Arizona @ Colorado GameThread, Apr 5, 2008 8:05 PM EDT

Gameday Thread, #5: 4/5 vs. Rockies

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 6:00 PM EDT

Arizona @ Colorado

Brandon Webb
RHP, 1-0, 3.00

Jeff Francis
LHP, 0-0, 0.00

Baseball-Reference.com preview [opens in new window]

After yesterday's drubbing, here's hoping we don't see a repeat of the series against the Reds, where things went steadily downhill, from thoroughly acceptable to extremely unpleasant, after about the eighth inning of the second game. However, momentum is certainly on the D-backs side, and Jeff Francis looked singularly unimpressive in his first outing of the season, being bailed out by the weather while staring down the barrel of a 5-1 deficit. Brandon Webb, on the other hand, was majestic, adding a brutal change-up to his renowned slider, to flummox the Reds.

It should, of course, be noted that he did struggle against the Rockies last year, more than facing any other team. On the other hand, tormentor-in-chief Kaz Matsui - 11-for-26 lifetime against our ace - is no longer with Colorado. Unfortunately, the same can not be said of Taveras, Helton and Hawpe, who are a combined .333 [35-for-105], with 6 HR and 21 RBI, off Webb. Dealing with that trio will go a long way to deciding whether Webb can shrug off the Orckies evil eye. And, no, that's not a misprint, but you'll have to read yesterday's Gameday Thread to get any kind of explanation thereof.

Expect Conor Jackson - 7-for-23 with four homers against Francis - to be in the lineup, if he has to be wheeled to home-plate and given an IV drip between pitches. Hudson (.294) also has decent career numbers against the Colorado starter; Snyder (.238) and Byrnes (.190), less so, among our players with 15+ at-bats. I'd certainly like to see the offense have another day like yesterday, as our team batting average [.205] is nothing to write home about. That's still is twenty points better than Colorado. Curiously, our seven homers lead the league there, even if each one so far has been a solo-shot.

Hoping to be around for almost all of this, one way or another. Leaving this in the trusted hands of the auto-post facility, for a 3pm publish time. Oh, and if you didn't notice it, Shift-A will now mark all comments on a thread as read, thereby saving you from much tiresome Z-ing.

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Comments

Let's go, D-backs!

I'm hoping tonight we'll see that the Diamondbacks can set aside a lot of their problems last year- Webb's lack of success against the Rockies and our desperate lack of offense, primarily. The Rockies have managed to score a grand total of 6 runs in their first four games. Here's to Webb keeping their bats quiet.

"Look what it's done for us. People still don't recognize us but..." *snaps fingers*
"We're contenders now!"

by kishi on Apr 5, 2008 6:20 PM EDT 0 recs

soco's keys for the game:

1. Eat some good food (In-n-Out? Maybe)
2. Drink some beer.
3. Dessert?

Oh yeah, and watch the Diamondbacks win!

The boys in Sedona Red slugged it out with a pretty pesky poltergeist, then stayed on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance.

by soco on Apr 5, 2008 6:31 PM EDT 0 recs

Lineup

Young cf
E. Byrnes lf
O. Hudson 2b
C. Jackson 1b
M. Reynolds 3b
C. Snyder c
J. Upton rf
S. Drew ss
B. Webb p

Glad to see CoJack back out there, and hopefully he's over whatever it was that was troubling him. Byrnes, mysteriously, moves up in the lineup. Hmm.

"Look what it's done for us. People still don't recognize us but..." *snaps fingers*
"We're contenders now!"

by kishi on Apr 5, 2008 7:23 PM EDT 0 recs

I like the looks of this lineup

could be interesting

Baseball season, when everything becomes right in the world.

by seton hall snake pit on Apr 5, 2008 7:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

All right,

we allowed you one game, but the Rockies won't get caught in a Webb tonight. That's an awful pun.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ on Apr 5, 2008 7:39 PM EDT 0 recs

Yeah, our pitchers offer up opportunity for plenty of bad puns. I'm hoping the Rockies get caught in a Webb, and then our relivers can bring the Peña.

"Look what it's done for us. People still don't recognize us but..." *snaps fingers*
"We're contenders now!"

by kishi on Apr 5, 2008 7:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

::groans::

:-)

I was tied to the chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 7:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

Heard it... :-)

I think, in fact, every conceivable pun has been made concerning his name. Webb gem? Webb slinger? Been there, done it. I was working on something like "How many hits will the Rockies get from their Webb sight?"

Still working...

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 7:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hmm...

As you may know, being British and all, there was a famous firearms manufacturer on your side of the pond - Webley & Scott. Webley revolvers were common issue for the British army in the world wars. Surely a clever chap could work some kind of 'Webb-ley' pun, right?

by peachy rex on Apr 5, 2008 8:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

darn it

I was just typing that

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 5, 2008 8:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

Bwahaha! So close...

High reliability, modest velocity, excellent stopping power... sounds like a good match to me.

by peachy rex on Apr 5, 2008 8:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yup.

They're classics. Large bore, too.

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Large bore?

Isn't that John Kruk?

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 8:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

I hadn't heard that.

Is he .455 cal?

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

Anyone aware as to

whether the "Webley" Airguns have any relation to the original manufacturer? (Webley Patriot is a famously powerful .22 and .25 caliber small game hunting air rifle. They also make the Webley Tomahawk)

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

If

Wikipedia is to be believed, it's the same company - and in fact, Webley only makes airguns these days.

by peachy rex on Apr 5, 2008 8:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

And a welcome...

To any readers who've drifted over from the barren, desolate wastes of the Gameday Thread at azcentral.com, as a result of my post there. :-)

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 7:48 PM EDT 0 recs

yes welcome

to our humble abode. Sit back relax have some of the punch. ;-)

Baseball season, when everything becomes right in the world.

by seton hall snake pit on Apr 5, 2008 7:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

I wouldn't recommend the punch.

Just a warning. Not if you haven't had it before. But welcome anyway.

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Well, it's taken me a few games,

but this should be my first live gameday experience @ the Pit. (Of the 2008 season, anyway.)

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:06 PM EDT 0 recs

Pumped for the Game

I hope the Hudson-Byrnes lineup switch has a positive effect on the bats. I wonder what triggered it...

by LucaMaz3 on Apr 5, 2008 8:06 PM EDT 0 recs

CY!!

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:07 PM EDT 0 recs

Great way to start the game!!!

by foulpole on Apr 5, 2008 8:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

CY!

BOMB!

by LucaMaz3 on Apr 5, 2008 8:07 PM EDT 0 recs

And did i mention...to the deepest part of the ballpark!

by LucaMaz3 on Apr 5, 2008 8:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

Eight solo homers in a row... :-)

Young gets things started, just the way we wanted...

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 8:07 PM EDT 0 recs

#8 on the year. (in 5+ games so far)

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:07 PM EDT 0 recs

I see

The Coors Field giving Drew a warm welcome. Oh, hang on...it's Eric Byrnes. :-)

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 8:08 PM EDT 0 recs

Byrnes

K's again. Francis has owned him.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 8:09 PM EDT 0 recs

Nice hit

Good to see Hudson going opposite way...and to see Francis getting knocked around.

by LucaMaz3 on Apr 5, 2008 8:10 PM EDT 0 recs

Damn.

CoJack just short of the homer.

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:11 PM EDT 0 recs

90% percent of ballpark...that's gone. Coors is reallllly deep to straight away center.

by LucaMaz3 on Apr 5, 2008 8:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Jackson

Hits the ball hard on his first at-bat. Good to have him back.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 8:11 PM EDT 0 recs

Even if it's a deep flyout,

it's always good to scare the crap out of the opposing pitcher in the 1st inning.

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

Nice job going the other way by Reynolds

by foulpole on Apr 5, 2008 8:14 PM EDT 0 recs

Who taught Mark how to hit singles?

HR would have been nice, but I'll take a hit with a man onbase anyday.

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:14 PM EDT 0 recs

Reynolds

Two opposite-way hits....this is not the team I know...

by LucaMaz3 on Apr 5, 2008 8:14 PM EDT 0 recs

Making Francis work here

A pretty piece of opposite-field hitting from Reynolds, and a chance for Snyder to do some two-out damage.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 8:14 PM EDT 0 recs

Woo

Evening all, shame I missed yesterdays thread (damn you alcohol *shakes fist*) but it sounds as if things are on the up :)

by Wimb on Apr 5, 2008 8:15 PM EDT 0 recs

Indeed.

Don't worry, I missed it too, but it sounds like you have a better excuse. I just didn't know when it started.

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

Let's go Snyderman!

Damn. I'll take an early lead.

by LucaMaz3 on Apr 5, 2008 8:15 PM EDT 0 recs

Ick

Not much of a sac. bunt by Snyder. Oh, hang on...

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 8:15 PM EDT 0 recs

3 hits in the top of the first.

Not a bad start, anyway.

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:17 PM EDT 0 recs

It's a start

Let's see Webb mow them down here, and get us back out there again quickly.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 8:17 PM EDT 0 recs

Hmm...

Looks like my comment has "disappeared" off azcentral.com. Given all the mentions they get from us here, that seems more than a bit petty.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 8:19 PM EDT 0 recs

I'm surprised

You were 1/7th of their total, and one of the few with any actual content.

"Look what it's done for us. People still don't recognize us but..." *snaps fingers*
"We're contenders now!"

by kishi on Apr 6, 2008 12:57 AM EDT up 0 recs

I missed the HR

I just got distracted by Wikipedia's front page which has the Hulme Arch on it which I can see from my bedroom window.
The design might look kinda familiar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 5, 2008 8:19 PM EDT 0 recs

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changeups

As the baseball analyst David Bowie once sang.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 8:20 PM EDT 0 recs

A Tulowitzki out

Is always a pleasure to see.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 8:21 PM EDT 0 recs

Ouch!

by foulpole on Apr 5, 2008 8:22 PM EDT 0 recs

A Helton HR

Not so much. :-(

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 8:22 PM EDT 0 recs

Poo!

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 5, 2008 8:22 PM EDT 0 recs

Wow

The Rockies announcers said that CoJack fainted face down in the runway in Cincinnati...I didn't know he was that sick

by LucaMaz3 on Apr 5, 2008 8:23 PM EDT 0 recs

Yah, he passed out.

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

They thought it was pneumonia at first:-(

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 5, 2008 8:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

Crap

That was a hanger...let's get Holliday now Webbie

by LucaMaz3 on Apr 5, 2008 8:23 PM EDT 0 recs

D'oh bad luck charm

Quietly leaves.....

by Wimb on Apr 5, 2008 8:23 PM EDT 0 recs

It's not you.

It's Darron Sutton. They showed the replay of yesterday's homer on FSAZ not 5 seconds before he did it again.

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

I see we're lacking in Grace today

Matt Williams instead. He points out that the sinker will sink less because of the altitude.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 5, 2008 8:24 PM EDT 0 recs

"I see we're lacking in Grace today"

Speak for yourself, I've been to confession, and always exhibit grace under pressure.

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 5, 2008 8:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

Indeed

In my high school, I did a whole research project on the physics of Coors Field

by LucaMaz3 on Apr 5, 2008 8:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ah. Another Dback that Rox fans hate.

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:26 PM EDT 0 recs

JUPTON = ANIMAL

I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do.

by DbacksSkins on Apr 5, 2008 8:27 PM EDT 0 recs

Helton

I'll be glad when we retires or is traded to the AL. He has tortured us for a decade now. I swear it feels like his line is .700/.900/2.200 against us.

by The Main Man on Apr 5, 2008 8:27 PM EDT 0 recs