Put Up Or Tease

PHOENIX - As some characterize the demotion of Russ Ortiz to the bullpen as a "no-brainer", the move is also a refreshingly positive statement by Bob Melvin, in what has otherwise been a dismal managerial tenure.

Based on BOMELs past performance, even this stands out as quite a bold move. While nobody, except perhaps Ortiz, can passionately defend him retaining a starting position, it's also true that there's no obvious solution waiting to replace his rotation spot. And the RHP veteran does command more than 1/8th of the entire team payroll. That certainly had to have crossed Melvin's mind, even though salary wouldn't likely be acknowledged by the club as a factor in this type of personnel move.                         

Some are speculating on the longer term effect this will have on Ortiz. Will he recapture his past level of performance, or fade away quietly? I cant see into Russ's future, but when I do see Ortiz in the dugout, on off days, he is invariably smiling, laughing and chatting away with the likes of Brandon Webb and others. Was it a bit too much smiling, laughing and chatting, in Bob Melvin's eyes, for someone whose pitching has tailed so far south? 

A more interesting question is: What effect will this move have on the team? 

What effect, if any, will it have on well paid veteran starters like Orlando Hernandez and Miguel Batista? My impression of both is that they're largely self-motivated, competitive men. To the extent that's true, Ortiz' demotion probably wont have much impact on them, even thought their skillsets and age most closely resemble Ortiz'.

What about an overpaid, tenured journeyman like Shawn Green, who has methodically "played through" more slumps than any fan ought to have to witness, and whose energy level in the field and the basepaths has been often maligned? Might he think "Me Next", if his performance further deteriorates?

What about all the young kids fighting for playing time on a team consisting of players with similar talents?

Melvin's move is a move away from staid, conventional "stay the course" wisdom and towards a thriving meritocracy that manages risk instead of avoiding it; where players begin to believe that their actual day to day contributions will be fairly balanced against, and possibly even trump, a teammate's bigger "reputation".   

For anyone who roots for the Diamondbacks, this is an overdue, and even exciting, change.

They won again today, 3-2.