AZ Snake Pit - All PostsAn unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2024-03-18T22:00:00-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/current/2024-03-18T22:00:00-04:002024-03-18T22:00:00-04:00Life in the Minor Leagues: Business Development
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<img alt="Sunrise at Hodgetown in Amarillo, Texas, April 2, 2019" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-kEvF0YrJ2-njU8L3FBnjoQW7S0=/42x0:3600x2372/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216815/1140671712.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Sunrise at Hodgetown. When this picture was taken, the first game was six days away, and Sierra McMillan had been working in Amarillo for over a year | Photo by Paul Harris/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>A look at a central role that fans rarely see</p> <p id="h7AojO">The story starts with a twenty year old intern who only took the job for college credit, with no intention of working in baseball. Eight years later, she’s still working in baseball, and has been part of a group that built a franchise from the ground up, won two championships and many more accolades.</p>
<p id="3Bkywv">Sierra McMillan grew up in San Diego, and remains a fan of her hometown Padres. She planned to work in football and had no plans to live in Amarillo. But a job with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox led to a change. After completing her internship and graduating from the University of Colorado–Colorado Springs, she was interested in learning more about the business of baseball, and kept working with the team.</p>
<p id="pXW2Dq">2017 saw the announcement of a three-way move involving the Sky Sox, San Antonio Missions, and Helena Brewers, all of whom were, at the time, owned by the Elmore Group, who owns the Sod Poodles. In March of 2018, Sierra moved to Amarillo, becoming the first employee of what was then a nameless minor league baseball team that wouldn’t play their first game for over a year. She “couldn’t pass up the opportunity to build a brand new stadium, brand new brand” and she spent two months as the sole employee of the franchise in Amarillo. She had a hand in everything: the name, the branding, the mascot. And she still does. Her title is Senior Director of Business Development. Central to the role is finding sponsors and partners throughout the community, but, as is normal throughout the minor leagues, she might work in any number of roles depending on the day.</p>
<p id="UXDz3T">“Every single day is a different day and has different challenges,” McMillan says. On a typical game day, “we get here at 9 or 10 in the morning, we have what’s called out game day meeting, and we talk about the day, what to expect…We talk about who the sponsors are, what needs they have, if we need to discuss anything with a group.” Giveaways, fireworks, or other special events are also part of the preparations. “My team is working on the script and getting [it] finalized, making sure all the right clients are in there, and getting it sent up to the booth. Putting up banners for sponsors. We have a big inflatable Ruckus that says ‘Game Tonight’” that is around 20 feet tall. After all of the responsibilities in her area are completed, “it’s helping other departments” and can range from putting things in suites to cleaning seating areas. All this needs to be completed before the game day staff arrives, because then come the meetings with game day staff, followed by the game. Game time doesn’t mean the work is done, as there is always something to do. “In minor league baseball, you have to be willing to help where you can. There’s no time to sit around at your desk.” </p>
<p id="RclAjw">Sierra recommends that people who might be interested in working in baseball take an internship. “I only did it to fulfill credit hours, but I grew a love and a passion for it…and when you are in that internship, work hard and ask other departments. You might get an internship in ticketing, but have an interest in marketing. You can always ask, ‘hey, is there any way I can learn?’...You have to be willing to learn all the different things.” She’s learned a lot of different things as she begins her ninth year working in baseball. She found an unexpected home, and established many connections throughout the community. Her stability is somewhat unique in the world of minor league baseball, and she identifies the constant turnover as one of the biggest challenges. Most people who work in minor league baseball are young and looking to move up the rungs to an eventual major league job, so finding the right people and keeping them is a challenge. Living and working in Amarillo might be the perfect fit for Sierra McMillan, but it isn’t the perfect fit for everyone.</p>
<p id="3hkQF1">Amarillo had a long history with minor league baseball, but there hadn’t been an affiliated team in Amarillo since 1982, when the final iteration of the Amarillo Gold Sox moved to Beaumont, Texas. Independent league teams followed, but in 2016, the Amarillo Air Hogs moved away, citing poor field conditions in the old stadium, which had opened in 1949 and was surrounded by stockyards and refineries. Construction began on Hodgetown in February of 2018, just a month before Sierra was in town, beginning to build connections with community leaders. </p>
<p id="HHcPKf">Of course, the team had to have a name. How did they arrive at the Sod Poodles name, which last year won an Athletic readers’ poll as the best team name in the minor leagues? McMillan recalls “there was a team of six or seven of us” working with a branding company and “we came up with five names to put out for community input.” Rather than a vote of the entire community, they took the names to elementary schools and had the kids vote, and also draw up potential mascots. Ruckus, the mascot of the Sod Poodles, was created from these drawings. “It was really cool to be part of that initial process…and then building that to be the full brand that it is now,” she says. Of course, as with many minor league teams, Amarillo also has an alternate identity, the Calf Fries, which is also a popular name, and won the award for best alternate identity at the inaugural MiLB Awards (and presumably educated a lot of people as to what “calf fries” are.)</p>
<p id="XoHmqR">The first season of the Sod Poodles was in 2019, when they were the affiliate of the San Diego Padres. There could not have been a better start. They won the Texas League and were named Baseball America’s Minor League Team of the Year, and drew over 6,000 fans per game. Trevor Hoffman came to a game, which Sierra considers one of the highlights of her career, so far. Unfortunately, rather than being able to build on that success in 2020, COVID-19 shut down the baseball season, a season in which Amarillo was to host the Texas League All Star Game. When baseball returned in 2021, it was with a new parent club, as the Diamondbacks signed a ten year agreement prior to the 2021 season. Still, an overflow crowd of almost 8,000 showed up on opening day, and an average of over 5,200 showed up to watch a team that included, at various points of the season, Geraldo Perdomo, Alek Thomas, Jake McCarthy, Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, and Tommy Henry. Attendance actually increased in 2022, and while it dropped in 2023, it was still over 5,300 per game and ranked 27th out of all minor league teams, fifth in AA, and first in the Texas League. This is doubly impressive when considering that Amarillo is the smallest market in the Texas League, and has one of the smallest stadiums. By comparison, Frisco has a population about 35,000 higher than Amarillo, and is part of a metro area of over 7 million, has a stadium that seats over 10,000, and averaged about 200 fewer fans per game. </p>
<p id="vIH8Fj">Much of the sustained success in terms of attendance comes from the sense of community that the franchise attempts to build. While many people in her position would jump at the opportunity to move up levels and eventually work in the major leagues, that is not Sierra’s goal. “I know so many of our season ticket holders, I know almost every single one of our partners, I know all the suite holders…you build these connections on a more local level, and being able to go out into the community and volunteer in all these different places, [find out] how the Sod Poodles can help.” The Amarillo area has been hard hit by natural disasters in the last few years. Last year there was flooding and a tornado, and this year the area was devastated by wildfires that were the largest in the history of the state of Texas. “I love this community, I love this town, and I love what minor league baseball stands for,” Sierra says, “I wouldn’t change it for the world.” Over the 2023 season, the Sod Poodles raised over $250,000 for various charitable ventures, according to Minor League Baseball.</p>
<p id="PfHSGU">The 2023 season has to go down in history as one of the most successful year any team has ever had, at any level. Not only did the Sod Poodles win the Texas League championship for the second time in five years, they also won the Minor League Organization of the Year Award, the AA Bob Freitas Award, and the aforementioned award for the best alternate identity. But they are not content to rest on their laurels. This offseason has seen $4.5 million worth of enhancements and renovations to Hodgetown, including a digital ribbon board and a new party deck on the first base side, twice the size of the deck on the third base side. Most other changes are more functional. They are adding a women’s locker room, enlarging the players’ dining room, and adding a weight room for the opposing team. Some of these changes are required by Major League Baseball, while the deck will be able to host larger groups and provide more space for hospitality, which McMillan says is 95-98% sold out every year.</p>
<p id="5B3XXV">The Sod Poodles will also have a number of interesting giveaways on the calendar this year. One is a Jordan Lawlar card bobblehead, which is a sort of three dimensional baseball card that comes complete with stats on the back. There will be a “Called to the Show” T-shirt featuring players that have played in Amarillo and made the major leagues (including, obviously, Corbin Carroll), and a Rookie of the Year Carroll bobblehead that is a joint venture with the Diamondbacks. “We want to do more of that now that we have this ten year partnership with the Diamondbacks, we want to do joint giveaways or do Diamondbacks with the Sod Poodles giveaway so that our fans can really create that kind of connection and build that brand loyalty from Amarillo to Arizona.”</p>
<p id="yvbx01">If you happen to be passing through Amarillo in the summer, keep an eye out for the giant Ruckus. If he’s up, stop at Hodgetown for a game and see the future of the Diamondbacks in action. Or plan a trip out there for one of the big giveaways. (Some fans came from Arizona for the Corbin Carroll bobblehead last year, Sierra notes, and more are always welcome.)</p>
<p id="HSpBuW">If you want to help with wildfire relief, the <a href="https://amarilloareafoundation.org/disaster/">Amarillo Area Foundation</a> is the place to donate. Make sure to follow the Sod Poodles on the platform formerly known as Twitter @sodpoodles, and on Instagram as sodpoodles.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2024/3/18/24098872/life-in-the-minor-leagues-business-developmentSteak852024-03-18T19:17:25-04:002024-03-18T19:17:25-04:00Diamondbacks 3, Athletics 3: Kelly’s zeroes
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<img alt="MLB: Spring Training-Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FPPnx3oYCOwUcl-PKTr6-wsy-t0=/0x0:3872x2581/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216629/usa_today_22725118.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Seven of ten outs recorded by the K for Merrill today. </p> <h4 id="fW4k6w">Record: 10-13-2. Change on 2023: -1.5. Five-inning record: 12-11-2.</h4>
<p id="6feCkg">Merrill Kelly had his penultimate outing before the regular season, and seems to be shaping into form nicely. He went 3.1 scoreless innings on 64 pitches, allowing four singles and a walk, while striking out seven batters. Jake Rice got the final two outs in the fourth, then Paul Sewald and Kyle Nelson also tossed scoreless frames, as the D-backs kept the A’s off the board through seven. Logan Allen was responsible for the seventh, but had a bit of a melt-down in the eighth, allowing four hits, a stolen-base and a balk, as Oakland scored three times to tie up the game. With neither side able to push across a run in the ninth, it became Arizona’s second tie of spring.</p>
<p id="nvhx4S">At the plate, Jake McCarthy, Christian Walker and Alberto Almora Jr. each had two of the Diamondbacks’ nine hits, with Kevin Newman getting a hit and a walk. McCarthy had the only extra-base hit for Arizona, a double, with he, Walker and Newman driving in the team’s three runs. Nice to see Gabriel Moreno back in the line-up after missing a few games: he went 1-for-3. I also note Jace Peterson starting the game at shortstop, perhaps a sign of how things might unfold in regard to the bench spots. Tomorrow, it’s a night game for the D-backs, as they face the Cubs in Mesa, with a 6:05 pm first pitch. Eduardo Rodriguez will be starting on the mound for Arizona. </p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2024/3/18/24105351/diamondbacks-3-athletics-3-kellys-zeroesJim McLennan2024-03-18T10:30:08-04:002024-03-18T10:30:08-04:00Snake Bytes, 3/18: Gallen rolls
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<img alt="Arizona Diamondbacks v San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5FXx4qKrABOTenUy9eKdiLD4xNI=/0x0:4152x2768/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73215136/2085340349.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Our ace looked almost ready for Opening Day</p> <h4 id="XW9puh">Team news </h4>
<p id="p14ciQ"><a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/game-day/zac-gallen-takes-huge-step-forward-towards-opening-day-start">[SI] Zac Gallen Takes Huge Step Forward Towards Opening Day Start</a> - Gallen looked like the pitcher who finished third in the National League Cy Young race against the Angels today, pitching into the 5th inning. He allowed just one hit and walked one while striking out four in 4 1/3 scoreless innings in a 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels. "Honestly it's the best I felt in a while," said Gallen. "I feel like everything I'm working is starting to click today, delivery-wise." Gallen is comfortable with the timing of his delivery and how the ball is coming out of his hand. It showed in his velocity, which jumped up a couple ticks in today's start, and his overall stuff. </p>
<p id="r1kCI8"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/zac-gallen-four-strikeouts-in-d-backs-spring-win">[Dbacks.com] Gallen looks Opening Day ready in sizzling spring start</a> - Overall, Gallen threw 58 pitches (34 strikes). And with one more start this spring, he can get to the pitch-count range he would need to be at for Opening Day. “Zac was unbelievably efficient today,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We ran it back out there for his fifth inning, just to drive his pitch count up. Touching that inning was super important, getting stretched out is equally important with his pitch count. “But I thought overall it was clearly one of the best spring outings that we've seen from any of our starting pitchers. It was very Zac-esque.”</p>
<p id="AbNR9D"><a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/game-day/blake-walston-struggles-and-rallies-vs-mariners">[SI] Blake Walston Struggles and Rallies vs Mariners</a> - Right-hander Slade Cecconi, another long-shot member of the D-backs' fifth starter battle, pitched well over two innings. Despite allowing a hustle of a double to Samad Taylor and a ripped single on a hanging breaking ball to former D-back Ryan Bliss, he looked generally strong, with 2 hits, 1 earned run and four strikeouts in his outing. He was able to generate plenty of swing-and-miss, getting whiffs and chases on both his fastball and breaking pitches. Even if not a legitimate candidate for a starting role, Cecconi's confidence and high-powered stuff could make him an option as a long reliever.</p>
<p id="ve01S0"><a href="https://venomstrikes.com/posts/diamondbacks-potential-2024-opening-day-line-up-corbin-carroll-ketel-marte-gabriel-moreno-christian-walker-01hs85aqgxv8/5">[Venom Strikes] Previewing the Arizona Diamondbacks’ potential 2024 Opening Day line-up</a> - Suarez has averaged about +3.6 fWAR the last two seasons. He’s a guaranteed 20 home run threat with above average offense, and average defense, at the very least. He is also a very steady option as he’s played about 94% of his total possible games over the last three seasons. If Suarez plays anything like he has the last two seasons, he’ll be the first +3.0 fWAR third basemen the Diamondbacks have had since Jake Lamb in 2016.</p>
<p id="XJKcXo"><a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/prospects/gino-groover-talks-hitting-adjusting-to-pro-schedule">[SI] Gino Groover Talks Hitting, Adjusting to Pro Schedule</a> - The biggest adjustment for Groover has been the minor league schedule. Doubling the amount of games played in a week has its own physical and mental toll, which can lead to players struggling out of the gate. "Just adjusting to that period I think was the hardest thing, playing how many more games. Taking care of your body, making sure you're prepared and getting proper rest. You're on the road, living in the hotel for six nights. When I first got to High-A, we had back-to-back road trips, so I was like OK, this is already different. As you are prepared, you take care of yourself, everything will take care of itself."</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dbacks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dbacks</a> will be a better team with which player as the PRIMARY back up/utility infielder covering 20-30 starts at SS plus additional reps at 2b & 3B<br><br>Listed Alphabetically by last name</p>— Jack Sommers (@shoewizard59) <a href="https://twitter.com/shoewizard59/status/1769452612540387639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a>
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<h4 id="WXawpm">And, elsewhere...</h4>
<p id="4nTUsk"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/2024-preseason-mlb-power-rankings">[MLB] Power Rankings: Who's on top entering the season?</a> - 1. Braves. This is increasingly looking like the most stable organization in baseball, further evidenced by the recent extension of president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos. The Braves had the best record in the Majors last year, they’ve finished first in their division six years in a row, they won the World Series three years ago, and all their stars are wrapped up for years to come. I hope you like the Braves, or can at least tolerate them, because this is what they’re going to look like for the foreseeable future: one of the best teams in baseball. The spring has been smooth sailing for them, and now they have Chris Sale. And on and on they go.</p>
<p id="D02GXp"><a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-baseball/2024/3/17/24104531/arizona-wildcats-baseball-asu-sun-devils-recap-final-score-series-finale-2024-pac12-hicorbett">[Arizona Desert Swarm] Offense reawakens for Arizona baseball to avoid home sweep by ASU</a> - The UA cranked out 20 hits and had a pair of 5-run innings in a 14-3 win over the Sun Devils at Hi Corbett, avoiding being swept at home by its rival for the first time since 1998. “These are our guys,” Chip Hale said of his offense, which got at least one hit from every starter while six had at least two hits. “We’re still a work in progress, but that’s a good thing for us. It’s a completely different team than last year.”</p>
<p id="pvfT9o"><a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39753690/joey-votto-homers-1st-pitch-jays-spring-training-debut">[ESPN] Joey Votto homers on 1st pitch of Jays spring training debut</a> - Joey Votto sure knows how to make an instant impression, going deep on the first pitch he faced as a member of his hometown Toronto Blue Jays. The veteran first baseman lined a 392-foot homer to left-center off Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler in the first inning Sunday in Clearwater, Florida, in his spring training debut with Toronto. Granted, there was some debate about whether the ball actually went out, and Votto momentarily stopped at second base. But the umpires ruled it a homer and he continued on his way to home.</p>
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<h1 id="naxuNc"><strong>The Abyss (2023)</strong></h1>
<h3 id="9blzv9"><strong>Rating: C</strong></h3>
<h4 id="PKisra"><strong>Dir: Richard Holm</strong></h4>
<h4 id="zSs0P8"><strong>Star: Tuva Novotny, Kardo Razzazi, Felicia Maxime, Peter Franzén</strong></h4>
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<strong>a.k.a. </strong><em><strong>Avgrunden</strong></em>
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<p id="7x85Ew">The sinkhole stuff is adequate, rather than well-handled, and with only one major scene (above) of the expected large-scale urban carnage. There’s rather more going on beneath the surface, and the claustrophobic intensity down there might be the movie’s strongest weapon. What definitely is not, is the clichéd family drama. This is nothing we haven’t seen many times before, in intent, execution and resolution. You can virtually check off the boxes along with the story e.g. heroic sacrifice, lesbian fridging, annoying kids, questionable choices. For instance, you’re a teenager looking to party, and a dangerous rift zone on the edge of an industrial facility, is really the best place you can come up with?</p>
<h4 id="asesWi"><a href="https://filmblitz.org/abyss-2023/">Read more</a></h4>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2024/3/18/24104742/snake-bytes-3-18-gallen-rollsJim McLennan2024-03-17T21:00:00-04:002024-03-17T21:00:00-04:001 Positive and 1 Negative Takeaway from the Spring Breakout Game: It’s not the throw!
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<img alt="Syndication: Arizona Republic" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lZlt-CkSyxyFXkmQU26smnDAnZ4=/0x0:2161x1441/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73214195/usa_today_22692824.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption>
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<p id="af7vCU"><strong>Positive:</strong> Justin Martinez now throws a sinker, and its an absolute hammer!</p>
<p id="yVTEuT">Justin Martinez has been a divisive player among Dbacks fans this past season. On 1 hand, you have a player who already holds the fastball velocity records for the Dbacks at just 21 Y/O last season at 102.7 MPH. On the other you have a player who has averaged over 20% BB the past 2 seasons and gives up way too much hard contact. </p>
<p id="jDS19T">However something is different about Justin Martinez this season. Yes his <strong>4.5% BB rate</strong> versus 22 spring training batters is really encouraging. But Martinez has also added a new pitch for him, a sinker. I didn’t realize it until last night during the spring breakout game, but it is an absolute hammer! Take a look where this pitch started:</p>
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<p id="pUKuYU">Versus where it finished:</p>
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<p id="Knfr2Z">Even the announcers couldn’t believe that this pitch at <strong>100 MPH</strong> moved the way that it did. And <strong>perfect location</strong> too! So I went to statcast to see how new this pitch was to him. </p>
<p id="huPIJ7"><strong>During the 2023 regular season, Martinez didn’t throw a single pitch that registered in Statcast as a true sinker</strong>. So this must be a recent development. This pitch hasn’t shown up for him until this spring and the results are promising as a batter has yet to barrel up the pitch yet. Granted the sample size has been small, with only 9 sinkers showing up on statcast previous to last night, but last night he threw 4 sinkers and only 1 four seam. The results were that the hitters looked <strong>completely terrified</strong> because of how he also mixed in his 90 mph slider. They didn’t know if the ball was going to run in on their hands at 100 mph or dive away from them. </p>
<p id="NUnzHV">Just how good is his sinker? There were really only 2 sinkers that averaged 100 MPH or over last season. He is in good company I’d say:</p>
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<p id="NZVJWs">Martinez’s sinker kind of represents a happy medium between the 2. The movement profile of Jordan Hicks with the velocity of Chapman. Hicks’ sinker gets dinged because his extension is less than the other 2 so his perceived velocity is actually 2 MPH slower than his actual velocity. </p>
<p id="LaRYgX">For those of you that aren’t familiar with Stuff+, the metric purely looks at a pitch’s nastiness and doesn’t take into consideration location. 100 is league average so a 134 is 34% above league average. The metric takes many things into consideration like velocity, extension, RPM, H and V movement, release point etc. Unfortunately they don’t share their stuff+ metrics for spring training widely, but I would bet Martinez’s would be close in the <strong>20% to 30% above average range which is absolutely huge. </strong></p>
<p id="RH4Xe6"><strong>Outlook: </strong>Because of the addition of the sinker that looks like an absolute weapon, my outlook for Justin Martinez in 2024 goes through the roof honestly. For someone like Martinez who has struggled with command previously, this movement allows him to not have to be so fine as he used to have to be with his straight and flat fastball. I believe this will also be amplified by his ability to spot his slider better as he has already shown this spring. Previously the approach of the batters was simple against Martinez, sit straight fastball. Period. Now, a hitter isn’t going to know if the ball is going to break 16 inches in on this hands at 100 MPH or dive almost 3 feet down and away at 90 MPH. <strong>This is the stuff nightmares are made of people.</strong> </p>
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<p id="PFN3tu"><strong>Negative Takeaway:</strong> Druw Jones’ Swing</p>
<p id="zGDKv0">We go from the nightmares of hitters to the nightmare’s of Dbacks fans. Druw Jones’ swing still looks absolutely broken. Lets cut straight to the film.</p>
<p id="lapE4z">This is where Jones starts:</p>
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<p id="wvcr57">This is where Jones steps in the bucket towards 3<sup>rd</sup> base:</p>
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<p id="xITYkc">Notice his front toes go from almost touching the line of the batters box, to more than a foot away. </p>
<p id="gjrhtf">This is where Jones is falling off towards third and his back leg is kicking out as the ball is coming in:</p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4-KfQNaawa-gvf6Uh1DOtOrn8hs=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25340969/Jones_2.png">
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<p id="WOEZqx">This is an outside pitch mind you. </p>
<p id="ElXJmI">Honestly I think this is just going to be worth its own post here soon as I think there is a lot to unpack here going all the way back to similar mechanics to his dad. But the moral of the story is this, <strong>I was hoping for major swing adjustments from last season which saw Jones hit the ball on the ground 61% and 48% to the opposite field in low A.</strong> </p>
<p id="jTyTDO">According to Kyle Glaser at Baseball America, the scouting reports in 2023 were very concerning. He talked to one evaluator who just said “<strong>he’s not even ready to be scouted yet, he is just so raw at the plate”.</strong> Even internal evaluators said “officially we are optimistic, but unofficially we are concerned.” Given this, and all of the resources at Druw Jones’ disposal between his dad and being such a high draft pick for the Dbacks, I fully expected to see a different swing from Druw this season. Especially since some of the early reports seemed encouraging. <strong>Unfortunately I did not</strong>. Entering your second season as a professional as the former 2<sup>nd</sup> overall draft pick your swing should not still be so obviously raw. </p>
<p id="qV2Tto"><strong>Outlook: </strong>To Jones’ credit, his first at bat he wasn’t stepping in the bucket nearly as bad. However the result was much the same we saw last season, taking a pitch in the middle of the plate and pushing it to right field rather than turning on it to his pull side. If there is one thing to watch from Jones this year, it is is he able to pull the ball with authority. </p>
<p id="0gLle4">Like I said, stay tuned for a more in depth breakdown of Jones from me, I didn’t want this post to be too long. </p>
<p id="MNgT8S"></p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2024/3/17/24104006/1-positive-and-1-negative-takeaway-from-the-spring-breakout-game-its-not-the-throwjeffern512024-03-17T19:22:35-04:002024-03-17T19:22:35-04:00D-backs 2/5, Angels 0/Mariners 4
<figure>
<img alt="Daily Life In Dublin" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WlCiBmUNk9aEe_Cp7Y_BYrkLwZs=/0x96:4000x2763/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73214023/1247116350.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I'll drink to a double-header sweep!</p> <h4 id="fW4k6w">Record: 10-13-1. Change on 2023: -2. Five-inning record: 11-11-2.</h4>
<p id="OyK5dI">The Diamondbacks won on both ends of the double header, though left it late to complete the daily sweep. At Salt River Fields, Zac Gallen combined with five relievers to blank the Angels 2-0. Gallen went 4.1 innings on one hit and a walk with four K's. Scoreless innings from Ryan Thompson, Scott McGough, Kevin Ginkel and Miguel Castro helped complete the seven-hitter. Corbin Carroll had two hits, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Lourdes Gurriel after forcing a pick off error. Christian Walker drove in the D-backs other run with a single, and also walked. The game was completed in a crisp two hours and twenty minutes, in front of a crowd of 12,240.</p>
<p id="w9RuE1">Over in the West valley, Tim Tawa drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with two outs in the ninth, as Arizona came from behind to beat Seattle 5-4. David Martin also had an RBI in the three-run ninth. Earlier, Emmanuel Rivera and Jace Peterson drove in sixth inning tallies. Peterson had two of the D-backs nine hits. Blake Walston had an unimpressive start, allowing four hits and two walks in 2.2 innings. Two earned runs resulted and he struck out a pair. Luis Frias gave up an unearned run over 1.2 innings, and Slade Cecconi a run in his two frames. Dakota Chalmers got the win for pitching a scoreless eighth and ninth inning. Tomorrow, Merrill Kelly will start at Salt River Fields against the Athletics. </p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2024/3/17/24104333/d-backs-2-5-angels-0-mariners-4Jim McLennan2024-03-17T16:00:00-04:002024-03-17T16:00:00-04:00Spring Training Gameday Thread, #23/24: 3/17 vs. Angels/@ Mariners
<figure>
<img alt="Jameson Irish Whiskey - Jameson’s Love Thy Neighborhood Brewery Fest in Support of New York Restoration Project" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ho6m8yOpBnTdFUGgCQKpn8KzRHI=/6x0:3000x1996/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73213589/861393992.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Jameson Irish Whiskey</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>On St. Patrick’s Day, mine’s a double(-header)</p> <h4 id="1M0ujV">@ Mariners</h4>
<div id="lz8Ubt">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix">
<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
<div class="lineup">
<table cellspacing="0" class="zebra">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left">DIAMONDBACKS</th>
<th align="left">MARINERS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Jake McCarthy - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Dylan Moore - SS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Elvis Andrus - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Julio Rodriguez - CF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Pavin Smith - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Jorge Polanco - 2B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Emmanuel Rivera - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Mitch Garver - DH</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Jace Peterson - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Cal Raleigh - C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Kyle Garlick - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Mitch Haniger - RF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Kevin Newman - DH</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Ty France - 1B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Jose Herrera - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Luis Urias - 3B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Jack Hurley - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Samad Taylor - LF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name"></td>
<td class="td-first td-name"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Blake Walston - LHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Logan Gilbert - RHP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p id="hLJjhR">plus possibly pitching: RHP Slade Cecconi, RHP Scott McGough, RHP Luis Frias</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="YaT5Oj">
<h4 id="hYHV9p">vs. Angels</h4>
<div id="WlzmCN">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix">
<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
<div class="lineup">
<table cellspacing="0" class="zebra">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left">ANGELS</th>
<th align="left">DIAMONDBACKS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Luis Rengifo - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Ketel Marte - 2B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Nolan Schanuel - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Corbin Carroll - RF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Mike Trout - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Lourdes Gurriel - LF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Anthony Rendon - DH</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Christian Walker - 1B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Taylor Ward - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Joc Pederson - DH</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Brandon Drury - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Eugenio Suarez - 3B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Mickey Moniak - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Alek Thomas - CF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Logan O'Hoppe - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Blaze Alexander - SS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Zach Neto - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Tucker Barnhart - C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name"></td>
<td class="td-first td-name"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Patrick Sandoval - LHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Zac Gallen - RHP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p id="cKvv7T">plus possibly pitching: LHP Joe Mantiply, RHP Miguel Castro, RHP Kevin Ginkel</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="vmRyMJ">
<p id="QSW6Vm">With Zac Gallen starting at Salt River Fields today, I imagine that’s probably where most interest will be focused, and fortunately, that’s the game being broadcast on DBACKS.TV. It is also going to be on the radio, on ESPN 620, so you have options there. </p>
<p id="iOEmLn">Even without pitting Gallen against Walston, I would definitely gives the home line-up the edge, if the two halves of the split squad were to go up against each other. The offense at Salt River Field looks considerably stronger as well. There are literally no everyday starters traveling to Peoria, with the line-up there being the epitome of “We have the Diamondbacks at home.” I had to remind myself the starting right fielder was our 3rd-round pick last year, and twenty games at High-A is his (understandable, considering he only turned 22 on Wednesday) career peak so far. If I’d bought tickets here on the West Side, I’d be a bit peeved, but that’s always the risk on split-squad days.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2024/3/17/24104137/spring-training-gameday-thread-23-24-3-17-vs-angels-marinersJim McLennan2024-03-17T10:53:07-04:002024-03-17T10:53:07-04:00Snake Bytes: 3/17 Happy St Patrick’s Day!
<figure>
<img alt="St Patrick’s Day Parade Takes Place in Dublin" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Hydy1hSSbm_iU9CQ82g3WFX5cuM=/0x0:5568x3712/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73213150/2084787455.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 id="BRRQU2"><strong>Team News</strong></h2>
<p id="9W0bEc"><br><strong>Tommy Henry still searching for consistency in battle for Diamondbacks rotation spot</strong></p>
<blockquote><p id="2WqUfJ">“Of all of our starters, he was the starter that had the lowest exit velocity,” manager Torey Lovullo said last month, at the start of spring training. “... We like that, we want that to continue, but we feel like there’s a couple things he can hone in on. Fastball command and fastball consistency was number one for me.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="IbF5ld"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fmlb%2Fdiamondbacks%2F2024%2F03%2F16%2Fhenry-lacking-consistency-in-race-for-dbacks-final-rotation-spot%2F73003554007%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F3%2F17%2F24103830%2Fsnake-bytes-3-17-happy-st-patricks-day" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2024/03/16/henry-lacking-consistency-in-race-for-dbacks-final-rotation-spot/73003554007/</a><br><br><strong>Projecting the D-backs’ 2024 Opening Day roster</strong></p>
<p id="VfSw6b"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/diamondbacks-2024-opening-day-roster">https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/diamondbacks-2024-opening-day-roster</a><br><br><strong>Scouts break down Diamondbacks’ prospects after Spring Breakout game</strong></p>
<p id="AoFb6m"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fmlb%2Fdiamondbacks%2F2024%2F03%2F16%2Fscouts-break-down-diamondbacks-prospects-after-spring-breakout-game%2F73006252007%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F3%2F17%2F24103830%2Fsnake-bytes-3-17-happy-st-patricks-day" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2024/03/16/scouts-break-down-diamondbacks-prospects-after-spring-breakout-game/73006252007/</a><br><br><strong>Jones shows off arm strength at Spring Breakout</strong></p>
<p id="88L6ts"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/druw-jones-makes-94-mph-throw-to-home-in-spring-breakout?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage">https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/druw-jones-makes-94-mph-throw-to-home-in-spring-breakout?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage</a><br><br><strong>Diamondbacks prospects Yu-Min Lin, Jordan Lawlar stand out in inaugural Spring Breakout</strong></p>
<p id="ni4IYw"><a href="https://arizonasports.com/story/3544541/diamondbacks-prospects-yu-min-lin-jordan-lawlar-spring-breakout/">https://arizonasports.com/story/3544541/diamondbacks-prospects-yu-min-lin-jordan-lawlar-spring-breakout/</a><br><br><strong>Yu-Min Lin Shines for D-backs in Spring Breakout Game</strong></p>
<p id="XW8pgZ"><a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/prospects/yu-min-lin-shines-for-d-backs-in-spring-breakout-game">https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/prospects/yu-min-lin-shines-for-d-backs-in-spring-breakout-game</a><br></p>
<h2 id="zCZbgP">
<strong>Other Baseball</strong><br>
</h2>
<p id="caas-lead-header-undefined"><strong>Phillies sign another veteran outfielder to compete for bench job</strong></p>
<p id="Iu31gq"><a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/phillies-sign-another-veteran-outfielder-170511900.html">https://sports.yahoo.com/phillies-sign-another-veteran-outfielder-170511900.html</a><br><br><strong>Kole Calhoun Announces Retirement</strong></p>
<p id="nRqUrY"><a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/kole-calhoun-announces-retirement.html">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/kole-calhoun-announces-retirement.html</a><br><br><strong>Dodgers Select Daniel Hudson</strong></p>
<p id="nB1IKE"><a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/dodgers-select-daniel-hudson.html">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/dodgers-select-daniel-hudson.html</a><br><br><strong>The logistical scramble to get Cease to Seoul</strong></p>
<blockquote><p id="okLGuV">“Talk about history, I’ve got to imagine that’s pretty historic — you show up for the first time, you get traded, you meet your club in Seoul,” Shildt said. “But he’s excited. Talked to him briefly before I came in here. Sitting down across from Joe Musgrove, breaking bread, so they’re getting acquainted with each other.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="lSEP9k"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/dylan-cease-seoul-series-journey">https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/dylan-cease-seoul-series-journey</a><br></p>
<h2 id="opokV1"><strong>Anything Goes</strong></h2>
<p id="7DTjsx"><br>This day in history:<br><a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/day/march-17">https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/day/march-17</a><br><br>9 Surprising Facts About St. Patrick’s Day</p>
<p id="xKHBDj"><a href="https://www.history.com/news/st-patricks-day-facts">https://www.history.com/news/st-patricks-day-facts</a><br><br>This day in baseball:<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/March_17">https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/March_17</a><br><br>Joan of Arc convinced Charles VII she could lead his armies with no experience. She routed the English, survived a 60-foot escape leap from a tower uninjured, was falsely accused of heresy, and burned at the stake, all between the ages of 17 and 19. She was guided by voices only she could hear.<br><br>10 Surprising Facts About St. Patrick’s Day (different than above)</p>
<p id="H0ySeY"><a href="https://time.com/6957676/st-patricks-day-facts-history-true-story/">https://time.com/6957676/st-patricks-day-facts-history-true-story/</a><br></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8er5Zj1FQwOPK9VaKX5REW448H0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25340780/432423593_10161199075646605_7313158914142525104_n.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="yIllRJ"></p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2024/3/17/24103830/snake-bytes-3-17-happy-st-patricks-dayJustin272024-03-16T23:33:50-04:002024-03-16T23:33:50-04:00Diamondbacks 5, Rangers 4/Diamondbacks 3, Rockies 1
<figure>
<img alt="MLB: Spring Training-Oakland Athletics at Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3h2kx4w4tulIEVOk4fOsegTPV-c=/0x314:3321x2528/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73212624/usa_today_22753620.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Both old and young D-backs came away victorious today</p> <h4 id="fW4k6w">Record: 8-13-1. Change on 2023: -1. Five-inning record: 10-10-2.</h4>
<p id="wikLUx">The big boys were playing up in Surprise, where they got “revenge” for the World Series with a narrow win over the Rangers. Arizona jumped out to a 4-0 lead by the middle of the fourth, including a second inning homer from Blaze Alexander; he also singled, and Ketel Marte had a pair of hits. Corbin Carroll, Lourdes Gurriel and Emmanuel Rivera each had a hit and a walk. Ryne Nelson went 3.2 innings, allowing a run on four hits and three walks with three K’s. Texas came back, Joe Mantiply allowing a run, and Andrew Saalfrank struggled, giving up three hits, a walk and two earned runs in 1.2 innings, before Zach Barnes came in to record the final out for the save. </p>
<p id="PuOglS">In the nightcap, the Diamondbacks prospects beat their Colorado equivalent 3-1 over seven innings. Arizona actually had one less hit (5‐6), and both sides were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, but the D-backs' hit was a two-run single by A.J. Vukovich in the fourth, which proved to be the margin. Their third run came in the sixth as Jakey Joseph traveled all the way around to score without a ball in play: walk, SB, balk, wild pitch. Yu-Min Lin got the start and tossed two scoreless innings. Conor Grammes and Christian Montes De Oca also put up zeroes, before Justin Martinez notched the save with two strikeouts in a clean ninth. </p>
<p id="Y9NJm9">Tomorrow sees a split-squad pair of contests. The Angels come to Salt River Fields, while the D-backs also travel to Peoria and face the Mariners. </p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2024/3/16/24103446/diamondbacks-5-rangers-4-diamondbacks-3-rockies-1Jim McLennan