Vizquel revving right into another season

Henry Schulman - San Francisco Chronicle

An ordinary person is asked how he feels and says, "Fine, thank you." An extraordinary person such as Omar Vizquel says, "I feel great. I feel like a GT 500 with a 429 engine. That car was made the same year I was born. I feel like an old classic car, I hope with some value."

The Giants feel the same way. Their first order of business last winter was re-signing their shortstop to a one-year, $5.3 million contract that includes a club option for 2009. They need defense, and even with his 41st birthday looming on April 24, Vizquel remains one of the best in the game.

The Gold Glove voters bypassed Vizquel last year and denied him his 12th award, instead selecting Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins. When Vizquel checked into camp Sunday, he still seemed a little bummed.

"I was pretty satisfied with my defense even though I didn't win the Gold Glove," he said. "It's pretty hard to fight against the guy who was the MVP of the league and had the kind of year he had. I think my offensive numbers didn't help me in the Gold Glove voting."

They did not help the Giants much, either. Vizquel's average fell off a cliff, from .295 in 2006 to .246 in 2007, forcing manager Bruce Bochy to demote him from second to eighth in the order. Vizquel said he has to concentrate more on his bat this year and believes that he can contribute more in an offense that better fits his bunting, hit-and-run style.

Vizquel had a fulfilling offseason, at home in Seattle with his family, which includes a newly adopted baby girl, and in his native Venezuela, where he played winter ball for the first time in a dozen years in a sort of farewell tour. He has much to look forward to as well. For starters, he needs only 14 games to pass countryman Luis Aparicio for most games all-time at shortstop.

When someone noted he is now the only potential Hall of Famer on the Giants, Vizquel smiled and said, "The only thing is, I'm not going to have my own TV crew and staff."

Briefly: Position players officially report today. Bochy said he is eager to see Ray Durham, "to see where he's at physically and see where his head's at." Bochy wants to see a man who is motivated to improve on his horrible 2007 season, in the final year of his contract. ... The pitchers, who have thrown bullpen sessions on alternate days since camp opened, get a break today. Then, they begin throwing live batting practice to the hitters. ... Former Giants shortstop Shawon Dunston will visit camp for the first time as an instructor this week, joining returnees J.T. Snow and Robb Nen.