Gonzalez left out and upset
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07/20/2006 10:38 PM ET
Gonzalez left out and upset
D-Backs veteran sounds off after 'one-day' stint on bench
By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com
PHOENIX -- Luis Gonzalez never likes to see his name out of the lineup, but
his omission Thursday in the final game of a four-game series with the
Dodgers was particularly upsetting.
After struggling at the plate during the first half of the season, Gonzalez
has experienced a resurgence this month. He had three hits Wednesday night
against the Dodgers, including a double that tied him with Ted Williams for
31st on the all-time list.
In July, he's hitting .358 with nine of his 19 hits doubles.
So when Gonzalez was not in the lineup against Dodgers left-hander Mark
Hendrickson, he clearly was not happy. In his place was Carlos Quentin, one
of the team's top prospects, who had his contract purchased from Triple-A
Tucson earlier in the day.
"Of course I'm disappointed," Gonzalez said. "I'm just starting to swing the
bat well in the second half. It's nothing against Quentin, I'm excited he has
the chance to come up and play, but at the same time I'm starting to swing
the bat well, I feel good and we're playing the Dodgers."
D-Backs manager Bob Melvin explained the decision to start Quentin, a righty,
by saying he wanted to give the lefty-swinging Gonzalez a day off against
Hendrickson.
"It's just going to be a one-day thing," Melvin said. "Gonzo will be back out
there tomorrow. But certainly Gonzo wants to play every day and I don't blame
him and he's swinging the bat well and I expect him to continue to swing the
bat well."
"I don't care if they say it's a one-day thing or not," Gonzalez said. "I
take a lot of pride in playing and being out there every day. I've been a
warrior out here for eight years trying to be a rock for the club so it just
doesn't sit well with me right now."
Gonzalez has long been the face of the franchise, but relations between him
and the front office this year have at times been awkward. The 38-year-old is
in the final year of his contract with the club holding a $10 million option
for next year. With top prospects like Quentin and Scott Hairston showing
they are ready at Triple-A, it seems unlikely the club will pick up that
option.
Last month, a comment by managing general partner Ken Kendrick acknowledging
that there had been "whispers" about Gonzalez and performance-enhancing drugs
when he slugged 57 homers in 2001 furthered the rift between the two sides.
Quentin's promotion came less than a week after shortstop Stephen Drew was
called up from Tucson. Drew took the place of veteran Craig Counsell, who
suffered a broken rib, while Quentin takes the place of first baseman Tony
Clark, who has a strained shoulder.
Gonzalez said that there are a "couple" of veterans in the clubhouse in
addition to himself who are wondering whether the front office really wants
to win in 2006. Arizona began play in third place, three games behind the
Padres.
"I love my teammates," Gonzalez said. "I love my coaches. I love playing for
BoMel. He's my all-time favorite manager. Other than that I just don't know
what's happening upstairs, what direction we're going. We're making a push
right now, we're three games out and now they want to, I don't know, bring up
guys here and there. I understand with Drew it was Counsell getting hurt. I
just kind of wish the organization would let myself and maybe a couple of the
other guys know what their immediate plans are going to be.
"Are we trying to win it? We're too close to start doing other things."
GM Josh Byrnes does not comment on lineup decisions, but since taking over
last November, Byrnes has emphasized that the club's goal is to be
competitive in 2006 and beyond.
Both Quentin and Drew's Triple-A numbers were hard to ignore. Drew posted an
.802 OPS (on-base plus slugging) mark, while Quentin had a .912 OPS including
a .424 on-base percentage.
---
Gonzo對今天沒有上場覺得很感冒，
他覺得他下半季越打越好，
他想跟他的隊友一起對抗Dodgers。
Gonzo今年跟front office的關係很複雜，
一下子被Ken Kendrick影射在2001年吃藥，
一下子又抱怨Bob Melvin常常讓他休息。
看樣子Gonzo明年是絕對不會穿上Arizona的制服的了。
--
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