Counsell, Gonzo gone
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by user Sasha
Yesterday was the last day of regular season but it was also the last day of an era. In all the years before now, since 1998, the Diamondbacks have always had at least one member of the historic 2001 world series team on the roster, but this may be different (the D-Backs could still bring back Miguel Batista) next year. Yesterday marked the end of Luis Gonzalez's and Craig Counsell's tenure as D-Backs. I went to Chase Field (for the first time, and yes its embarrassing) yesterday and I was amazed every time Counsell or Gonzo walked on the field huge applause.
So Counsell walks on the field to bat in the bottom of the first and standing ovation, and he flies out to right. Gonzo walks up and gives former owner Jerry Colangelo, former GM Joe Garagiola Jr, and out going president Rich Dozer, a hug. He then went on to go 0-4.
In the fourth inning number four Craig Counsell hits his fourth homer of the year to lead off the inning (any one else see the 444 thing). That was the only hit that either one had.
Counsell had many a chance in the field and made a couple of great plays. Gonzo had one opportunity.
In the bottom of the ninth Bob Melvin sent in Miguel Batista to pitch and after he threw one pitch Craig Counsell was taken out and he got his curtain call. Two pitches later Gonzo was taken out and he got his ovation. And after Miguel Batista got one out he was taken out and he got a tentative ovation.
If you want to know what this was like to be a fan and see these guys go imagine you are a Yankees fan at Lou Gehrig's last game. That is the only thing that I can think of that is close to what happened here. Where the man who is the organization leaves the organization.
Date
Mon 10/02/06, 7:06 pm EST
