SnakeBytes 9/20: Number Four Edition

by kishi on Sep 20, 2011 4:10 PM EDT in Snake Bytes

I just love seeing that number count down.

Recaps:

[DBacks.com] Kennedy rolls to 20th as D-backs inch closer - There was a moment in the eighth inning where we realized Ian Kennedy had put up 10 Ks already on the game. He was dominating.
[AZ Central] Arizona Diamondbacks' Ian Kennedy gets 20th win in victory over Pittsburgh Pirates - Why was IPK happy to have his 20th win? "Tired of getting questions about it."
[Baseball Nation] Ian Kennedy Posts 20th Win; Diamondbacks Move Closer To Unlikely NL West Title
- I love that home run by Justin Upton. Usually, you almost expect the bat to go further than the ball when it breaks like that.
[The Washington Post] Ian Kennedy outpitches Jeff Karstens in Pittsburgh’s 1-0 loss to Diamondbacks - Karstens put up a pretty good outing, too, managing the only Pirates hit off of IPK. But Kennedy was better, and that's what matters.
[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review] Kennedy, Diamondbacks treat Pirates to loss - Also, the look on Karstens's face after J-Up's home run is pretty hilarious.

DBacks News:

[AZ Central] Arizona Diamondbacks' Ian Kennedy becomes ace and leader of staff - You think he's glad to be out of New York?
[SportsNation - ESPN] Do 20 wins equal the NL Cy Young? - I don't know about that. But it's a nice milestone.
[Yahoo! Sports] Arizona displayed guts at another club crossroads - I think guts is what this team has in spades. Yeah, they may not have the big names or the flashy talent other teams do, for the most part. But they make the best of what they do have.
[Puckett's Pond - Minnesota Twins Blog] Should You Root for the Arizona Diamondbacks? - "For those of you who love reptiles, this is an easy question. The Diamondbacks are the only team in the playoffs named after a poisonous snake. End of story."
[USA TODAY] Upton, Stanton tops among National League fantasy keepers - Of course he is- who wouldn't want Justin Upton on their team?
[AZ Central] Arizona Diamondbacks lack attendance despite success - Aw, AZ Central, bad enough we get this from outside media, but you, too?
[Phoenix Business Journal] D-backs playoff prices will rise if team reaches NLCS, World Series - Not too surprising to me. But worth it, I'd say, if it means we get to see our team play further into the postseason.

Around Baseball:

[USA Today] First Pitch: Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum again mano-a-mano - Two pitchers we love to hate face off. I'm hoping they both allow a dozen runs in the first two innings, are pushed out of the game, and then the Giants bullpen just gives up.
[Bleacher Report] Toronto Blue Jays: Has Kelly Johnson Done Enough for a New Contract? - Wait, John McDonald and Aaron Hill want to go back to the Blue Jays next year?
[Big League Stew] Marlins pitcher receives surprising package from Kuwait - We normally make fun of the Marlins for not having many fans. But that doesn't mean they don't have any.
[HardballTalk] Joe Maddon on the weight of a late-season collapse - Meanwhile, Maddon is hoping to see a total late-season collapse from the Red Sox.
[New York Times] Wright’s Rough Year Raises Questions of Whether He Fits on Mets - David Wright is one of those players I've always been fond of, for one reason or another. But this has been a bad year for him, and the Mets in general.
[Baseball Nation] Vernon Wells And The Hilarious Opt-Out Clause - "Hey, Vernon Wells- you don't really want to make $63 million over the next three years, do you?"
[Beyond the Box Score] Previewing The Market: Second Basemen - Something we might want to keep an eye on as we look past the end of the season.
[Big League Stew] Obit for Twins fan mentions disappointment with Joe Mauer - Man, I hope this isn't his actual obituary. That's pretty sad.

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Comments

i couldn't tell if this was sarcasm

but it was sort of an understood part of the trade that McDonald would end up back with Toronto after the season

by blue bulldog on Sep 20, 2011 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

Assuming Drew is okay

He won’t be needed in Arizona. Hill is another question, though.

by azshadowwalker on Sep 20, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

but I see absolutely no reason why Hill would want to go back, and I have no idea where the bleacher report got the idea that he was going back. Let’s think for a moment, would you rather play on a team that is a fairly easy division, and will likely play for the division title next year, or go to a much harder division where you have to face the Yankees and Red sox a million times a season, and probably will finish near the bottom of the pack? Seems like a no brainer to me…

Reading: It's highly overrated!
I <3 Vuvuzelas!!!
Sutton: Both sides have been warned.
Gracie: That's too bad!

by imstillhungry95 on Sep 20, 2011 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Um, it's Bleacher Report??

What did you expect?

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Mr. Hall, you WILL beat it!

by dbacks25 on Sep 20, 2011 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I know,

I shouldn’t expect anything, but I do anyway. Complete lack of thought is annoying to me

Reading: It's highly overrated!
I <3 Vuvuzelas!!!
Sutton: Both sides have been warned.
Gracie: That's too bad!

by imstillhungry95 on Sep 20, 2011 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe

The local radio show conducted some trade reaction interviews and both of them hinted that they’d like to go back to Toronto in 2012. I think…

Wear your own fur.

by Marc Fournier on Sep 20, 2011 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Riiiiggghhttttt

it’s called playing up the locals – do you expect that they would have said, “Oh, we’re so much happier playing in Toronto, with the higher taxes, the living hassles, playing in the shadow of the Yankees and Sox…”

I’ll believe it when I see it.

"The wise writer, I think, writes for the youth of his own generation, the critic of the next and the schoolmasters of ever afterward." F. Scott Fitzgerald.

by NASCARbernet on Sep 20, 2011 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly!

Who in their right mind would rather play against the Yankees and Red Sox when you could face the Padres and Dodgers?

Reading: It's highly overrated!
I <3 Vuvuzelas!!!
Sutton: Both sides have been warned.
Gracie: That's too bad!

by imstillhungry95 on Sep 20, 2011 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

We don't talk about it much

but the lifestyle in Phoenix and the Southwest is so much better than the Northeast and Canada anyway, especially for professional athletes and other outdoorsy types.

"The wise writer, I think, writes for the youth of his own generation, the critic of the next and the schoolmasters of ever afterward." F. Scott Fitzgerald.

by NASCARbernet on Sep 20, 2011 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't a ton of athletes live there in the winter anyway?

And half of them are there for spring training…

I stopped reading. Now I just write sarcastic, angry comments.. -- soco
They're not even cooking the ice! -- kishi

by snakecharmer on Sep 20, 2011 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Another fine point

Blizzards or occasional haboobs?

Reading: It's highly overrated!
I <3 Vuvuzelas!!!
Sutton: Both sides have been warned.
Gracie: That's too bad!

by imstillhungry95 on Sep 20, 2011 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Eh.

Everyone has their own personal preferences so I’m not going to act like I know what theirs are. I’m sure they each have family connections that play heavily into their decision. Either way, they both put it out there that they might want to go back.

It might have just been “saying the right things” or it might actually have some merit. Juss saayyin’.

Wear your own fur.

by Marc Fournier on Sep 20, 2011 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Fair enough

Reading: It's highly overrated!
I <3 Vuvuzelas!!!
Sutton: Both sides have been warned.
Gracie: That's too bad!

by imstillhungry95 on Sep 20, 2011 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions

So...

Why would a couple of guys getting ready to go into the playoffs, and have benefited from a trade, mouth off at exactly the wrong time?

It’s called psychological games, my friend, and that’s all it is.

"The wise writer, I think, writes for the youth of his own generation, the critic of the next and the schoolmasters of ever afterward." F. Scott Fitzgerald.

by NASCARbernet on Sep 20, 2011 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not sure

I’d consider that mouthing off. Again, I’m not trying to hype this up, I’m just saying what I remember hearing when the trade happened.

I’m sure it’s not as one-sided of an argument as your presenting, though. Wives, children, family, and personal happiness might mean more to a person than winning a championship.

Wear your own fur.

by Marc Fournier on Sep 20, 2011 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions

i'm pretty sure you are remembering correctly

at least for Johnny Mac, i’m fairly certain he’ll be back in Toronto after this year with us. he loves it there, and he’s beloved there, and AA has already talked about to him about having him back.

as for Hill…..well i doubt AA will take him back even if he wants to go back. unfortunately, our FO will probably remember him having one ridiculously good week with us and completely forget about the small fact that Aaron Hill sucks, and pick up his ridiculous options.

by blue bulldog on Sep 20, 2011 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm still holding my breath

That we can decline his option and try to sign him to a friendlier deal.

Wear your own fur.

by Marc Fournier on Sep 20, 2011 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Eh

I’d rather deal with snow than 110+ degree days, but that’s just me…

"Never ignore a coincidence. Unless you're busy, in which case always ignore a coincidence."

by kishi on Sep 20, 2011 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Hear, hear.

It’s not very fun when you only experience two seasons in a year.

Wear your own fur.

by Marc Fournier on Sep 20, 2011 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

having been to both

i think it’s a no-brainer that Toronto is a better place to be than Phoenix

but maybe that’s just me

by blue bulldog on Sep 20, 2011 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Gordon Beckham

interesting concept….and the Dbacks do have a history of trading with the White Sox

still think this guy has plenty of upside….and the White Sox are probably at the point where they’ve given up on him.

would they take a reliever for Beckham? Bryan Shaw for Beckham? or maybe one of our Tier 2 SP prospects like Corbin? i honestly may even be willing to go so far as give them Miley for Beckham….

by blue bulldog on Sep 20, 2011 5:01 PM EDT reply actions

az would win that trade

because the net gain would be parker/skaggs and beckham for miley

Arizona Diamondbacks: 89-65
New England Patriots: 2-0

by freeland1787 on Sep 20, 2011 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions

you have a weird concept of net gain.....

think about it. if parker and skaggs are better than miley, then they will replace miley. it’s just a matter of time. parker and skaggs in our rotation is a given…..assuming they are better than miley.

what you’re talking about is opportunity cost. the opportunity cost of us giving up Miley is very low, because we have guys like Parker/Skaggs (and in fact, may be a reverse opportunity cost because Parker/Skaggs are better than Miley).

but the net gain/loss from the trade is simply how much Beckham is better or worse than Miley

by blue bulldog on Sep 20, 2011 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Saunders for Beckham.

KW loves veteran starters, particularly when he can trade cost-controlled young talent for them!

/spoilersformySaunderstradecandidatepost

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by Dan Strittmatter on Sep 21, 2011 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

lulz

honestly i’d probably start rolling on the floor if in the offseason i heard we traded Saunders for Beckham

but i mean….he gave us Hudson for EJax……anything is possible. note that this isn’t meant to suggest Beckham is close to as good as Hudson is, in terms of future expected value, at this point. but i mean, EJax is quite a bit more valuable than Saunders so…..

the only thing that i see as a problem is that KW knows he’s got cash problems right now, and can’t afford to spend. they probably aren’t going to resign Buerhle and I’ve read that they expect to move Chris Sale to the rotation to save money. not sure if he’ll be willing to pay for Saunders.

one other interesting thing of note along the whole trade issue. KC is looking for a starter, but they aren’t willing to move Hosmer, Duffy, Moose, Odorizzi, or Montgomery. that screams to me “i don’t want to trade for a front-line guy, but i’m willing to trade for a mid-to-back end guy for the right price”

let’s say KC might be interested in picking up Saunders. who would they be willing to give up? i honestly wouldn’t mind taking Christian Colon off their hands. he’s not a Top 100 guy by any stretch of the imagination, and most likely not a Top 150 guy at this point either. but he’ll give us some SS depth in the minors.

of course if DMGM wants to give us Wil Myers after this disappointing year, i’ll be glad to take him off their hands. heck, i’d even consider ending this RF experiment and just move him back behind the plate, to be Miggy’s heir.

by blue bulldog on Sep 22, 2011 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Starting Lineups

Pittsburgh Pirates
1. Alex Pressley LF
2. Neil Walker 2B
3. Andrew McCutcheon CF
4. Derrek Lee 1B
5. Ryan Doumit C
6. Garrett Jones RF
7. Pedro Alvarez 3B
8. Ronny Cedeno SS
9. Charlie Morton SP
Arizona Diamondbacks
1. Willie Bloomquist SS
2. Aaron Hill 2B
3. Justin Upton RF
4. Miguel Montero C
5. Paul Goldschmidt 1B
6. Chris Young CF
7. Ryan Roberts 3B
8. Gerardo Parra LF
9. Daniel Hudson SP