Diamondbacks Bullpen

[shoewizard]

I am sure some will want to parse words, and criticize his press conference, but really, I can find no fault and only praise for the way he has handled this press conference. Very Human, very emotional, and very honest, but thoughtful at the same time.

I am sure that some writers will be selective in their quotes and context and try to stir the pot some more. It got a little dicey for him at the end with the specific questions and comments about Moorad. He could not hide his feelings there. But Luis handled this fair and honestly.

Good job Luis.

[dirtygary]

Missed the first 10 minutes, but I thought it went well. He maintained his pride in his abilities without making it personal against the org.

I was glad that he specifically addressed the Q situation earlier in the year. He made a good point about 50 doubles, leading the team in runs scored, etc.

Just wished he had said what he's really been thinking the last two years: "I've been late on almost every 3-1 fastball I've seen for a couple seasons, and if that doesn't tell you it's time, than what will."
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The pen is mightier than the sword, if that pen is shot out of a gun

[qudjy1]

I agree as well...

parts i found interesting:
1. Almost an apology to Q, for not wanting to come out of the lineup about a month ago
2. Sounded like they (FO) really didnt want to negotiate on playing time, or money, or anything.. just make a clean break.

[EvilJuan]

Knowing that there are some who wouldn't be able to hear the press conference, I tried to take some real-time notes. (These are not complete. More was said than is reflected here.) The quotes in the report aren't necessarily the actual quotes in every instance, although I did my best to capture Gonzo's actual words. (I don't think I deviated from the essence of what he was saying...) Also, not everything is strictly chronological; when he returned to a topic, I sometimes added his follow-up comments to the original notation. The questions really couldn't be heard clearly in the radio coverage; so I noted only Gonzo's statements. (I also didn't bother to put in his remarks about his family and his kids.)

Here, then, is the "transcript" of the press conference:
===============================================

“I’m not naïve.” He knew the $10M option would not be picked up.

Will continue doing community “stuff” with his family; and wants privacy after that. Asked the FO for an early decision, and not to “let it linger.”

He’s happy for the new guys, and for Eric Byrnes (“my good friend”).

He attributes the decision, in part, to the “new regime”; and say’s he’s one of the few “old school” guys left; and that there probably won’t be any left after this year.

He wants to ride out the RF gate “into the sunset on a donkey,” because everyone says he is “too old.” He hopes to play against the Dbacks because he still wants to compete; making reference to how, when he was traded from Detroit, he was going to be the Dback’s 4th OF.

“There was one door, and that door said, ‘Exit.’ I don’t want to play for Tampa Bay – I want to play to win!” “There’s a team out there that I can play for. I hope there’s more than one team out there that wants my services. I hope I can help that team out, and be part of a championship with them.”

He reiterates that he has goals he wants to accomplish in his career, and so he wants to play every day; and that the Dbacks don’t want him back in that capacity.

He says his arm is as good now, or better, than it was when he was traded here. “When you’re hitting .350 with 57 HRs, your arm is great. When you’re hitting .270, then you can’t throw anybody out. How many outfielders, besides Soriano, have more than 4 or 5 assists a season?”

He said he might be willing to come back to be part of the Dbacks organization “in 10 to 12 years. I don’t know where my career will take me.”

“I’m not a rock star. I’m a regular guy. I go to the fair, I go to the movies; my kids go to public school.”

“This is a business. There was no negotiation. I wanted to stay here; I wasn’t offered that option.”

“I still have a job to do. I want to go out strong; and we have a guy out there who’s trying to win the Cy Young, and we want to do that for him; it’s great to be a part of something like that.”

“The purple is out. The red is in. The new regime is in. It’s out with the old, in with the new.”

“This, for me, is closure, media-wise. When the season is over, I’m moving on. I have a life to live, too. When I’m home, I want to spend time with my family, and watch TV. I don’t need the phone ringing off the hook for two days.”

“I’m leading the league in doubles. It's not like I'm on crutches out there. I’m batting .277. I’m leading the team in runs scored. If I’m hurting the team, I don’t think BoMel would have me out there every day. I want to win another championship.”

“This isn’t about Carlos Quentin. I love that guy to death, and I hope he goes on the be a big star. But I still have goals for my career, and I want to play every day, and I think I can play every day, and make a contribution, and win another championship. I’m ready to move on.”
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Is It Next Season Yet?

[dirtygary]

He also brought up the competitve nature of athletes, and guys holding on, specifically Brett Favre, Troy Aikman,etc.

Said he still thinks he's in shape to keep playing, and that he'll gladly leave when he can't physically get it done anymore.
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The pen is mightier than the sword, if that pen is shot out of a gun

[tmar]

Thanks for the recap. Wow, I feel like an A-hole again, he really is a good guy. We bash that heck out of the Dick's like Barry so it's only right we should celebrate the good guys.

[shoewizard]

Excellent summary EJ.

I just want to add that he made all those comments, many in jest, and good naturedly. He also sounded quite choked up, especially early on and had a hard time holding his emotions in check.

I really admire the way he handled this

[matt]

Is anyone listening to G&A now? He's STILL dropping Mulder as a FA, saying they will bring in 3 FA starters, they will trade Tracy or Jackson for a power bat, etc. Has he listened to aything Josh has said?

[dirtygary]

I mentioned this in another thread, but I'll be out in the LF bleachers for the majority of the next 6/7 home games.

Was waiting to see if Gonzo blew it, but now aren't we the ass holes!!!
Good guy, wish he could hit 57 every year, but it's just the way it goes.
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The pen is mightier than the sword, if that pen is shot out of a gun

[EvilJuan]

[dirtygary]

[moviegeekjn]

[qudjy1]

I still think this all came down to playing time. As gonzo mentioned, he has goals he wants to achieve, and those goals require playing every day. He also mentioned how he was happy for byrnes, as he would be the "every day" lfer.

Once it was determined Gonzo would no longer be an "every day" guy, there was nothing to negotiate, just to disagree on...

[McCray]

wow. you're a hell of a guy, luis gonzalez.
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Hank, you're dead to me.

[TAP]

Caught most of the conference on the road between meetings, and must agree with the comments before me: Gonzo did a great job today! Was glad to see he addressed the July 20 situation and gave Quentin high compliments.

Luis, you're a class guy and we wish you the best. Hopefully you see better times than Brett Favre is experiencing. Once your playing time is over, here's hoping you'll be back as part of the off-field Diamondbacks organization.

[dirtygary]

Just like Shawn Green, I never questioned Gonzo as a person, except when the whole Q situation came up. And that blew over pretty quick, as revealing as it was to Gonzo's future wishes. As well as he handled this news conference, and as good a guy as he is, being on the field was of greater priority than what uniform it was in, and we all need to remember that.

I think the FO would've been very tempted to re-up for a year, even two, if Gonzo was conciliatory in his declining production, and sincerely a team player. Hell, we did it for Tony Clark.
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The pen is mightier than the sword, if that pen is shot out of a gun

[Catharsis]

[Catharsis]

I have to agree, you're all assholes for the way you've treated Gonzo. j/k

Did you know Gonzalez has 20 more extra base hits than Joe Mauer, 15 more than Derek Jeter (the AL AVG leaders)? 12 more than Freddy Sanchez, 11 more than Miguel Tejada and two more than Lance Berkman? Alfonso Soriano has 18 more, Ryan Howard has 10 more, Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera have 8 more, Matt Holiday has 7 more, and David Ortiz has 3 more.

[Robert S.]

I couldn't catch the press conference at work: Did Gonzo make any appeals to fans to continue supporting the D-backs? Something like, "Please don't abandon the team on my account", perhaps?

[Robert S.]

[shoewizard]

[shoewizard]

[Catharsis]

[tmar]

[EvilJuan]