Mixed Emotions on Vizquel

     First of all, let me just clarify the headline.  I do not have mixed emotions regarding Omar Vizquel as a player and I certainly don’t have mixed emotions on the White Sox signing him.  Bringing in a guy like Vizquel does more for the team than just adding a potential Hall of Famer as a back-up infielder.  A whole lot more.  Let’s talk about his veteran leadership and his clubhouse presence.  Let’s talk about his eagerness and ability to mentor young players.  Let’s talk about how he’s going to help make Alexei Ramirez a better and more complete shortstop.  Bringing in Vizquel is so much more than just bringing in some random journeyman or some regular veteran like a Mark Grudzielanek.  His ability to teach and his ability to endow his years of wisdom and experience to the younger players far surpasses his abilities in the field these days, and he’s still pretty damn good out there.  My mixed emotions stem from this business about un-retiring Luis Aparicio’s number 11 from White Sox history.

     I understand that you do something like this only for an Omar Vizquel.  Mike Napoli isn’t going to get traded to the Sox and say that he wants to wear #72 and and have folks in the front office even consider the idea.  But for Vizquel, the door is open.  I’m ok with that.  But my problem lies with the fact that wearing Aparicio’s #11 was an afterthought for the shortstop.

     By Vizquel’s own admission, he was not even familiar with Aparicio.  For his career, Vizquel has always worn #13.  Growing up, he idolized Reds shortstop Dave Concepcion who donned the unlucky number for 18 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and thrived within the great Big Red Machine in the 70’s.    But, as all Sox fans know, 13 is Ozzie Guillen’s number.  After signing his contract, Vizquel apparently called Guillen and was immediately met with, “‘You can forget about 13, that’s my number.”  And Vizquel was ok with that.  He commented to reporters, “Look at what Ozzie Guillen has done with the White Sox,” Vizquel said. “Winning the (World Series) championship and all the years he played for them, No. 13 already has a name there.”

     So it was then time for Vizquel to look for another number.  I can picture it now…”Hmmm.  Let’s see.  Close to #13 there’s 11 that was worn by…hey!  Look at that!!  This guy is from Venezuela too!  Let’s look him up and see if it’s a number worth an inquiry.”  Now I wasn’t in the room when it happened, but it doesn’t seem to be too far off from the truth.  Vizquel talked to his father about Aparicio, did some research on the Hall of Famer’s career, and only then did  he approach Aparicio in Venezuela and make the request.

   Now what’s Aparicio going to do?  They’re both Venezuelan, both have made an impact on the game of baseball, and it’s very likely that Aparicio will be there, one day, congratulating Vizquel on his recent Hall of Fame induction.  What’s he supposed to say when someone comes to him and asks if they can honor him by wearing his old number?  The guy’s not an ogre.  Obviously he is going to concede.

     And that’s why I have mixed emotions about it.  I love the fact that Vizquel is bridging the gap between groundbreaking, Latino players from yesterday to the young up and coming Latinos of today.  I laud him as an ambassador of the game.  But to do it as an afterthought because your new manager won’t give up his number seems a little off for me.  Maybe if I didn’t know that he wasn’t even familiar with Aparicio’s career, I wouldn’t give it a moment’s thought, but to know that number 11 is playing second fiddle, it sort of sticks in my craw a little.  But if there’s one thing I am going to take from this, it’s that Aparicio is just as classy today as he was digging grounders out of the dirt for the Sox in the late 50’s.  I can’t think of too many retirees that would allow their teams to do that.

Tags: Alexei Ramirez, Chicago White Sox, Luis Aparicio, Omar Vizquel, Ozzie Guillen, White Sox