Chad

Tracy

Tracy was the Double-A Texas League Player of the Year in 2002, and is having another strong season for Triple-A Tucson this year. It’s possible that the D’Backs will sour on Lyle Overbay to settle on Hillenbrand at first base, re-opening third base for Tracy.

Tracy said he asked Garagiola if he should get himself a first baseman’s mitt or an outfield glove and got the reply, “It wouldn’t be bad to pick up one of each.” No similar phone call was made to Shea Hillenbrand, who could be traded (Seattle?) or non-tendered.

Because the Diamondbacks have settled on Shea Hillenbrand as their third baseman for the long term, Tracy has been moving around and is also expected to see time in right field. He’ll probably open next year back in Triple-A, but if the Diamondbacks consider him a possibility at any of the corner spots, odds are that an injury will give him an opportunity at some point.

Tracy, normally a third baseman, also played some outfield in the Dominican Winter League. He’s trying to make the Diamondbacks as a reserve. Whether he does or not, he could become a regular at some point if Denny Bautista fails to bounce back or if Luis Gonzalez blows out his elbow.

Tracy was hitting .258 with five homers in 26 games this winter. With third base blocked by Shea Hillenbrand, Tracy was playing some outfield in the Dominican Republic. He could continue to see time in left and right in the minors next season.

Hillenbrand is batting .182, but it would take awhile to lose his job. Tracy has value in NL-only leagues if he can find at-bats in Arizona. It may take awhile, but Tracy’s worth stashing away.

Tracy leads the team with a .418 on-base percentage. ''He’s not your prototypical leadoff hitter, but then again, there aren’t many of those guys around anymore,’' said Brenly. ''We don’t expect him to do anything differently... We just want him to continue to do what he’s been doing.’' The manager said his new lineup is ''strictly a day-to-day thing,’' but after Tracy managed a triple and a homer while the rest of the offense clicked, he could give it more of a chance.

''I would imagine Tracy would get most of the starts because we face mostly right-handed pitching,’' Brenly said, even though he added that it’s ''not a straight platoon.’' The D’Backs really need to trade Hillenbrand for a starting pitcher if they aren’t going to use him as a starter.

Tracy left Monday’s game because of back spasms.

Unfortunately, he did it from the second spot in the order, preventing him from driving in any runs. Tracy has one RBI in 39 at-bats as a No. 2 hitter this season, that coming on a solo homer. Not that he necessarily deserves it, but it’d be better for his fantasy value if he hit third or fourth.