Carlos Quentin up for D'backs(Gonzalez upset w/management)

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

Note: Carlos Quentin has homered in his first major league game tonight.

 

(AP) -Arizona manager Bob Melvin told Luis Gonzalez he was going to start rookie Carlos Quentin in left field Thursday night to give him a night off against a tough left-hander.

 

Gonzalez took it a different way. The 16-year veteran interpreted his benching as a sign the organization may be ready to part company with him at year's end. There has been speculation the club will not pick up its $10 million option on Gonzalez for 2007.

 

"You guys read the writing on the wall,'' Gonzalez told reporters before the Diamondbacks played the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. "Am I upset? Of course I am. If you weren't upset, you wouldn't be a professional athlete, not wanting to be on the field.''

 

Melvin said he spoke with Gonzalez on Wednesday night to let him know he would be getting a day off against Dodgers starter Mark Hendrickson. Gonzalez is 2-for-7 lifetime against Hendrickson.

 

"It's just going to be a one-day thing,'' Melvin said. "Gonzo will be back out there tomorrow. But certainly Gonzo wants to play every day, and I don't blame him.''

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Watch the Cubs sign Gonzalez this offseason and tout it as a difference-making move.

[Rusch33]

Don't even think about it, Jim.

[SouthSideRyan]

Gonzalez is being ridiculous. Be lucky they aren't permanently benching your punchless ass.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Keep it up Quentin! :D

[soccer10k]

I wouldn't pay Luis and his declining stats $10 mil next year either. His OBP and SLG (and subsequently his OPS) have dropped for each year since 2003. He's on pace for his lowest HR output since 1997. I'm not even going to use the 'S' word in this argument.

 

EDITED to change would to wouldn't.

Edited July 21, 2006 by soccer10k

[Magnetic Curses]

let's not get so excited about quentin, he's not playing for us.

[Backtobanks]

let's not get so excited about quentin, he's not playing for us.

 

And if he was, he would be hitting like Corey Patterson did for us.

[TruffleShuffle]

Of course Gonzalez won't have his option picked up for next year... his OPS is under 800, he's 38 years and he'll cost $10 million. Meanwhile, there's a major-league ready replacement for him at a cheap cost. Quentin very well could outproduce Gonzo next season.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Of course Gonzalez won't have his option picked up for next year... his OPS is under 800, he's 38 years and he'll cost $10 million. Meanwhile, there's a major-league ready replacement for him at a cheap cost. Quentin very well could outproduce Gonzo next season.

 

Yes, I'm not quite sure how there would be "speculation" as to whether or not that option was going to be picked up. They'd be crazy to do it.

[Hacking Out Machine]

let's not get so excited about quentin, he's not playing for us.

 

And if he was, he would be hitting like Corey Patterson did for us.

 

Yep, he would, after Clines, Sarge and Dusty beat the plate discipline and overall great hitting habits he currently possesses out of him.

[Magnetic Curses]

let's not get so excited about quentin, he's not playing for us.

 

And if he was, he would be hitting like Corey Patterson did for us.

 

Yep, he would, after Clines, Sarge and Dusty beat the plate discipline and overall great hitting habits he currently possesses out of him.

 

i think that was his point, but i could be wrong.

 

anyhow, i'm sick of hearing about quentin--the fact that the cubs have never had a player comparable to him turns my stomach. quentin is and will be an amazing player in the big leagues--but the cubs will never possess him.

[Hacking Out Machine]

let's not get so excited about quentin, he's not playing for us.

 

And if he was, he would be hitting like Corey Patterson did for us.

 

Yep, he would, after Clines, Sarge and Dusty beat the plate discipline and overall great hitting habits he currently possesses out of him.

 

i think that was his point, but i could be wrong.

 

anyhow, i'm sick of hearing about quentin--the fact that the cubs have never had a player comparable to him turns my stomach. quentin is and will be an amazing player in the big leagues--but the cubs will never possess him.

 

The Cubs will never produce a hitter as good as Scott Hairston, let alone Carlos Quentin.

[NorthsideAvenger]

let's not get so excited about quentin, he's not playing for us.

 

And if he was, he would be hitting like Corey Patterson did for us.

 

No he wouldn't. He'd still be a AA, cause the majors don't have a "book" on Quentin, thus Quentin doesn't have a "book" on ML pitching. And after all the bs, Quentin would still be in the minors, simply because is trying to win with below-average crappy veterans, over above-average, young studs.