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The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz., Diamondbacks Notebook Column: Jackson to Hit Fifth in Lineup

Posted on: Wednesday, 29 March 2006, 09:01 CST

By Jack Magruder, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

Mar. 28--TUCSON

--While manager Bob Melvin is still tinkering with the top and bottom of his batting order, the middle now appears set.

First baseman Conor Jackson will hit fifth in the regular season, Melvin said Monday, behind Nos. 3-4 Chad Tracy and Luis Gonzalez and in front of No. 6 Shawn Green.

The move breaks up a streak of three left-handed hitters and was made easier by Jackson's strong spring, during which he has hit .463 with five doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs in 41-at bats.

Jackson has walked nine times and led the majors with a .569 on-base percentage entering Monday's games.

"We wanted to go into spring and see where his confidence is. It's pretty high. Not a whole lot bothers him,'' Melvin said. "Green is going to be just as dangerous in the six hole.''

Craig Counsell and Orlando Hudson are tentatively scheduled to hit first and second, although Counsell hit second behind Jeff DaVanon when Hudson and Eric Byrnes were given a day off Monday.

"Counse is a guy who handles the bat very well. He's a good bunter. DaVanon runs very well. He gets on base quite often,'' Melvin said. "Just trying to look at that combination.''

DaVanon is hitting .410 this spring and is second in the majors with 13 walks.

"He's been a serious bright spot,'' Melvin said.

ROSTER AT 33

The D-Backs optioned Alfredo Callaspo, Stephen Drew, Scott Hairston and Dustin Nippert and reassigned Brian Barden, Juan Brito and Mike Koplove to the minor league camp Monday, giving them 33 players.

Koplove, who had a 4.66 ERA in seven appearances this spring, was in a heated competition for the last spot in a 12-man bullpen.

The finalists now appear to be Greg Aquino, Jeff Bajenaru, Randy Choate and Casey Daigle, if Brandon Medders opens the season on the disabled list as expected.

"There are a lot of variables that are going into picking that last guy, and we are really not close right now. It will probably come down to the wire,'' Melvin said.

SHORT HOPS

Damion Easley is scheduled to play third base today when Tracy is given a day off. Easley played first base Sunday, his first appearance in the field since suffering tendinitis in his right elbow March 18. . . .

Gonzalez also will be given a day off today after playing nine innings Monday, as Tracy did. Green and Eric Byrnes already have played a full nine innings, as Melvin tries to give his regulars at least one full game before the regular season begins. . . .

Juan Cruz is to make his DBacks debut Wednesday against Colorado at Hi Corbett Field, the DBacks' last game in Tucson this spring. Russ Ortiz will start that game while Brandon Webb pitches in a minor league game so as not to face the Rockies, his opponent in the regular season opener April 3 in Denver.

AT A GLANCE

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Diamondbacks 8, A's 2

Notable pitching: Miguel Batista gave up extra-base hits to two of the first three batters he faced before allowing only one more hit, a single, in his five innings, his longest outing of the spring. He threw 71 pitches and struck out six. Jose Valverde, Luis Vizcaino and Casey Daigle pitched a scoreless inning apiece. Traded the day before, Brad Halsey threw three scoreless innings against the D-Backs while giving up two hits, his best outing of the spring. Notable hitting: Chad Tracy hit his second home run of the spring and Johnny Estrada hit his first, both of which carried over the chain-link fence and landed on Forgeus Drive past the right-field fence. Tracy finished a triple short of the cycle. Jeff DaVanon had a single, a double and two stolen bases while hitting leadoff. Tony Clark had a two-run double, giving him a team-high 14 RBIs this spring. Craig Counsell had an RBI single, his fifth RBI in six games.

ON DECK

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Diamondbacks

vs. Chicago White Sox What: The Diamondbacks look to complete a spring sweep against their training partner, the Chicago White Sox, at 1:05 p.m. at Tucson Electric Park. The D-Backs have won the first five games against the defending World Series champion.

TV/radio: None/ESPN (860 AM) Records: Diamondbacks 17-11, Chicago White Sox 7-18-1

Pitchers: Diamondbacks: Claudio Vargas, Terry Mulholland, Randy Choate, Brandon Lyon, Jeff Bajenaru. White Sox: Javier Vazquez

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

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Source: The Tribune

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