Counsell gets it done

Jason Grey
MLB.com
April 20, 2006

PHOENIX -- We often hear about certain players' athletic abilities, or their proverbial "tools," or how impressive a physical specimen they are.

But there is just one word to describe shortstop Craig Counsell: ballplayer.

At no time was that more evident than Wednesday night, when Counsell did a whole bunch of those little things that don't always get highlighted in the stat sheets.

Let's start with the fact that he was involved in helping the defense turn four double plays both Tuesday and Wednesday night, including a brilliant play in the sixth Wednesday that not many shortstops make. Counsell ranged up the middle, then turned and came back to step on the bag before firing to first to complete the double play.

One American League scout who follows the team regularly has become a believer: "Before I scouted him full time, I thought his abilities were a little overrated. I didn't think he was anything special, but then you see what good instincts he has. He makes great reads off the bat, his range is good and he anticipates well.

"When you first see him, you don't expect much out of him, but you realize how quickly he gets the ball and what kind of player he is. He's always in the right spot to make a play."

Then there are the baserunning plays in the fifth inning Wednesday that were still generating buzz a day later. Counsell caught Randy Winn and Omar Vizquel napping on successive plays. Winn backpedaled on a short fly ball, and Counsell used it to tag up and advance to third. Then he caught Vizquel doing the same thing on a popup to short center and scored from third to change what would have been a popup to short in the box score into a sacrifice fly. Not many players would even attempt to grab those two bases, much less be successful both times.

"In each game there are a couple of instances that a lot of time springboard you," said manager Bob Melvin. "[Luis Gonzalez] pops it up and is thinking, 'I didn't do my job here' and not only does [Counsell] score a run, he picks Gonzo up, and he picks everybody up. Little things like that go a long way in the outcome of a game."

As far as the minor labrum tear in his shoulder that bothered Counsell this past Spring Training, the news remains good on that front.

"No problems. So far it feels good," Counsell said. Melvin says they monitor it very closely: "Absolutely. Every day."

Counsell was a late scratch for Thursday's contest because of tightness in his right hamstring. He's listed as day-to-day.