SnakeBytes 5/13: Hotlanta Edition

by soco on May 13, 2010 3:09 PM EDT in Snake Bytes

Another series, another sweep. How are you doing this morning? Full of baseball ennui? Well, here's a bunch of links to cheer you up!

Recaps and Diamondbacks News

Game Wrapup | dbacks.com: News

Manny Ramirez makes Diamondbacks pay - latimes.com

[FoxSportsArizona.com] D-Backs can't get their Manny
Former St. Mary’s High and ASU standout Ethier said he was “surprised and shocked” to be put on base in front of Ramirez. It is usually the other way – Ramirez has received 214 intentional walks in his career. “That’s the first time its happened in the two years we've been with Manny,” Ethier said.

D-Backs, Johnson hit together, slump together

Arizona Diamondbacks catchers feeling bullpen heat, too
The Diamondbacks' catchers are searching for bullpen answers along with everyone else.

Upcoming Series vs. Braves

Braves sweep Brewers, then leave town in style | Atlanta Braves
MILWAUKEE -- When Braves manager Bobby Cox and his coaches changed into unimaginably bold zoot suits, fedoras and patent-leather shoes Wednesday afternoon for

Braves attendance is up. Why is that, you think? | Atlanta Braves
The Braves have only played 12 games at home this season – entering a seven-game home stand that opens on Friday at Turner Field. But so far the returns in

News from Around the League

Phillies Accused of Using Illegal Methods to Steal Signs - NYTimes.com
One of the Phillies’ top rivals is suggesting that they are using underhanded methods to steal signs, something they have been accused of before.

Not your average Berra " Opinion " The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

Arts, Briefly - Batter Up - Ken Burns’s Follow-Up to ‘Baseball’ - NYTimes.com
In September PBS will broadcast a new documentary, "The Tenth Inning," directed by Mr. Burns and Lynn Novick.

[Examiner.com] Eric Byrnes not really working for the Brooklyn Cyclones
“Eric Byrnes is not actually volunteering with the Cyclones and sharing an office with me for no pay so that we can plug him in as a ringer on our office softball team. Some people took the joke a little too literally,” wrote Dave Campanaro, the Director of Communications for the Cyclones, in the updated blog entry.

Eric Byrnes turns the page
Eric Byrnes is back in the lineup as an everyday player. Every Wednesday, anyway. Byrnes is the starting left fielder for the Dutch Goose, a slow-pitch softball team. He went 2 for 3 with 4 RBI in last night's victory.

Selig Defends Baseball's Record On Minority Hiring : NPR
Baseball commissioner Bud Selig is ignoring calls to move next year's All-Star game from Phoenix because of Arizona's new immigration law.

MLB commissioner Bud Selig on Texas Rangers sale: 'I'm concerned' - ESPN Dallas
Baseball commissioner Bud Selig emphasized his concern about the proposed sale of the Texas Rangers not being completed: That that needs to be completed as expeditiously as possible -- underscoring, underlining expeditiously.

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The Byrnes article has some photos from the game

It was fun to go to, we chatted with his mom for a few innings, explained we were Dbacks fans (she’s a closet Giants fan!!) and she insisted we get our picture taken with Eric! She was super sweet. The Chronicle reporter took our photo and names but it wasn’t in the article. :(

Things ’Skins has in common with foulpole for 400, please. -- soco

by snakecharmer on May 13, 2010 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

Stupid

Chronic(what!)cle. That sounds fun, though.

We fell asleep in the middle of the fury.

by soco on May 13, 2010 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, it was

We’re driving to the park and we’re like “Well it’s gotta have lights… oh hey it’s the one with the news van right there!”

The guys (who are a good mix of 20s-50s) really love playing. It’s pretty fast, and they make all-out dives just like major leaguers. But it’s less of a big deal when they make an error. :) (And there were plenty of those too.) There was even a triple play!!

We’ll go again when it’s not the latest game (6 teams, 3 games every Wednesday). I think next week it’s the middle game, that’s doable.

Things ’Skins has in common with foulpole for 400, please. -- soco

by snakecharmer on May 13, 2010 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

sounds like they need a good manager, someone who is intimately familiar with the inner workings of a Beer Buddies Softball League and has experience managing their best player. I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head.

"Have a take and do not suck or you will get run." - Jim Rome

by jonny-yuma on May 13, 2010 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Mr. Pibb

and Red Vines equals CRAZY DELICIOUS

by Azreous on May 13, 2010 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting article about the changeup:

http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/05/13/changeup-has-become-great-equalizer/

It also notes that, coming into Tuesday’s game, Ian Kennedy had the 8th best change in the majors.

Letting our bullpen pitch is like playing Russian Roulette...

...with an automatic.

by DbacksSkins on May 13, 2010 3:26 PM EDT reply actions

He's been using it a bit more

But it’s his curve whose usage has really increased. More on this later, since he’s the subject of this week’s “What’s Up With?” article.

"We defy augury" -- Hamlet

by Jim McLennan on May 13, 2010 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Oooh

looking forward to it.

Letting our bullpen pitch is like playing Russian Roulette...

...with an automatic.

by DbacksSkins on May 13, 2010 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Awesome

Me too.

http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)

by Dan Strittmatter on May 13, 2010 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Fascinating stuff

We’ve got some decent change-up artists too. IPK and Danny of course. Probably RodLo, since he throws about fourteen pitches. Cesar Valdez and Josh Collmenter both work fastball/change-up. I also think I may have heard of Jarrod Parker having one. Of course, one guy who needs to completely stop using his is Edwin Jackson…

http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)

by Dan Strittmatter on May 13, 2010 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Lopez

was on the first page of FanGraphs’ changeup list

Letting our bullpen pitch is like playing Russian Roulette...

...with an automatic.

by DbacksSkins on May 13, 2010 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

No kidding...

http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)

by Dan Strittmatter on May 14, 2010 5:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Texas Rangers sale

Selig has got to be watching the Coyotes situation and panicking a bit…. Maybe Winnipeg would be good for baseball?

Anyone who attempts to generate random numbers by deterministic means is, of course, living in a state of sin.

by unnamedDBacksfan on May 13, 2010 3:29 PM EDT reply actions

Winnipeg

wouldn’t be good for ANYTHING..

Letting our bullpen pitch is like playing Russian Roulette...

...with an automatic.

by DbacksSkins on May 13, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

If

I’ve learned anything, it’s that Winnepeg would be great for everything. Hockey, baseball, Guantanamo Bay prisoners, Boeing factories, In-n-Out locations, Republican and Democrat Conventions, nuclear weapons testing, Hollywood movies, season three of Jersey Shore, the Super Bowl, Eric Byrnes, the next expansion of Arizona State University, the International Space Station, hot dog eating contests, stock exchanges, Google’s fiber-optics give-away, Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

You name it, they can do it.

And of course, ‘Skins has to come in and contradict me as I’m writing this.

We fell asleep in the middle of the fury.

by soco on May 13, 2010 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm

all about contradictin’.

Letting our bullpen pitch is like playing Russian Roulette...

...with an automatic.

by DbacksSkins on May 13, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, man

We should totally hold our presidential conventions in Canada. Just to freak ’em out.

"I'm always insistent, Wodehouse. But I'm not to be trusted, am I?"

by kishi on May 13, 2010 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

that’s be funny

Anyone who attempts to generate random numbers by deterministic means is, of course, living in a state of sin.

by unnamedDBacksfan on May 13, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

that'd be funny*****

too if I could spell right

Anyone who attempts to generate random numbers by deterministic means is, of course, living in a state of sin.

by unnamedDBacksfan on May 13, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Manny and Ethier

Is mannywood making Eihier a better hitter. I know manny was out for awhile and Andre Ethier was hitting without him, but it seems that since Manny has come back into the lineup that Ethier is hitting even better.

by Rickfansince76 on May 13, 2010 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

Hard to tell

While Manny was on the DL, Ethier hit .365/.431/.731 which is pretty close to his season numbers [.385/.444/.738]. I think he has just been a beast, with or without Manny.

"We defy augury" -- Hamlet

by Jim McLennan on May 13, 2010 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Johnson

player of the month of April, .179 in May brings him right back down to his career AVG

by Rickfansince76 on May 13, 2010 3:52 PM EDT reply actions

sigh....

I hate how that works

Anyone who attempts to generate random numbers by deterministic means is, of course, living in a state of sin.

by unnamedDBacksfan on May 13, 2010 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Dan Haren's song

Is Sleepyhead? AWESOME. Great song.

http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)

by Dan Strittmatter on May 13, 2010 4:56 PM EDT reply actions

Dan Haren's music

I downloaded that song and a ton other Passion Pit songs…pretty damn good stuff right there! But then my music collection is quite eclectic LOL

"His name is Coffey & he runs in like he's had one too many cups!"--Jeff Munn

by Rockkstarr12 on May 13, 2010 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Same here on the eclectic music tastes

Already had the entire Passion Pit CD. Sleepyhead = UBERAWESOME.

On a totally unrelated to Passion Pit note (and a totally related note to the eclectic music tastes), I’ve decided I was born in the wrong country. My favorite bands feature five from the UK (The Smiths, The Clash, Bloc Party, The Kooks, and The Rifles), and one that I’d have sworn was from the UK (Ra Ra Riot) until looking it up and finding out that they’re from New York… And then, mostly to lesser extents, Death Cab For Cutie, Elton John, O.A.R., Silversun Pickups, Smashing Pumpkins, We Are Scientists, and a couple songs from The Von Bondies.

If anybody can make sense of that list, I’d love to hear it.

http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)

by Dan Strittmatter on May 14, 2010 6:02 AM EDT up reply actions

um

you’re awesome?
:P

What's your name? Sandwich. What's your first name? TUNA.

by emilylovesthedbacks on May 14, 2010 9:58 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

You like

rock that is heavy on the melodic and (relative) minimalism.

We fell asleep in the middle of the fury.

by soco on May 14, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

you got it.

"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too. " ~Greg, age 8

by njjohn on May 14, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

for The Clash and the Pumpkins.

Letting our bullpen pitch is like playing Russian Roulette...

...with an automatic.

by DbacksSkins on May 14, 2010 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

Definitely for Elton John and I’ve grown fond of O.A.R. It just goes to show what type of music really gets you rockin’ and singing along…a wide variety of music tastes is a good thing :) You never get bored of having music to jam out to.

"His name is Coffey & he runs in like he's had one too many cups!"--Jeff Munn

by Rockkstarr12 on May 14, 2010 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

For sale: 'Field of Dreams' farm

Linkl

According to the Des Moines Register, the Lansings are asking $5.4 million for the 193-acre property that includes the field and surrounding farmland plus the house used in the movie, two souvenir stands and six other farm buildings.

"We defy augury" -- Hamlet

by Jim McLennan on May 13, 2010 5:18 PM EDT reply actions