of the Indians' shortstop.

"I compare Omar's defense to Ken Griffey's offensive skills," said Jim Thome. "It looks like he's not even trying. To play the way he does takes a lot of confidence and a lot of talent."