I am confused about Conor Jackson/why melvin? why!

[PDXChris]

5 AB's in 6 games???????????????????? Why did he get called up if he is not going to play. I know Clark is playing well, but if you are going to call him up and clain you are going to play him, then do it.


OF Conor Jackson, the Diamondbacks' first-round pick in 2003, popped out as a pinch hitter in his major league debut Thursday. He did not play Friday, but manager Bob Melvin said that trend will not continue. "We didn't call him up here just to sit," Melvin said. "We're going to play him." Jackson was second among all minor leaguers with 38 doubles upon being called up from Class AAA Tucson of the Pacific Coast League after Wednesday's game against Milwaukee

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=ari

 

[BC867]

5 AB's in 6 games???????????????????? Why did he get called up if he is not going to play. I know Clark is playing well, but if you are going to call him up and clain you are going to play him, then do it.

Tony Clark went from being the RH platoon 1B (starting against lefties) with Tracy getting most of the starts . . . to the LH platoon (starting against righties) with Jackson evidently taking over his previous role of spot starts.

That's because Clark is our best hitter and now our cleanup hitter. If he can handle it, we need him in the lineup.

Jackson should have been left in the Minors, playing every day, unless and until Clark shows signs of wearing out starting every day.

Tracy could be the everyday RF and still cover backup 1B when needed without screwing him up. (I wouldn't do that to him if 3B were one of the positions in the plan . . . just as it shouldn't have been done to Shea Hillenbrand.) But shifting between the outfield and 1B is OK.

 

[AZZenny]

DON'T GET ME STARTED!!!! (Rant warning! I am WAY over the top on this one.)

I am not confused about Conor - I am confused about Bob Melvin. Or maybe not, but right now I am so pissed at his timid, boring, predictable, 'safe' idiot crappy managing that I prefer to hope I am confused.

I watched CJ in the dugout - he was like a caged tiger - pacing, cradling his bat, just looking wild to get in the game. And why the hell not? No one but Tracy had a clue against Clemens anyhow. Conor might have drawn the walk everyone else was so assiduously avoiding, and had one at bat vs. a Hall of Famer.

If Conor is ONLY going to bat against lefties (- what bullwash!! I'm going to look that up somehow!) and not in the eighth inning, because that's Q's freaking special inning - and not in the ninth because there's still a chance, you know, and we can't trust a KID when we're in a playoff run (which is what one low-level BOB employee told me, and also what the guy who answers Dave Burns' phone at KTAR said, when declining to take my question) - well, then send him back to Tucson and let him play. I won't waste my money on extra games at BOB, I'll listen to the Sidewinders and be content.

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[Lefty]

I agree with you 100% BC. Tony Clark is the Diamondbacks best hitter and you have to play him. He is a veteran who has been there. He has deserved to start at first.

Right now the Diamondbacks are in a playoff hunt and no way do you start a rookie you just called up in every game. Nothing against Conor but if he is only going to play against lefties, maybe he would be better off if he stayed in Tucson until September.

 

[AZZenny]

Leave him in Tucson, then. You didn't need to bring Conor up to get Tony and Tracy both in the lineup - you just needed an excuse to move Cruz and push Green to CF. OK, job done, send him back to Tucson and let him bat everyday. THEY need him, he needs the daily practice - bring up Andy Green if you need a utility guy to give Clark a breather every 3 or 4 games, but Conor isn't going to be improving his defense sitting on - or rather pacing along - the bench.

I somehow wonder if we'll be in the playoff hunt long, if we are only playing the same guys we were before we got into the playoff hunt.

 

[az240zz]

Well I agree with you. Clark has been best for us coming off the bench with an occasional start and should stay in that role. Melvin said that Jackson wouln't sit and is sitting, We all know that when he does get a start it would probably take a game or 2 for him to get his stroke back, while manegemnt would only give 1 game to show what he can do,


I say put clark back in his role as super pinch hitter and give Jacson 2 or 3 weeks to show what he can do. If he doesn't p[roduce then go back to the current situation.

az240z

 

[Arizona's Finest]

lets just keep winning (except for the rocket last night)...i am as excited to see conor as anyone (and i cant imagine the thought process of not starting him the day after a game winning RBI....what more do you want mel?) but lets try and ride this good play out. He is a cornerstone for YEARS to come so we should not get too anxious. On a funny note, i bet CoJack (and i totally got to patent that nickname) playing everyday wouldnt be an issue if Wally Backman was the coach.........

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I somehow wonder if we'll be in the playoff hunt long, if we are only playing the same guys we were before we got into the playoff hunt.

Thats funny, Im pretty sure the guys we are playing now like Tracy and Clark are the guys that got us into the playoff hunt.



I think its pretty strange that Jackson has only been up for a couple of games and people are already calling for the managers head. I anticipate that he will get his fair share of starts soon, I dont see what everybody is worrying about. At this stage in Jackson's career, I think he could learn as much up at the big league level as he could down in Tucson, even on days where he is not starting. He could learn a lot from just from getting into the major league routine and from talking to guys like Tony Clark on how to play first base, as opposed to simply toying with minor league pitching everyday. I really dont see how bringing him up is going to stunt his growth just because the Diamondbacks did not bring him up to be an everyday starter, even though I do believe he will get some starts in soon.

 

[PDXChris]

I think its pretty strange that Jackson has only been up for a couple of games and people are already calling for the managers head.

My whole thing is they made a big deal about the call up, it was all over the news and Melvin said he would play and it got me excited to see him play, so if that is why you called him up do it, otherwise let him get AB's in Tuscon so when the time is right he can make a impact from the first game and not take a week to get his swing back, and to me that is jut as important for his confidence as it is for our confidence in him and that could sell tickets next year.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

off topic with the way that Stephen Drew hits the ball he could come in and start and 2nd base right now (I know he is playing short right now). Maybe he is not big league ready just yet but doesn't look like he will be kept in the minors very long.


He going to be a stud.

 

[AZZenny]

Conor has had 11 plate appearances in 8 games. I think that's a pretty good example of bringing 'the kid' up here to sit, don't you? The LHP/RHP things is not justifiable based on his stats, and besides they already threw that out by flip-flopping Conor and Clark. Plus, Conor's one real failing is in DH/PH situations, it appears, so hey - let's set him up to fail!! That should be good for his development.

BoMel has lost me totally. The older couple who sit next to me got tired of him a few weeks ago, consider him placid, timid, and insipid.

 

[az240zz]

you know, with the team not hitting nad generally not playing well why not do some thing shocking like ...... sitting Gonzo and putting our best pinch hitter on the bench.

And PLAYING JACKSON EVERY DAY.

az240z

 

[Phill11]

you know, with the team not hitting nad generally not playing well why not do some thing shocking like ...... sitting Gonzo and putting our best pinch hitter on the bench.

And PLAYING JACKSON EVERY DAY.

az240z

Don't sit Gonzo, that's insane.

This should be the lineup...

Send Glaus to 15 Day DL to recover a bit.

1B- Clark
2B- Counsell
SS- Cintron
3B- Tracy
LF- Gonzo
CF- Green
RF- Jackson
C- Snyder/Hill

Sure defense is shaky, but offense would hands down be amazing.

 

[boondockdrunk]

Don't sit Gonzo, that's insane.

This should be the lineup...

Send Glaus to 15 Day DL to recover a bit.

1B- Clark
2B- Counsell
SS- Cintron
3B- Tracy
LF- Gonzo
CF- Green
RF- Jackson
C- Snyder/Hill

Sure defense is shaky, but offense would hands down be amazing.

Well we would be averaging 5 errors a game with that defense.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Don't sit Gonzo, that's insane.

This should be the lineup...

Send Glaus to 15 Day DL to recover a bit.

1B- Clark
2B- Counsell
SS- Cintron
3B- Tracy
LF- Gonzo
CF- Green
RF- Jackson
C- Snyder/Hill

Sure defense is shaky, but offense would hands down be amazing.

Wow. OK, first off, the team doctors have said that a DL trip won't help Glaus and relief will only come in the off-season, so forget about that. Second, Clayton is hitting just as well as Cintron, so theres no real point in making Cintron the everyday starter. And third, I dont even know where to begin with putting Jackson in RF.

 

[Lefty]

Conor has hit two home runs tonight. He has definitely proved he should be in the line-up tomorrow. The question is does Melvin think he deserves it? I hope so or else many will be questioning him.

 

[Lefty]

Bruney pitching the 7th. Nice to see Melvin does not have him pencilled in as the closer anymore.

 

[AZZenny]

I was at the game, and delighted to see Conor jack his first - he looked more relaxed after that - but hope he doesn't get too seduced by power, since that's really not his strength.

After the second HR, he went back into the dugout very professionally, did the fist taps all around, and sat down on a bench with a very professional-ballplayer, ho-hum, serious expression. At which point Brad Halsey reached over and gently patted his shoulder; Conor lowered his head a bit (out of easy view of the field) and started grinning uncontrollably from ear to ear. Cute.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Unbelievable!!!! I went to bed last night not seeing the Dbacks score becuase i live on the east coast and the bar i was at had no TVs. And i wake up to Cojack going yard twice.... Forget the final score for a sec....Is it me or has this kid gone 2 for 3 in his first start w/ the game winning RBI AND THEN (dude wheres my car? reference) he went ya twice last night in his second start. Is this kid the second coming of Pujols or what...........



Bob Melvin should be burned at the stake if he doesnt start tonight.....

 

[burndoggy]

why melvin? why!

pregame lineup.clark at 1b. what is connor tired after going 2-4,no lefty pitcher,so what let him get his hacks against some rightys.piss poor ones at that.i like tony a lot but come on you guys brought him up let him spark us.

 

[Phill11]

Wow. OK, first off, the team doctors have said that a DL trip won't help Glaus and relief will only come in the off-season, so forget about that. Second, Clayton is hitting just as well as Cintron, so theres no real point in making Cintron the everyday starter. And third, I dont even know where to begin with putting Jackson in RF.

1) Give Glaus the year off then. I'd rather have him 100% next year for spring training and take 0 risks with him playing now.

2) I see a lot in Cintron, maybe it's just me though.

3) Fine, then put Jackson at 3B Tracy in RF...

 

[AZZenny]

1) Give Glaus the year off then. I'd rather have him 100% next year for spring training and take 0 risks with him playing now.

Second highest OPS among our everyday players after Tracy, most RBIs, Most extra-base hits, most home runs, fewest GIDP of regular starters, only Counsell and Clayton have more stolen bases - what more exactly do you want?

2) I see a lot in Cintron, maybe it's just me though.

Yep - It is just you. He's just ahead of Russ Ortiz for OPS (11th on team. That is, however, better than Clayton, who is far from my favorite player, believe me.) He's hit .206 the past 6 weeks; Clayton has hit around .300 for the past 10 weeks. His OPS in almost every runners'on situation runs .200-.300 pts lower than Glaus AND than Clayton - meaning he makes an out much more frequently. He double or triple pumps almost every time he throws, making him very slow. His defense is very inconsistent, but isn't terribly different - not significantly better - than Clayton. Oh yeah, and he's tied with Snyder for RBIs.

3) Fine, then put Jackson at 3B Tracy in RF...

Jackson doesn't have a good enough arm for 3B, probably, since most of his errors have been throwing errors - and we know Tracy doesn't. Jackson can play 1B and he can play LF (Probably as well as Gonzo, actually.) Tracy can play 1B and both LF and RF - just needs experience.

 

[AZZenny]

Melvin reportedly said in pregame: "We picked our spots with Conor where he's had some success off left-handers to start, and we're going to continue to pick the right spot for him."

Melvin is trying to take CREDIT for Conor's hitting!? If he hits well, it's in spite of you, BoMel. What a Jerk.

 

[boondockdrunk]

Melvin reportedly said in pregame: "We picked our spots with Conor where he's had some success off left-handers to start, and we're going to continue to pick the right spot for him."

Melvin is trying to take CREDIT for Conor's hitting!? If he hits well, it's in spite of you, BoMel. What a Jerk.

It doesn't matter who Conor faces, he is going to hit. He has put up great numbers in the minors and even in short playing time now. I would love to see him in the everyday line-up as the 1st baseman.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Jackson will play as soon as this road trip is over and it is out of their heads that winning a world title with a sub .500 record is possible.

If he doesn't then they are teh SUK