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Gonzalez miffed as he's replaced in lineup by rookie
Andrew Bagnato
Associated Press
Jun. 20, 2006 07:09 PM
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PHOENIX - Arizona manager Bob Melvin told Luis Gonzalez he was going to start rookie Carlos Quentin in left field Thursday night to give him a night off against a tough left-hander.
Gonzalez took it a different way. The 16-year veteran interpreted his benching as a sign the organization may be ready to part company with him at year's end. There has been speculation the club will not pick up its $10 million option on Gonzalez for 2007.
"You guys read the writing on the wall," Gonzalez told reporters before the Diamondbacks played the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. "Am I upset? Of course I am. If you weren't upset, you wouldn't be a professional athlete, not wanting to be on the field." OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1')
Melvin said he spoke with Gonzalez on Wednesday night to let him know he would be getting a day off against Dodgers starter Mark Hendrickson. Gonzalez is 2-for-7 lifetime against Hendrickson.
"It's just going to be a one-day thing," Melvin said. "Gonzo will be back out there tomorrow. But certainly Gonzo wants to play every day, and I don't blame him."
Like recently promoted shortstop Stephen Drew, the 23-year-old Quentin is considered a big part of the Diamondbacks' future. Quentin, a first-round draft pick in 2003, was hitting .289 with 30 doubles, three triples, nine homers and 52 RBIs in 85 games for Triple-A Tucson. To make room for Quentin, the Diamondbacks optioned right-hander Edgar Gonzalez to Tucson.
Gonzalez said he was happy for Quentin, who made his major league debut Thursday night.
"I'm excited for Quentin to be here," Gonzalez said. "I hope he gets four hits tonight, five hits. But as a veteran that's been around, I want to be on the field."
The timing of the move mystified Gonzalez, who said the club needs veteran leadership as it contends for the NL West title. Arizona came into Thursday's game in third place, three games behind San Diego. Gonzalez hinted that the Diamondbacks' front office pushed Melvin to play Quentin.
"It's kind of weird because we're in the middle of a pennant race, but I understand that it's not (Melvin's) decision," Gonzalez said. "I think there's a lot more to it, maybe not from down here (in the clubhouse)."
It's been a frustrating season for the 38-year-old Gonzalez, a 2001 World Series hero and the most popular player in franchise history. Although he's been hot since the All-Star break, Gonzalez came into Thursday batting .270 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs. He's on pace to hit only 12 homers, which would be his fewest since 1997.
Last month, Gonzalez reacted angrily when Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick told a newspaper there have been "whispers" about whether the five-time All-Star used performance-enhancing drugs. Kendrick did not accuse his left fielder of cheating, but Gonzalez called a press conference because, he said, he felt the need to defend himself.
Now Gonzalez seems at odds with the front office, led by first-year general manager Josh Byrnes.
"This is a new regime here," Gonzalez said. "I understand that. And I understand the direction they want to go, and I can live with that."
"I honestly don't want this to play into a soap opera. I've been playing 16 years. I've been here for eight, and I don't want to play head games or things like that. I feel like I've earned the respect just to kind of know what's going on upstairs."
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Gonzalez miffed as he's replaced in lineup by rookie
Andrew Bagnato
Associated Press
Jun. 20, 2006 07:09 PM
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
PHOENIX - Arizona manager Bob Melvin told Luis Gonzalez he was going to start rookie Carlos Quentin in left field Thursday night to give him a night off against a tough left-hander.
Gonzalez took it a different way. The 16-year veteran interpreted his benching as a sign the organization may be ready to part company with him at year's end. There has been speculation the club will not pick up its $10 million option on Gonzalez for 2007.
"You guys read the writing on the wall," Gonzalez told reporters before the Diamondbacks played the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. "Am I upset? Of course I am. If you weren't upset, you wouldn't be a professional athlete, not wanting to be on the field." OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1')
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Melvin said he spoke with Gonzalez on Wednesday night to let him know he would be getting a day off against Dodgers starter Mark Hendrickson. Gonzalez is 2-for-7 lifetime against Hendrickson.
"It's just going to be a one-day thing," Melvin said. "Gonzo will be back out there tomorrow. But certainly Gonzo wants to play every day, and I don't blame him."
Like recently promoted shortstop Stephen Drew, the 23-year-old Quentin is considered a big part of the Diamondbacks' future. Quentin, a first-round draft pick in 2003, was hitting .289 with 30 doubles, three triples, nine homers and 52 RBIs in 85 games for Triple-A Tucson. To make room for Quentin, the Diamondbacks optioned right-hander Edgar Gonzalez to Tucson.
Gonzalez said he was happy for Quentin, who made his major league debut Thursday night.
"I'm excited for Quentin to be here," Gonzalez said. "I hope he gets four hits tonight, five hits. But as a veteran that's been around, I want to be on the field."
The timing of the move mystified Gonzalez, who said the club needs veteran leadership as it contends for the NL West title. Arizona came into Thursday's game in third place, three games behind San Diego. Gonzalez hinted that the Diamondbacks' front office pushed Melvin to play Quentin.
"It's kind of weird because we're in the middle of a pennant race, but I understand that it's not (Melvin's) decision," Gonzalez said. "I think there's a lot more to it, maybe not from down here (in the clubhouse)."
It's been a frustrating season for the 38-year-old Gonzalez, a 2001 World Series hero and the most popular player in franchise history. Although he's been hot since the All-Star break, Gonzalez came into Thursday batting .270 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs. He's on pace to hit only 12 homers, which would be his fewest since 1997.
Last month, Gonzalez reacted angrily when Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick told a newspaper there have been "whispers" about whether the five-time All-Star used performance-enhancing drugs. Kendrick did not accuse his left fielder of cheating, but Gonzalez called a press conference because, he said, he felt the need to defend himself.
Now Gonzalez seems at odds with the front office, led by first-year general manager Josh Byrnes.
"This is a new regime here," Gonzalez said. "I understand that. And I understand the direction they want to go, and I can live with that."
"I honestly don't want this to play into a soap opera. I've been playing 16 years. I've been here for eight, and I don't want to play head games or things like that. I feel like I've earned the respect just to kind of know what's going on upstairs."
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