Counsell fits in at leadoff
Manager Bob Melvin pleased with his production

Steve Gilbert
MLB.com
April 10, 2005

PHOENIX -- There are two things Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin wants to see from a leadoff hitter. First, he wants him to make a pitcher work and second, he wants him to get on base.

Craig Counsell has done both of those things in his first week on the job.

The Arizona second baseman entered Sunday's game batting .389, but more importantly was tied for the National League lead in walks with seven and was getting on base at a .560 clip.

"Counsell's always been a guy who gives you quality at-bats, takes a lot of pitches, works the count, knows the situation and has an idea of what he wants to do every time he goes out there," left fielder Luis Gonzalez said. "And those guys are very valuable to a team."

The middle of the Arizona order -- the "G-Force" -- of Gonzalez, Troy Glaus and Shawn Green have gotten the lion's share of the attention but the C-Notes in front of them -- Counsell and Royce Clayton -- need to do their job in order for the offense to click.

By seeing a lot of pitches thus far, Counsell has played a role in helping the Diamondbacks get into the opposing team's bullpen earlier in games.

"He's a guy that's been a very good fit here in Arizona," Melvin said of Counsell. "He's done whatever role you've asked of him, whatever position you've asked of him, whatever you need him to do. I told him that well before Spring Training even started that I wanted him to be my leadoff guy. He's done very, very well and it's something that he's prepared for and worked at in Spring Training."

He may have worked hard at it, but Counsell insists he hasn't changed his approach at the plate to be more patient. In fact, if anything, it's the opposite.

"We are who we are as hitters and we have to hit to our strengths," he said. "I'm actually making an attempt to be a little more aggressive this year. I think my walks come after I get hits. Not walks, then hits, but hits, then walks. Because when you're getting hits it means you're seeing the ball good and squaring it up and you tend to lay off the pitches that you otherwise would swing at."