azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Hillenbrand back at first
By Ed Price, Tribune
PHILADELPHIA - Shea Hillenbrand had to fetch his first baseman’s mitt from his Gilbert home before the Diamondbacks left town Thursday.
"I thought I was going to put it up for a while," Hillenbrand said Friday.
For at least two more weeks, and probably more like four to six weeks, Hillenbrand will play the role of Diamondbacks first baseman and cleanup hitter in place of Richie Sexson.
Greg Colbrunn played first and batted fourth Friday because of his history of success against Philadelphia lefthander Randy Wolf, but manager Bob Brenly said Hillenbrand is "probably going to get the majority of the playing time over there."
"We know what he’s capable of doing swinging that bat," Brenly said, "and he could help take up some of the slack if he starts swinging it the way we know he can."
Hillenbrand is hitting .184 (with just two hits in his past 19 at-bats, including a strikeout Friday as a pinch hitter) and lost his third-base job to Chad Tracy last week. Sexson — who suffered a partially dislocated left shoulder, bruised humerus bone and partial tear of his labrum Wednesday — was the team leader in home runs (nine) and RBIs (22).
Sexson said Friday he plans to be ready to play when eligible to come off the disabled list.
Trainer Paul Lessard said he is confident Sexson can build up enough strength in his shoulder in two weeks to compensate for the torn labrum but hedged on when Sexson might be ready to play.
"I’m just very disappointed because I’ve never been through anything like this, I never expected to go through anything like this, where I have to miss some time," said Sexson, on the disabled list for the first time in his major league career.
"I wanted to try to get through this thing in a week."
All four of the major league players — Sexson and pitchers Casey Fossum, Brandon Lyon and Shane Nance — Arizona netted out of the combination of the Curt Schilling and Sexson deals last winter are now on the DL.
Before Friday, Hillenbrand had not played or practiced at first base all year, including spring training.
"I’ve been there enough to help this team get by till Richie gets back," said Hillenbrand, who last year played more games at first than third. "It’s just a different glove, a different angle off the bat."
Brenly said he considered playing Hillenbrand at third base and Chad Tracy at first — where he played some in the spring and as a freshman and sophomore at East Carolina.
"Ultimately I think Chad’s done a nice job for us at third base," Brenly said. "He looks to be real comfortable over there defensively. And rather than rattle two or three different cages, we’ll just rattle one."
For the same reason — disrupting as little as possible — Hillenbrand will step into the No. 4 spot in the order, leaving everyone else in their accustomed place.
In order to make room on the 40-man roster for outfielder Doug DeVore was called up to fill Sexson’s spot on the 25-man roster, Roberto Alomar was moved to the 60-day disabled list. Alomar (broken right hand) is eligible to return June 20.
By Ed Price, Tribune
PHILADELPHIA - Shea Hillenbrand had to fetch his first baseman’s mitt from his Gilbert home before the Diamondbacks left town Thursday.
"I thought I was going to put it up for a while," Hillenbrand said Friday.
For at least two more weeks, and probably more like four to six weeks, Hillenbrand will play the role of Diamondbacks first baseman and cleanup hitter in place of Richie Sexson.
Greg Colbrunn played first and batted fourth Friday because of his history of success against Philadelphia lefthander Randy Wolf, but manager Bob Brenly said Hillenbrand is "probably going to get the majority of the playing time over there."
"We know what he’s capable of doing swinging that bat," Brenly said, "and he could help take up some of the slack if he starts swinging it the way we know he can."
Hillenbrand is hitting .184 (with just two hits in his past 19 at-bats, including a strikeout Friday as a pinch hitter) and lost his third-base job to Chad Tracy last week. Sexson — who suffered a partially dislocated left shoulder, bruised humerus bone and partial tear of his labrum Wednesday — was the team leader in home runs (nine) and RBIs (22).
Sexson said Friday he plans to be ready to play when eligible to come off the disabled list.
Trainer Paul Lessard said he is confident Sexson can build up enough strength in his shoulder in two weeks to compensate for the torn labrum but hedged on when Sexson might be ready to play.
"I’m just very disappointed because I’ve never been through anything like this, I never expected to go through anything like this, where I have to miss some time," said Sexson, on the disabled list for the first time in his major league career.
"I wanted to try to get through this thing in a week."
All four of the major league players — Sexson and pitchers Casey Fossum, Brandon Lyon and Shane Nance — Arizona netted out of the combination of the Curt Schilling and Sexson deals last winter are now on the DL.
Before Friday, Hillenbrand had not played or practiced at first base all year, including spring training.
"I’ve been there enough to help this team get by till Richie gets back," said Hillenbrand, who last year played more games at first than third. "It’s just a different glove, a different angle off the bat."
Brenly said he considered playing Hillenbrand at third base and Chad Tracy at first — where he played some in the spring and as a freshman and sophomore at East Carolina.
"Ultimately I think Chad’s done a nice job for us at third base," Brenly said. "He looks to be real comfortable over there defensively. And rather than rattle two or three different cages, we’ll just rattle one."
For the same reason — disrupting as little as possible — Hillenbrand will step into the No. 4 spot in the order, leaving everyone else in their accustomed place.
In order to make room on the 40-man roster for outfielder Doug DeVore was called up to fill Sexson’s spot on the 25-man roster, Roberto Alomar was moved to the 60-day disabled list. Alomar (broken right hand) is eligible to return June 20.
