azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 19, 2005 12:00 AM
TUCSON - His wife still gets most of the attention and glare from the media spotlight, be it for her pitching or her stunning looks, but Casey Daigle has it in his mind to make a name for himself in his second go-round with the Diamondbacks.
Daigle, a 6-foot-5 right-hander who last month married longtime sweetheart and softball sensation Jennie Finch, is back after being designated for assignment and is starting to turn heads once again in his own right.
Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin singled him out Friday for his mound session and reminded reporters that Daigle is in the running for the No. 5 starter's job, along with the handful of others that are frequently named.
"I've probably been a little remiss in not mentioning him," Melvin said. "We had taken him off the roster, he wasn't picked up . . . there was a lot of time to fall through the cracks. But I talked to (former Diamondbacks manager) Bob Brenly and this is a guy who impressed everybody in this camp enough to where they kept him as a starter last year."
After making the Opening Day roster, Daigle got rocked in his major league debut, surrendering a club-record five home runs to the St. Louis Cardinals in a 13-6 rout, and never really recovered. He was reassigned to Triple-A Tucson after going 2-3 with a 7.16 ERA in 10 starts.
"Everything happens for a reason, but this just gives me extra motivation to work harder," Daigle said of being a non-roster invitee.
As for his wedding to Finch, which had to be postponed due to Finch's participation in the Summer Olympics, everything went off without a hitch.
"It's been awesome," he said. "The only thing that's changed is my house is now full of flowers and plants and I have no idea where anything's at."
Early reporters
In addition to Luis Gonzalez, Troy Glaus and Matt Kata, a handful of other position players reported early, including outfielder Doug DeVore and utility players Andy Green and Scott Hairston.
"I've been itching to be here, I couldn't stay away," said Hairston, who will see time both at second base and the corner outfield positions this spring. Playing the outfield, however, might be his best chance to win a roster spot.
"I'm willing to do whatever it takes," he said.
Short hops
Melvin surprised his pitchers Friday by making half of them run a timed mile and a half at the end of workouts. Each player was assessed an expected time to finish the run, based on weight.
"I don't think anybody got close to the target, unfortunately," one of the pitchers said afterward. "In the vans on the way back here, it sounded like a smoker's convention."
• Left-hander Brad Murray, 26, was acquired from the Chicago White Sox, completing the deal that sent second baseman Roberto Alomar to the White Sox for a player to be named later. Murray, who will report to minor league camp March 7, split last season at Class A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, going 3-8 with three saves and a 5.06 ERA in 59 appearances.
• Pitchers Jose Jimenez and Ramon Peña were expected to arrive late Friday.
• With showers forecast for today, the team likely will be forced to train inside, with pitchers throwing in the covered batting-cage area at the Kino Sports Complex and also hitting the weight room.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/special3/articles/0219dbacksnb0219.html
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 19, 2005 12:00 AM
TUCSON - His wife still gets most of the attention and glare from the media spotlight, be it for her pitching or her stunning looks, but Casey Daigle has it in his mind to make a name for himself in his second go-round with the Diamondbacks.
Daigle, a 6-foot-5 right-hander who last month married longtime sweetheart and softball sensation Jennie Finch, is back after being designated for assignment and is starting to turn heads once again in his own right.
Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin singled him out Friday for his mound session and reminded reporters that Daigle is in the running for the No. 5 starter's job, along with the handful of others that are frequently named.
"I've probably been a little remiss in not mentioning him," Melvin said. "We had taken him off the roster, he wasn't picked up . . . there was a lot of time to fall through the cracks. But I talked to (former Diamondbacks manager) Bob Brenly and this is a guy who impressed everybody in this camp enough to where they kept him as a starter last year."
After making the Opening Day roster, Daigle got rocked in his major league debut, surrendering a club-record five home runs to the St. Louis Cardinals in a 13-6 rout, and never really recovered. He was reassigned to Triple-A Tucson after going 2-3 with a 7.16 ERA in 10 starts.
"Everything happens for a reason, but this just gives me extra motivation to work harder," Daigle said of being a non-roster invitee.
As for his wedding to Finch, which had to be postponed due to Finch's participation in the Summer Olympics, everything went off without a hitch.
"It's been awesome," he said. "The only thing that's changed is my house is now full of flowers and plants and I have no idea where anything's at."
Early reporters
In addition to Luis Gonzalez, Troy Glaus and Matt Kata, a handful of other position players reported early, including outfielder Doug DeVore and utility players Andy Green and Scott Hairston.
"I've been itching to be here, I couldn't stay away," said Hairston, who will see time both at second base and the corner outfield positions this spring. Playing the outfield, however, might be his best chance to win a roster spot.
"I'm willing to do whatever it takes," he said.
Short hops
Melvin surprised his pitchers Friday by making half of them run a timed mile and a half at the end of workouts. Each player was assessed an expected time to finish the run, based on weight.
"I don't think anybody got close to the target, unfortunately," one of the pitchers said afterward. "In the vans on the way back here, it sounded like a smoker's convention."
• Left-hander Brad Murray, 26, was acquired from the Chicago White Sox, completing the deal that sent second baseman Roberto Alomar to the White Sox for a player to be named later. Murray, who will report to minor league camp March 7, split last season at Class A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, going 3-8 with three saves and a 5.06 ERA in 59 appearances.
• Pitchers Jose Jimenez and Ramon Peña were expected to arrive late Friday.
• With showers forecast for today, the team likely will be forced to train inside, with pitchers throwing in the covered batting-cage area at the Kino Sports Complex and also hitting the weight room.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/special3/articles/0219dbacksnb0219.html
