azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Finley's gone, but new CF is a major hit
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 24, 2005 12:00 AM
The Diamondbacks got a chance to say hello to an old friend Tuesday when they met Steve Finley and the Los Angeles Angels. But as much as they might miss their former trusty center fielder, they're starting to like their new guy a lot, too.
In addition to his approachable and gregarious personality, Jose Cruz Jr. has made his new teammates smile just the same with his defensive abilities in center and his red-hot bat at the plate this Cactus League season.
"It's good to see him have some success," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said of Cruz, who is hitting .425 (17 for 40) with three home runs and 11 RBIs. "You know, you come to a new team, you're kind of a late, last addition in an important position. Hey, he wants to come in here and impress his teammates and help the coaches and myself."
It seemed to only take a few days upon his arrival in camp - he was acquired from Tampa Bay for pitcher Casey Fossum in early February - for Cruz to get comfortable with his fourth team in four years. He previously has played for Toronto and San Francisco in addition to last year's stint with the Devil Rays.
"I've jumped into different situations with different experiences and different types of guys," Cruz said. "But this is definitely one of the easiest transitions I've made because of the guys that are here. I knew Luis (Gonzalez) and Shawn (Green). I've know Javy Vazquez and Russ Ortiz and Alex Cintron. And I've talked to Tony Clark throughout my career, so I had a good feel for those guys already.
"But everybody gets along great here. You don't feel there's some sort of giant ego hanging over everybody. We're all pretty much from the same mold and go about things the same way, so it's been great."
It will start to get even better, though, the more Cruz is playing in center with his regular starting corner outfield mates, Gonzalez and Green. The Diamondbacks have taken it easy with Gonzalez in the field, resting his surgically repaired right elbow with patience and care.
Gonzalez will start playing in left field more frequently, which began Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs Gonzalez had relied on the heady smarts of Finley, who for the past six years directed traffic from center. The more he and Cruz play together, the more they can strike up an on-field chemistry.
Cruz and Green already have it to an extent, having spent a few seasons together with the Blue Jays and playing more frequently together this spring season. But it's been difficult, as Melvin has tried to give innings and at-bats to other outfielders such as Luis Terrero, Quinton McCracken, Scott Hairston and Carlos Quentin.
"Yeah, I haven't played as much with Gonzo as I've wanted to yet, but that will come, and Shawn and I, we know each other a lot," said Cruz, whose father, Jose Sr., retired with 2,251 career hits. "We've already got the head-bobs down."
That's outfielder-speak for defensive-coverage do's and don'ts. Finley was a master at it, Gonzalez said. According to Green, though, Cruz is about as reliable as they come, even though he's spent a good chunk of his eight-year major league career as a corner outfielder.
"He's great out there," Green said Tuesday. "He knows exactly what he's doing."
Cruz has played enough games at Bank One Ballpark to become at least a little familiar with the menacing overhang in center field, but admits he'll feel a lot better once the season starts just so he can adjust to the stadium's quirks.
"I've had a couple balls just miss that overhang when I've played there before, so yeah, I know what it can be like," he said. "It shouldn't be too much of a problem, but I'm excited to get over there and see for myself."
D-Backs Report
At Tucson Electric Park: Cubs 11, Diamondbacks 6
Diamondbacks record: 11-11
At the plate: CF Jose Cruz Jr. hit his third homer of the Cactus League, tying Troy Glaus for the team lead. Cruz also walked twice. 3B Alex Cintron went 2 for 2 with a two-run double. 1B Chad Tracy had two hits and has 10 in his past 26 at-bats (.385). LHP Shawn Estes hit an RBI single.
On the mound: Estes allowed four earned runs and six hits through six innings, but didn't get into trouble until the fourth when Derrek Lee hit a two-run homer on a 1-1 pitch. RHP Jose Jimenez, trying to win a spot in the bullpen as a non-roster invitee, hit two batters after loading the bases in the eighth to give the Cubs a 6-4 lead. Jimenez allowed five earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning.
In the field: LF Luis Gonzalez played six innings and made a great throw home to hold a runner at third.
He said it: ''If you don't look at the scoreboard, it went real well. . . . But I threw good curveballs today, good change-ups, and the fastball was where I wanted it to be for the most part, except for the one in the lawn in left (a home run by Lee)." - Estes, on his outing.
Today: Diamondbacks vs. Rockies at Tucson Electric Park, 1:05 p.m. LHP Brad Halsey vs. LHP Darren Oliver.
- Bob McManaman
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/special3/articles/0324dbacks0324.html
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 24, 2005 12:00 AM
The Diamondbacks got a chance to say hello to an old friend Tuesday when they met Steve Finley and the Los Angeles Angels. But as much as they might miss their former trusty center fielder, they're starting to like their new guy a lot, too.
In addition to his approachable and gregarious personality, Jose Cruz Jr. has made his new teammates smile just the same with his defensive abilities in center and his red-hot bat at the plate this Cactus League season.
"It's good to see him have some success," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said of Cruz, who is hitting .425 (17 for 40) with three home runs and 11 RBIs. "You know, you come to a new team, you're kind of a late, last addition in an important position. Hey, he wants to come in here and impress his teammates and help the coaches and myself."
It seemed to only take a few days upon his arrival in camp - he was acquired from Tampa Bay for pitcher Casey Fossum in early February - for Cruz to get comfortable with his fourth team in four years. He previously has played for Toronto and San Francisco in addition to last year's stint with the Devil Rays.
"I've jumped into different situations with different experiences and different types of guys," Cruz said. "But this is definitely one of the easiest transitions I've made because of the guys that are here. I knew Luis (Gonzalez) and Shawn (Green). I've know Javy Vazquez and Russ Ortiz and Alex Cintron. And I've talked to Tony Clark throughout my career, so I had a good feel for those guys already.
"But everybody gets along great here. You don't feel there's some sort of giant ego hanging over everybody. We're all pretty much from the same mold and go about things the same way, so it's been great."
It will start to get even better, though, the more Cruz is playing in center with his regular starting corner outfield mates, Gonzalez and Green. The Diamondbacks have taken it easy with Gonzalez in the field, resting his surgically repaired right elbow with patience and care.
Gonzalez will start playing in left field more frequently, which began Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs Gonzalez had relied on the heady smarts of Finley, who for the past six years directed traffic from center. The more he and Cruz play together, the more they can strike up an on-field chemistry.
Cruz and Green already have it to an extent, having spent a few seasons together with the Blue Jays and playing more frequently together this spring season. But it's been difficult, as Melvin has tried to give innings and at-bats to other outfielders such as Luis Terrero, Quinton McCracken, Scott Hairston and Carlos Quentin.
"Yeah, I haven't played as much with Gonzo as I've wanted to yet, but that will come, and Shawn and I, we know each other a lot," said Cruz, whose father, Jose Sr., retired with 2,251 career hits. "We've already got the head-bobs down."
That's outfielder-speak for defensive-coverage do's and don'ts. Finley was a master at it, Gonzalez said. According to Green, though, Cruz is about as reliable as they come, even though he's spent a good chunk of his eight-year major league career as a corner outfielder.
"He's great out there," Green said Tuesday. "He knows exactly what he's doing."
Cruz has played enough games at Bank One Ballpark to become at least a little familiar with the menacing overhang in center field, but admits he'll feel a lot better once the season starts just so he can adjust to the stadium's quirks.
"I've had a couple balls just miss that overhang when I've played there before, so yeah, I know what it can be like," he said. "It shouldn't be too much of a problem, but I'm excited to get over there and see for myself."
D-Backs Report
At Tucson Electric Park: Cubs 11, Diamondbacks 6
Diamondbacks record: 11-11
At the plate: CF Jose Cruz Jr. hit his third homer of the Cactus League, tying Troy Glaus for the team lead. Cruz also walked twice. 3B Alex Cintron went 2 for 2 with a two-run double. 1B Chad Tracy had two hits and has 10 in his past 26 at-bats (.385). LHP Shawn Estes hit an RBI single.
On the mound: Estes allowed four earned runs and six hits through six innings, but didn't get into trouble until the fourth when Derrek Lee hit a two-run homer on a 1-1 pitch. RHP Jose Jimenez, trying to win a spot in the bullpen as a non-roster invitee, hit two batters after loading the bases in the eighth to give the Cubs a 6-4 lead. Jimenez allowed five earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning.
In the field: LF Luis Gonzalez played six innings and made a great throw home to hold a runner at third.
He said it: ''If you don't look at the scoreboard, it went real well. . . . But I threw good curveballs today, good change-ups, and the fastball was where I wanted it to be for the most part, except for the one in the lawn in left (a home run by Lee)." - Estes, on his outing.
Today: Diamondbacks vs. Rockies at Tucson Electric Park, 1:05 p.m. LHP Brad Halsey vs. LHP Darren Oliver.
- Bob McManaman
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/special3/articles/0324dbacks0324.html
