D-Backs notebook: Wickman appears ready to hang up his cleats

As the Diamondbacks carry on, Bob Wickman and his 267 career saves quietly moved on Monday, perhaps for good.

Diamondbacks are ahead of schedule

Wickman retired the only batter he faced on a comebacker Sunday in Colorado, stranding a runner at third base, and said later it might be a fitting way to retire.

“This gives me a chance to walk off on my own terms if I do walk off,” he said.

“I got the last out that I faced and ended up being pretty successful. Hopefully, I helped this ball club and took some pressure off some of the guys. All I wanted was a chance to pitch, and to show to myself that I still could pitch.”

Wickman admitted to doubts after being waived by Atlanta before signing here Sept. 8, but he proved a valuable stretch-run addition, giving up one earned run with a 1.35 ERA in eight appearances.

He is ineligible for the playoff roster because he was not with the D-Backs at the Aug. 31 deadline.

“I thank (manager) Bob Melvin and the whole Diamondbacks organization for giving me an opportunity,” Wickman said.

Wickman has three children — ages 10, 8 and 4 — and said it might be time to save a few pitches for them.

“I’m 38. I’ve got a wonderful wife and three wonderful kids that I want to be able to throw ‘bp’ (batting practice) to,” he said.

The Wickmans have taken their children to spring training every year, and the family has spent summers in New York, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Atlanta, wherever he was playing.

“It’s getting to the point right now where maybe it’s about time to get settled and let them meet some friends that they are going to have every day. Whatever decision it is going to be, it is going to be a good one,” he said.

“If I don’t play, I’m going to be happier than heck being with my family every single day. If I do play, I’m going to be happy doing the thing I love to do.”

A STREAK GLADLY BROKEN

Jeff Cirillo ended the longest active major league streak without reaching the postseason, 1,617 games, when the D-Backs qualified this weekend. He is certain to make the playoff roster.

“Even though I had to piggy-back to get there, it’s still nice to do it,” Cirillo said. “I couldn’t be happier here. These kids … they don’t know.”

Cirillo, 38, was acquired off waivers from Minnesota on Aug. 3. He is hitting .200 for the D-Backs while hitting .271 against left-handers with both the Twins and D-Backs this season.

Cirillo chose to leave Milwaukee for the Twins last winter for more playing time, but when the Brewers ran out to a big lead in midseason, he wondered if the playoffs had passed him by again.

“I just figured I made the wrong choice. I kind of regretted the decision,” said Cirillo, told by Milwaukee officials he would be strictly a pinch-hitter if he returned.

“That’s my role here, but it’s easier to do for six weeks in a season than six months.”

Valley resident Damion Easley (1,593) now has the longest active streak without a playoff game.

Todd Helton had his streak of 1,577 games broken when Colorado advanced to the postseason with a play-in victory over San Diego on Monday.

SHORT HOPS

The D-Backs have four players with playoff experience — Eric Byrnes (Oakland, 2001-02-03), Tony Clark (New York Yankees, 2004), Juan Cruz (Chicago, 2003; Atlanta, 2004) and Livan Hernandez (Florida, 1997; San Francisco, 2000, ’02). Augie Ojeda traveled with the Cubs in 2003 but was not on the playoff roster.

The D-Backs had approximately 3,000 tickets remaining for Wednesday’s Game 1 and between 5,000 and 6,000 for Game 2, a D-Backs spokesman said Monday night.