Vazques is a cool customer

  • Kirby Arnold / Herald Writer
  • Monday, October 1, 2001 9:00pm
  • Sports

Rookie isn’t nervous about replacing Guillen at shortstop

By Kirby Arnold

Herald Writer

SEATTLE — Somebody needs to check Ramon Vazquez for nerve endings.

When the American League playoffs begin Tuesday, there’s a good chance the kid with all of 22 major league at-bats will be the starting shortstop for the Seattle Mariners.

Vazquez doubts he’ll have the nervous rumbling in his gut or shaky feeling in his legs that should accompany such a moment.

"My first day I did, but I don’t think I’ll get that anymore now," he said.

The eyes of a baseball nation and the hopes of an expectant region will be on Vazquez, and he won’t get nervous?

Even Bret Boone, the Mariners’ king of "Watch me, world!" says he’ll be nervous.

"But I’m nervous before the season opener," Boone said, "and I’m nervous before my first at-bat of spring training. Ramon will be fine."

That’s the prevailing sentiment toward the 25-year-old rookie, even though he has been thrust into a position he never envisioned when the Mariners called him up from Class AAA Tacoma on Sept. 7.

It’s a tangled web that has put Vazquez, and the Mariners, in this predicament.

Starting shortstop Carlos Guillen lies in a Seattle hospital with tuberculosis and his return by Tuesday is doubtful. Mark McLemore is the first choice to replace Guillen at shortstop, but he may be needed at third if a rib injury keeps third baseman David Bell out of the lineup.

That would give manager Lou Piniella little choice but to use Vazquez, a left-handed hitter, at shortstop against right-handed pitching.

If the Mariners play Cleveland in the first round and right-hander Bartolo Colon pitches Game 1 for the Indians, M’s fans must hope they get an A Game from what essentially is Plan C.

Piniella thinks they will.

"He looks good out there," Piniella said. "He’s gotten a couple of hits lately and he’s made plays at shortstop. He’ll be fine."

This isn’t the way Vazquez figured he would finish this season.

At Tacoma, he batted .300 with 10 home runs and 79 RBI in 127 games and was named to the All-Pacific Coast League team. The Mariners called him up just to get a look at one of the budding young stars in the organization.

"Also in case there was an injury," Piniella said. "Remember, we hadn’t been carrying that many extra infielders all year."

Vazquez, who played 33 games with the Everett AquaSox in 1996, saw himself only in a limited role. He’d spend a few weeks in September with the Mariners, most of that time on the bench, then go home to Puerto Rico and watch October unfold on television.

"Play once, maybe twice a week. Give guys some days off so they can get some rest. Get some at-bats against righties, pinch-hit," Vazquez said. "I certainly didn’t expect to be playing every day."

But here he is, getting a crash course in baseball at the major league level in this final, meaningless week of the regular season because the Mariners may need him when it counts most.

"That would be something," he said. "I’m not going to count on it, but I’ll be ready."

After last weekend, he looks a lot more ready than he did early in September.

Vazquez got his first major league hit in his first at-bat on Sept. 7, then went on what seemed like an 0-forever skid. Going hitless in 13 straight at-bats had put him in his place as a minor league callup.

"The first at-bat, I had just played the day before in Tacoma, and I came here and got to pinch-hit and got the hit," he said. "After that I went to Anaheim and all the stuff that happened (the five-day hold on baseball after the terrorist attacks). I didn’t play for about 10 days. I got a little lost."

Then Guillen got sick, Bell got hurt and there was no choice but to play Vazquez, his .071 average notwithstanding. He started Saturday against Oakland and went 2-for-4 against Erik Hiljus, then started Sunday and got two hits against Tim Hudson.

He also played flawless defense, the strength of his game.

"He’s done a good job with us," Boone said. "The first thing people look for is defense, and he’s done fine."

"I’m feeling good now, but it’s not like I’m feeling great," Vazquez said. "I wish I could feel the way I felt down in Triple-A. The more chances I get to play, the better I’m going to feel."

The Mariners have a week to get him feeling really good.

The person who seems least worried is Dan Rohn, his manager this year at Tacoma.

"I’ve got confidence in Ramon, but more importantly he’s got confidence in himself," Rohn said. "He’ll be fine."

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Former Archbishop Murphy High School stars, Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) and Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas (72), prepare for play at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 26, 2024. Though Lucas is likely to return as a starter, Seattle's interior line needs offseason upgrades. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
The Seahawks offensive line needs work

A mix free agency and draft could lead to upgraded interior.

UW men stumble in second half, fall to Nebraska

The three-pointers that fell so frequently — and from a… Continue reading

Edmonds-Woodway’s William Alseth dribbles the ball down the court during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds-Woodway boys basketball enters playoffs on high note

The Warriors never let up in 63-43 win vs. Shorewood on Tuesday to secure Wesco South 3A/2A title

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 4

Parker powers Seagulls to district berth.

Kraken rally to force overtime, fall in shootout

Streaking Red Wings too much for young Kraken lineup that showed some promise.

Slivertips’ Clarke Schaefer tries to maneuver around Medicine Hat’s Josh Van Mulligen during the game on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tips Week in Review: Everett splits slate in high-scoring week

The Silvertips were outscored 24-18 in four games this week, losing two to the next-best WHL teams

Everett Silvertips’ Landon DuPont during the game against the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tips’ DuPont becomes first rookie D to score 50 points in 35 years

The 15-year-old star defenseman joined Scott Niedermayer in exclusive company with an assist Sunday.

Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto believes players like Jorge Polanco (7) will enjoy bounceback seasons in 2025. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Despite quiet Mariners offseason, Jerry Dipoto confident

With the pre-spring training luncheon and news conference no longer an annual… Continue reading

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Jan. 26-Feb. 1

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Jan. 26-Feb. 1. Voting closes… Continue reading

Monroe’s Halle Keller drives to the hoop during the game against Snohomish on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 3

Stanwood, Snohomish, Monroe girls dominate.

Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak adds to staff

New play-caller for Seattle’s offense brings in familiarity from Saints.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.