Baseball notebook: D’backs bring in opposite

Kirk Gibson brings instant credibility and a much-needed attitude adjustment to the Arizona clubhouse. Whether that can cut down the unrelenting string of strikeouts or blown leads by the game’s worst bullpen remains to be seen.

Gibson has a resume of 17 years as a major league player with a reputation for fiery toughness. His limping, triumphant game-winning home run in the 1988 World Series stands as one of the game’s most memorable moments.

Now, as interim manager of the Diamondbacks, his challenge is to instill that attitude in a team of terrific but sporadic talent in a laid-back clubhouse.

Gibson has been a bench coach for Detroit from 2003 to 2005 and, since 2007, for the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks fired A.J. Hinch after less than a full season at the helm Wednesday.

“A.J’s personality and Gibby’s personality are opposites,” Arizona’s Mark Reynolds said. “Gibby’s fiery and seems ready to go every day. You can’t really convey that as a bench coach. He’s not in charge, it’s not really his place. But now that he’s running the ship and it’s his team to manage, the fans and the media are going to see a lot more of the old Gibby. It should be a kick in the butt.”

Injury woes grow

The Boston Red Sox are putting together a rather impressive roster – on their disabled list.

The latest additions to a group that features five former All-Stars among its 10 players are catcher Jason Varitek and right-handed reliever Manny Delcarmen. They were placed on the 15-day DL Friday before the Red Sox put together a makeshift lineup against the Baltimore Orioles.

Center fielder Mike Cameron was scratched from the lineup before the game because abdominal soreness and replaced by Darnell McDonald.

Varitek is expected to miss four to six weeks after breaking a bone in his right foot Wednesday night. The Red Sox called up righty reliever Robert Manuel and infielder Niuman Romero from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Jenks returns

White Sox closer Bobby Jenks has rejoined the team after five days on the family medical emergency list.

Jenks, a native of Spirit Lake, was in Texas on Friday night for the start of Chicago’s weekend series against the Rangers after spending time dealing with a family illness.