Mailbag: What's in store for Clark?
02/06/2006
After a busy offseason, it's been a pretty quiet couple of weeks for the Diamondbacks. Alex Cintron is still on the roster, though I thought for sure he'd have been dealt by now. He is a valuable player and the D-Backs are not just going to give him away, so stay tuned to see what happens there.
Without further ado, let's pop open the mailbag and get to your questions.
I'm not a Diamondbacks fan by trade, but I am someone who keeps track over all of the wheeling and dealing throughout the Major Leagues. That being said, one thing confuses me. Tony Clark had a true comeback year in 2005, at least it seemed so to me. Had he been an everyday player, he probably would have ended up with over 40 homers and probably 115 RBIs. However, whenever I read anything about the 2006 D-Backs, he is never mentioned as being a significant part of their plans. I seem to recall the team signing him to a two-year extension, so what exactly will his role be with the team?-- Russell B., Chicago, Ill.
When the Diamondbacks signed Clark prior to last season, it was with the intention that he would serve as a pinch-hitter and mentor to Chad Tracy, who was moving from third base to first. As you know, Clark performed beyond anyone's expectations and ended up getting the majority of the starts there. The plan this year is for top prospect Conor Jackson to start at first, with Clark in a role similar to the one in which he began the 2005 season. The reason is that Jackson needs to play if he is to develop and reach his potential.
Jackson is a 23-year-old who has nothing left to prove at Triple-A. He could be a key piece of the puzzle for the D-Backs for years to come, so the first base job is his to lose. That doesn't mean that Clark won't have an important role off the bench and in a part-time starting role, and the D-Backs acknowledged that when they signed him to that two-year deal in midseason.
Considering the solid year Brad Halsey had in 2005, why are his chances of making the starting rotation not good? Also, considering the disappointment the bullpen was last year, why is Miguel Batista not being considered for a setup role?-- Bryon H., Oak Creek, Wis.
Bryon, I think Halsey, based on how he pitched at times last year, could very well be the frontrunner for the fifth spot in the rotation. The club is looking for him to add another pitch to his repertoire that is more of a change of pace, and if he's able to do that, he should be able to build on the success he had last year.
There are other candidates, though, who should make the competition stiff. Dustin Nippert is someone the organization is very high on, and while he might need a little more seasoning to work on a consistent third pitch, you can't count him out. And Michael Gosling had a very good spring last year and pitched well at times when in the big leagues over the last two years, so he's another guy who will be right in the thick of things. Keep in mind that a club hardly ever uses just five starters in a season, so a team needs not only the five guys who make the rotation at the beginning, but also two or three at Triple-A who are ready when the inevitable injuries and ineffectiveness strike.
Will the Diamondbacks keep only six pitchers in the bullpen so that they can have a six-man bench and not have to trade Alex Cintron? Also, I've heard rumors of El Duque and Cintron being traded for an elite No. 1 or 2 pitcher -- are they true?-- Andy J., Plymouth, Minn.
I think it's unlikely that the Diamondbacks will carry just six relievers, given the makeup of the staff right now. As for Cintron, if they don't deal him before the start of the season, they could easily carry him as a backup infielder along with Damion Easley. That fact that Easley can play the corner outfield positions, plus the fact that Tracy can play left and right if needed, makes it possible to go into the year with just one true backup outfielder.
What is Luis Terrero's role in the upcoming season?-- Juan D., Phoenix, Ariz.
Unless the Diamondbacks sign or trade for a veteran backup outfielder, Terrero will be the fourth outfielder, playing when one of the three starters there needs a rest or coming in for defensive purposes late in a game.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
After a busy offseason, it's been a pretty quiet couple of weeks for the Diamondbacks. Alex Cintron is still on the roster, though I thought for sure he'd have been dealt by now. He is a valuable player and the D-Backs are not just going to give him away, so stay tuned to see what happens there.
Without further ado, let's pop open the mailbag and get to your questions.
I'm not a Diamondbacks fan by trade, but I am someone who keeps track over all of the wheeling and dealing throughout the Major Leagues. That being said, one thing confuses me. Tony Clark had a true comeback year in 2005, at least it seemed so to me. Had he been an everyday player, he probably would have ended up with over 40 homers and probably 115 RBIs. However, whenever I read anything about the 2006 D-Backs, he is never mentioned as being a significant part of their plans. I seem to recall the team signing him to a two-year extension, so what exactly will his role be with the team?-- Russell B., Chicago, Ill.
When the Diamondbacks signed Clark prior to last season, it was with the intention that he would serve as a pinch-hitter and mentor to Chad Tracy, who was moving from third base to first. As you know, Clark performed beyond anyone's expectations and ended up getting the majority of the starts there. The plan this year is for top prospect Conor Jackson to start at first, with Clark in a role similar to the one in which he began the 2005 season. The reason is that Jackson needs to play if he is to develop and reach his potential.
Jackson is a 23-year-old who has nothing left to prove at Triple-A. He could be a key piece of the puzzle for the D-Backs for years to come, so the first base job is his to lose. That doesn't mean that Clark won't have an important role off the bench and in a part-time starting role, and the D-Backs acknowledged that when they signed him to that two-year deal in midseason.
Considering the solid year Brad Halsey had in 2005, why are his chances of making the starting rotation not good? Also, considering the disappointment the bullpen was last year, why is Miguel Batista not being considered for a setup role?-- Bryon H., Oak Creek, Wis.
Bryon, I think Halsey, based on how he pitched at times last year, could very well be the frontrunner for the fifth spot in the rotation. The club is looking for him to add another pitch to his repertoire that is more of a change of pace, and if he's able to do that, he should be able to build on the success he had last year.
There are other candidates, though, who should make the competition stiff. Dustin Nippert is someone the organization is very high on, and while he might need a little more seasoning to work on a consistent third pitch, you can't count him out. And Michael Gosling had a very good spring last year and pitched well at times when in the big leagues over the last two years, so he's another guy who will be right in the thick of things. Keep in mind that a club hardly ever uses just five starters in a season, so a team needs not only the five guys who make the rotation at the beginning, but also two or three at Triple-A who are ready when the inevitable injuries and ineffectiveness strike.
Will the Diamondbacks keep only six pitchers in the bullpen so that they can have a six-man bench and not have to trade Alex Cintron? Also, I've heard rumors of El Duque and Cintron being traded for an elite No. 1 or 2 pitcher -- are they true?-- Andy J., Plymouth, Minn.
I think it's unlikely that the Diamondbacks will carry just six relievers, given the makeup of the staff right now. As for Cintron, if they don't deal him before the start of the season, they could easily carry him as a backup infielder along with Damion Easley. That fact that Easley can play the corner outfield positions, plus the fact that Tracy can play left and right if needed, makes it possible to go into the year with just one true backup outfielder.
What is Luis Terrero's role in the upcoming season?-- Juan D., Phoenix, Ariz.
Unless the Diamondbacks sign or trade for a veteran backup outfielder, Terrero will be the fourth outfielder, playing when one of the three starters there needs a rest or coming in for defensive purposes late in a game.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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