11/05/24
May 28, 2006
Two Tribes Go to War: The most exciting at-bat to watch in the Major Leagues: former Cleveland Indians teammates Omar Vizquel vs. Jose Mesa. "Even my little boy told me to get him," Mesa said of bad blood sparked by insults in Omar's 2003 autobiography. "If I face him 10 more times, I'll hit him 10 times. I want to kill him."
Here's how they get over it but it will take some organization up front. The teams allow Mesa to plunk him if he dares. Then the umps let Omar rush the mound. No bench clearing or interference allowed. Anyone who wants to be the third man in is suspended for the remainder of the season. It's just a one on one - to the victor goes bragging rights and then we can all move on. Think of the Pay Per View potential ! The funny thing is, I had no freakin' idea who either of these clowns were but found myself drawn to the story. What a waste, I'll never get those six minutes back.
posted by Russellman at 05:06 PM on May 28, 2006
Mesa can't really do it now without getting a real suspension and pissing off SF. But, what's so wrong about holding a grudge against someone who threw you under the bus to make some bucks off his autobiography?
posted by bperk at 06:44 PM on May 28, 2006
Omar was wrong to blame Mesa for blowing the WS in 97" Sure he blew the save. BUt if you look at the series as a whole. The indians had the lead in all 7 games. Charles Nagy and Orel Hershiser both blew 3 run leads in the 7th inning in thier starts! The Indians lost both those games. So it was not all on Mesa shoulders! Game 5 The Indians committed 3 errors and allowed 7 runs to score in the top of the ninth, The Indians came back and fell short with 4 runs. Guess who made the last out with runners on first and Third? You guessed it. Omar Visquel, Manny Rammirez was on deck! nO wonder Mesa is mad!
posted by The Tribster at 07:34 PM on May 28, 2006
I've never been a fan of Vizquel's; hellacious talent at shortstop, just never one of my favorites. Jose Mesa, on the other hand, I actively loathe, and have taken great pleasure in watching him fail over the past several years. He's just one of those guys to me. I can't really explain it, I just can't freakin' stand the guy. Lima time, indeed. I hope he throws at Vizquel, misses him, gets his ass kicked by Vizquel's teammates anyway, then catches a 10-game suspension. And that Barry Bonds blows out his knee during the fight and retires.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 10:07 PM on May 28, 2006
Russellman, a clown who has a dozen or so gold gloves? You must be a big baseball fan. Vizquel is an absolutely superb shortstop who has done and continues to make plays that are astonishing. Mesa is a punk b*tch with a grudge who's putting his teammates safety on the line for his petty little pride. If I were one of his teammates I'd tell him he's on his own if Omar and the Giants bench rushes him.
posted by fenriq at 02:16 AM on May 29, 2006
Jose Mesa is STILL pitching in this league?
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 07:44 AM on May 29, 2006
Jose Mesa is STILL pitching in this league? If Jose Lima, Scott Erickson and Terry Mullholland are allowed to keep pitching, I'm sure Mesa looks positively Clemenesque in comparison.
posted by grum@work at 07:53 AM on May 29, 2006
I wish that myself and every other Indian fan who had their heart broken by this jerk could throw a fastball at him and thats no just a few hundred people. Its the whole city. That punishment wouldnt even be close to satisfying either.
posted by Clevelander32 at 09:08 AM on May 29, 2006
Classy, Clevelander32. You really make people want to pull for the Tribe.
posted by rcade at 10:54 AM on May 29, 2006
Classy Cleveland? When the Jake opened they were oh so proud of the long string of sellouts. Only reason all the sellouts took place is that the team was buying up all the unsold tickets themselves. Phoooooony!!!!
posted by joromu at 01:47 PM on May 29, 2006
That's what they get for building a park so close to the ocean.
posted by yerfatma at 05:02 PM on May 29, 2006
Phoooooony!!!! I've noticed that the Indians happen to have a very dedicated fan base. Every year I manage to go to at least one Tigers versus Indians games and there is always a large amount of Indians fans in attendence. For a while there was usually more Indians fans in attendance but that wasn't the case on Saturday (first time I've seen the entire upper deck filled as well as a 100 mph fast ball).
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 02:14 PM on May 30, 2006
I never endorse throwing intentionally at a ballplayer regardless of the impetus. That said, Vizquel is getting what he asked for. 1) People who write autobiographies, in my opinion, are not to be trusted. This goes double for anybody who writes one before the age of 40. 2) Selling out your teammates in any medium for any reason is extremely poor form. 3) Writing an autobiography in which you sell out your former teammates while you are still actively playing is quite foolish and will get you exactly what Omar is getting. Little sympathy here if and when he gets beaned. filled as well as a 100 mph fast ball How in the world do you fill a fast ball? Is that some kind of euphemism?
posted by BullpenPro at 03:46 PM on May 30, 2006
I believe that should be read as: (first time I've seen the entire upper deck filled [insert comma and pause], as well as a 100 mph fast ball) As for Vizquel, screw him. If you're stupid enough to say derogatory things about someone you'll probably have to face again in your career, you're moron enough to get drilled a few more times. Take first base and STFU.
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:30 PM on June 01, 2006
ONE is all that you can score! frankie says relax......it's been NINE FREAKIN' YEARS! get over it joe table! and if you REALLY wanna mess with omar's head, pitch him away for a couple of at bats. he won't know whether to poop or wind his watch.