Notes: Nippert to make debut
PITTSBURGH -- It might have happened more than 20 years ago, but Bob Melvin remembers it like it was yesterday.
The day he made his Major League debut, Melvin was a 23-year-old catcher when he played in his first big league game as a Detroit Tiger in 1985.
"It was an out-of-body experience," the Arizona Diamondbacks manager said. "It's something I'll never forget. I never want to lose sight of that and how special it is. Even getting here, on your first day, and being part of it, in uniform out here on a big league field. ... Once you go out there and take your first at-bat or throw your first pitch in a big league game, there's nothing like it."
Melvin, who would go on to play for 10 seasons in the Majors with seven teams, was reminiscing before Wednesday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates because Dustin Nippert was to make his Major League debut the following afternoon against the Pirates.
Nippert has been with the club since his recall on Saturday, meaning he has had the time to meet his teammates, get acclimated to the clubhouse and eradicate the jitters often associated with putting on a Major League uniform for the first time.
"I've said it before, typically the baseball gods will take care of the first game for you," Melvin said, literally knocking on the wooden bench in the Arizona dugout as he talked. "Usually, they do. And I'm as superstitious as the next guy. Once you settle in and throw a few pitches, you know it's 60 feet, six inches, just like any other ballpark, and all that stuff goes away and you settle into that familiar routine.
"It won't be due to lack of adrenaline, I'll tell you that."
Jackson to No. 3 hole: Rookie Conor Jackson was placed in the third spot in the batting order for the first time in his young career on Wednesday night. The 23-year-old right-handed batter was hitting .224 with two home runs and six RBIs in 25 games this season.
"We could have put [Shawn Green] there but with two lefties [the club has faced in a row] and the way Conor is pretty adept at getting on base and drawing walks ... That way, Greeny can knock guys in when C.J. does his thing."
Regular first baseman Tony Clark has been suffering from sinus and nasal pain since Sunday and was not in the starting lineup for either of the first two games of the series in Pittsburgh.
Clark indicated, however, he could play and Melvin said his decision not to start Clark was not related to his illness.
Gonzo's rest gives Green a chance: Outfielder Luis Gonzalez, 38, had played in 135 of the D-Backs' 139 games before Wednesday's contest, when Melvin gave him a day off.
Melvin said it had nothing to do with Pittsburgh starting a left-hander (Mark Redman), he actually is batting a point higher against southpaws than he does against righties. Melvin just wanted to sit Gonzalez for a game and get Andy Green a start.
"We thought we would get him out there in left field, where he has experience, and get him a start," Melvin said of Andy, who was the Most Valuable Player of the Pacific Coast League, which he led in hits, doubles, extra-base hits, runs scored and triples. "He was here last year [for 46 games] so he knows how it works. We've got a premier guy out there in Gonzo who has to play every day."
Melvin said that the organization views the 28-year-old as a super-utility player as it looks ahead to Andy's role for 2006 because of all the different positions he can play defensively and, of course, the offense he has displayed at the Minor League level.
"You look at the people we have coming back and that seems like a good role for him," Melvin said. "That doesn't mean he shouldn't try to come to Spring Training and win himself a job. But one of the things he brings us is flexibility."
Green honored with Clemente Award: The Pirates had a pregame ceremony to present shortstop Jack Wilson as their nominee for the 2005 Roberto Clemente Award on Wednesday. Clemente played for the Pirates throughout his career and died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve in 1972 while on a humanitarian mission to assist victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua. Since '92, Major League Baseball has held Roberto Clemente Day each September to honor the 30 club nominees.
Shawn Green was given that distinction by the Diamondbacks this season. The award is given annually to the player who "combines outstanding skills on the baseball field with devoted work in the community."
Shawn, in only his first year in Arizona, has made a difference by donating $250,000 to the Phoenix Children's Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation. He was also the keynote speaker in May at a luncheon fundraiser for the Jewish National Fund.
On deck: The Pirates and D-Backs complete their season series at PNC Park with a Thursday afternoon contest. Nippert will face Pittsburgh right-hander Josh Fogg (6-10, 4.97 ERA).
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
The day he made his Major League debut, Melvin was a 23-year-old catcher when he played in his first big league game as a Detroit Tiger in 1985.
"It was an out-of-body experience," the Arizona Diamondbacks manager said. "It's something I'll never forget. I never want to lose sight of that and how special it is. Even getting here, on your first day, and being part of it, in uniform out here on a big league field. ... Once you go out there and take your first at-bat or throw your first pitch in a big league game, there's nothing like it."
Melvin, who would go on to play for 10 seasons in the Majors with seven teams, was reminiscing before Wednesday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates because Dustin Nippert was to make his Major League debut the following afternoon against the Pirates.
Nippert has been with the club since his recall on Saturday, meaning he has had the time to meet his teammates, get acclimated to the clubhouse and eradicate the jitters often associated with putting on a Major League uniform for the first time.
"I've said it before, typically the baseball gods will take care of the first game for you," Melvin said, literally knocking on the wooden bench in the Arizona dugout as he talked. "Usually, they do. And I'm as superstitious as the next guy. Once you settle in and throw a few pitches, you know it's 60 feet, six inches, just like any other ballpark, and all that stuff goes away and you settle into that familiar routine.
"It won't be due to lack of adrenaline, I'll tell you that."
Jackson to No. 3 hole: Rookie Conor Jackson was placed in the third spot in the batting order for the first time in his young career on Wednesday night. The 23-year-old right-handed batter was hitting .224 with two home runs and six RBIs in 25 games this season.
"We could have put [Shawn Green] there but with two lefties [the club has faced in a row] and the way Conor is pretty adept at getting on base and drawing walks ... That way, Greeny can knock guys in when C.J. does his thing."
Regular first baseman Tony Clark has been suffering from sinus and nasal pain since Sunday and was not in the starting lineup for either of the first two games of the series in Pittsburgh.
Clark indicated, however, he could play and Melvin said his decision not to start Clark was not related to his illness.
Gonzo's rest gives Green a chance: Outfielder Luis Gonzalez, 38, had played in 135 of the D-Backs' 139 games before Wednesday's contest, when Melvin gave him a day off.
Melvin said it had nothing to do with Pittsburgh starting a left-hander (Mark Redman), he actually is batting a point higher against southpaws than he does against righties. Melvin just wanted to sit Gonzalez for a game and get Andy Green a start.
"We thought we would get him out there in left field, where he has experience, and get him a start," Melvin said of Andy, who was the Most Valuable Player of the Pacific Coast League, which he led in hits, doubles, extra-base hits, runs scored and triples. "He was here last year [for 46 games] so he knows how it works. We've got a premier guy out there in Gonzo who has to play every day."
Melvin said that the organization views the 28-year-old as a super-utility player as it looks ahead to Andy's role for 2006 because of all the different positions he can play defensively and, of course, the offense he has displayed at the Minor League level.
"You look at the people we have coming back and that seems like a good role for him," Melvin said. "That doesn't mean he shouldn't try to come to Spring Training and win himself a job. But one of the things he brings us is flexibility."
Green honored with Clemente Award: The Pirates had a pregame ceremony to present shortstop Jack Wilson as their nominee for the 2005 Roberto Clemente Award on Wednesday. Clemente played for the Pirates throughout his career and died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve in 1972 while on a humanitarian mission to assist victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua. Since '92, Major League Baseball has held Roberto Clemente Day each September to honor the 30 club nominees.
Shawn Green was given that distinction by the Diamondbacks this season. The award is given annually to the player who "combines outstanding skills on the baseball field with devoted work in the community."
Shawn, in only his first year in Arizona, has made a difference by donating $250,000 to the Phoenix Children's Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation. He was also the keynote speaker in May at a luncheon fundraiser for the Jewish National Fund.
On deck: The Pirates and D-Backs complete their season series at PNC Park with a Thursday afternoon contest. Nippert will face Pittsburgh right-hander Josh Fogg (6-10, 4.97 ERA).
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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