Notes: Upton impresses in first game
03/02/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Justin Upton only made it look easy.
The 18-year-old, who was the first overall pick in last year's First-Year Player Draft, lined a two-run triple to right field in the seventh inning of the D-Backs' 9-2 Cactus League victory Thursday over the White Sox.
"It wasn't easy, actually," Upton said.
Upton entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning and struck out on three pitches. He took two fastballs for strikes before swinging and missing at a breaking ball.
"I'm not going to lie to you, I was a little nervous, a lot nervous," he said. "But after that, I just told myself I was going to swing the bat."
He did just that in his second at-bat, as he drove a 1-1 fastball the opposite way to right.
"It's a monkey off your back," Upton said of getting that first hit. "That's what I wanted to do today, was get one hit and get myself into a little groove and hopefully [I] won't be as nervous the next time."
"Pretty impressive for an 18-year-old," D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said. "Punches out the first time and then goes up there the next time and just stays out there with him. Left-hander was pitching him away. When you're that young, you get a little bit jumpy and try to show what you've got, trying to pull balls and do too much, but he stayed out there with him and boy, it got out there in a hurry. Pretty impressive at-bat."
Speaking of impressive: Right-hander Russ Ortiz had a good start to the spring when he came on in relief Thursday and allowed just one hit over two innings.
The hit was a home run to the opposite field by Josh Fields, who got the head of the bat on a fastball that was down and in.
"It was a good pitch," catcher Johnny Estrada said. "As soon as he swung, I yelled to Russ, 'Good pitch. Thatta way.' Then I saw it go out of the park. I was surprised."
Ortiz is looking to rebound from a tough 2005 season that saw him go 5-11 with a 6.89 ERA.
"I feel good about how everything is going and how things have been going up to this point," he said.
Bye-bye Batista: Miguel Batista started and threw two innings in what will be his last spring appearance for a while.
Batista departed late Thursday afternoon for Florida, where he will pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
"I'm very excited about the challenge," Batista said of the Classic. "It's like having a series of All-Star Games."
Sign here: The Diamondbacks announced the signing of 19 non-arbitration-eligible players, with the most notable being third baseman Chad Tracy.
The two sides had talked about a multiyear deal, but could not come to an agreement, and general manager Josh Byrnes said the discussions will likely be tabled until after the season.
In addition, the Diamondbacks renewed the contracts of right-handed pitchers Brandon Medders and Jose Valverde.
Waiting game: Melvin is entering the final season of the two-year contract he signed prior to the 2005 season. The club holds two option years, and judging by Byrnes' comments Thursday, a decision as to whether or not to pick up at least one of the options won't be made anytime soon.
"It's difficult to talk about," Byrnes said. "All I can say is that I've been tremendously impressed with his work and we'll go into the season and get to know each other better and make the right decision. I can't say enough good things about the job he's done helping to strategize for the offseason and getting us ready to play our Spring Training schedule."
When asked if he'd addressed the subject with Melvin, Byrnes said, "A little bit. We've talked sort of in general terms. We have a pretty good understanding of how we'll arrive at this decision."
Getting more looks: With Craig Counsell on the shelf for at least 10 days due to a slight tear in his labrum and Alex Cintron participating in the World Baseball Classic, Damion Easley will get more reps at shortstop.
"He's played short every day, he's played second every day," Melvin said of Easley. "That's one of those attractive factors about him is that he's played both of those positions on an everyday basis. As many left-handed bats that we have, he's kind of a lefty killer and a guy that will be in there quite a bit against left-handed starters."
Up next: The same two teams hook up again Friday at Tucson Electric Park. It will be a battle of Opening Day starters with left-hander Mark Buehrle going for the White Sox against Arizona right-hander Brandon Webb.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Justin Upton only made it look easy.
The 18-year-old, who was the first overall pick in last year's First-Year Player Draft, lined a two-run triple to right field in the seventh inning of the D-Backs' 9-2 Cactus League victory Thursday over the White Sox.
"It wasn't easy, actually," Upton said.
Upton entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning and struck out on three pitches. He took two fastballs for strikes before swinging and missing at a breaking ball.
"I'm not going to lie to you, I was a little nervous, a lot nervous," he said. "But after that, I just told myself I was going to swing the bat."
He did just that in his second at-bat, as he drove a 1-1 fastball the opposite way to right.
"It's a monkey off your back," Upton said of getting that first hit. "That's what I wanted to do today, was get one hit and get myself into a little groove and hopefully [I] won't be as nervous the next time."
"Pretty impressive for an 18-year-old," D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said. "Punches out the first time and then goes up there the next time and just stays out there with him. Left-hander was pitching him away. When you're that young, you get a little bit jumpy and try to show what you've got, trying to pull balls and do too much, but he stayed out there with him and boy, it got out there in a hurry. Pretty impressive at-bat."
Speaking of impressive: Right-hander Russ Ortiz had a good start to the spring when he came on in relief Thursday and allowed just one hit over two innings.
The hit was a home run to the opposite field by Josh Fields, who got the head of the bat on a fastball that was down and in.
"It was a good pitch," catcher Johnny Estrada said. "As soon as he swung, I yelled to Russ, 'Good pitch. Thatta way.' Then I saw it go out of the park. I was surprised."
Ortiz is looking to rebound from a tough 2005 season that saw him go 5-11 with a 6.89 ERA.
"I feel good about how everything is going and how things have been going up to this point," he said.
Bye-bye Batista: Miguel Batista started and threw two innings in what will be his last spring appearance for a while.
Batista departed late Thursday afternoon for Florida, where he will pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
"I'm very excited about the challenge," Batista said of the Classic. "It's like having a series of All-Star Games."
Sign here: The Diamondbacks announced the signing of 19 non-arbitration-eligible players, with the most notable being third baseman Chad Tracy.
The two sides had talked about a multiyear deal, but could not come to an agreement, and general manager Josh Byrnes said the discussions will likely be tabled until after the season.
In addition, the Diamondbacks renewed the contracts of right-handed pitchers Brandon Medders and Jose Valverde.
Waiting game: Melvin is entering the final season of the two-year contract he signed prior to the 2005 season. The club holds two option years, and judging by Byrnes' comments Thursday, a decision as to whether or not to pick up at least one of the options won't be made anytime soon.
"It's difficult to talk about," Byrnes said. "All I can say is that I've been tremendously impressed with his work and we'll go into the season and get to know each other better and make the right decision. I can't say enough good things about the job he's done helping to strategize for the offseason and getting us ready to play our Spring Training schedule."
When asked if he'd addressed the subject with Melvin, Byrnes said, "A little bit. We've talked sort of in general terms. We have a pretty good understanding of how we'll arrive at this decision."
Getting more looks: With Craig Counsell on the shelf for at least 10 days due to a slight tear in his labrum and Alex Cintron participating in the World Baseball Classic, Damion Easley will get more reps at shortstop.
"He's played short every day, he's played second every day," Melvin said of Easley. "That's one of those attractive factors about him is that he's played both of those positions on an everyday basis. As many left-handed bats that we have, he's kind of a lefty killer and a guy that will be in there quite a bit against left-handed starters."
Up next: The same two teams hook up again Friday at Tucson Electric Park. It will be a battle of Opening Day starters with left-hander Mark Buehrle going for the White Sox against Arizona right-hander Brandon Webb.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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