Vizquel's value

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Omar Vizquel just completed his retirement tour through Venezuela, but he's not ready to do the same in the United States.

The Giants' 40-year-old shortstop arrived at camp on Sunday, a day before the official full-squad reporting day, and said he's ready to put last year's disappointing offensive season behind him and prove he can still play.

Vizquel compared himself to a Ford GT 500, a sports car that debuted the year he was born, 1967.

"I feel just like it, like I'm an old classic car, hopefully still with some value," he said.

While Vizquel said he doesn't feel like is at the end of his career, he knows it's not far away. That's why he decided to return to the Venezuela Winter League for the first time in 12 years. He wanted to visit all the ballparks for a farewell tour, but he wanted to do it while he could still play.

"I promised my family that I was going to play (in Venezuela) before I retire in baseball and I thought this was the year to do it because I'm coming to a close in my baseball career," he said. "I still feel that I'm in great shape. I can just go down and play the baseball I'm used to playing. I don't feel like I'm slow. I feel like I'm the same player."

Vizquel made public appearances, threw out ceremonial first pitches and received all sorts of trophies and plaques as Venezuelan baseball fans said goodbye. He said it was an "emotional" winter.

"I didn't know people from other cities would support me and give me standing ovations and all of that," he said. "It was pleasant to see people respond like that."

Vizquel is still one of the most accomplished players from a nation with a rich baseball history. A likely Hall of Famer, Vizquel is an 11-time Gold Glove winner, and owner of several career records for shortstops.

Vizquel said he felt like he played well enough defensively last year to win his 12th Gold Glove, but the award instead went to Jimmy Rollins.

"That's pretty hard to fight against a guy that is the MVP of the league and had the year that he had," Vizquel said. "I think obviously my offensive numbers didn't help in the voting for the Gold Glove."

Offense isn't supposed to be a factor when managers and coaches fill out their Gold Glove ballots, but inevitably it is.

Vizquel has never been a major force at the plate, but he was a career .276 hitter after he hit .295 in 2006. Last year, though, Vizquel slipped to .246, and manager Bruce Bochy eventually dropped him to No. 8 in the lineup because of his struggles.

"I really want to improve my offensive numbers this year," Vizquel said. "I have to concentrate more on hitting the ball on the ground and doing the little things. I think this team this year is going to do a lot of that stuff and my game is going to benefit from the hit-and-runs and bunts this year."

Despite Vizquel's decline last season, the Giants still re-signed him to a one-year deal with an option for 2009. Vizquel and the Giants were a match because neither had many choices. Vizquel said the only other teams that showed interest were the Cardinals and White Sox.

"I love playing in San Francisco," he said. "I'm one of the guys that likes to feel comfortable in a place. For me to get to know a new team and try to fit in with maybe one or two years left in baseball is kind of sad. I would like to retire with a team that I feel comfortable with, and that's what I'm doing now."

Vizquel, who has designs on managing when his playing career is over, said he's not sure if this will be his last contract.

"It just depends on how I play," he said. "This year will probably decide my future in baseball. I don't want to say this is my last year, because I feel pretty good, and if I have a good year I'll give it a chance next year again."

You can reach Staff Writer

Jeff Fletcher at 521-5489 or jeff.fletcher@pressdemocrat.com.