Recaps
- [dbacks.com] Results elude Cahill in forgettable outing - "You want the results, but I was at least able to maintain the same mechanics," Cahill said. "If you want to take something positive away, that's the one thing I can think of... I think going in I kind of worried about mechanics. I felt good on that front. The results, you definitely want; you want to see it translate. But it wasn't there today. I'll kind of regroup and work on some stuff for five days from now."
- [ArizonaSports] Cahill 'unable to execute' against Oakland - "Mechanically, I felt better than I did last start, but the results weren't there so it's just something to work on, I guess," he said. "Right now I'm working on stuff and figuring out what works. Some pitches aren't there yet, but for the most part I feel like I'm getting closer, so hopefully the next one is better."
- [Fox Sports[ D-backs game report - "Left-handed specialist Joe Thatcher faced two left-handed hitters and two righties. He gave up a groundout and a double off the wall to his two lefties. ... J.J. Putz gave up a double and a walk to lead off the seventh before striking out two, one on a split-finger pitch, and getting out of a bases-loaded situation with a fly out. "He made some good pitches," Gibson said."
Team news
- [ArizonaSports[ No clear lineup materializing for 2014 Diamondbacks - "You try to figure out on that given day really what is the best lineup," Gibson explained of his approach. "You try to think things up because it changes. Maybe a guy is not available on the opponent's team on a certain day, so you might change things, you know. Overall we want to be flexible. We want to be able to move guys around. At the same time," he went on, "it's good if you can get a set lineup. I understand that. I came up in the era when that happened. There's more science to it, I guess, than there was then."
- [AZ Central] Delgado doing best to stay upbeat in uncertain spring - "The way things stand at the moment, Randall Delgado’s chances of cracking the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day lineup as a member of their five-man starting rotation appear to be about as tiny as Keira Knightley’s waist. And that's pretty small." Man, that AZ Central partnership with Bleacher Report is really paying dividends...
- [dbacks.com] Kirk Gibson waiting to call J.J. Putz or Addison Reed D-backs' closer - "We really haven't discussed that part of it," Kirk Gibson said when asked about the closer completion before Thursday's game. "The usual guys that we were talking about in the beginning are all in play. I don't know that we've exactly talked about what's going to happen against the Dodgers at this point."
- [FOX Sports] Campana, Tuiasosopo compete for reserve outfield spots - Openings remain for the second catcher and extra outfielders, and outfield candidate Tony Campana is not unlike many fans at this time in spring in trying to evaluate the situation. "I think it is only human to wonder what they are thinking and what your role is going to be," Campana said. "I'm just looking forward to see what happens and play hard and play my game."
- [ArizonaSports] In second year with D-backs, Martin Prado finally feeling 'comfortable and settled' - "Just two words -- comfortable and settled. I know my routine. I've got more time. I think last year I was just trying to figure it out, trying to get to know everybody. Last year, I was like trying to prove something. I was trying to be someone that I wasn't. When you get to a new place, you know -- it was the first time for me -- I was trying to impress everybody here."
- [AZ Central] Bo Schultz opening eyes - Right-hander Bo Schultz followed Bradley into the game and threw two perfect innings, and, like Bradley, Schultz was running his fastball up to 96 mph. "It was pretty fun to watch those two guys come in, one after another, and set the tone," pitching coach Mike Harkey said. "They came in, showed no nerves and pounded the strike zone." [Schultz will be starting Sunday's game, SnakePitLawnFest]
- [The Fantasy Fix] 45 Prospects In 45 Days: Arizona’s Chris Owings - The Diamondbacks are certainly willing to trade either one of Owings or Didi Gregorius, but the glut of shortstops atop most prospect rankings, along with the D’Backs’ high, specific demands have cooled the market a bit. Kevin Towers is one of the more aggressive GMs in the league, but unfortunately the asset he’s looking to acquire (a young, offensively-skilled catcher) isn’t exactly one that other teams have in abundance, nor is it one they’re in a hurry to part with.
- [MiLB.com] Silver Hawks to Guarantee Nice Weather for Home Opener - "If the temperature is below 50 degrees, when the gates open, anyone that purchased tickets for Opening Night between March 12th and April 1st will receive a free ticket to a remaining regular season game during the 2014 season" That's the promise of our Class-A affiliate in South Bend. I think the D-backs could take the bet on, without much risk of having to pay out. Mind you, 50 degrees = nice weather? Brrrrr....
And, elsewhere...
- [ABC News] Sports Medicine Pioneer Frank Jobe Dies at 88 - Dr. Frank Jobe, a pioneering orthopedic surgeon who was the first to perform an elbow procedure that became known as Tommy John surgery and saved the careers of countless major league pitchers, died Thursday. He was 88.
- [USA Today] 10 best American baseball stadium bites - if this doesn't get your stomach rumbling, you should probably get checked for a pulse, while you're at it.
- [Denver Post] How Chris Martin, a hard-working warehouse employee, became a Rockies bullpen candidate - or, alternatively, how the Rockies were reduced to searching for relievers in warehouses.
- [xkcd.com] What would happen if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90% the speed of light?