The Diamondbacks are turning double plays like no other team in the Major Leagues.

As the National League West leaders headed into Wednesday afternoon's series finale against the Pirates at Chase Field, they led the big leagues with 66 twin-killings, 11 more than the second-place Astros and 13 more than the American League-leading Orioles.

"What this means is, our pitchers are trying to pitch to contact," manager Bob Melvin said. "They have a lot of confidence in the defense, knowing that the ball is going to be sucked up behind them."

Coming into this season, the club record for most consecutive games with at least one double play was 11, accomplished from July 31-Aug. 12, 2004. As of Wednesday, it was 14 and counting. The club record for most double plays in a season is 159, established last season.

"What we have here are groundball pitchers and guys who can field the ball," pitching coach Bryan Price said. "That is unique for me. There are more groundball pitchers on this staff than any group of pitchers I have worked with during my six seasons in the Major Leagues."

The result is a lot of 6-4-3, or 4-6-3 or even 5-4-3 double plays that yank pitchers out of a jam.

After all, a double play is a pitcher's best friend.

Shortstop Craig Counsell and second baseman Orlando Hudson have developed into one of the best DP combinations in the business, and third baseman Chad Tracy has joined in the fun often this season.

"It gives us a chance to have an impact on the game and help the team out," Counsell said. "A double play can change momentum of the game just like that and get pitcher out of trouble."

Melvin believes that one of the reasons ace right-hander Brandon Webb is having such a superb season (7-0, 2.44 ERA) is because he has so much confidence in the players behind him.

"He had 119 walks two years ago, cut it down to 59 last year and to practically nothing (8) this year," Melvin said. "It's not like he suddenly learned how to throw the ball over the plate. He has confidence in his defense."

Melvin said the Diamondbacks infielders are "good, they're quick, and they get to a lot of balls."

"So we tell our pitchers to pound the bottom of the strike zone and have them put the ball in play," he added.

Looking for work: Right-handed reliever Kevin Jarvis was promoted on Saturday from Triple-A Tucson, and he's still waiting for his first appearance with the D-Backs.

"We brought him in because of some short outings by a couple of our starters," Melvin said. "El Duque (Orlando Hernandez) went two innings one day and [Juan] Cruz lasted two-thirds of an inning the next night. We felt we needed another guy to get multiple innings, but since then, we've had quality starts from everyone.

"We have been looking to get him in a game to be part of this thing, but haven't been able to do that so far."

Jarvis had a 2-5 record 3.64 ERA in nine starts for Triple-A Tucson.

With Hernandez being traded to the Mets on Wednesday, Jarvis becomes a candidate to replace El Duque in the starting rotation.

Melvin said the starting rotation "is a work in progress."

Among the best: Leadoff hitter Counsell and Eric Byrnes, who bats right behind Counsell, are among the NL's top hitters. Counsell is sixth with a .326 average and Byrnes ranks 10th with a .321 mark.

Back to work: Left-hander Terry Mulholland, who has missed the entire season with an arm injury, is scheduled to start Saturday night against Fresno in Tucson. The game plan is for the veteran to throw around 70 pitches.

DALLAS -- Javier Vazquez will not pitch for the Diamondbacks in 2006, but there's a very good chance he could be toeing the rubber next spring for his native Puerto Rico.

The right-hander heads up a three-man contingent of D-Backs players that have received permission from the Players Association and Major League Baseball team owners to participate in the inaugural World Baseball Classic next March. On Monday, 177 eligible players were announced.

Infielder Alex Cintron could also play for Puerto Rico, while pitcher Edgar Gonzalez is eligible to pitch for Mexico.

Just because players have received permission to participate, it does not mean that they necessarily will. Sixty-man rosters must be submitted by Jan. 17, with the ultimate 30-man rosters finalized 24 hours prior to the start of the tournament. The final rosters must include a minimum of 13 pitchers and three catchers. MLB has committed to using 60 percent of Major League-affiliated players. All the players announced on Monday have the blessings of the Players Association and the team owners, who have collectively spent months in the initial culling process.

The World Baseball Classic, a 16-team tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, will feature the world's best players competing for their home countries and territories for the first time. Fans will be able to follow the games exclusively online at MLB.com.

First-round actions will be played at four sites. Pool A, consisting of Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei and China, will meet at the Tokyo Dome on March 3-5. Pool B, featuring the United States, Canada, Mexico and South Africa, will play at Chase Field, home of the Diamondbacks, and Scottsdale Stadium, the Spring Training home of the San Francisco Giants, on March 7-10.

Pool C is Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama and the Netherlands and will play at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on March 7-10. Pool D, featuring the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Australia and Italy, will play at the Disney Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Fla., on March 7-10.

Two teams from each pool will advance to the second round, which takes place March 12-15 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium and Angel Stadium in Anaheim. The semifinals and finals will be held at San Diego's PETCO Park on March 18-20.

Vazquez was acquired by the Diamondbacks last offseason as part of a deal that sent Randy Johnson to the Yankees. As a veteran player traded in the midst of a multiyear contract, Vazquez had the right to request a trade and did so last month. Arizona has until March 15 to trade him. If he's not dealt by that point he can either rescind his request or he can elect to become a free agent.

Vazquez, who was the D-Backs Opening Day starter, went 11-15 with a 4.42 ERA in 33 starts.

Cintron, 26, had a solid season for Arizona, filling it at shortstop, second and third. The switch-hitter batted .273 overall -- .304 as a pinch-hitter -- with 19 doubles and eight homers in 330 at-bats.

Depending on what moves the Diamondbacks make this offseason, Cintron could start the 2006 campaign as the team's starting shortstop or second baseman, or he could fill the same role he did last season.

Gonzlez is highly regarded by the Diamondbacks, but has yet to have success at the big-league level. The 22-year-old was 0-9 with a 9.32 ERA in 10 starts for Arizona in 2004 and made just one appearance at the big-league level last year when he allowed four runs in one-third of an inning. Gonzalez had more success at Triple-A Tucson last year, going 11-6 with a 4.37 ERA in 28 games (24 starts).

DALLAS -- The Diamondbacks extended their stay here in this frozen city not to continue dealing, or to meet with agent Scott Boras as some seemed to indicate, but rather so could be in attendance to accept the Topp's Organization of the Year Award.

The D-Backs leave having accomplished one of their offseason goals when they acquired catcher Johnny Estrada from the Braves on Wednesday. And while they haven't dealt Javier Vazquez, they have made progress on that front by figuring out which teams are in the hunt and which are not.

When the meetings started, GM Josh Byrnes said there were eight to 10 teams with serious interest and now it is down to four or five with the possibility that Houston could jump in after declining to offer Roger Clemens salary arbitration and the D-Backs were hoping to have a conversation with the Astros on Thursday.

Deals done: Acquired catcher Johnny Estrada from the Braves in exchange for RHP's Oscar Villarreal and Lance Cormier.

Rule 5 activity: Lost infielder Dan Uggla in the Major League portion of the draft and outfielder Jeff Cook and right-hander Josh Perrault in the Minor League phase.

Goals accomplished: Strengthened their catching situation by acquiring Johnny Estrada. The acquisition allows manager Bob Melvin to play Chris Snyder against left-handers and the club feels Estrada and Snyder will handle the position until highly-regarded prospect Miguel Montero is ready.