DBacks Daily 9/27-28/07 - Three Is A Magic Number

by snakecharmer on Sep 27, 2007 10:20 PM EDT in Diamondbacks News

With the early start this morning (and me being too busy to get this up before o'early thirty), I'll combine the news from today and tomorrow (since many articles are already online) into today's feature. Anything extra tomorrow we'll just post in comments, and if it's big I'll edit it in.

Bonus points for guessing the source of the title (without searching). It is apropos of our situation yesterday and today - yesterday our magic number stayed at 3, but today we only have three games left this regular season!! The win today reduces our magic number to 2. Two for three in Colorado... that's just taking the series. They've done that all year. After today's win, the guys should have some confidence back going to Denver.

Yesterday's loss was tough.. not pretty by any count. Hernandez says he didn't feel right after the rain delay, and Reynolds says they might be pressing. (Republic) Pittsburgh certainly showed up to play. (AP) The pressure is mounting (MLB.com) but there's still time for recovery. (Tribune)

And today's bounce back win was in typical Diamondback fashion - anybody, anytime. This time it was Micah Owings with the big game, 4 for 4 with 3 RBI and 6.1 shutout innings. (MLB.com) (All of today's recaps focus on Owings: AP, Republic and Tribune.) Stephen Drew points out it helped to get on the board early, and Eric Byrnes calls the win "absolutely huge" and even agreed to use the phrase "must-win."

Lots of other news today. Several articles about Webb being pushed back to start tomorrow in Colorado instead of lose him today in Pittsburgh. Cautious? Yes. Smart move? Yes. Webb's 1-3 vs Colorado this season (and 0-1) in Coors Field but I like the caution; better to play him for more innings tomorrow even if is numbers aren't great, because he's our Ace no matter what. And Owings gave us a strong win today anyway. Hopefully the late scratch won't mess with Webb's preparation. He thinks it should be fine. Brandon Medders feels he learned from his travails this season. And clearly the Hairston trade worked in favor of the Padres this year. (Hairston had a 3-run double in tonight's game in Milwaukee that, as of this writing, is the difference in the game.) But scouts still like Rosales and he could be up in the bullpen next season. Speaking of scouts, Mike Rizzo had a hand in 17 of the Diamondbacks playing in the bigs today. Talk about a big influence in team history..

Also today was, as expected, rookie hazing!! No photos found yet, but I'm on the hunt...

Among those with new identities, Miguel Montero was a cheerleader, Doug Slaten an elf, Justin Upton a baby, Mark Reynolds a nurse, Alberto Callaspo was a tooth fairy and Jeff Salazar was Superwoman.

Other news around the league that affect the Diamondbacks: Diamondbacks go 0 for 4 in wild card coin flips. To further mess with your head, a 5-way tie is possible for the end of the season among the Mets, Phillies, Diamondbacks, Padres and Rockies. That's as of this morning, and it's looking less likely. Mets and Phillies are now tied for the NL East title, and the Diamondbacks have won, but if Colorado wins (looking likely) there's no way AZ and CO can tie. Further information on NLDS ticket sales was also released.

The rotation for the weekend seems to be lined up as Webb vs Francis, Gonzalez vs Redman, and Davis vs Jimenez. Conor Jackson and Justin Upton figure to start against the lefties.

Important Question: The Yahoo schedule says Saturday's game is not going to be on TV for Arizonans (and probably only local Denver). Anybody know if this has changed due to playoff potential? If it hasn't yet, I say we mount an email campaign..

Thanks for spotting this, Jim! According to the Republic:

The Diamondbacks-Rockies game on Saturday night, originally scheduled for radio only, has been added to the television lineup and will be broadcast on Channel 3 beginning at 5 p.m.

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So....

Are you all going to miss Barry as a Giant? Tune in next season and find out!

Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You're too tight.

by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 12:45 AM EDT reply actions

Saturday's contest will be on TV

Wasn't originally, but according to The Republic, "The Diamondbacks-Rockies game on Saturday night, originally scheduled for radio only, has been added to the television lineup and will be broadcast on Channel 3 beginning at 5 p.m."

by Jim McLennan on Sep 28, 2007 1:17 AM EDT reply actions

Thank you!!

Clearly I should read everything before I ask. ;) Now I don't have to send off an angry email.

This means it might be on MLB Extra Innings. (It's not listed as of 10 minutes ago.) And I might be able to borrow MLB.TV if it's not.

by snakecharmer on Sep 28, 2007 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Five game tie

..is no longer possible. This is the best summary of the current situation I've found

http://www.baseballmusings.com/archives/023242.php

Hopefully we'll be watching it all from on top of the NL West...

by britdback on Sep 28, 2007 5:40 AM EDT reply actions

so then....

the diamondbacks really only have to win one game this weekend to win the west? that would be pretty fantastic news, but i am confused..

by leemellon on Sep 28, 2007 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

See my new post above

For more details of this, with specific attention to the D-backs situation. One win won't guarantee us the NL West (the Padres could still take it with a sweep), but one victory will virtually guarantee us post-season baseball.

by Jim McLennan on Sep 28, 2007 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Oops

I was writing my response to the question above the same time you were writing this. My "No" is in response to his question, not in response to you. You have more detail than me.

by andrewinnewyork on Sep 28, 2007 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

No

The article is about all the 4-team tie scenarios, and the only way for that to happen is for Colorado to sweep.

Here are the scenarios based on how we do this weekend.

Sweep (92 wins) - Best record in National League, win NL West

2-1 (91 wins) - Win NL West as well (we could tie records with San Diego if they sweep, but since they would have 91 wins, more than NY or PHI can muster, they will have wildcard based on headsup play - no playoff)

1-2 (90 wins) - Lose NL West to San Diego if they sweep Milwaukee. Tie NY and PHI for wildcard if they both sweep. If either NY or PHI don't sweep, and SD does, we get the wildcard with 90 wins. If SD goes 2-1 and either NY or PHI loses one game this weekend, we win NL West based on headsup play as above)

0-3 (89 wins) Lose NL West to Colorado (or to San Diego if they sweep) lose wildcard to NY/PHI if both sweep, or to Colorado if SD sweeps Milwaukee. All the crazy tie scenarios above are in play.

Basically, if we win 2 games, we're in. If we win one game, then we are still at least in a tie somewhere.

But let's just sweep the Rockies and get home field, shall we?

by andrewinnewyork on Sep 28, 2007 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Good work

I like the summary. I will print that out, and carry it around with me today, staring at it and muttering under my breath. Can we just win tonight, so I can enjoy the rest of the weekend, maybe go see Resident Evil: Globoapocextermislaughter?

by Jim McLennan on Sep 28, 2007 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

It's neither a great nor or close picture...

But I did manage to find this finally.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/photo?slug=dbc3309679ac49ff86a6a269ee1154ed.diamondbacks_rockies_basebal l_codz111&prov=ap

by Azreous on Sep 28, 2007 1:37 PM EDT reply actions

That is hysterical..

They did the same thing with the Red Sox and Dice-K had to dress up like one of the teletubbies. Viva tradition!

by batster on Sep 28, 2007 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Is Micah dressed like 'Elf'??

by batster on Sep 28, 2007 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

That should be Sinister

Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You're too tight.

by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

And I think that's Q in back on the escalator,

Pwnings looking down, and maybe CY in the cowgirl suit, giggling? The one in the dress at the end looks like Jupton, and there's some more whom we can't see.

Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You're too tight.

by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Micah may not be 'ELF' since both he..

and Slaten are 6'5" but he is definitely not the one looking down. That person is not as tall as Elf and he has a tatoo on his upper left shoulder. I don't think the very Christian Micah would get a tatoo. Perhaps he isn't in the photo?

by batster on Sep 28, 2007 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, the one who's looking down is hunched a bit.

I wouldn't be shocked if he's the same height as Slaten. He's also stockier, and Slaten's so spindly that it might also be a bit of an optical illusion. And the tattoo, while tough to make out, also looks vaguely cruciform.

Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You're too tight.

by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe Micah is the lion in the background..

with his head turned away? He looks about as tall as Elf.

by batster on Sep 28, 2007 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmmm.....

Could be. I still think he's the guy looking down. I was debating whether that was a lion costume in the background or just a 'Fro wig.

Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You're too tight.

by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

From Jerry Crasnick on ESPN

"As the Diamondbacks deplaned in Denver, stunned onlookers saw Miguel Montero dressed as a cheerleader, Justin Upton as a baby, Mark Reynolds as a nurse, Jeff Salazar as Wonder Woman, reliever Doug Slaten as a 6-foot-5 elf, and Owings, the hero of the day, wearing a clown outfit." Link

by Jim McLennan on Sep 28, 2007 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

it really

looks like carlos quentin in the wonder woman outfit, though, and i think it is peguero in the cowgirl-ish outfit.

by leemellon on Sep 28, 2007 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Piggy is indeed the cowgirl.

Sally's Superwoman, not wonder woman. Look at the photo of him and Reynolds.

Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You're too tight.

by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

there are more?!?

i thought there was only one! hahahahaha

by leemellon on Sep 28, 2007 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

As Jim said,

They're posted under yesterday's recap, but here's the link:

Dbacks rookie hazing gallery

Nick Piecoro's blog lists who's dressed as what. For the record, since Piecoro doesn't know, Dana Eveland is dressed as the Queen of Spades.

Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You're too tight.

by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice slideshow

Is linked in the comments of the post just above this one. Though "nice" is not perhaps the word: the first picture made me throw up in my mouth a little. :-) I may be forced to save some of those pics for future use...

by Jim McLennan on Sep 28, 2007 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions