D-backs in serious tailspin....good thing

It reminds me of early 2009, when nothing seemed to go the D-backs way.  This team is in such a skid right now that you wonder where to look next for help.  But maybe that's actually a good thing....huh???  It's analogous to the stock market where the market runs out of sellers and it truly hits a bottom.  Hopefully the sellers have dried up in the National League now as well and there's nothing but up now for Arizona. 

Get the offense rolling again....get Haren back on top of his game....shore up the bullpen....

It's still only May, I have to think this way :-)

D-backs decisions very disappointing last night

Where to start after that absolute disaster last night......After getting away with a blown save the previous night, you just knew that the stars would not align two games in succession.  The D-backs continued to show the offensive prowess that we've seen since season start, but some very disappointing performances and decisions killed what would have been a critical early-season series win.

Dan Haren pitched an outstanding game obviously....a masterful comeback start after his last abysmal outing.  Although it wasn't a critical factor here, I though A.J. Hinch left Haren in the game 1/3 of an inning too long.  I mean why on earth would he run him out there in the sixth with 110+ pitches already under his belt in his third start of the year.....Haren has historically been a poor second half of the season pitcher....don't think this type of decision is going to help reverse that trend.


As for Aaron Heilman giving up the first blown save of the night, I'll give him a pass there as it was really his only tough outing of the year.

Juan Gutierrez was nails as usual, and then the ball was given to Chad Qualls, who promptly gave up the second blown save of the night, and his second in as many nights.  I won't even bother with the argument of whether Gutierrez should replace Qualls in the ninth, because there really is no discussion needed.

The next Hinch decision which was absolutely brutal of course, was in pitching to Andre Ethier in the 10th.  Did Hinch not know that Ethier is a walk-off machine?  The casual sports fan watching SportsCenter on occasion last year knew this guy was filthy in the clutch.  I know Man Ram was on deck, but pitching around Ethier would have at least set up a double play situation that Manny could have easily rolled into.

I knew Gracie spoke way too early last night when he basically was handing the D-backs the series win in the ninth when they had the 2-run lead.  It was a kiss of death.  It's really too bad, because would have been a monster series win, and one that would have really helped to galvanize this team to really good things in April...

Last week of Spring Training in Tucson...forever

It is with great sadness that a Spring Training era comes to an end after next week.  From the Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks, major league baseball will officially depart Tucson.....most likely forever.

For over 60 years, from the Indians first year in 1947, Tucson has always been the home to at least one team for Spring Training.  With the Indians departure to Florida after 1992 (and now back in the Phoenix area of course), Tucson quickly rebounded and landed the Colorado Rockies in 1993.  Five years later, the White Sox and Diamondbacks joined them.

It just seems hard to imagine not seeing any teams coming here again after next week.  And it really won't hit home for real until next February when pitchers and catchers report and there will be nothing in Tucson but signs pointing north to go see baseball.

Hopefully a few Japanese league teams will in fact land here and play at TEP soon, but it still won't be the same.  Nothing can replace good old-fashioned American major league baseball....especially in the spring.

Great day at the ballpark

In what I would consider an absolutely perfect day for baseball, took in the D-backs and A's yesterday at TEP in Tucson.  The backdrop of the snow capped Catalina Mountains beyond left-center field is a thing of beauty.  Clear skies.  About 70 degrees.  Oh, and the D-backs hammered the A's 10-1.

I was quite impressed with Ian Kennedy in the start.  Now the A's aren't exactly the Bronx Bombers of the West Coast, but saw enough of Kennedy to believe he will in fact be a solid fourth (or gasp third if Webb is DL'd) starter in this rotation.  Probably as good as any fourth guy in the N.L.  The Arizona bullpen was quite impressive as well - it seems to me that Juan Gutierrez is getting better and better.  He's just seems to have a good combination of power and command.

Still pushing for Tony Abreu to make this squad, but my feeling at this point is that Augie Ojeda will make the club to start the season, and Abreu will go to AAA Reno.  That gives the D-backs the flexibility of bringing Abreu back at anytime if needed.  Abreu just really impresses with both his defensive skills (solid range, soft hands, and much better shortstop than Ojeda) and has displayed a great knack for spraying the ball around as well.  Just don't think Byrnes and Hinch are quite ready to pull the trigger on Abreu and keep him on the Opening Day roster....but I'd give them many props if they did.

On the flip side, sure wish I was seeing more out of Chris Young.  I'm seeing a lot of the same from him at the plate, and somewhat surprised as this spring is huge for Young in terms of getting back in the good graces of this team.  Hope he picks it up in the next couple of weeks....

Spring Training video from today

Another great day at the yard today watching the D-backs practice.  As promised yesterday, I grabbed some miscellaneous video from the happenings of the day:

Thoughts on Spring Training workout today

Finally got down to TEP today to see the D-backs first full-squad workout...and wasn't disappointed.  From the clear blue skies and snow capped Catalina mountains hovering over the outfield fences, to the reliable Susan with her energetic clapping and praising.

I'd give the team a B+ for what I saw out there today.  Mainly focusing on the newer guys, I thought Kelly Johnson really looked the part of a defensive second baseman.  For a guy that's pretty big for that position (6'1" and 205), he looked rather fluid in his fielding and quick releases to both second and first.  Backup Tony Abreu infielder also was impressive with his defensive skills.  If improving the D-backs defense this year is a priority, adding Abreu, Johnson, and the reliable Adam LaRoche (2 errors last year) to the infield will be a clear boost.

Mark Reynolds looked the part of the guy about to get paid...how about that wig of hair he's sporting right now...wow....

I was also trying to get a feel for the atmosphere of the team with it being the first time A.J. Hinch now running the show.  I have to say that it did feel a bit more serious than in years past.  Maybe that was due in part to the ever serious Matt Williams running many of the drills, but maybe just due to the fact that this team feels like it has something to prove this year...and that's not a bad thing.

Overall, was a good day out there.  But, then when isn't a day of Spring Training baseball a good day.  Heading back out there tomorrow and hope to get some video to return here.