Jose Oquendo, the Cardinals third base coach and Secret Weapon. He got the nic name for being a rock star utility infielder - the most under-appreciated job in the game. And now we love him as our third base coach. Don't ignore him... at least don't do it twice :)
Several years ago we learned that the last game of the Beloit Snappers (then Brewers minor league affiliate) became a little bit of a Name-Your-Price game as the concessionaires tried to empty their stocks for the off season. It was great - dollar beers turned in to "how about 2 dollars for a medium? OK?? how about $3 for a large!" "Dollar dogs? Yes Please!" All that plus a $8 ticket makes for a great Labor day weekend.
One of these games we were sitting behind home plate happily munching our cheap pop corn and keeping score. After the third inning we noticed a pattern, 'now playing Left Field, Vinnie Rotino', "now playing 2nd base, Vinnie Rotino" Yes, their young utility man played every position in that last game of the season.
Fast forward to the bottom of the 8th, the two young Snapper pitchers charged with charting pitches in the September sun noticed a new face warming up in the 'bull pen' (we use that term loosely for the dirt down the 3rd base line where the pitchers warm up). You got it - there was our friend Vinnie Rotino warming up to pitch the top of the 9th. It was hard not to giggle along with them as they inflated his pitch speed by maaayybe 10 mph. But hey, secret weapon indeed, he got the job done and the Snappers won the day.
Several years later we saw our friend Vinnie as the Bull pen Catcher for the Brewers, shared with him how much we enjoyed his performance that day - he got a good laugh that we remembered him.
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