Yuma Talk

Here are a handful of random notes about the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Gonzo returns

Photo by Norm Hall

The D-backs will pay tribute to Luis Gonzalez when they honor the former D-backs player by hosting “Luis Gonzalez Appreciation Night” during the game against the Astros on Saturday. The team will honor Gonzalez with a video tribute during a pre-game on-field ceremony and also play highlights from his career during the game. The first 25,000 fans entering the ballpark will also receive a commemorative “Gonzo” T-shirt.

The five-time All-Star compiled a .283 batting average, 2,591 hits, 354 home runs and 1,439 RBI during his 19-year Major League career with the Astros, Cubs, Tigers, Dodgers, Marlins and D-backs. His 596 career doubles rank 15th in baseball history. Gonzalez is one of only 17 players in Major League history to collect at least 2,500 hits, 500 doubles, 350 home runs and 1,000 RBI, joining Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Carl Yastrzemski, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken, Dave Winfield, Rafael Palmeiro, Frank Robinson, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Andrew Dawson, Ken Griffey, Jr., Tony Perez, Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams.

Roberts raking
D-backs utility player Ryan Roberts is batting .389 (14-for-36) with five runs, a double and four RBI while making four starts in left field and four starts at second base in nine games so far on the D-backs current 10-game road trip. Roberts has a .365 batting average (27-for-74) with five doubles, four home runs, 10 RBI and a 1.029 OPS in 21 games in August, raising his season average nearly 40 points from .258 to .296.

Parra RISP king
Rookie Gerardo Parra continues to drive in runs while batting with runners in scoring position. After making his Major League debut on May 13, Parra’s 46 RBI for the season lead all National League rookies on the strength of his .354 batting average (29-for-82) with runners in scoring position. His batting average with runners in scoring position is tops among all NL rookies with at least 75 plate appearances. The 22-year-old Venezuelan is also batting .313 (30-for-96) this month.

Upton returns

Photo by Norm Hall

Justin Upton was reinstated from the disabled list yesterday after missing 18 games with a right oblique strain. He went 1-for-3 with a double and walk in the D-backs’ 4-3 loss in San Francisco last night. Upton batted .250 (2-for-9) in a quick two-game rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Visalia, including a 2-for-5, five RBI performance when he hit a grand slam on his 22nd birthday on Tuesday in San Jose.

Missed it by that much
With last night’s 4-3 loss in San Francisco, the D-backs have played in 40 one-run games (18-22) this season. Since A.J. Hinch was named manager on May 8, the club has played in 34 one-run games (15-19). Overall, the D-backs have had 61 games this season decided by one or two runs, including 47 games Hinch has managed. The D-backs were 22-23 in one-run games last season and won a franchise-best 32 one-run contests in 2007.

Reynolds resting
Although he has missed the last three games while suffering from the flu, Mark Reynolds continues to lead all National League hitters after the All-Star break with 14 home runs. Reynolds also ranks second in the NL in slugging percentage (.732) and OPS (1.157) after the break. His 38 home runs this season are tied with Jay Bell (38 in 1999) for the second-highest single-season total in club history behind Luis Gonzalez (57 in 2001). Reynolds’ 83 career homers are the fifth-highest total in club history.

Walk off
D-backs batters failed to draw a walk in a franchise-record 153 consecutive plate appearances from Aug. 17-22 until Mark Reynolds walked in the fifth inning on Aug. 22 at Houston. The streak is the fifth-longest streak in baseball since 1998. In the last 12 seasons, the Tigers had the longest streak at 183 plate appearances from Sept. 4-9, 2002. The team’s failure to draw a walk was an abnormality since their 456 walks rank eighth in the National League, well above the league average of 436.

Allen debuts
First baseman Brandon Allen, who was acquired in a July 7 trade with the White Sox for reliever Tony Pena, was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Saturday and went 1-for-4 in his Major League debut that day in the D-backs’ 4-2 loss in Houston. Allen collected a hit and his first RBI on Sunday. He batted .298 with 20 home runs and 75 RBI in a combined 115 minor league games this season with Reno, Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. After joining the D-backs organization, Allen batted .324 (47-for-145) with 12 homers, 32 RBI, 33 runs scored, eight doubles, a triple and a 1.055 OPS in 38 games at Reno.

Young update
Since being optioned to Triple-A Reno on Aug. 10, Chris Young is batting .383 (18-for-47) with two home runs, four doubles, a triple, two home runs and eight RBI in 11 games. Young also has a .363 on-base percentage, .463 slugging percentage and 1.101 OPS.