PHOENIX -- Former Diamondbacks pitcher Jarrod Parker was playing Xbox back home in Indiana last winter when he learned he had been traded to Oakland. After facing the D-backs in an exhibition game Monday, Parker admitted to some nerves but said he has no hard feelings.
Parker gave up two runs on one hit and seven walks in 3 2/3 innings of a 6-5 victory, and the day got worse when he was optioned to the minor leagues afterward.
For Parker, a rising star in the D-backs’ organization and a member of the 2011 playoff roster, the news may not be as bad as it sounds. Oakland opens its season with regular-season games against Seattle in Japan on March 28-29 before finishing exhibition play and, because of off days in April, will not need a fifth starter until April 17.
"He is going to be part of this team, if not right now, certainly in the future," said A's manager Bob Melvin, the former D-backs manager. "We feel like he is as talented a guy as we have here.
"He was a guy who was a crown jewel over there. We feel he is in that type of esteem over here."
Parker would help his chances if he can hone his command after walking 13 in 11 spring innings.
"I was a little bit too anxious, trying to throw it too fine. It was brutal pitches when I had a chance to put people away," said Parker, who made one appearance in the 2011 playoffs.
Facing the D-backs was "a little different," Parker said. "Warming up, seeing 'J' (Justin Upton) and 'C. Y.' (Chris Young) out there. ... But that’s fun, to see guys you know."
He admitted that the trade was a surprise.
"Always. You think that you are one of their guys, then something happens. But that’s just the way it is. You move on. I try to take advantage of the opportunities I am given. I can’t do anything about the business side. I just do what I can do out there (on the mound)," Parker said.
"Guys have welcomed me in. It’s been a great situation."
Parker roomed with Tyler Skaggs at Class AA Mobile last season, and he said talks with Skaggs helped him get past the trade. Parker saw Upton, Josh Collmenter, Marc Krauss and others in the offseason and still keeps in touch. He was one of the several D-backs who joined Collmenter on a visit to the Renaissance Festival last spring.
PAR-RA EXCELLENCE
Gerardo Parra made two diving catches in short left field in the first three innings Monday, the first to take a single away from Manny Ramirez in the first inning and the second taking a hit away from Kurt Suzuki in the third.
"I don’t know anybody else who makes the play" on Suzuki, Gibson said. "He’s that good. The diving catch coming in is really a tough catch. They are both good catches, but when you dive like that, you hit the ground like that, it is very hard to keep the ball in your glove."
Parra also singled in the D-backs’ first run off Parker in the second inning. He is hitting .333 and leads the D-backs with 14 hits this spring.
TUESDAY PROBABLES
Trevor Bauer (1-0, 2.57 ERA) will make his third appearance and second start of the spring against Barry Zito (2-0, 4.00) and the San Francisco Giants at Salt River Fields on Tuesday. It will be the last meeting between the two teams until they open with regular season with a three-game series at Chase Field on April 6-9.
Bauer is scheduled to go four innings, Gibson said, and prospect Patrick Corbin also is scheduled to pitch four innings. Sam Demel and Takashi Saito also are listed as available pitchers. Giants closer Brian Wilson is scheduled to pitch.
NOTES
Josh Collmenter gave up five runs, iucluding a three-run home run to Josh Reddick and a solo homer to Manny Ramirez, in his three innings. Collmenter has given up 11 runs in seven innings over three starts, although he missed some time early in camp because of right forearm tightness. "His ball was up. He’s unable to get it where he wants to get it right now. I know he’s worked a lot on his curveball in bullpens, and it seemed like he didn’t have his fastball release (point) today. He’ll be fine," said Gibson, who affirmed Saturday that Collmenter will open the season in the starting rotation.
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