azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Tim Tyers
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 16, 2004 12:00 AM
On a day when they welcomed Craig Counsell back to Bank One Ballpark, the Diamondbacks saw their frustrating ties to free-agent slugger Richie Sexson reach conclusion.
Sexson ended speculation about his destination Wednesday by signing a four-year deal worth a reported $50 million with the Seattle Mariners.
Counsell, a favorite of Diamondbacks fans, was one of six players traded on Dec. 1 last year to acquire Sexson's home run power, left-hander Shane Nance and throw-in outfielder Gary Varner.
The move backfired big-time when Sexson twice injured his shoulder and didn't play after May, producing a .233 average with nine homers and 23 RBIs. Even with last year's miseries, Sexson has 200 career homers and is averaging 32 homers and 94 RBIs over the past four years.
The Diamondbacks seriously tried to re-sign Sexson, reportedly offering him a number of three- and four-year proposals around $10 million a year. Some were front-loaded with incentives with more guaranteed money on the back end, and others guaranteed his salary unless there was a specific recurrence of the shoulder injury.
"I am excited about coming home to play for the Mariners," Sexson, who hails from Brush Prairie, Wash., told Associated Press. "My preference all along was to sign with Seattle and return to the Northwest."
"I wish him well," Diamondbacks General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said, ending the subject.
Word of Counsell's impending arrival for a two-year contract worth a reported $3.1 million has been public for days, but the team made it official Wednesday, introducing its new second baseman at a news conference.
Despite growing up and living in Milwaukee during the off-season, Counsell said he feels like he's returning home. He still owns a Valley residence.
"I've spent four of my seven (major league) years in this organization and I feel like a part of it," said Counsell, who has World Series rings from Florida and the Diamondbacks. "I'm part of its history and I want to be part of it going ahead. That's the best way I can describe it.
"I just feel like I'm a Diamondback. You try to take pride in it. It's a pretty special day for me. What was really important to me was that this was the team I wanted to be associated with, and the organization and people I want to be associated with."
In Counsell, the Diamondbacks aren't regaining a statistical marvel. He hit just .241 in 140 games last season with the Brewers, but he's a career .262 hitter who posted a solid .273 average over four seasons with Arizona (2000-2003).
What they are getting is an intelligent player who does the needed little things at the top of the order to produce wins, such as taking pitchers deep into counts, timely bunting and hitting and smart base running, as well as playing solid to sometimes spectacular defense.
Counsell is the fourth free agent signed to a major league contract by the Diamondbacks. They signed former Angels third baseman Troy Glaus to a four-year contract for a guaranteed $45 million last Thursday, hoping his 182 career homers could offset a void that was expected from Sexson.
They've also signed former Braves right-handed pitcher Russ Ortiz (four years, $33 million) and former Rockies shortstop Royce Clayton (one year, $1.35 million).
Garagiola had meetings with Cubs' free-agent pitcher Matt Clement and Rockies' free-agent southpaw Shawn Estes on Tuesday and Wednesday, and will meet today with outfielder Jeromy Burnitz, who hit 37 homers last season for Colorado.
Garagiola reportedly has a two-year deal worth around $2 million on the table for Texas free-agent outfielder David Dellucci, another former Diamondbacks player. Garagiola spoke to Dellucci's agent, Gregg Clifton on Wednesday night and Clifton was planning to talk to Dellucci and get back to Garagiola today.
Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said he was excited about the acquisition of Counsell, whom he knows well from his days serving as the Diamondbacks bench coach under former manager Bob Brenly.
"He's a very solid guy. If your pitching is going to be good, your defense has to be good," Melvin said. "Up the middle is where you start. We're thrilled to have both Royce and Craig here and I know our pitchers are as thrilled as I am."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1216dbacks1216.html
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 16, 2004 12:00 AM
On a day when they welcomed Craig Counsell back to Bank One Ballpark, the Diamondbacks saw their frustrating ties to free-agent slugger Richie Sexson reach conclusion.
Sexson ended speculation about his destination Wednesday by signing a four-year deal worth a reported $50 million with the Seattle Mariners.
Counsell, a favorite of Diamondbacks fans, was one of six players traded on Dec. 1 last year to acquire Sexson's home run power, left-hander Shane Nance and throw-in outfielder Gary Varner.
The move backfired big-time when Sexson twice injured his shoulder and didn't play after May, producing a .233 average with nine homers and 23 RBIs. Even with last year's miseries, Sexson has 200 career homers and is averaging 32 homers and 94 RBIs over the past four years.
The Diamondbacks seriously tried to re-sign Sexson, reportedly offering him a number of three- and four-year proposals around $10 million a year. Some were front-loaded with incentives with more guaranteed money on the back end, and others guaranteed his salary unless there was a specific recurrence of the shoulder injury.
"I am excited about coming home to play for the Mariners," Sexson, who hails from Brush Prairie, Wash., told Associated Press. "My preference all along was to sign with Seattle and return to the Northwest."
"I wish him well," Diamondbacks General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said, ending the subject.
Word of Counsell's impending arrival for a two-year contract worth a reported $3.1 million has been public for days, but the team made it official Wednesday, introducing its new second baseman at a news conference.
Despite growing up and living in Milwaukee during the off-season, Counsell said he feels like he's returning home. He still owns a Valley residence.
"I've spent four of my seven (major league) years in this organization and I feel like a part of it," said Counsell, who has World Series rings from Florida and the Diamondbacks. "I'm part of its history and I want to be part of it going ahead. That's the best way I can describe it.
"I just feel like I'm a Diamondback. You try to take pride in it. It's a pretty special day for me. What was really important to me was that this was the team I wanted to be associated with, and the organization and people I want to be associated with."
In Counsell, the Diamondbacks aren't regaining a statistical marvel. He hit just .241 in 140 games last season with the Brewers, but he's a career .262 hitter who posted a solid .273 average over four seasons with Arizona (2000-2003).
What they are getting is an intelligent player who does the needed little things at the top of the order to produce wins, such as taking pitchers deep into counts, timely bunting and hitting and smart base running, as well as playing solid to sometimes spectacular defense.
Counsell is the fourth free agent signed to a major league contract by the Diamondbacks. They signed former Angels third baseman Troy Glaus to a four-year contract for a guaranteed $45 million last Thursday, hoping his 182 career homers could offset a void that was expected from Sexson.
They've also signed former Braves right-handed pitcher Russ Ortiz (four years, $33 million) and former Rockies shortstop Royce Clayton (one year, $1.35 million).
Garagiola had meetings with Cubs' free-agent pitcher Matt Clement and Rockies' free-agent southpaw Shawn Estes on Tuesday and Wednesday, and will meet today with outfielder Jeromy Burnitz, who hit 37 homers last season for Colorado.
Garagiola reportedly has a two-year deal worth around $2 million on the table for Texas free-agent outfielder David Dellucci, another former Diamondbacks player. Garagiola spoke to Dellucci's agent, Gregg Clifton on Wednesday night and Clifton was planning to talk to Dellucci and get back to Garagiola today.
Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said he was excited about the acquisition of Counsell, whom he knows well from his days serving as the Diamondbacks bench coach under former manager Bob Brenly.
"He's a very solid guy. If your pitching is going to be good, your defense has to be good," Melvin said. "Up the middle is where you start. We're thrilled to have both Royce and Craig here and I know our pitchers are as thrilled as I am."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1216dbacks1216.html
