Diamondbacks news
[dbacks.com] D-backs hope for improved pitching in 2017 - Once the front office is settled, the organization will have to figure out whether the results of 2016 represent an aberration caused by injuries or whether full-scale changes to the roster will be needed. As they tried to do last year, the D-backs will again take strides to improve their pitching staff. Changes must be made to the bullpen, and the club will have to decide whether to break up the young nucleus in the rotation or bank on the possibility of enough of their starters taking a step forward.
[AZ Central] Garrett Richards provides hope for Arizona Diamondbacks' Rubby De La Rosa - The way Angels right-hander Garrett Richards sees it, he is no longer recovering from an injury. His arm feels great. The ball feels good coming out of his hand. He is, for all intents and purposes, healthy. "I’ve kind of felt that way for a while now," Richards said. He represents the best-case scenario for the Diamondbacks and their right-hander Rubby De La Rosa, who underwent the same procedure last month. De La Rosa already has had one Tommy John surgery in 2011. He’s hoping this relatively new procedure allows him to avoid another.
[Inside the 'Zona] Bringing Back Daniel Hudson Has Its Risks - Despite having power stuff, he’s far from a model of consistency and may continue to be prone to some ups and downs. The last point above is true of most relievers, so it’s not like Hudson should be vastly penalized for his ebbs and flows, but he should’t be paid as if he’s Zach Britton, either. There’s a role for him in Arizona next season, a high-leverage one, should he return. But Hudson isn’t without his risks and they have to be weighed appropriately when considering whether or not the team should bring him back.
[Venom Strikes] Diamondbacks 2016 Year In Review: Zack Greinke - Transitioning from pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium to hitter-friendly Chase Field required an adjustment. In the end, Greinke failed to make any adjustment, ended with yielding 23 home runs and that was one co-club leaders Patrick Corbin and Robbie Ray. To many, Greinke regressed and often struggled with his command. That represented a surprising dimension of his season. In stretches, the 32-year-old looked dominant, but when he struggled, Greinke was mortal.
[TKB] Austin Byler Back On Track One Year After Worst Mistake Of His Career - What’s lost in the shuffle here, though, is that 50-game period left in limbo where Byler grinded out an anonymous, thankless routine in extended spring training at the organization’s Scottsdale complex while serving out his punishment. Imagine that—being rendered completely invisible for an entire third of a season literally just months after stealing the show in Missoula. Such is the punishment, though. "Extended is really tough," Byler admitted, almost audibly breathing a sigh of relief to be past it even now.
And, elsewhere...
The Boston Red Sox bowed out, being swept out of the ALDS by the Cleveland Indians, in a game which also marked the final contest in the career of David Ortiz. Even though the post-season run was a short one, he is the first player to put up 5 bWAR in the final season of his career since Shoeless Joe Jackson and Happy Felsch of the 1920 White Sox. Whose careers were ended not by their own choices...
Washington blew things up late against the Dodgers, scoring four in the ninth to win 8-3. One LA fan was likely feeling particularly sick. The one who posted this Tweet in January:
If Joe Blanton pitches 75+ innings of league average ERA next year, I will eat one of everything on the menu at dodger stadium
— Dolphin Pilot (@TheAmitie) January 19, 2016
To his credit, he didn't just delete the Tweet, but went for it today at Dodger Stadium, having raised the funds to cover the cost on GoFundMe.
The Giants did eventually edge the Cubs, 6-5, winning their 10th straight elimination game. It is, however, the first time they have had a walkoff in an elimination game since Game 5 of the 1911 World Series, when Fred Merkle had the game-winning hit. At five hours, four minutes, it was only the 25th longest post-season contest ever, but it certainly felt a great deal longer...
[The Onion] MLB Mascots Union Demands More Bald Fans To Playfully Tease Between Innings - “If the league fails to provide a significant increase of middle-aged, preferably chubby men whose bald heads we can pretend to use as a mirror with which to admire our reflections, we will have no choice but to refuse to sign a new collective bargaining agreement. Furthermore, until our demands are met, all members of our organization will cease pulling up fans to dance with on top of the dugout, stealing the hats of umpires, or leaning in for a kiss on the cheek from a woman in the stands. We warn you: Do not test our resolve in this matter.”