INSIDE PITCH
Craig Counsell will finish the season playing a different role than he had
before he suffered a right rib fracture.
Counsell met up with the Diamondbacks on Monday in San Francisco, and he likely
will be activated from the disabled list on Tuesday.
The veteran shortstop, back from a three-game rehab assignment in the minor
leagues, met privately with manager Bob Melvin and has been told that rookie
Stephen Drew will continue to get starts at short.
Counsell will get some playing time there, too, but also will be asked to spell
Chad Tracy at third base and Orlando Hudson at second on occasion.
"Stephen's going to play, so I'll just play when they tell me to," Counsell
said. "It is what it is. It's their call. It's whatever they want to do. It's
the way it is."
Melvin refused to be specific, however, when asked who his designated starter
will be at shortstop.
"I'm not going there," Melvin said. "If Drew starts, he'll be the starter that
day. If Counsell starts, he'll be the starter that day."
But Melvin also inferred that Counsell will play other positions, making it
likely he will be used mostly in a super-utility role, something he thrived in
during his first stint with the Diamondbacks.
"Stephen's going to be here, Stephen's going to play. So is Craig," Melvin said.
"Whether Craig plays a little at second at times, maybe third, it's a chance to
give some other guys some days off, and he will play those positions as well.
"But he will play shortstop. How it exactly works out, I'm not sure yet. It's
going to be more feel than anything. ... There's no exact formula for us. We'll
just play and see how it goes."
REPLAY: The Diamondbacks committed three critical errors Monday while collecting
just two hits off Giants left-hander Noah Lowry, and they fell 5-0. Arizona
failed to make up ground in the National League West on a day when the
first-place Dodgers lost.
"When you make more errors than you get hits," manager Bob Melvin said, "you're
going to have a difficult time winning games."
Pitcher Livan Hernandez, second baseman Orlando Hudson and third baseman Chad
Tracy made throwing errors that led to three runs late in the game, which also
saw Barry Bonds hit his 725th career home run.
"Nobody wants to make an error here," said Hernandez, who fell to 10-10. "But
baseball is like that. There's nothing you can do about it but come back
tomorrow and try to win."
Lowry went the distance and allowed just a pair of singles by Hudson, as the
Diamondbacks' streak of consecutive games with at least one extra-base hit came
to an end after 71 games.
NOTES, QUOTES
--1B Tony Clark left the club in San Diego and returned to Phoenix for an MRI on
his ailing right shoulder. Results weren't available Monday, but manager Bob
Melvin said the exam was mostly for Clark's peace of mind before he begins a
minor league rehab assignment.
--RHP Brandon Webb was encouraged with his bullpen session over the weekend and
believes he's worked out a couple of minor flaws in his delivery. He looks to
improve upon his 13-5 record Tuesday against the Giants at AT&T Park. Webb has
battled some control problems in his past two starts after missing a turn in the
rotation due to a sore elbow.
--LHP Brett Anderson, Arizona's second-round draft pick, has indicated he will
enroll in classes in the next day or two at Oklahoma State if the Diamondbacks
can't finalize the right contract for him to sign. General partner Jeff Moorad
said the club was aware of the deadline, and added, "We're moving closer to an
agreement. Hopefully, we can resolve our last differences and make a deal."
--Manager Bob Melvin reiterated that RHP Jorge Julio will remain the club's
closer despite a series of recent tough outings.
--Diamondbacks cross-checkers Kendall Carter, Ed Durkin and Kris Kline will get
interviews for the club's vacant scouting director position, as will assistant
scouting director Chad McDonald, who has temporarily assumed those duties since
the departure of Mike Rizzo to the Nationals.
BY THE NUMBERS: 8 -- Home runs this season by Arizona's No. 4 hitter in the
order through the first 122 games. The most productive spots for long balls had
come in the Nos. 2 and 3 holes (19 apiece).
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I remember we won the league championship one year and that was
fun, but honestly, if you're asking me what I remember most about Little League,
it was like any other kid. If we won, we got to go to Dairy Queen. You got to
spend two dollars, which was a ton, but we always used to push for that extra
quarter so you could get the best thing they had. I think that's what you should
remember about Little League." -- SS Craig Counsell, while discussing the Little
League World Series and a team from the Phoenix area that had made it the
tournament in Williamsport, Pa.
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Greg Aquino went on the disabled list retroactive to Aug. 8 with tightness
in his forearm. He threw sliders off flat ground Aug. 20.
OF Jeff DaVanon went on the disabled list retroactive to Aug. 6 with a left
ankle sprain. He reported on Aug. 20 that he's getting close to starting a rehab
assignment.
INF Andy Green went on the disabled list retroactive to Aug. 2 with an inflamed
left shoulder.
1B Tony Clark went on the disabled list retroactive to July 17 with a sore right
shoulder. He began swinging the bat July 25, his first baseball activity, and
took batting practice on July 28. He played catch July 31 and long-toss Aug. 9.
He was getting closer to a minor league rehab assignment.
SS Craig Counsell went on the disabled list July 15 with a fractured rib. He
began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tucson on Aug. 17. He is expected to be
activated Aug. 22.