Hale not looking forward to D-backs upcoming roster decisions
MESA, Ariz. -- With 33 players still in camp, the Diamondbacks must make eight cuts before Monday's season opener and those are decisions manager Chip Hale is not looking forward to making.
"It's frustrating that guys are going to be sent out who are deserving of making the team," Hale said Wednesday. "I guess people think of that as a good problem, but for me it frustrates me because that's one conversation you really don't enjoy having.
"Every guy who doesn't make this 25-man who put up numbers is going to be frustrated. It is human nature."
Some of the final decisions will be determined by the health and readiness of center fielder A.J. Pollock and reliever Josh Collmenter. Pollock on Tuesday said he will be ready for the start of the season. Hale on Wednesday said Collmenter might not be after a shoulder issue cropped up recently.
Either way, more than a couple players who built a strong resume this spring will head to Triple-A next week.
Shoulder issue clouds Josh Collmenter's status
"I'm starting to see where our roster is going to end up being, starting to see that light at the end of the tunnel," Hale said, "and there's just going to be some guys who are left out that are big-league guys."
Hale was asked specifically about Brandon Drury, who again on Wednesday was in the outfield to display his versatility in an effort to crack the initial 25-man roster.
"I don't think there's anything we need to see from him," Hale said. "Anything that we needed to see from him, he's proven beyond the shadow of a doubt to me that he's a big-league player. He's sure deserving to be on this roster, but it depends on what direction we go with the roster."
Some of the competition for jobs will extend to the weekend series against the Royals at Chase Field.
"There's some races that are going right down to the wire," Hale said. "We waited until the last second last year. I would like to get things done before we go to Chase but I don't think it's going to happen. I think we just have to let some things figure themselves out."
Jean Segura was a lock to make the team and his torrid spring secured him a starting job. Right now, though, it doesn't include a specific position in the field.
"Jean has proven he can be a leadoff hitter for us. So, to be your leadoff hitter you're probably going to have be in there ... pretty much every day," Hale said, reiterating comments GM Dave Stewart made on FOX Sports radio the day before. "Is that at second, at short, going back and forth? That's the decision we have to make down to the wire."
