Expect to see Vazquez all over Padres' infield

By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer | Monday, March 22, 2004 10:27 PM PST ∞

PEORIA, Ariz. ---- Like any competitive player, Ramon Vazquez isn't exactly enthralled with the idea of handing over his starting shortstop job to Padres prospect Khalil Greene. Unlike many displaced major leaguers, however, Vazquez doesn't intend to sit around and sulk about his fate.

Whereas Rey Ordonez skipped town last week, apparently scared off by Greene's tightening grip on the position, Vazquez has continued to go about the business of making himself as valuable to the Padres as possible.

He came to spring training harboring faint hopes of being the team's everyday shortstop, as the 27-year-old was for most of 2003. He'll leave Arizona as the Padres' utility man deluxe, a player for all infield positions.

"I'm just trying to do what they tell me to do," Vazquez said.

"Whatever they need me to do, that's going to be my job."

It's a job that could involve lots of multitasking. Vazquez will serve as the primary backup to Greene at shortstop and Mark Loretta at second base.

He's also capable of playing a serviceable third base, where he started 10 games in 2002. And this spring, he has completed his tour around the horn by helping to fill the void at first base created by Phil Nevin's shoulder injury.

Vazquez said Friday's game against Milwaukee, in which he substituted for Brian Buchanan at first, marked his first time ever playing the position. He was back there again Monday in a 1-0 loss to Colorado, and general manager Kevin Towers has mentioned the left-handed hitter as a viable alternative against right-handed pitchers in case Nevin isn't ready to start the season.

Even while wearing all these different hats, Vazquez has maintained his focus at the plate and is batting .375 this spring.

"He's going to play an important role on this ballclub," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He can play anywhere and looks good at first. He's a valuable player. If something happens anywhere, he can play there. He gives you good at-bats. I've been playing him everywhere this spring, and he's done a great job."

Shortstop, where Vazquez started 101 games last season and served most of his time in the minors, remains his most comfortable position. But he certainly doesn't look lost anywhere in the infield.

"When I'm playing somewhere else ---- third or second or first ---- I need to work on ground balls that day and get the feeling for it," he said. "But it's coming pretty easy to me. I don't think I'm having a tough time out there or thinking too much when I'm playing first or third. I think I'm fine."

Vazquez believed that he ---- not the heralded, 24-year-old Greene ---- might be the Padres' shortstop of the future when he opened 2003 as the starter and leadoff hitter and reached base safely in 28 of his first 30 games. In June, however, he missed 33 games with a strained abdominal and, after a strong July, hit just .214 in August. The next month, Greene was called up from Triple-A Portland, and Vazquez began to see the writing on the wall, a sense that only intensified when the Padres brought in veteran Ordonez this offseason.

Ordonez's abrupt departure has allayed Vazquez's earlier concerns about not fitting into the Padres' plans this year.

He may not fit as a starter. But that doesn't mean he can't perform like one.

"I'm just going to play hard and try to have a great season and show them that I can play every day," Vazquez said. "Who knows what's going to happen? I know I can do a lot of things to help the team."

Contact staff writer Brian Hiro at b_hiro@hotmail.com.

Original submission from "Don Weiner" <DWeiner@nctimes.com