Gonzalez determined to have big year
02/22/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Sporting a bulked up physique and determined attitude, Luis Gonzalez reported to Diamondbacks camp on Wednesday with the rest of the club's position players.
There has been much speculation over the past year surrounding Gonzalez, 38, and his future with the Diamondbacks. The left fielder is entering the final season of a three-year, $31.5 million contract with the club holding a $10 million option for 2007.
"I'm not going to give my job up," said Gonzalez, who will make $11.5 million this year. "They're going to have to tell me, 'We're going in a different direction.' So I'm just going out there trying to play hard every day, and I think that motivated me in the offseason."
Gonzalez had spent parts of nine seasons in the big leagues before coming to Arizona in 1999 and his career quickly took off as he collected 206 hits that year for a division-winning club.
Then after smacking 31 homers in 2000, he solidified his spot in Arizona history when he led the D-Backs to a World Series title by hitting 57 homers and driving in 142 runs in 2001. It was his base hit in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 that clinched the Series win over the Yankees.
"Luis Gonzalez is the face of the team," D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said. "Just looking at him, the condition he's in, I think he's out to prove a little something this year. It wouldn't surprise me if he had a great year this year."
The past two seasons have held significant challenges for Gonzalez. In 2004, he played with a torn ligament in his elbow that caused him significant pain throughout the year until he finally required Tommy John surgery on Aug. 1 of that year. He came to camp in 2005 still unsure of how the elbow would hold up, which limited his offseason work.
Gonzalez hit just .259 while playing in pain in 2004 and despite an emotional year in 2005 -- when he suffered the loss of his stepfather -- he managed to hit .271 with 24 homers and 79 RBIs.
"The last couple of years I've been injured and haven't been able to drive in the 100 runs," he said. "The home runs and things like that are going to come, but to me it's just going out there and producing. When you sit in the middle of the order, you know, people count on you. For me, it was frustrating the last couple of years because you know you're not 100 percent and you're trying to make it through."
There was speculation in the second half of last year that the Diamondbacks would like to move Gonzalez to make room for some of their highly regarded prospects like Carlos Quentin.
The talk clearly took its toll on the sensitive Gonzalez.
"I don't play into the age stuff because when you have love for the game and you go out there and play hard, I feel like I'm in better shape than a lot of young guys," Gonzalez said. "I work just as hard as those guys do. That doesn't bother me. They can say whatever they want about your age and stuff like that, but if you can go out there and still produce, it doesn't matter."
Arizona general manager Josh Byrnes indicated that the organization will let the season play out before making a decision on whether to pick up Gonzalez's option.
"He's a franchise icon and [it's] a big financial decision for us and him," Byrnes said. "So I think we're most inclined to let the year educate us about what is the best decision. I think he's in great shape. I understand that he wasn't able to do the conditioning that he normally would prior to last year. He's in fantastic shape. That's all we can ask for. He's giving himself every chance to be successful in the season."
Not limited by elbow or shoulder concerns and looking to make a statement with his performance this year, Gonzalez attacked his offseason workout regimen with a vengeance, adding an hour-long boxing session twice a week. The results were evident by the size of his biceps and forearms.
Always one to push himself with goals, Gonzalez said he would like to play until he reaches 3,000 hits or plays 20-plus seasons. To reach the 3,000 plateau, Gonzalez needs 786 more hits, which would likely require at least four-plus more seasons at nearly peak production.
A more easily attainable goal is 500 doubles. Gonzalez has 495, fifth among active players. He also is in the top 15 among active players in games (2,163), runs (1,219) and hits (2,214).
"I kind of feel like I've slipped under the radar, which I've kind of liked," Gonzalez said. "It hasn't been a career where everybody knows who you were. For me, I've pretty much played a quiet career until I got to Arizona, but I like that. I just like the fact that I've kind of snuck up on all these numbers and nobody's really paid that much attention to it."
There's no sneaking up on what this year means to Gonzalez and his future with the Diamondbacks.
"I don't want this to be my last year here," he said. "The best way for me to speak is with my actions on the field. I think if I go out there and play well and produce, it puts the ball in my court and we'll see what they want to do. The bottom line is I just have to go out there and play well."
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Sporting a bulked up physique and determined attitude, Luis Gonzalez reported to Diamondbacks camp on Wednesday with the rest of the club's position players.
There has been much speculation over the past year surrounding Gonzalez, 38, and his future with the Diamondbacks. The left fielder is entering the final season of a three-year, $31.5 million contract with the club holding a $10 million option for 2007.
"I'm not going to give my job up," said Gonzalez, who will make $11.5 million this year. "They're going to have to tell me, 'We're going in a different direction.' So I'm just going out there trying to play hard every day, and I think that motivated me in the offseason."
Gonzalez had spent parts of nine seasons in the big leagues before coming to Arizona in 1999 and his career quickly took off as he collected 206 hits that year for a division-winning club.
Then after smacking 31 homers in 2000, he solidified his spot in Arizona history when he led the D-Backs to a World Series title by hitting 57 homers and driving in 142 runs in 2001. It was his base hit in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 that clinched the Series win over the Yankees.
"Luis Gonzalez is the face of the team," D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said. "Just looking at him, the condition he's in, I think he's out to prove a little something this year. It wouldn't surprise me if he had a great year this year."
The past two seasons have held significant challenges for Gonzalez. In 2004, he played with a torn ligament in his elbow that caused him significant pain throughout the year until he finally required Tommy John surgery on Aug. 1 of that year. He came to camp in 2005 still unsure of how the elbow would hold up, which limited his offseason work.
Gonzalez hit just .259 while playing in pain in 2004 and despite an emotional year in 2005 -- when he suffered the loss of his stepfather -- he managed to hit .271 with 24 homers and 79 RBIs.
"The last couple of years I've been injured and haven't been able to drive in the 100 runs," he said. "The home runs and things like that are going to come, but to me it's just going out there and producing. When you sit in the middle of the order, you know, people count on you. For me, it was frustrating the last couple of years because you know you're not 100 percent and you're trying to make it through."
There was speculation in the second half of last year that the Diamondbacks would like to move Gonzalez to make room for some of their highly regarded prospects like Carlos Quentin.
The talk clearly took its toll on the sensitive Gonzalez.
"I don't play into the age stuff because when you have love for the game and you go out there and play hard, I feel like I'm in better shape than a lot of young guys," Gonzalez said. "I work just as hard as those guys do. That doesn't bother me. They can say whatever they want about your age and stuff like that, but if you can go out there and still produce, it doesn't matter."
Arizona general manager Josh Byrnes indicated that the organization will let the season play out before making a decision on whether to pick up Gonzalez's option.
"He's a franchise icon and [it's] a big financial decision for us and him," Byrnes said. "So I think we're most inclined to let the year educate us about what is the best decision. I think he's in great shape. I understand that he wasn't able to do the conditioning that he normally would prior to last year. He's in fantastic shape. That's all we can ask for. He's giving himself every chance to be successful in the season."
Not limited by elbow or shoulder concerns and looking to make a statement with his performance this year, Gonzalez attacked his offseason workout regimen with a vengeance, adding an hour-long boxing session twice a week. The results were evident by the size of his biceps and forearms.
Always one to push himself with goals, Gonzalez said he would like to play until he reaches 3,000 hits or plays 20-plus seasons. To reach the 3,000 plateau, Gonzalez needs 786 more hits, which would likely require at least four-plus more seasons at nearly peak production.
A more easily attainable goal is 500 doubles. Gonzalez has 495, fifth among active players. He also is in the top 15 among active players in games (2,163), runs (1,219) and hits (2,214).
"I kind of feel like I've slipped under the radar, which I've kind of liked," Gonzalez said. "It hasn't been a career where everybody knows who you were. For me, I've pretty much played a quiet career until I got to Arizona, but I like that. I just like the fact that I've kind of snuck up on all these numbers and nobody's really paid that much attention to it."
There's no sneaking up on what this year means to Gonzalez and his future with the Diamondbacks.
"I don't want this to be my last year here," he said. "The best way for me to speak is with my actions on the field. I think if I go out there and play well and produce, it puts the ball in my court and we'll see what they want to do. The bottom line is I just have to go out there and play well."
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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