Arizona Diamondbacks All Time Team – Infielders

Up The Middle

Second Base –Jay Bell

Jay Bell came to the Diamondbacks as a free agent just prior to the 1997 season after a breakout campaign with Kansas City the season before. Jay Bell was a bit of a late bloomer. Bell had been a steady fielding shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates before being traded to the Royals. He never hitting more that 13 home runs in a season until his 21 home run season in Kansas City at the age of 31.

After coming to Arizona his power numbers exploded hitting a total of 91 dingers in a Diamondback uniforms including 1999 when he hit 38 round trippers. Bell was also a member of the 2001 World Championship team while splitting time between Shortstop and Second base.

Jay Bell is currently the bench coach for the Cincinnati Reds.

Shortstop – Craig Counsell

Craig Counsell was just a scrappy utility infielder known more for his glove than his offense.  He provided consistent and steady play for the Diamondbacks as part of a three-way middle infield platoon with Jay Bell and Tony Womack. Counsell has a productive 16 year major league career but his six years with the Diamondbacks were by far his best.  Counsell hit .266 and stole 68 bags while a diamondback.  He could also rake a little hitting 24 dingers and driving in 193 runs in the same time.

But Craig Counsell earned his spot on the All-Time Diamondbacks team with his improbable performance in the 2001 NLCS. Counsel’s four RBI performance in Game 4 of the NLCS was part of an 11-4 blow-out getting the ball into Randy Johnson’s hands for a deciding game 5.

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