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The last time the Diamondbacks played in PNC Park was September last year, with Tankapalooza in full effect, as the two teams jostled for possession of draft spots - picks which were used yesterday, both sides selecting in the top three. How things have changed, with Arizona now one game back of San Francisco and Pittsburgh at a respectable 28-30. On the other hand, the Diamondbacks starter for that game was D. Hudson, so maybe not that much has changed. Going for the Pirates that day was some guy called Zach Duke. Wonder what happened to him?
No Gibson in the dugout and, perhaps more importantly, we might not be seeing Esmerling Vasquez this series either, as they have been suspended, for one and three games respectively, after their parts in Sunday's HBP war against the Nationals. Even though all accounts say Gibson was not involved, once there is what the umpires deem a deliberate HBP, the manager gets an automatic, unappealable one-game ban - Alan Trammell will take over for us. Vasquez can appeal, but no word yet as to whether he will do so. Could leave our bullpen stretched thin, though the off-day yesterday will have helped. Here's tonight's line-up:
- Ryan Roberts 3B
- Kelly Johnson 2B
- Justin Upton RF
- Stephen Drew SS
- Chris Young CF
- Miguel Montero C
- Juan Miranda 1B
- Gerardo Parra LF
- Daniel Hudson RHP
Good to say Miranda back in the starting line-up after recent unexplained absences. Worth noting that, coming into tonight's contest, the team is 19-9 when he starts, compared to 14-18 when he doesn't. On an related note, I just bumped into a clip on the MLB Network where Daron Sutton was saying how Sean Burroughs had become a good pinch-hitter. O RLY? He's 4-for-15 in that role with no walks and no extra-base hits, a .533 OPS. Lovely story 'n' all, great Kevin Towers is sticking with a man he drafted in the first round 13 years ago, but Sean barely justifies the 25th roster spot, and I suspect another bullpen arm might be more valuable with Vasquez suspended.
Not going to be about for this one, as we are off to see Front Line Assembly at the Nile Theater in Mesa. Last time I saw FLA was October 29th, 1995 at the Astoria 1 in London, supported by Sheep on Drugs. How time flies. Anyway, we know one of the opening bands, so are aiming to beat the traffic, head over to Mesa early and have dinner there, before supporting them - so even if it's an early start, we will be heading out the door. 'Skins is supposedly on the recap, unless there's some swap I wasn't aware of [about a 30% chance of that, I reckon], and 'charmer will be bringing your SnakeSounds after the ball is over.