INSIDE PITCH
The chances of Eric Byrnes playing in a
Diamondbacks uniform beyond this season seem remote after contract talks between
the outfielder and the team broke off.
Byrnes is set to become a free
agent at the end of the season and likely will sign elsewhere, despite being
Arizona's most productive player each of the past two seasons.
"It
disappoints me that we weren't able to come up with something, but we're not
going to speak again about my future with the Diamondbacks until after the
season is over," Byrnes said. "But obviously, more likely than not I'll be
entering free agency at the end of the year and in all likelihood, not coming
back."
"I'm not going to shut the door to the Diamondbacks," the outfielder
added. "We can hopefully come up with something in the
offseason."
The Diamondbacks approached Byrnes early in July about
possibly signing him to an extension. They made an offer, which was followed by
a counter proposal by Byrnes and his agent, and talks stopped there because the
sides were so far apart regarding money and years.
"What we tried to do
is figure out potentially where I would end up on the open market," Byrnes said.
"We had a floor and we had a ceiling of potentially what could happen. Our offer
to the Diamondbacks was pretty much at the floor. ... That was what I was
willing to give up, was the potential of reaching that ceiling."
It is
thought Byrnes will be seeking a deal similar to the five-year contract worth
about $45 million the Dodgers gave to free agent outfielder Juan Pierre.
Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes wouldn't delve into specifics,
other than to say, "We feel very good about what we've offered, and we respect
the right to disagree and we'll go forward. I think we've given it enough time
to see if it would work, and it appears that it won't right now."
BREWERS 10, DIAMONDBACKS 1: Right-hander Livan Hernandez' non-winning
ways continued Thursday, as the Arizona starter was charged with six runs on
eight hits over 5 1/3 innings as the Diamondbacks lost for the eighth time in
their past nine road games.
Hernandez (5-6) hasn't won a game since May
27, a span of nine starts.
The Brewers, who won three of four against
the Diamondbacks at Miller Park, got six shutout innings from rookie Yovani Gallardo, who allowed three hits and struck out four while starting in place of
the injured Ben Sheets.
NOTES, QUOTES
--OF Eric Byrnes is 9-for-26 (.346) since the Diamondbacks returned from the
All-Star break.
--INF Chad Tracy was out of the lineup Thursday as he
continues to be bothered by tendinitis in his right knee.
"I'm holding
him out because I feel I have to," manager Bob Melvin said. "His knee is still
bothering him. ... We'll try to take care of this and see if he's all right to
play (Friday). Rest is really the only thing that's going to cure it."
--Arizona has dropped nine of its last 11 one-run games after winning 17
of their first 23 one-run decisions.
--The Diamondbacks bullpen pitched
17 scoreless innings, a streak that began on July 13, until RHP Dustin Nippert
was scored upon in the seven inning Thursday in Milwaukee. The relievers had
combined for 19 strikeouts over that stretch.
--Manager Bob Melvin on
his team's three-game series at Wrigley Field against the Cubs, who will be
without suspended 1B Derrek Lee and won't be using their top two starting
pitchers, RHP Carlos Zambrano and LHP Ted Lilly: "A hot club is a hot club.
Obviously we have our work cut out for us. The Cubs are playing as well as they
have all year."
--RHP Brandon Webb, who starts Friday's game against the
Cubs in Chicago, is 0-2 with a 5.79 ERA in his last three starts. The
Diamondbacks are 12-8 in games he starts.
--Arizona has inquired with
the Yankees about a possible trade for OF Bobby Abreu and the White Sox for OF
Jermaine Dye, but management deemed the asking price -- believed to be outfield
prospect Carlos Gonzalez -- too high for either player.
--LHP Randy Johnson (herniated disk) responded well after throwing 30 pitches in a bullpen
session Tuesday. If all goes well, he will throw another side session Friday, a
sign he may be on the way back from the disabled list.
"The fact he
threw a significant bullpen and was able to go out and catch (Wednesday) makes
me feel that much better," manager Bob Melvin said. "I've always felt like that
first bullpen would have a lot to say in terms of where we're going, and getting
through it like that and be able to set up one Friday is encouraging."
--OF Carlos Quentin, who was sent to Class AAA Tucson just before the
All-Star break, is serving a three-game suspension for an altercation on
Saturday in Colorado Springs, which occurred after he was hit by a pitch.
--RHP Livan Hernandez will start for the Diamondbacks on Thursday in
Milwaukee and is seeking his first win since May 27. He has not won his last
eight starts. Home runs have been a problem. In his first 13 starts, Hernandez
only allowed six. In his past six starts, he's allowed 13.
--Arizona
ranked last in the majors with a .234 batting average with runners in scoring
position, entering play Wednesday. The Tigers, who ranked first, were hitting
.326.