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Vina Grateful To Be A Card
By Rod Beaton, USA TODAY
October 11, 2000
ST. LOUIS — When Fernando Vina isn't knocking or stealing base hits for the Cardinals, he's spinning hits for a St. Louis radio station. His show is called Livin' La Vina Loca. Fernando is Livin' la vida buena (the good life) this season.
Ever since he was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade in the winter of 1999, he says he feels like he died and went to heaven.
It's not heaven, but it's close. It's the National League Championship Series, and Vina will lead off for the host Cardinals against the New York Mets Wednesday in Game 1.
"Before the trade, I'd envision (a trade) because I knew for me to be here would be good for everybody," Vina says.
It surely was good for the Cards. He hit .300, scored 81 runs, displayed an enthusiasm the Cards admire and flashed with his glove. He is magic on a double-play pivot.
"He gets right to the (second-base) bag and then moves to the ball and gets rid of it, like Bill Mazeroski and myself did," Cardinals coach and Hall of Fame second baseman Red Schoendienst says.
At 5-9, Vina is vulnerable, but he hangs in on the bag and the ball usually already is away before baserunners are able to bore in on him.
The quick release is just part of a potential Gold Glove package. His range is good, his hands better. He led NL starting second basemen in fielding percentage.
Vina also runs well when he's sent. He was caught in his only attempt in the Division Series but stole 10 bags in the regular season despite a hamstring problem. He's likely to run often on the vulnerable Mets staff and catcher Mike Piazza.
"I'd like to get more," Vina says. "I think I can."
He's getting exposure he never got in Milwaukee, a remote outpost in the majors. Now he's known for more than catching a bone-jarring elbow in the jaw from Albert Belle during his Cleveland years.
His game lacks power but not much else.
"He's a perfect fit," says Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, who might find even more to like.
"I'm 31, still getting better," Vina says
USA TODAY
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