April 7, 2012
Gold Glover Gerardo Parra could see a lot of time in left field even in
games he does not start, manager Kirk Gibson said before Saturday’s
game.
Parra entered as a defensive replacement for starter Jason
Kubel for the final three innings of the D-backs’ 5-4 victory over San
Francisco on Friday, coming in after the D-backs broke a 3-3 tie in the
sixth, just after Kubel had his third at-bat.
"It just makes all
the sense in the world," Gibson said. "Parra is as good as there is you
can put out there on any team in a corner. Those circumstances are
similar -- you could see that happening again. It’s good for our team.
Parra is a defensive weapon."
Kubel reached on an error by
Buster Posey in the sixth inning, and his spot in the batting order was
six away when the switch was made. Kubel missed time this spring with a
tight right quadriceps, and while Gibson said that was not a factor in
his decision, he also said "it’s never 100 percent gone away. It’s just
something that’s there."
Gibson and Kubel discussed the possibility early in spring training.
"He said, 'It is no problem, do what you think is right for the team,'" Gibson said.
"And
the thing is, if the Giants come back and tie it up ... you are losing
something offensively, but you are gaining something. It’s a different
dimension."
Kubel, signed to a two-year deal as a free after
this winter, has averaged 19 home runs the last five seasons. Parra is
more of a speed option after a career-high 15 stolen bases last season.
-- Jack Magruder
