azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Dan Zeiger, Tribune
In the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse at Tucson Electric Park, the top-of-the-rotation pitchers and the veteran catchers usually occupy a small chain of lockers in a corner of the room.
For a second straight spring, that area could be called Redemption Row.
In 2004, Randy Johnson was hellbent on showing he could still be a dominant pitcher as a 40-year-old coming off knee surgery. And this year, the man who could succeed the Big Unit as Arizona’s opening day starter has something to prove.
Russ Ortiz reports today with the D-Backs’ pitchers and catchers, eager to rebound from a rough finish to last season and justify the $33 million the team is paying him over the next four years.
"I felt like this was a great team to come in and be in a leadership role," said Ortiz, a Mesa resident who is 103-60 in seven major league seasons. "I’ve done every spot in a rotation, so wherever I am is fine. . . .
"I’m confident in what I can do and what I can bring to a team."
Arizona manager Bob Melvin on Tuesday said Ortiz or Javier Vazquez — acquired in the trade that sent Johnson to the New York Yankees — will be the team’s No. 1 starter.
"I have an idea in my mind who it is, but I haven’t had a chance to talk to them yet," Melvin said. "I would be comfortable with either one of them in that role."
Ortiz, 30, has been a model of consistency. The righthander is the only major league pitcher to win at least 14 games, pitch 195 innings and strike out 140 batters in each of the last six years.
However, his 2004 campaign with the Atlanta Braves was marred by a dreadful finish. Ortiz posted a 15-9 record but had a 6.10 ERA in August and September and was knocked around in his one Division Series start.
As a result, the dollars the D-Backs doled out for Ortiz — who, with the departure of Greg Maddux from Atlanta, became a No. 1 starter for the first time a year ago — raised eyebrows around the major leagues.
Arizona "will have a difficult time rationalizing" the deal, one newspaper wrote. The most venomous assessment, however, came from SI.com: "Downright loony."
Ortiz said he was not angered by the criticism.
"Everything is, ‘What have you done for me lately?’ " Ortiz said. "But if (last year) was a down year, I’ll take 15 wins in a down year. I didn’t do as well as I should have, but I’m not going to pretend that a bad two months of the season negates the whole season."
What frustrated Ortiz, however, was other deals for pitchers — such as Kris Benson’s $22.5 million over three years from the New York Mets, Eric Milton’s $25.5 million over three years from Cincinnati and Carl Pavano’s $40 million over four years from the New York Yankees — being met with relative silence.
Pitchers with great stuff and lots of potential, yes. But guys whose career resumés do not equal Ortiz’s.
"Other guys that haven’t put up the numbers I have are talked about as having great potential," Ortiz said. "I’m past the potential factor. Five years ago, people talked about the potential for me to win 20 games. Well, I went out and won 20 games."
Perhaps Ortiz’s biggest asset is his ability to throw his fastball, cutter and curve for strikes when behind in the count. All his pitches are available to him in almost any situation.
"He’s got a real consistent demeanor on the mound, and that comes from pitching in a lot of big games," Melvin said. "When he has to make a pitch, he has shown the ability to make it."
However, that arsenal was diminished during his lateseason struggles in 2004 — the result of bad mechanics involving his left (kick) leg. He would raise it too fast or too slow, throwing off the timing of his entire delivery.
When his first adjustments did not work, things snowballed.
"I tried to overcorrect, and it became a mental thing where I was trying too hard to come back," Ortiz said. "There are a lot of pitchers that fight mechanics as the season goes on. But the ones that are able to let it go as fast as possible and the ones who let it happen are the most consistent.
"Throughout my career, I’ve always felt that I’m someone who can just go out and pitch. And I always felt I have finished a season strong. Last year, I didn’t, and that was something I didn’t like."
With that experience behind him, Ortiz feels like he is reaching a point in his career where his mental preparation and resiliency matches his talent.
"We may not have seen the best from him yet," Melvin said.
In other words, Ortiz could bring a resumé and potential. And that would add up to a bargain for the D-Backs.
"I’ve learned the things I had to learn about myself and the game," Ortiz said. "Mentally, I’m at a point where I feel I can deal with anything. If I go out, pitch and not try to control the game, that is when the total package will happen for me."
Cactus League ticket information
Anaheim Angels
ticketmaster.com, (480) 784-4444
Arizona Diamondbacks
azdiamondbacks.com, (520) 434-1111, or (866) 672-1343
Chicago Cubs
chicagocubs.com, (800) 905-3315
Chicago White Sox
whitesox.com, (866) 672-1343
Colorado Rockies
coloradorockies.com, (800) 388-7625, or (520) 327-9467
Kansas City Royals
ticketmaster.com, (800) 326-4000, or (623) 594-5600
Milwaukee Brewers
milwaukeebrewers.com, (800) 933-7890
Oakland Athletics
oaklandathletics.com, (800) 225-2277
San Diego Padres
ticketmaster.com, (480) 784-4444
San Francisco Giants
sfgiants.com, (800) 225-2277
Texas Rangers
ticketmaster.com, (800) 326-4000 or (623) 594-5600
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=36475
In the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse at Tucson Electric Park, the top-of-the-rotation pitchers and the veteran catchers usually occupy a small chain of lockers in a corner of the room.
For a second straight spring, that area could be called Redemption Row.
In 2004, Randy Johnson was hellbent on showing he could still be a dominant pitcher as a 40-year-old coming off knee surgery. And this year, the man who could succeed the Big Unit as Arizona’s opening day starter has something to prove.
Russ Ortiz reports today with the D-Backs’ pitchers and catchers, eager to rebound from a rough finish to last season and justify the $33 million the team is paying him over the next four years.
"I felt like this was a great team to come in and be in a leadership role," said Ortiz, a Mesa resident who is 103-60 in seven major league seasons. "I’ve done every spot in a rotation, so wherever I am is fine. . . .
"I’m confident in what I can do and what I can bring to a team."
Arizona manager Bob Melvin on Tuesday said Ortiz or Javier Vazquez — acquired in the trade that sent Johnson to the New York Yankees — will be the team’s No. 1 starter.
"I have an idea in my mind who it is, but I haven’t had a chance to talk to them yet," Melvin said. "I would be comfortable with either one of them in that role."
Ortiz, 30, has been a model of consistency. The righthander is the only major league pitcher to win at least 14 games, pitch 195 innings and strike out 140 batters in each of the last six years.
However, his 2004 campaign with the Atlanta Braves was marred by a dreadful finish. Ortiz posted a 15-9 record but had a 6.10 ERA in August and September and was knocked around in his one Division Series start.
As a result, the dollars the D-Backs doled out for Ortiz — who, with the departure of Greg Maddux from Atlanta, became a No. 1 starter for the first time a year ago — raised eyebrows around the major leagues.
Arizona "will have a difficult time rationalizing" the deal, one newspaper wrote. The most venomous assessment, however, came from SI.com: "Downright loony."
Ortiz said he was not angered by the criticism.
"Everything is, ‘What have you done for me lately?’ " Ortiz said. "But if (last year) was a down year, I’ll take 15 wins in a down year. I didn’t do as well as I should have, but I’m not going to pretend that a bad two months of the season negates the whole season."
What frustrated Ortiz, however, was other deals for pitchers — such as Kris Benson’s $22.5 million over three years from the New York Mets, Eric Milton’s $25.5 million over three years from Cincinnati and Carl Pavano’s $40 million over four years from the New York Yankees — being met with relative silence.
Pitchers with great stuff and lots of potential, yes. But guys whose career resumés do not equal Ortiz’s.
"Other guys that haven’t put up the numbers I have are talked about as having great potential," Ortiz said. "I’m past the potential factor. Five years ago, people talked about the potential for me to win 20 games. Well, I went out and won 20 games."
Perhaps Ortiz’s biggest asset is his ability to throw his fastball, cutter and curve for strikes when behind in the count. All his pitches are available to him in almost any situation.
"He’s got a real consistent demeanor on the mound, and that comes from pitching in a lot of big games," Melvin said. "When he has to make a pitch, he has shown the ability to make it."
However, that arsenal was diminished during his lateseason struggles in 2004 — the result of bad mechanics involving his left (kick) leg. He would raise it too fast or too slow, throwing off the timing of his entire delivery.
When his first adjustments did not work, things snowballed.
"I tried to overcorrect, and it became a mental thing where I was trying too hard to come back," Ortiz said. "There are a lot of pitchers that fight mechanics as the season goes on. But the ones that are able to let it go as fast as possible and the ones who let it happen are the most consistent.
"Throughout my career, I’ve always felt that I’m someone who can just go out and pitch. And I always felt I have finished a season strong. Last year, I didn’t, and that was something I didn’t like."
With that experience behind him, Ortiz feels like he is reaching a point in his career where his mental preparation and resiliency matches his talent.
"We may not have seen the best from him yet," Melvin said.
In other words, Ortiz could bring a resumé and potential. And that would add up to a bargain for the D-Backs.
"I’ve learned the things I had to learn about myself and the game," Ortiz said. "Mentally, I’m at a point where I feel I can deal with anything. If I go out, pitch and not try to control the game, that is when the total package will happen for me."
Cactus League ticket information
Anaheim Angels
ticketmaster.com, (480) 784-4444
Arizona Diamondbacks
azdiamondbacks.com, (520) 434-1111, or (866) 672-1343
Chicago Cubs
chicagocubs.com, (800) 905-3315
Chicago White Sox
whitesox.com, (866) 672-1343
Colorado Rockies
coloradorockies.com, (800) 388-7625, or (520) 327-9467
Kansas City Royals
ticketmaster.com, (800) 326-4000, or (623) 594-5600
Milwaukee Brewers
milwaukeebrewers.com, (800) 933-7890
Oakland Athletics
oaklandathletics.com, (800) 225-2277
San Diego Padres
ticketmaster.com, (480) 784-4444
San Francisco Giants
sfgiants.com, (800) 225-2277
Texas Rangers
ticketmaster.com, (800) 326-4000 or (623) 594-5600
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=36475
