azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Jack Magruder, Tribune
TUCSON - Once a team that manipulated its starting rotation around top starters Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, the Diamondbacks may use a more democratic approach this season, their first since 1999 without either ace.
After identifying a fifth starter from among a group of candidates that includes Oscar Villarreal, Michael Gosling and Brad Halsey, manager Bob Melvin said he wants to give that pitcher a normal workload, although the D-Backs have three off days in April and could use their No. 5 starter only twice until May 3.
"We don’t necessarily have to pitch the ‘five’ guy . . . or do we go the route where we want all five guys to pitch and give the extra days’ rest to everybody? Which I’m kind of for,’’ Melvin said.
"I would like somebody to win that fifth spot and pitch every fifth (start).’’
By giving his starters an occasional extra day between starts, Melvin also could increase the pitch counts in each given start, which could keep a starter in a game longer and create less stress on the bullpen.
Melvin has been successful with the approach before. In 2003, Seattle became the fifth team in major league history — the second since 1904 — to use the same five starting pitchers the entire season. The Mariners finished 93-69 with starters Freddy Garcia, Jamie Moyer, Joel Pineiro, Ryan Franklin and Gil Meche.
"We had five guys that we felt very good about — one could be five, five could be one,’’ Melvin said. "It looks a little more like this situation here.
"We know we have four guys who have established themselves and have been successful in the big leagues, and guys we really wanted to have here. We feel very good about those four, and the fifth one will iron itself out.’’
Right-handers Javier Vazquez, Russ Ortiz, Brandon Webb and left-hander Shawn Estes are the front four. Webb is tentatively set for the No. 3 spot, although that could change if a left-hander wins the No. 5 job and Melvin chooses to break up the two lefties.
Johnson and Schilling made 139 starts and accounted for 90 of the DBacks’ 190 victories in their two full healthy seasons here, 2001-02.
A TIME OF CHANGE
Scott Hairston arrived in camp Friday, four days before position players were to begin official workouts, with a new bride and a new challenge. Hairston began his transition from second base to the outfield by taking fly balls and grounders from Chris Bando and Jack Howell.
"What I’m getting is that I need to be an outfielder, and I’m fine with it. I just want to be part of the team and make a contribution,’’ said Hairston, who married his longtime girlfriend Feb. 12.
Hairston hit .248 with 13 home runs and 29 RBIs in 101 games last season, playing three games in the outfield. The D-Backs attempted a partial conversion at Class AAA Tucson last season, when Hairston played five games in the outfield, but his crash course was put on hold when he was recalled by the D-Backs after second baseman Matt Kata suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on May 29.
SHORT HOPS
Ramon Antonio Pena and Jose Jimenez again missed the team’s workout Friday but are expected to participate today, Melvin said.
Gosling and Kata have agreed to contract terms.
Melvin said he has been remiss in not including Casey Daigle when talking about the candidates for the fifth spot in the starting rotation and was impressed after watching Daigle throw off the mound for the first time Friday. Daigle won the No. 5 spot with a strong 2004 spring but was returned to the minors after going 2-3 with a 7.16 ERA in 10 starts.
The D-Backs acquired left-hander Brad Murray as the player to be named in the Robby Alomar deal with the White Sox on Aug. 5. Murray, 26, was 3-8 with a 5.06 ERA and three saves in 59 appearances between Class A Winston-Salem and Class AA Birmingham.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=36698
TUCSON - Once a team that manipulated its starting rotation around top starters Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, the Diamondbacks may use a more democratic approach this season, their first since 1999 without either ace.
After identifying a fifth starter from among a group of candidates that includes Oscar Villarreal, Michael Gosling and Brad Halsey, manager Bob Melvin said he wants to give that pitcher a normal workload, although the D-Backs have three off days in April and could use their No. 5 starter only twice until May 3.
"We don’t necessarily have to pitch the ‘five’ guy . . . or do we go the route where we want all five guys to pitch and give the extra days’ rest to everybody? Which I’m kind of for,’’ Melvin said.
"I would like somebody to win that fifth spot and pitch every fifth (start).’’
By giving his starters an occasional extra day between starts, Melvin also could increase the pitch counts in each given start, which could keep a starter in a game longer and create less stress on the bullpen.
Melvin has been successful with the approach before. In 2003, Seattle became the fifth team in major league history — the second since 1904 — to use the same five starting pitchers the entire season. The Mariners finished 93-69 with starters Freddy Garcia, Jamie Moyer, Joel Pineiro, Ryan Franklin and Gil Meche.
"We had five guys that we felt very good about — one could be five, five could be one,’’ Melvin said. "It looks a little more like this situation here.
"We know we have four guys who have established themselves and have been successful in the big leagues, and guys we really wanted to have here. We feel very good about those four, and the fifth one will iron itself out.’’
Right-handers Javier Vazquez, Russ Ortiz, Brandon Webb and left-hander Shawn Estes are the front four. Webb is tentatively set for the No. 3 spot, although that could change if a left-hander wins the No. 5 job and Melvin chooses to break up the two lefties.
Johnson and Schilling made 139 starts and accounted for 90 of the DBacks’ 190 victories in their two full healthy seasons here, 2001-02.
A TIME OF CHANGE
Scott Hairston arrived in camp Friday, four days before position players were to begin official workouts, with a new bride and a new challenge. Hairston began his transition from second base to the outfield by taking fly balls and grounders from Chris Bando and Jack Howell.
"What I’m getting is that I need to be an outfielder, and I’m fine with it. I just want to be part of the team and make a contribution,’’ said Hairston, who married his longtime girlfriend Feb. 12.
Hairston hit .248 with 13 home runs and 29 RBIs in 101 games last season, playing three games in the outfield. The D-Backs attempted a partial conversion at Class AAA Tucson last season, when Hairston played five games in the outfield, but his crash course was put on hold when he was recalled by the D-Backs after second baseman Matt Kata suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on May 29.
SHORT HOPS
Ramon Antonio Pena and Jose Jimenez again missed the team’s workout Friday but are expected to participate today, Melvin said.
Gosling and Kata have agreed to contract terms.
Melvin said he has been remiss in not including Casey Daigle when talking about the candidates for the fifth spot in the starting rotation and was impressed after watching Daigle throw off the mound for the first time Friday. Daigle won the No. 5 spot with a strong 2004 spring but was returned to the minors after going 2-3 with a 7.16 ERA in 10 starts.
The D-Backs acquired left-hander Brad Murray as the player to be named in the Robby Alomar deal with the White Sox on Aug. 5. Murray, 26, was 3-8 with a 5.06 ERA and three saves in 59 appearances between Class A Winston-Salem and Class AA Birmingham.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=36698
