Vidro paces himself
Jose Vidro is taking grounders at second base, just as he’s done for the past 10 years in Montreal and Washington.
Wait … now he’s over at third base, fielding more. And look, there he is with another glove, trapping balls with the oversized mitt of a first baseman.
Isn’t this a three-time All-Star and career .301 hitter? The guy the Mariners grabbed in a December trade after he struggled with sore knees in the National League? Isn’t Vidro here in spring training to become Seattle’s sorely needed, full-time designated hitter?
Why does he even own a glove anymore?
“So far, I’ve got only two,” Vidro said Wednesday, smiling after an hour of postpractice weightlifting and exercises to strengthen his aching knees. “They are working me pretty much everywhere.”
This wasn’t what the Expos/Nationals’ longest tenured player had in mind when he waived his no-trade clause. Fielding wasn’t part of the deal that brought him over to the American League – baseball’s home for those who can still hit, but just can’t or don’t like to run so much anymore.
But he’s only dabbling in fielding, until Jose Lopez returns from a slow-healing sprained ankle he sustained last month while playing winter ball in Venezuela.
Lopez was hitting in the indoor cage Wednesday and the All-Star second baseman said he hopes to be back on the field hitting and fielding by the weekend. Manager Mike Hargrove estimates Lopez will miss the first week of exhibition games, which begin March 2.
Until then, utility man Willie Bloomquist is the second baseman. Former New York Mets Gold Glover Rey Ordonez is trying to win a backup job after two years out of baseball.
Vidro is working out all over the infield.
“He’s not running like he’s hurt,” Hargrove said.
There’s a reason for that.
“I’m very, very happy. The legs are actually better than I expected,” Vidro said. “The first week of camp, your body is always kind of sore getting used to the routine again. But now, for me, nothing.”
Vidro has gone through this before, however. In each of the last four years, his knees got off to a healthy start.
“I don’t really have problems for the first two, three months. Then all of a sudden I start having problems,” he said.
Those began in 2003, when he was hit in the side of his right knee while sliding. He still batted .310 for the Expos and started the All-Star game that year. But by the summer of ‘04, he had tendinitis in the knee. He played 110 games until surgery in September to remove part of his patella tendon.
The knee stayed swollen into 2005. Then he tore a tendon in his left ankle and missed 54 games.
So, the Mariners are limiting how much he takes grounders and making him skip some of the daily drills.
By opening day, he alone will fill this void: The Mariners had five players with at least 10 at-bats as a DH last season – including Ben Broussard, an inconsistent power hitter who might be traded soon. They were last among league DHs in slugging percentage (.358), on-base percentage (.298) and runs (65), and next-to-last in average (.233), doubles (21) and RBIs (65).
“I was due to get a change in my career,” Vidro said. “I still think I can be an everyday player in the field, but I’m here to be the DH.
“Hey, I can’t complain. I’m happy to be here. I’m in the big leagues.”
Around the camps
Washington closer Chad Cordero ($4.15 million) and San Diego second baseman Todd Walker ($3.95 million) won their salary hearings, leaving owners with a 4-3 edge this year in cases decided by arbitration panels. … Atlanta pitcher Mike Hampton, 17 months after reconstructive surgery on his left elbow, threw batting practice during the first full-squad workout of spring training. … Manny Ramirez, who received permission from Boston to report late to spring training for family reasons, was scheduled to attend a car auction in New Jersey on Saturday, according to the promoter of the auction. … Accused of shooting a Dominican farmer in October, Chicago White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe has received permission from a judge to attend spring training in Tucson, Ariz.… Japanese pitcher Tomo Ohka arrived at the Blue Jays’ training camp, five days late, because of visa problems.