Owings looking like Webb in D-backs win

Micah Owings....holy cow! What happened between the end of Spring Training and the start of the regular season?? This guy has been an absolute stud out there in his first three starts of the year...The 1-2 punch of Brandon Webb-Danny Haren is now the 1-2-3 punch of Webb-Haren-Owings.

Owings went six full innings today and gave up only one run on three hits as the D-backs slammed the Giants 8-2 in the Bay Area. He also punched out six Giants and only allowed a couple of walks.

One of the reasons for hit quick start is the vast improvement in his changeup this year.

"He's throwing strikes and getting ahead," D-backs manager Bob Melvin said. "He's got a better changeup this year, a better slider."

He was able to make the adjustment to his changeup after talking with Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter in the offseason. He's holding it with the same grip, but in a rotated position in his hand.

Today was Jackie Robinson Day around the major leagues (61st anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball), and several D-back players (Eric Byrnes, Justin Upton, Chris Young, Orlando Hudson, and first-base coach Lee Tinsley) wore the number 42 in honor of Robinson. Hudson was clearly emotional talking about Robinson.

"It's definitely an honor for all that my man went through for us," said Hudson. "Not just African-Americans, but for baseball. There's so much you can say about Jackie Robinson. It's eye-dripping to sit here and talk about him. There aren't words. I can't put it into words."

Conor Jackson must have been impressed that I named him earlier to my All $500k-per-player team :-), as he hit his second dinger in two days in the first inning and ended up going 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs (he now has 13 RBI on the season and hitting a lofty .333). Considering how dinged up he's been thus far, Jackson has been a mad man out there. Very nice to see his confidence noticeably up this year.

And, the ever important Byrnes porn stache watch is still in full effect, as Byrnesie went 2-for-4 today to bring his average up to .305. His hit/stache streak is now at 11 games...

Mark Reynolds was a scratch from today's lineup....recovering a bit from that big-time tumble he took in last night's game going after that foul ball.

Young also homered on the day, to bring his season total to five...matching that of teammates Reynolds and Upton and all tied along with three others for the major league lead.

Rubber game of the series tomorrow....as Webby takes on Zito at 12:45 PM local time.