Omar Vizquel: Anaconda Hunter

When it comes to playing shortstop, there haven't been very many in the game who did a better job of catching the baseball throughout their career than Omar Vizquel. There's a reason the man has won 11 Gold Gloves in his career, after all. So how does he do it?

Well, a lot of baseball players spend their offseasons relaxing and recovering, while working out just to stay in shape. Some don't do anything and wait until the last minute before Spring Training to get ready for the long season. Then there's Omar Vizquel, who spends his offseason utilizing his ability to catch things, things like anacondas.

Omar Vizquel went to Venezuela this winter and caught an anaconda. If that is on your bucket list, pay attention.

"This thing is 11 or 12 feet long," Vizquel said. "You've got to find the tail and pull it out of the water and bring it to safe territory. It is dangerous in and out of the water, but you have to maneuver yourself to stay behind it. Once you're behind it, you grab it by the back of the neck.

"It's a fun thing."

I'm sure it is fun, Omar, but I'm going to stick to safer hobbies like wrestling grizzly bears or outrunning a pride of lions. I get just as much of a rush, and I stay in shape for the long hard blogging season.

Also, now that you're a Ranger and expected to help mentor young Elvis Andrus, I'm pretty sure the organization would prefer you left the anaconda hunting trips out of Andrus' spring itinerary. Take Bruce Bochy instead.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-25-2009 @ 12:39PM

Susan said...

Sure it's lots of fun to annoy an 11-12 foot snake for the hell of it...I love it when the hunter becomes to hunted...Karma is a bitch!!!

2-25-2009 @ 12:40PM

My mistake---when the hunter becomes THE hunted...Hopefully the snakes get even next time

2-25-2009 @ 5:45PM

John Marshall said...

The next Steve Erwin.

2-25-2009 @ 7:32PM

Loaded said...

And then he pulled his pants up.

2-25-2009 @ 9:39PM

Chris said...

You gotta be out of your mind! But hey, I could be missing out on alot of fun? Like being eaten by a 12 ft. snake. Good luck with that bro.

2-25-2009 @ 10:00PM

Nick said...

i find it funny. sure, it's dangerous and it's not like he's doing it alone. so don't hate on the guy. 11 gold gloves says it all. no PEDs either, i might add.

2-26-2009 @ 8:06AM

itvending said...

I REMEMBER WATCHING A SHOW CALLED WILD KINGDOM ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO WHEN THE GUY CALLED MERLIN PERKINS, I BEKIEVED HIS NAME WAS, THOUGHT HE WAS JUST GOING TO GO OVER AND PICK UP THIS SNAKE....NEEDLES TO SAY, HE ENDED UP IN A FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE, I THINK EVEN THE CAMERA MAN HAD TO HELP THIS GUY "UNWIND" HIMSELF FROM THE "MONSTER" THAT WAS GOING TO MAKE A MEAL OF HIM. SINCE THE, I REALIZED THAT THIS THING WAS NOT A "TAME" OR "MILD MANNERED" TOY TO BE FOOLED WITH.

2-26-2009 @ 10:21AM

ambramberlia said...

Some comments are so negative. I think it is a kind of jealousy. Money means everything to those critics. My boyfriend thinks the same with me. He is equestrian and eight years older than me. lol. We met online at horsedate.com, a nice and free equestrian place for younger women and older men, or older women and younger men, to interact with each other.