During the second inning of the final home spring training game at Tucson Electric Park, Matt Williams broke the second metatarsal bone in his right foot. Williams being the gamer that he is, completed the at bat by lining hard to the center fielder. After the out, Williams was taken to a local hospital for x-rays before returning to Phoenix to meet with team physicians. The break was a non-displacement injury meaning no surgery will be required. Team doctors are confident Matt will be able to return in 6 to 8 weeks. This is a tremendous blow to the Diamondbacks as Williams is looked at both as the clean-up hitter and more importantly as the clubhouse leader. In the third inning, Williams was replaced by Lenny Harris who will most likely be Matt's replacement during his absence. Others who may get playing time at third base are Greg Colbrunn and Hanley Frias. Andy Fox, who would have been the back-up third baseman is still healing from a broken hand. Fox is expected to be sidelined until at least mid-April.
Diamond Notes: March 2000 Archives
March 20, 2000
With the regular season now less than two weeks away, it is time to look at the team and assess their progress. The hitters again seem to be ahead of the pitchers with many on the team putting up monster numbers at the plate. The Travis Lee experiment seems to be going nicely with Lee hitting .354 this spring with 8 doubles and a home run. He is getting a lot of at bats this spring to try and prove his offensive numbers last year were a fluke. Erubiel Durazo continues to be hampered this spring by tendinitis in his wrist that has limited his playing time this spring. Greg Colburnn has been on fire with the bat but as of late has suffered from an thigh bruise. This has left Buck with little choice but to use Travis Lee at first base. The positive from this has been the ability for Buck to look at David Dellucci in right field and see how he is progressing. David has been struggling at the plate and is in the middle of a 2-16 slump. The right field job appears to be going down to the wire with a decision being made in the last week of training camp. Based upon my observations, I look to see Dellucci start in Tucson so that he can get a few more at bats before joining the team in May.
