INSIDE PITCH
Upon arriving at Tropicana Field on Tuesday for the start of a three-game series
against the Devil Rays, Diamondbacks left fielder Luis Gonzalez was asked
repeatedly if Tampa might be included in his future address, assuming things end
on a sour note with the Diamondbacks.
Gonzalez, who was born in Tampa and had more than 100 friends and family members
cheering him on during Arizona's 8-5 loss, tried to be as politically correct as
possible.
"You never close the door to an opportunity," he said before the game.
Gonzalez, who has been the cornerstone of the Diamondbacks franchise for the
past eight seasons, is in the final year of his contract with the club. Arizona
holds an option for 2007, but at $10 million, it seems highly unlikely Gonzalez
will be back at that salary.
The Diamondbacks also have prospects such as Scott Hairston and Carlos Quentin
ready for regular duty at the major league level, and unless Gonzalez were to
restructure a deal for less pay and perhaps, a lesser role on the club, the
chances are more than likely he will become a free agent.
"We'll let everything fall where it is, I can't control that," he said after
Tuesday's game. "I'm just going to continue to play the season out, and whatever
happens, happens."
Gonzalez is hitting .263 with five homers -- none since April 20 -- and 31 RBIs.
He was asked for his personal preference as to how things shake out, especially
if he were to get hot in the second half of the season and finish on a high
note.
"Personally, my preference would be to keep playing for the Diamondbacks," he
said. "I'd love to stay in Arizona.
"But you don't always get what you ask for. So, I've just got to wait and see
what happens. I've still got a whole second half to turn my season around.
Obviously, it's not where I want it to be right now, but if I get on one of
those hot streaks, I can turn everything around."
REPLAY: Right-hander Miguel Batista (6-5) tied his season high by allowing 11
hits during an 8-5 loss to the Devil Rays on Tuesday at Tropicana Field, and he
has now lost three consecutive starts after winning three in a row. The
Diamondbacks, meanwhile, have dropped six of their past seven and 13 of their
past 15 overall and have lost eight straight on the road against American League
clubs.
"It's been a rough stretch for us," left fielder Luis Gonzalez said.
"Everybody's trying to do a little too much. We've just got to get back to
playing the way we did in spring training, just having fun out there and
playing."
Manager Bob Melvin held a postgame team meeting and, among other things, told
his players they weren't ready to play Tuesday.
"We weren't ready to play, that's for sure," said Batista, who allowed six
earned runs in five innings.
NOTES, QUOTES
--RHP Edgar Gonzalez, who went 0-9 as a starter for Arizona in 2004, was
recalled from Triple-A Tucson and will make his first start of the season on
Thursday at Tampa Bay. He appeared in only game for the Diamondbacks last
season, allowing four earned runs in just one-third of an inning.
--OF Scott Hairston is listed as day-to-day after suffering an injured right
shoulder Monday after crashing into the left field wall in Pittsburgh. An MRI
apparently revealed no structural damage inside the joint, although Hairston was
told he may have a problem with his biceps tendon. The injury could sideline him
for several days.
--RHP Juan Cruz (sore shoulder) played catch again on Tuesday and will throw a
bullpen session either Wednesday or Thursday before the team decides when he is
ready to begin a minor league rehab assignment. Cruz likely would make at least
two rehab appearances before being activated and returning to the starting
rotation.
--Arizona, starting a three-game series at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, played
its first game on artificial turf since Aug. 10-12, 2004, when Montreal swept
the Diamondbacks in Arizona's last visit to Olympic Stadium.
--3B Chad Tracy was used in the designated hitter's role on Tuesday and went
2-for-4 with two RBIs in the loss to Tampa Bay. He hit sixth in the lineup, the
lowest he has hit in the order this season.