The Arizona Diamondbacks placed outfielder Cody Ross on the 15-day disabled list with a left calf strain and recalled outfielder Alfredo Marte from Triple-A Reno, according to D-backs' Executive Vice President & General Manager Kevin Towers. Ross, 33, is hitting .238 (38-for-160) with 5 doubles, 2 home runs and 11 RBI in 66 games this season. In his last 25 games, he batted .358 (19-for-53) with 3 doubles a home run and 4 RBI.
Marte, in 75 games at Triple-A Reno this season, hit .326 (84-for-258) with 14 doubles, 11 home runs, 45 RBI and 44 runs scored. He hit .352 (19-for-54) off lefties and .319 (65-for-204) off righties. Marte played most recently last night, going 2-for-4 with a triple at Salt Lake City. Marte, 24, has batted .227 (5-for-22) with 3 doubles and 3 RBI in 11 games in 2 stints for the D-backs.
The D-backs' 40-man roster is remains at 38.
Ross strained his left calf muscle in Saturday's game against the Cubs and was removed during that. However, the folliwing day it was reportedly only "cramp," according to Kirk Gibson - probably immediately before telling Ross to rub some dirt on it and get out there, apparently being from the Black Knight school of medicine. [Memo to self. Do not accept health advice from Kirk Gibson] However, he didn't play that day, and was restricted to a pinch-hit appearance last night. It's not the first time Ross has had issue in this area: it also bothered him during spring training before the start of last season.
Ross was already growing accustomed to less playing time, saying, "I had a meeting with (manager Kirk Gibson) about it awhile back, even before Mark came back," Ross said. "He basically told me that I was going to see my playing time drop. All I told Gibby was, 'I wish I could argue and tell you you're wrong, but I don't have anything to back it up right now because I'm not swinging the bat well.' " However, with careful platooning, his numbers had actually been improving of late, and he had hit .381 in July, albeit in only 21 at-bats, getting his season line up to a high-water mark of .238/.287/.306.