Around the Horn: Outfielders
02/08/2006
PHOENIX -- In what figures to be a reconfigured lineup in 2006, the Diamondbacks outfield looks remarkably similar to last year.
In fact, Arizona figures to have just two players in its Opening Day lineup that are in the same spots defensively in last year's opener -- Luis Gonzalez in left field and Shawn Green in right.
In between the two veterans will be Eric Byrnes, who the club is counting on to fill the hole until top prospect Chris Young is ready for the big leagues. Young, who was acquired in the Javier Vazquez deal with the White Sox, is one of several outfielders that the Diamondbacks are excited about for the future. The 22-year-old has a rare combination of both speed and power, and followed up a very good year at Double-A with an impressive performance in the Arizona Fall League.
The club does not want to rush Young and therefore signed Byrnes, who after a good year in 2004 struggled in stints with three teams last year. He's not a great defender, but he uses his speed and all-out playing style to compensate for any deficiencies.
While Craig Counsell is penciled in as the leadoff hitter heading into the spring, Byrnes will push him for that role and will likely hit leadoff against left-handers.
"I think he's a player that can impact the game defensively and with the bat in his hand," D-Backs GM Josh Byrnes (no relation) said.
Gonzalez is on track to start his seventh consecutive opener for the Diamondbacks. Whether or not it will be his last remains to be seen as he is in the final year of his contract. The Diamondbacks do hold an option for 2007, but they may elect not to pick it up to make room for another one of their top prospects, Carlos Quentin.
Regardless, the Diamondbacks are counting heavily on Gonzalez in 2006. The 38-year-old will likely be the team's cleanup hitter on Opening Day. Last year he hit 24 homers and drove in 79 runs, his lowest totals -- aside from his injury-shortened 2004 campaign -- in an Arizona uniform. This offseason, though, is the first time since he injured his right elbow during the 2003 season that Gonzalez has been able to do the kind of workouts that had been a staple up until then.
"He looks the best I've seen him in a while," D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said recently.
While no one expects Gonzalez to match his 57 homers from 2001, the Diamondbacks do need him to hit 25 homers and drive in close to 100 runs from the cleanup position.
Green had a typical Shawn Green season in 2005. He had some hot streaks and some cold streaks, but when all was said and done he finished with a .286 batting average to go with 22 homers and 73 RBIs.
Due to a logjam at the corner outfield and infield positions last year, Green was asked to move to center in July, and while he didn't remind anyone of Steve Finley out there, he did a credible job. His best position, though, is right and that appears to be where he'll roam in 2006.
Quentin has nothing left to prove in the Minors after hitting .301 with 28 doubles, 21 homers and 89 RBIs for Triple-A Tucson last year. The problem for the 23-year-old is that there simply is not a position for him right now, but that could change if there's an injury to one of the starting outfielders.
"He's a tremendous prospect," Josh Byrnes said. "He's accomplished about all you can in the Minors and now it's just about finding a place for him."
Unless they make another move before Spring Training, it looks like Luis Terrero will once again be the team's primary backup. A talented player, Terrero has never really gotten the extended playing time he needs to develop, and it's likely to be more of the same for him in 2006.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
PHOENIX -- In what figures to be a reconfigured lineup in 2006, the Diamondbacks outfield looks remarkably similar to last year.
In fact, Arizona figures to have just two players in its Opening Day lineup that are in the same spots defensively in last year's opener -- Luis Gonzalez in left field and Shawn Green in right.
In between the two veterans will be Eric Byrnes, who the club is counting on to fill the hole until top prospect Chris Young is ready for the big leagues. Young, who was acquired in the Javier Vazquez deal with the White Sox, is one of several outfielders that the Diamondbacks are excited about for the future. The 22-year-old has a rare combination of both speed and power, and followed up a very good year at Double-A with an impressive performance in the Arizona Fall League.
The club does not want to rush Young and therefore signed Byrnes, who after a good year in 2004 struggled in stints with three teams last year. He's not a great defender, but he uses his speed and all-out playing style to compensate for any deficiencies.
While Craig Counsell is penciled in as the leadoff hitter heading into the spring, Byrnes will push him for that role and will likely hit leadoff against left-handers.
"I think he's a player that can impact the game defensively and with the bat in his hand," D-Backs GM Josh Byrnes (no relation) said.
Gonzalez is on track to start his seventh consecutive opener for the Diamondbacks. Whether or not it will be his last remains to be seen as he is in the final year of his contract. The Diamondbacks do hold an option for 2007, but they may elect not to pick it up to make room for another one of their top prospects, Carlos Quentin.
Regardless, the Diamondbacks are counting heavily on Gonzalez in 2006. The 38-year-old will likely be the team's cleanup hitter on Opening Day. Last year he hit 24 homers and drove in 79 runs, his lowest totals -- aside from his injury-shortened 2004 campaign -- in an Arizona uniform. This offseason, though, is the first time since he injured his right elbow during the 2003 season that Gonzalez has been able to do the kind of workouts that had been a staple up until then.
"He looks the best I've seen him in a while," D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said recently.
While no one expects Gonzalez to match his 57 homers from 2001, the Diamondbacks do need him to hit 25 homers and drive in close to 100 runs from the cleanup position.
Green had a typical Shawn Green season in 2005. He had some hot streaks and some cold streaks, but when all was said and done he finished with a .286 batting average to go with 22 homers and 73 RBIs.
Due to a logjam at the corner outfield and infield positions last year, Green was asked to move to center in July, and while he didn't remind anyone of Steve Finley out there, he did a credible job. His best position, though, is right and that appears to be where he'll roam in 2006.
Quentin has nothing left to prove in the Minors after hitting .301 with 28 doubles, 21 homers and 89 RBIs for Triple-A Tucson last year. The problem for the 23-year-old is that there simply is not a position for him right now, but that could change if there's an injury to one of the starting outfielders.
"He's a tremendous prospect," Josh Byrnes said. "He's accomplished about all you can in the Minors and now it's just about finding a place for him."
Unless they make another move before Spring Training, it looks like Luis Terrero will once again be the team's primary backup. A talented player, Terrero has never really gotten the extended playing time he needs to develop, and it's likely to be more of the same for him in 2006.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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