Diamondbacks 2B Ojeda contributing in starting role

Oct 5, 2007 - 8:27 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The last place Augie Ojeda must have thought he would be this October is in the starting lineup for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Ojeda, who didn't even appear in the major leagues from 2004-06, has collected four hits as the Diamondbacks jumped to a two games to none lead in their National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs.

The 32-year-old career utility player and minor leaguer would have been watching from the bench as his teammates battled the NL Central Division chance if not for season-ending left hand surgery to All-Star Orlando Hudson on September 10.

"Augie has come up big for us," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "He is really rising to the occasion. When you lose Orlando Hudson, who's arguably one of our better players. Not arguably, he is one of our better players and our offensive All-Star, somebody is going to have to pick up the slack and Augie has done that.

"He understands how to hit in the eighth hole and is getting big hits for us and is making the plays defensively. When you lose a guy like (Hudson) that somebody has to step up. As a group you have to step up even more and that's happened and lot of it has to do with Augie."

In the Game One 3-1 victory on Wednesday, Ojeda doubled and singled and the pesky hitter was part of two rallies in Thursday's 8-4 triumph. He beat out a bunt that sparked a two-run fourth inning that provided Arizona a 5-2 lead and he singled in a run in the fifth frame that increased the lead to 7-2.

"Orlando and I are different players," Ojeda said. "If I try to play like Orlando does it is not going to work. That's not my game. I have to just be myself, take advantage of when I am playing and enjoy the game."

Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 13th round of the 1996 draft, Ojeda and his slick fielding-no hit reputation was acquired by the Cubs in a trade for the long forgotten Richard Negrette in December 1999. Ojeda then spent parts of the next four seasons with Chicago, getting 316 at-bats with three homers before being waived and spending all but 30 games in the minor leagues from 2004-06.

"I am not going to lie, I still have a lot of friends (in Chicago)," Ojeda said. "And as a ballplayer it is special and when you play against your ex-team you want to do well and you want to prove it to your ex-team and teammates. They gave me a chance to break in the big leagues but I never got the opportunity to play everyday."

Ojeda even returned to the Cubs minor league ranks last season and played 115 games at Class AAA Iowa before signing as a minor league free agent with Arizona this season. The switch-hitter hit .323 in 32 games for Class AAA Tucson and was summoned to the majors in mid-June.

"I know what I can do and my ability so you have to go out there and prove to everybody what I can do," Ojeda said. "It just takes an opportunity. I might have been labeled a utility player, it is part of the game. You have to prove them wrong like (St. Louis Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein). I played with him and look at him now."

Ojeda played a backup role until September when he took advantage of Hudson's injury, hitting .327 (16-for-49) with 10 walks against three strikeouts in 18 games. Overall, he hit .274 with a homer and 12 RBI in 57 games playing second base, third base and shortstop.

"The older I get the more I know my role," Ojeda said. "I know what to expect. When I was younger it was difficult not to play everyday after being used to playing everyday. I know that is my role and I have to accept. I know that I am going to come off the bench or spot start. Now I see it as an opportunity to show my skills."