AZZenny
Registered User
(ESPN News)
GOSLING and HALSEY #4 and #5 STARTERS, ORTIZ TO TUCSON
Diamondbacks insiders, on condition of confidentiality, have told Pedro Gomez of ESPN News that after last night's terrible outing, new owners Ken Kendricks and Jeff Moorad met privately with Manager Bob Melvin, and have scheduled a meeting with #2 starter Russ Ortiz and his agent for later this morning.
According to Gomez, Ortiz will be told that he is starting the season in the Diamondback's Triple-A Tucson team on indefinite "rehab" assignment for a split fingernail. In his place, the two rookie starters who have impressively battled for the #5 spot in the rotation will both start the season with the big club.
Former Diamondback player and new owner Matt Williams reportedly urged the move, pointing out that the team had established a precedent of DL stints for hangnails, split nails, blisters, and ingrown toenails among pitching staff. Williams reportedly suggested just cutting Ortiz and swallowing his $40 Million salary, a move reminiscent of his own experience as a player routinely getting booed by Arizona fans. Moorad is said to have preferred a more moderate reaction, although agreeing the Arizona fans need to be reassured immediately that it is "not de ja vu all over again."
GOSLING and HALSEY #4 and #5 STARTERS, ORTIZ TO TUCSON
Diamondbacks insiders, on condition of confidentiality, have told Pedro Gomez of ESPN News that after last night's terrible outing, new owners Ken Kendricks and Jeff Moorad met privately with Manager Bob Melvin, and have scheduled a meeting with #2 starter Russ Ortiz and his agent for later this morning.
According to Gomez, Ortiz will be told that he is starting the season in the Diamondback's Triple-A Tucson team on indefinite "rehab" assignment for a split fingernail. In his place, the two rookie starters who have impressively battled for the #5 spot in the rotation will both start the season with the big club.
Former Diamondback player and new owner Matt Williams reportedly urged the move, pointing out that the team had established a precedent of DL stints for hangnails, split nails, blisters, and ingrown toenails among pitching staff. Williams reportedly suggested just cutting Ortiz and swallowing his $40 Million salary, a move reminiscent of his own experience as a player routinely getting booed by Arizona fans. Moorad is said to have preferred a more moderate reaction, although agreeing the Arizona fans need to be reassured immediately that it is "not de ja vu all over again."
