kevin smith
08-19-2004, 03:05 PM
Notes: Snyder to fill Hill's void
Double-A catcher takes injured backstop's roster spot
By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com
It was this play that knocked Koyie Hill out for the season with a fractured ankle. (Roy Dabner/AP)
PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks purchased the contract of Chris Snyder from Double-A El Paso on Wednesday to replace injured catcher Koyie Hill.
Hill suffered a fractured ankle Tuesday night in a collision at home plate with the Pirates' Ty Wigginton and will miss the rest of the season.
Snyder, 23, was chosen over Triple-A catcher Craig Ansman in large part because of his defensive ability, but he's also been solid at the plate this year, compiling a .301 mark with 31 doubles, 15 homers and 57 RBIs.
"The report I got (said) Snyder defensively is ahead of Ansman," Arizona manager Al Pedrique said. "And right now we need a guy behind the plate who's solid receiving, blocking and throwing runners out. We need to find out what Snyder can do."
Pedrique said he plans to give Juan Brito the majority of the playing time behind the plate, while getting Snyder's feet wet gradually. Brito has played well defensively, but has struggled at the plate. The 26-year-old entered Wednesday's game hitting .172.
"We're very happy with his job behind the plate defensively," Pedrique said. "Hopefully we can get him to hit .230-.240, and he can be a solid Major League catcher."
Talking it over: Hill and Wigginton bumped into each other Wednesday and talked about Tuesday's play.
"He just wanted to say he was sorry about me getting injured," Hill said. "But I think we both agreed that it was about as fair a play as you could have. I was going to make him come right through me and he did."
The fact that Hill stayed in the game after the injury to finish the inning -- which included his participation in a rundown -- impressed his teammates.
Alex Cintron / SS
Born: 12/17/78
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200 lbs
Bats: S / Throws: R
More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Team Site
"That's amazing," shortstop Alex Cintron said. "I can't imagine how painful that was. You've got to be strong or something to be able to do that. When I heard he fractured his ankle, I was like, 'What? He stayed in there for two more outs.'"
Hill's foot will remain in a cast for four to six weeks and in a walking boot for another four to six weeks. Despite that, he still plans on getting his work in.
"Just because I've got one foot shut down it doesn't mean I can't sit on a bucket and use my hands and work my hands, and keep developing my skills there," he said. "The work doesn't stop just because you have a cast on."
Early work: Arizona coaches spent extra time on the field with five players before batting practice Wednesday.
Luis Terrero, Quinton McCracken, Scott Hairston, Doug DeVore and Andy Green were given a refresher course on base stealing, including work on getting a jump and what pitchers will try to do to keep them close.
Those five were singled out because they're the ones who figure to do most of the stealing the rest of the year. Pitching coach Mark Davis, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 1989, showed the players some pickoff moves that left-handed pitchers like to use.
Scott Hairston / 2B
Born: 05/25/80
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 190 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Team Site
Staying put: Earlier this year, the organization talked about moving Hairston from second base to the outfield, but it looks now like second base is his best bet for playing time in the future.
With Luis Gonzalez and Terrero likely to fill two of the outfield spots next year and highly regarded prospects Conor Jackson and Carlos Quentin having impressive seasons at El Paso, the Arizona outfield could get crowded soon.
"Right now we're working with him real hard at second base," Pedrique said of Hairston. "He's going to be playing second base the majority of the time for the rest of the year combined with (Andy) Green, and hopefully he will show that he can be the everyday second baseman."
Double-A catcher takes injured backstop's roster spot
By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com
It was this play that knocked Koyie Hill out for the season with a fractured ankle. (Roy Dabner/AP)
PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks purchased the contract of Chris Snyder from Double-A El Paso on Wednesday to replace injured catcher Koyie Hill.
Hill suffered a fractured ankle Tuesday night in a collision at home plate with the Pirates' Ty Wigginton and will miss the rest of the season.
Snyder, 23, was chosen over Triple-A catcher Craig Ansman in large part because of his defensive ability, but he's also been solid at the plate this year, compiling a .301 mark with 31 doubles, 15 homers and 57 RBIs.
"The report I got (said) Snyder defensively is ahead of Ansman," Arizona manager Al Pedrique said. "And right now we need a guy behind the plate who's solid receiving, blocking and throwing runners out. We need to find out what Snyder can do."
Pedrique said he plans to give Juan Brito the majority of the playing time behind the plate, while getting Snyder's feet wet gradually. Brito has played well defensively, but has struggled at the plate. The 26-year-old entered Wednesday's game hitting .172.
"We're very happy with his job behind the plate defensively," Pedrique said. "Hopefully we can get him to hit .230-.240, and he can be a solid Major League catcher."
Talking it over: Hill and Wigginton bumped into each other Wednesday and talked about Tuesday's play.
"He just wanted to say he was sorry about me getting injured," Hill said. "But I think we both agreed that it was about as fair a play as you could have. I was going to make him come right through me and he did."
The fact that Hill stayed in the game after the injury to finish the inning -- which included his participation in a rundown -- impressed his teammates.
Alex Cintron / SS
Born: 12/17/78
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200 lbs
Bats: S / Throws: R
More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Team Site
"That's amazing," shortstop Alex Cintron said. "I can't imagine how painful that was. You've got to be strong or something to be able to do that. When I heard he fractured his ankle, I was like, 'What? He stayed in there for two more outs.'"
Hill's foot will remain in a cast for four to six weeks and in a walking boot for another four to six weeks. Despite that, he still plans on getting his work in.
"Just because I've got one foot shut down it doesn't mean I can't sit on a bucket and use my hands and work my hands, and keep developing my skills there," he said. "The work doesn't stop just because you have a cast on."
Early work: Arizona coaches spent extra time on the field with five players before batting practice Wednesday.
Luis Terrero, Quinton McCracken, Scott Hairston, Doug DeVore and Andy Green were given a refresher course on base stealing, including work on getting a jump and what pitchers will try to do to keep them close.
Those five were singled out because they're the ones who figure to do most of the stealing the rest of the year. Pitching coach Mark Davis, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 1989, showed the players some pickoff moves that left-handed pitchers like to use.
Scott Hairston / 2B
Born: 05/25/80
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 190 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Team Site
Staying put: Earlier this year, the organization talked about moving Hairston from second base to the outfield, but it looks now like second base is his best bet for playing time in the future.
With Luis Gonzalez and Terrero likely to fill two of the outfield spots next year and highly regarded prospects Conor Jackson and Carlos Quentin having impressive seasons at El Paso, the Arizona outfield could get crowded soon.
"Right now we're working with him real hard at second base," Pedrique said of Hairston. "He's going to be playing second base the majority of the time for the rest of the year combined with (Andy) Green, and hopefully he will show that he can be the everyday second baseman."