SnakeBytes, 3/21: Spring Edition

by kishi on Mar 21, 2011 6:02 PM EDT in Snake Bytes

Did you miss me? I did, I know. Thanks very much to Snakecharmer for filling in on my vacation! But now that I'm back, it's about a week and a half away from Opening Day for the Diamondbacks (appropriately set for April Fool's Day) and it's time to kick SnakeBytes into high gear. Well, maybe about third gear, and we can use the downhill slope of March to- fine, the car metaphor isn't working. But, hey, it's finally spring! Hence the, uh, 50 degree temperatures, wind, and rain outside right now. Okay, bad example, let's just start with the links.

DBacks News:

[DBacks.com] David Winfree keys D-backs' late rally over A's - You win some...
[DBacks.com] Armando Galarraga, D-backs fall short against Indians - ...you lose some. And in Spring Training, sometimes on the same day.
[MiLB.com] D-backs' teen Skaggs unfazed in debut - Skaggs put up a good showing- three scoreless innings, and not just against minor leaguers. It's easy to think about the Haren trade and think that Joe Saunders was a poor return, but just try to keep Skaggs in mind.
[AZ Central] Arizona Diamondbacks' Melvin Mora endures tough spring - Car accident, getting hit in the wrist with a pitch, and batting below the Uecker line going into Sunday's game- Melvin Mora is not enjoying this March.

More DBacks News:

[AZ Central] Kirk Gibson still mulling Arizona Diamondbacks' Opening Day lineup - He's mixing in some spices and putting it on the stove for his Christmas party? Fine, today is just not the day for metaphors for me.
[The D-blog] Parra, Gutierrez Heating Up As Season Approaches - Could we see some good results from two of our more mocked members of the roster last season? We can certainly hope...
[DBacks Venom] Carlos Rosa - Is He a Possibility for the 2011 Diamondbacks Bullpen? - Rosa has given a good showing in Spring Training so far. He wasn't too bad out of the bullpen for us last season, hopefully he can give us a good showing this year.
[AZ Central] Arizona Diamondbacks' Justin Upton OK after hurting knee - A few injury notes- J-Up jammed his knee chasing after a foul ball against the As yesterday, but it just looks to be sore. Meanwhile, Stephen Drew started yesterday after missing a few games due to abdominal tightness, and J.J. Putz is clear to play catch today.
[FanGraphs] 2011 Organizational Rankings: #29 – Arizona - Not promising. They rate us as tied for 16th on future talent, but they aren't fans of a year full of front office changes or the team's financial situation. We're sitting behind Pittsburgh (ow) and just ahead of Houston on the list.

Around Baseball:

[ESPN] Chicago White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy has possible rotator cuff tendinitis - Peavy's return to the majors hits another speed bump- he'll miss the start of the season, and Ozzie Guillen no longer trusts Peavy's opinion on whether or not he's ready to pitch.
[MLB.com] Mets release pitcher Oliver Perez - I've seen a few pages that suggest Perez might end up in Arizona- do we think Kevin Towers is going to go rummaging about the pitcher bargain bin again?
[New York Times] Baseball-Loving Japan Delays Its First Pitch, but Not Without Debate - In the face of a tragedy like Japan has faced, it's always hard for entertainment to find the proper place.
[Beyond the Box Score] The Brady Anderson of Defenders - From the "Fun with Infographics" Department, a look at a player who had a defensive spike in his stats akin to Brady Anderson's 50 home run season in 1996. As one commenter put it, "Clearly this is just proof... that [the player in question] ate a gazelle." Excellent detective work.
[Big League Stew] D.C.’s double downer: Five Guys bolts Nats Park, Harper injured - Wait, Harper is injured? So, I guess now isn't the time to start supplying your Biweekly Bryce...
[LA Times] Crowds are deserting Dodgers at Camelback Ranch -- attendance down 42.3% - That's an impressively huge drop. Wonder why the Dodgers (and Angels- down 49.9%) are seeing such a drop off.
[BBC News] Barry Bonds drugs perjury trial jury selection begins - Hey, something chock full of uninteresting characters and overwrought storylines that we'll be sick and tired of by the time it comes anywhere near a conclusion! It's the last three seasons of Heroes all over again.

Diamondbacks are set to play the Dodgers this evening at Salt River Fields, but since all of the afternoon Cactus League games were canceled for rain, it may just be an off-day for the team, and we'll face off against the Indians tomorrow.

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"do we think Kevin Towers is going to go rummaging about the pitcher bargain bin again?"

Yes

Bad doormat! No stock options!

by Clefo on Mar 21, 2011 6:23 PM EDT reply actions

[AZ Central] Arizona Diamondbacks’ Melvin Mora endures tough spring – Car accident, getting hit in the wrist with a pitch, and batting below the Uecker line going into Sunday’s game- Melvin Mora is not enjoying this March.

That makes at least two of us. And probably a lot more.

[ESPN] Chicago White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy has possible rotator cuff tendinitis – Peavy’s return to the majors hits another speed bump- he’ll miss the start of the season, and Ozzie Guillen no longer trusts Peavy’s opinion on whether or not he’s ready to pitch.

Brandon Webb should give Peavy some tips on being believable.

Mr. Science Boy

by DbacksSkins on Mar 21, 2011 7:36 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs

Nah, Peavy's got the exact opposite issue as Webb

Peavy keeps saying he’s ready and then getting on the mound and just making his injury worse.

"What everybody needs to do is calm down, take a deep breath, and prepare their bodies for the Thunderdome. That is the new law."

by kishi on Mar 21, 2011 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Random notes:

- Of course FanGraphs thinks Arizona is so bad in spite of our decent stock of talent. We fired a SABR, interim’d then demoted his protege, hired an old-schooler, traded a high-K high-HR slugger, and signed a bunch of veterans that they don’t value at all (in some cases, admittedly rightfully so). But let’s be serious, everybody – 29th is a HUGE stretch.

http://hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com/

by Dan Strittmatter on Mar 21, 2011 10:27 PM EDT reply actions

Err, there were two other notes...

- Ollie Perez is cooked. He’s basically the equivalent of Jordan Norberto, except not young and without upside.

- Maybe the reason the Dodgers’ attendance is down so darn much is that their prices are ABSURD. I got a ticket in row 5 of section 114, barely on the third base side of home place and in the highest price level, for $25. The same ticket for the Dodgers, at a dramatically inferior facility, was $42. Do the math.

http://hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com/

by Dan Strittmatter on Mar 21, 2011 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions

You paid

what now for spring training!!!!??!! Wow man.

I got nothin'.

by Bcawz on Mar 21, 2011 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Note:

I didn’t buy the Dodgers ticket. I uttered a quiet “screw that” and closed the window.

http://hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com/

by Dan Strittmatter on Mar 22, 2011 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't say dramatically inferior

Camelback’s one of the better parks in the league. But their ticket prices have always been insane.

"What everybody needs to do is calm down, take a deep breath, and prepare their bodies for the Thunderdome. That is the new law."

by kishi on Mar 21, 2011 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Perhaps

But SRF is incredible…

http://hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com/

by Dan Strittmatter on Mar 22, 2011 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions

It is

But Camelback is probably the second best park in the Cactus League.

"What everybody needs to do is calm down, take a deep breath, and prepare their bodies for the Thunderdome. That is the new law."

by kishi on Mar 22, 2011 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Sure

But the second best park’s tickets shouldn’t be -$17 cheaper than the tickets of the best park…

http://hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com/

by Dan Strittmatter on Mar 22, 2011 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions

You think that's bad

The Cubs want $28 to sit behind home plate in that barely-inhabitable pile of rubble that they call a stadium, and you’re likely to get crushed by debris and die if you go there- if you’re lucky.

At least, that’s what Cubs fans have assured me.

"What everybody needs to do is calm down, take a deep breath, and prepare their bodies for the Thunderdome. That is the new law."

by kishi on Mar 22, 2011 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Seriously, though

The prices at Camelback are all out of whack with the rest of the Cactus League. It’s a great park, but seriously. I was worried that the prices at Salt River would be in line with what the Dodgers and White Sox have put up, but I’m glad they’re closer to the rest of the league.

(Glancing through the rest of the league, it seems like the Cactus League is cheaper than the Grapefruit League. Makes sense, since if one game is too expensive here, I can drive fifteen minutes to another one. But, really, does someone want to pay $35 to sit behind home plate and see the Marlins play Spring Training?)

"What everybody needs to do is calm down, take a deep breath, and prepare their bodies for the Thunderdome. That is the new law."

by kishi on Mar 22, 2011 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Remember

that the cost of living, salaries, etc. are also lower in Arizona than Florida.

Mr. Science Boy

by DbacksSkins on Mar 22, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

You think that's bad

remember the time I got a salmon helmet from Muhammad?

Mr. Science Boy

by DbacksSkins on Mar 22, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

http://hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com/

by Dan Strittmatter on Mar 22, 2011 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with both of you

But mostly you. Camelback is a fantastic facility. I even like some aspects of the actual ballpark better than Senor Fats (like the CF area).

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 22, 2011 1:19 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

yeah i think it's a huge stretch also

just based on our stock of talent alone (they had us as the 10th best farm right?) we should be doing okay. and while i dislike that we fired a SABR, the interim dude wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire with his comments……well, lighting them in a positive way….

by blue bulldog on Mar 22, 2011 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Mr. Science Boy

by DbacksSkins on Mar 22, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

It needs to be pointed out...

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2011_03_20_arimlb_oakmlb_1

Remember: with baseball trades, foresight and hindsight don’t often agree.

http://hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com/

by Dan Strittmatter on Mar 22, 2011 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions

What?

That Tyler Skaggs knows how to win?

Mr. Science Boy

by DbacksSkins on Mar 22, 2011 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly dude (now with the reply feature!!!)

Good job reading my mind and all.

The guy got back-to-back K’s of Josh Willingham and Kurt Suzuki in his first big-league ST game. How many teenagers from the Midwest League do you think could pull that off?

http://hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com/

by Dan Strittmatter on Mar 22, 2011 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly dude

Good job reading my mind and all.

The guy got back-to-back K’s of Josh Willingham and Kurt Suzuki in his first big-league ST game. How many teenagers from the Midwest League do you think could pull that off?

http://hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com/

by Dan Strittmatter on Mar 22, 2011 8:32 PM EDT reply actions