azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 23, 2005 12:00 AM
Barring any unforeseen developments, manager Bob Melvin has settled on his batting order to start the season.
And it's not all that much different from the one Melvin has continually rolled out every other day in the Cactus League.
Craig Counsell will be the leadoff man. And with Royce Clayton batting No. 2, the pair of starting middle infielders will try to set the table for the heart of the order and the big bats of Luis Gonzalez, Troy Glaus and Shawn Green at the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 spots.
Switch-hitting Jose Cruz Jr. will hit sixth, breaking up the left-handed bats of Green and No. 7 hitter Chad Tracy, and the winner of the starting catcher's job, either Koyie Hill or Chris Snyder, will bat eighth.
Melvin is content with the top of the order because of Counsell's shiftiness and his steady on-base percentage (at .378 after 12 games), and he likes the way Clayton has embraced the No. 2 spot ''even on days when he's not swinging the bat as well."
''He still gives you something intangible up there," Melvin said. ''His awareness of how to hit in the No. 2 hole is evident."
Counsell and Clayton made Melvin look good on Tuesday. Counsell reached base four times (on a walk, two hits and a two-base error) and Clayton reached twice (on a single and a walk) during Arizona's game in Tempe against the Angels, which ended in a 6-6 draw after each club ran out of pitchers.
Cruz, meanwhile, gives Arizona some additional pop behind the three sluggers and he takes a little more pressure off Tracy, a hit-for-average player who is entering his second major league season.
''If you go after Green and Tracy, you're going to have to go through (Cruz) on the right side," Melvin said.
Counsell has spent the majority of his career playing various roles in the infield and hitting from multiple spots in the order as a ''super utility" man. He's so used to moving around, he still won't consider himself settled in as the club's leadoff man and starting second baseman.
''I don't really ever consider myself settled in," he said. ''That just doesn't work for me to view it that way. But right now, that's where I'm hitting and I'll try and do the best I can there. Performance dictates if I stay there."
Everyday Joes
With less than two weeks of exhibition games left, Melvin said he plans to use Gonzalez and Glaus in the field with more regularity to have them in peak performance for the season. Both players have been held back at times to monitor their returns from arm surgeries.
''Luis played all nine (innings, Monday) in a DH role, and his at-bats are important for him, but we'll start running him out there (in left field) a little more," Melvin said. ''And with Troy, as far as me running him out there (at third base), he's ready. You always want to be careful because April 4 (Opening Day) is the day we're looking at for him. Offensively, he's been ready from Day 1."
Melvin had Glaus penciled in as the designated hitter Tuesday, but Glaus asked to play third to get in more work, and Melvin obliged, using Alex Cintron as the DH instead.
''I want to know how they feel," Melvin said of both Gonzalez and Glaus. ''It's got to the point where I know they're going to be honest with me."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0323dbnotes0323.html
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 23, 2005 12:00 AM
Barring any unforeseen developments, manager Bob Melvin has settled on his batting order to start the season.
And it's not all that much different from the one Melvin has continually rolled out every other day in the Cactus League.
Craig Counsell will be the leadoff man. And with Royce Clayton batting No. 2, the pair of starting middle infielders will try to set the table for the heart of the order and the big bats of Luis Gonzalez, Troy Glaus and Shawn Green at the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 spots.
Switch-hitting Jose Cruz Jr. will hit sixth, breaking up the left-handed bats of Green and No. 7 hitter Chad Tracy, and the winner of the starting catcher's job, either Koyie Hill or Chris Snyder, will bat eighth.
Melvin is content with the top of the order because of Counsell's shiftiness and his steady on-base percentage (at .378 after 12 games), and he likes the way Clayton has embraced the No. 2 spot ''even on days when he's not swinging the bat as well."
''He still gives you something intangible up there," Melvin said. ''His awareness of how to hit in the No. 2 hole is evident."
Counsell and Clayton made Melvin look good on Tuesday. Counsell reached base four times (on a walk, two hits and a two-base error) and Clayton reached twice (on a single and a walk) during Arizona's game in Tempe against the Angels, which ended in a 6-6 draw after each club ran out of pitchers.
Cruz, meanwhile, gives Arizona some additional pop behind the three sluggers and he takes a little more pressure off Tracy, a hit-for-average player who is entering his second major league season.
''If you go after Green and Tracy, you're going to have to go through (Cruz) on the right side," Melvin said.
Counsell has spent the majority of his career playing various roles in the infield and hitting from multiple spots in the order as a ''super utility" man. He's so used to moving around, he still won't consider himself settled in as the club's leadoff man and starting second baseman.
''I don't really ever consider myself settled in," he said. ''That just doesn't work for me to view it that way. But right now, that's where I'm hitting and I'll try and do the best I can there. Performance dictates if I stay there."
Everyday Joes
With less than two weeks of exhibition games left, Melvin said he plans to use Gonzalez and Glaus in the field with more regularity to have them in peak performance for the season. Both players have been held back at times to monitor their returns from arm surgeries.
''Luis played all nine (innings, Monday) in a DH role, and his at-bats are important for him, but we'll start running him out there (in left field) a little more," Melvin said. ''And with Troy, as far as me running him out there (at third base), he's ready. You always want to be careful because April 4 (Opening Day) is the day we're looking at for him. Offensively, he's been ready from Day 1."
Melvin had Glaus penciled in as the designated hitter Tuesday, but Glaus asked to play third to get in more work, and Melvin obliged, using Alex Cintron as the DH instead.
''I want to know how they feel," Melvin said of both Gonzalez and Glaus. ''It's got to the point where I know they're going to be honest with me."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0323dbnotes0323.html
