Notes: Cruz lands in bullpen
http://tinyurl.com/hqkfl
08/11/2006 10:19 PM ET
Notes: Cruz lands in bullpen
D-Backs move righty to relief role with Hernandez in rotation
By Lindsey Frazier / MLB.com
PHOENIX -- Livan Hernandez made his Diamondbacks debut on Friday night
against the Marlins, which meant the Arizona coaching staff had to come to a
decision on which starter would be leaving the rotation for the bullpen.
Coming off what was arguably the best start of his career, right-hander Juan
Cruz heads to the 'pen, which gives the D-Backs their best possible team
right now, manager Bob Melvin said. Cruz (5-6) pitched a career-high 7 1/3
innings of one-run ball on Tuesday.
The other candidate was Claudio Vargas (9-8), who struggles when he gets the
ball up in the strike zone and consequently has given up a team-high 21 home
runs this season.
"It's not [that Cruz has] been out-pitched in the rotation," Melvin said.
"Both of them have been obviously inconsistent at times. We feel like Cruz
gives us another option in the bullpen for another dominant arm, where
Claudio would be just more of a long guy.
"He didn't pitch his way out. We just feel like as a team, we're better right
now with him in the bullpen."
Melvin added that Cruz can be used as a long man or just for an inning out of
the bullpen.
Cruz was used seven times out of the 'pen in April and compiled a 3.00 ERA.
A familiar face: Melvin could not help but recognize the success that Marlins
everyday second baseman and former D-Backs Minor Leaguer Dan Uggla has had in
his rookie season. Florida obtained Uggla from Arizona in last year's Rule 5
Draft.
Through Thursday, Uggla -- who was selected to this year's All-Star Game --
is hitting .293 with a team-high 18 home runs and 66 RBIs.
"But given the opportunity he got out of this, we're all pulling for him,"
Melvin said. "Maybe not these next three days here. You have to really credit
him. He seized the opportunity and [has] gone out and made himself an
All-Star. Our hat's off to him."
Uggla, who chatted with former teammates Conor Jackson and Stephen Drew
during batting practice on Friday, said he had no hard feelings toward the
Arizona organization for not protecting him in the Rule 5 Draft.
"I knew coming up the Diamondbacks talent level in the Minor Leagues,
especially in the middle infield, is really high," Uggla said. "There's only
so much room. Andy Green deserves to be playing everyday, honestly, somewhere
on the field."
Green earned the last spot on Arizona's 25-man roster thanks to an incredible
2005 season at Triple-A Tucson, in which he hit .343 and led the Pacific
Coast League in runs (125), hits (182), doubles (46) and triples (13).
"If I'm Danny Uggla, I'm thankful that Arizona didn't protect me and I'm
thankful that they gave him a chance to go someplace else, because they had
[second baseman Orlando] Hudson and they had a plan that they were going to
do," said Marlins skipper Joe Girardi. "But not holding onto Danny, they gave
Danny a chance."
Uggla said his only regret was not being able to play at Chase Field on an
everyday basis, a ballpark that he deemed "awesome."
"I've had a smile on my face ever since I got off the plane [Thursday]
night," he said.
Roster move: Prior to Friday's game, Arizona placed outfielder Jeff DaVanon
on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Sunday with a left ankle sprain
and recalled outfielder Scott Hairston from Tucson. DaVanon rolled his ankle
after sliding into second base last Saturday.
"We still don't feel comfortable with him running around as much. We didn't
know [how long he'd be out]," Melvin said. "We just thought because he's a
tough guy that there was a chance that he'd be OK after several days, and now
it's hanging on there."
Hairston, who arrived to Chase Field prior to Friday's game, was called up in
June, but made only one start as he injured his right shoulder colliding with
the outfield wall at Pittsburgh's PNC Park. The injury placed him on the
disabled list from June 21 to July 29. Entering Friday, Hairston was hitting
.315 for Tucson with a team-high 21 home runs and 66 RBIs.
On the mend: Jackson, who has not played since Tuesday when he was hit by a
Jason Schmidt pitch on the left forearm, will most likely return to the
lineup on Saturday when the right-handed hitter faces Marlins southpaw Scott
Olsen.
"Conor actually could have played [Friday], but I wanted to make sure,"
Melvin said. "I'm just giving him one extra day. He's swinging much better.
[He] feels it a little bit with his glove, turning the glove a hair. But not
to the extent that he couldn't have played [Friday]."
Craig Counsell, who was placed on the disabled list on July 15 with a
fractured right rib, will likely head down to Tucson for his rehabilitation
assignment either by the end of the weekend or early next week. Tony Clark,
who has been sidelined since July 18 with inflammation in his right shoulder,
is close to making a rehab start, but Melvin said he was probably a bit
behind Counsell.
"Tony wants to go and get going now," Melvin said. "He still has some
discomfort in there throwing."
Moving on up: The club announced a pair of front-office promotions on
Thursday. Jerry Dipoto was promoted from director of professional scouting to
the director of player personnel, and A.J. Hinch was given the title of
director of player development. Hinch previously served as the manager of
Minor League operations.
"A.J. and Jerry have both been invaluable for our front office," said general
manager Josh Byrnes. "They both work tirelessly and help keep our field staff
connected to the day-to-day. Of course, they both are effective at using
their playing experience to help frame decisions and evaluations."
Hinch was a catcher at the Major League level for parts of eight seasons,
while Dipoto posted an eight-year big-league career as reliever.
Up next: The D-Backs take on the Marlins in the second game of a three-game
set on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. MST. Ace Brandon Webb will be making his first
start since July 31, as the right-hander missed his turn in the rotation due
to stiffness in the forearm just below his right elbow. The Marlins send
Olsen to the hill.
---
主要的消息就是Cruz被放進牛棚，
看來他最後一場的好表現沒有讓Melvin改變心意，
因為之前Vargas也投了一場好球。
還有就是Uggla對D-backs當初沒留下他並沒有任何的芥蒂，
他說他知道D-backs的農場深度夠，尤其在Middle infield，
同時他"又"談到了Andy Green，說他應該得到天天上場的機會。
(按：可是我覺得他快被DFA了.......)
Girardi幫忙說到要是他是Danny，他會很感謝D-backs給他這個機會，
讓他去到別隊，因此有在Major試試身手的機會。
Hairston又上來了！
(按：快打出跟Tucson一樣的好成績，讓D-backs賣個好價錢吧！XD)
Conor將在周六上場，
讓他面對左投Olsen。
Counsell將在下周去Tucson做rehab，
(按：Callaspo快下去Tucson了，想在Phoenix要他簽名的得快點。)
而Clark則會比Counsell晚一點到minor去做rehab。
Jerry Dipoto變成the director of player personnel，
A.J. Hinch則變成the director of player development。
--
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