Notes: Andy Green waiting patiently
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07/16/2006 9:40 PM ET
Notes: Andy Green waiting patiently
Backup second baseman knows his chance will come
PHOENIX -- Can the difference between being an All-Star and being a
pinch-hitter really just be a matter of opportunity?
Marlins second baseman, and recent National League All-Star, Dan Uggla thinks
so. The rookie, who was plucked from the Diamondbacks organization in last
year's Rule 5 Draft, played behind Andy Green when the pair was in the Minor
Leagues.
"He's a great player," Uggla said of Green. "I'm upset for him because he's
not getting a chance to play every day. He's good enough to where he could
play every day. It's awesome that he's in the big leagues, but he could very
easily be sitting right here if he was playing every day."
Green had an unbelievable season at Triple-A Tucson in 2005, hitting .343 and
leading the league in runs (125), hits (182), doubles (46) and triples (13).
That earned him the 25th spot on the 25-man roster. But in the final spot,
Green has been relegated primarily to pinch-hit duty -- with 36 of his 64
at-bats coming in that role.
"You can either get bitter because someone who was playing behind you is
playing every day in Florida and has become an All-Star, or you can look
specifically at your situation and try to make the best of it," Green said.
"I'm excited for him. He's had a heckuva year. I sent him a note to
congratulate him on being an All-Star. I'd like to think that down the line,
the opportunity comes my way to step on the field and play more, but that's
not the situation I'm in right now.
"He walked into a situation that a lot of us dream about. I'm excited to be
here in Arizona with a team that's contending for the playoffs, and he can't
really say that. There are plusses and minuses to both."
With Damion Easley getting most of the starts when a backup is needed at
third base and short, D-Backs manager Bob Melvin has had trouble finding
starts for Green.
"It's seems like the 25th guy always has to deal with that," Melvin said.
"Shoot, I've been that guy. I've had to do the 100 at-bat season, which is no
fun. It's just the product of being that 25th guy. It doesn't mean he's not a
good player, that's for sure.
"I agonize sometimes, because I'd like to get him more at-bats. I think he's
handled it beautifully. He comes prepared, he knows his job; he knows the
situation. There's never a time I have to say, 'Andy, get ready, you may hit
here.' He's always aware of the situation going forward. That's the tough
part. This is a guy that prepares so well and understands and works hard at
every position every day and doesn't get the at-bats. The human side of it is
tough."
That time of the year: With the trading deadline two weeks away, rumors are
flying. The New York Post reported in its Sunday edition that "the Yanks have
inquired about [Shawn Green], and a person close to the situation said to
play for a contender, Green might chuck his West Coast preference and waive
his no-trade clause."
Green's no-trade clause prevents the D-Backs from trading him to any team
other than the Padres, Angels and A's without his permission.
"It's a crazy time of year," Green said. "I hadn't heard [the Yankee rumor].
There are a lot of rumors that fly around and as players, you just learn to
ignore the things you see and hear."
Quality time: Agent Scott Boras, the advisor for Max Scherzer, the D-Backs'
top pick (11th overall) in last month's First-Year Player Draft, spent
Sunday's game sitting with Arizona general partner Jeff Moorad.
Before the game, Boras, who was in town to see his client, Stephen Drew, met
with D-Backs general manager Josh Byrnes.
"We talked a little bit today, Josh and I did," said Boras, who called the
talks preliminary.
Boras likened Scherzer's situation to that of Drew, who fell to No. 15 in the
2004 draft over signability concerns. The D-Backs got Drew signed, but did so
just minutes before the deadline one year later.
"I can never predict that," Boras said when asked if he thought these
negotiations would take as long. "Guys like Stephen and Max are value
players. They are high-end guys, and I think Arizona knows the fact that they
had the chance to draft him was because of the value point that was placed on
him in the draft, and a lot of teams obviously weren't in the market."
Talk to me: D-Backs vice president of scouting operations, Mike Rizzo, will
meet with Washington Nationals officials Monday to discuss joining that
organization as vice president and assistant general manager.
Settling in: After a hectic week that included the Futures Game in
Pittsburgh, the Triple-A All-Star Game in Toledo, Ohio, and his Major League
debut on Saturday night, things should settle in for a bit for Stephen Drew.
"He gave us some good at-bats yesterday and certainly didn't look out of his
place," Melvin said. "It's easier as you go along. Maybe not for me, I had a
couple hits in my first game, and it was downhill after that."
Up next: The D-Backs open a four-game series with the Dodgers on Monday night
at Chase Field.
Melvin said he doesn't expect there to be any carryover from the bad blood
that existed when the D-Backs and Dodgers squared off before the break in Los
Angeles.
The trouble started when Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra was plunked
three times in the series' first game. The back-and-forth string of
retaliations resulted in Shawn Green being hit by a 96-mph fastball from
Danys Baez that forced Green to miss a game.
"Guys got hit on both sides," Melvin said. "There's [been] time in between."
----
看來球團對Andy Green還是有所期待,
不過我覺得趁早賣掉比較好。@@||
SS、2B、3B分別比不過Drew Hudson Tracy,
偏偏還有Easley在搶位置。
不過我覺得他似乎也是缺少一個機會,
他先發的時候似乎打擊得比較好。
而且這兩年選球有很大的進步。
還說到了Shawn Green對rumor的看法,
他說根本沒聽過。XD
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