AZ Snakepit: FanShots

MLB in discussions over 'floating realignment'

2010-03-11T03:17:18Z

MLB in discussions over 'floating realignment'

Under the concept, teams would be able to decide where they'd want to play in a given season based on geography, payroll and willingness to contend. SI.com, citing an unnamed source who is familiar with the discussions, notes that a team couldn't move into a division more than two time zones beyond its home city — say, the Rays or Orioles trying to join the NL West.
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You have GOT to be kidding me..... I thought it was the sick dream of one Tom Verducci, but I have heard this mentioned the last two night now. This is someones serious idea to make baseball more competitive??? Seriously?
To be fair, this idea is being supported by a 14 member panel of executives and managers. I for one, hope it never, ever sees the light of day.
What do the rest of you think?

Cubs New Spring Training Complex Update: BCB Interview With Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall

2010-03-08T21:34:20Z

Cubs New Spring Training Complex Update: BCB Interview With Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall

After his interview with the Mesa mayor, I suggested Al speak to Derrick Hall to get the other side of the argument. Our president kindly agreed to do so, and the results can be found at the above link. In an email to me (which I don't think he'll mind me quoting), Al said "I think, in the end, a deal will be made that will be satisfactory to everyone involved: the Cubs, the city of Mesa, Maricopa County, the state of Arizona, and the other 14 teams in the Cactus League. What form that deal will take -- too early to tell." Tend to agree with that; certainly hope so

How did we miss this? Or did someone catch it and I didn't?

2010-03-07T18:41:27Z

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/ModernTube-Conor-Jackson-displays-acting-chops-?urn=mlb,168304

How did we miss this? Or did someone catch it and I didn't?

Webb urges patience with shoulder rehab

2010-03-06T20:30:37Z

Webb urges patience with shoulder rehab

Brandon Webb would like everyone to just take a breath and not try to predict whether or not he will be ready to start the third game of the regular season.

"It's too soon to tell," the right-hander said before Saturday's game with the Giants.

in other words, Chill the heck out!!

11. Josh Byrnes, Arizona Diamondbacks I'm not quite sure if the Diamondbacks are a team whose young...

2010-03-05T20:49:44Z

11. Josh Byrnes, Arizona Diamondbacks
I'm not quite sure if the Diamondbacks are a team whose young players haven't developed as well as they should or an extremely young team that just hasn't come all the way together yet, not that these are mutually exclusive possibilities. Either way, Byrnes has done an admirable job collecting young talent and patiently letting it develop. The odd questionable move like trading away Carlos Quentin has been more than balanced out by savvy moves such as trading for Dan Haren. There's a championship team somewhere in this collection of talent.

Sport Illustrated ranks our GM 11th.

Webb could start season on the DL

2010-03-05T19:49:32Z

Webb could start season on the DL

Josh Byrnes says, ""It’s a long season. If we get 30 starts from him, great. If we get 20, that’s great. We just need to get it right... I do think that where we are with spring training, if we don’t get him going into games by next weekend or so, then I think it’s going to be hard to get him ready for that first start.. "If you’ve got to concede a little bit of time on the front end of the schedule to be healthy for the long haul, that’s what we’ll do. But we haven’t had to make that decision yet."

Teen female knuckleballer Yoshida played in Arizona. Why was I not informed?

2010-03-04T17:35:33Z

Teen female knuckleballer Yoshida played in Arizona. Why was I not informed?

Actually, the link is mostly about 18-year old Eri Yoshida getting tips on the knuckler from Tim Wakefield of the Sox. But turns out she made ten appearances - including four starts - for the Yuma Scorpions in the independent Golden Baseball League. Wish I'd known this: it'd have been cool to have seen her in action.

Diamondbacks on MLBN's "30 Clubs In 30 Days"

2010-03-04T13:39:29Z

Diamondbacks on MLBN's "30 Clubs In 30 Days"

Looks like our debut date is 3/27 at 10:00pm. It probably won't be anything we haven't already discussed here all winter, but it'll be fun to see our team profiled for an entire hour.

Four Teams Skip Cactus Leage Breakfast in Protest

2010-03-03T18:34:11Z

Four Teams Skip Cactus Leage Breakfast in Protest

"I think it's a shame to boycott a kickoff breakfast...that's what petulant children do," Rep. John McComish, the Fountain Hills Republican and State House Majority leader who also sponsors the current finance bill for the Cubs' new facility.

Minors ban maple bats

2010-03-02T18:02:22Z

Minors ban maple bats

Mark Grace drinks til his heart stops over the great news.

Interview w Chad Moeller

2010-03-01T16:21:59Z

Interview w Chad Moeller

Rob Neyer linked to this in his column at ESPN but an interview in the NY Times with Chad Moeller about his favorite pitchers to catch. As you might imagine, DBacks figure prominently. Good stuff.

The All-Time 9 | dbacks.com: Fan Forum

2010-02-28T03:23:17Z

The All-Time 9 | dbacks.com: Fan Forum

Vote for the best single-season hitting performances by position in D-backs franchise history

I am fairly certain we have done this in some form or fashion on this site, but what the hey.....

Action, Jackson: Outfielder feeling good | dbacks.com: News

2010-02-28T03:14:59Z

Action, Jackson: Outfielder feeling good | dbacks.com: News

Felled by a serious bout with Valley Fever last season, Jackson played in only 30 games and had 99 at-bats. He felt so fatigued and out of it, the D-backs shut him down for good on May 11. After a successful tour playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic, he's ready to step back into the starting lineup.

Charlie Leight of the Republic took this marvelous shot of Rusty Ryal and his non-approved method...

2010-02-27T00:17:36Z

Charlie Leight of the Republic took this marvelous shot of Rusty Ryal and his non-approved method of ball control... See here for more background on the pic

Dbacks exec suffers heart attack

2010-02-26T15:14:53Z

Dbacks exec suffers heart attack

Must of ate a Chicago style pizza or whatev. Anyway, he is expected to be ok. Let us all hope so.

Clay Zavada Working On Curveball

2010-02-24T15:52:02Z

Clay Zavada Working On Curveball

Clay Zavada has clearly taken note of his reverse-splits and the lack of left-handed arms in the Diamondbacks' bullpen, as he has been working on a curveball this off-season in hopes of becoming more efficient against them. If he's not careful, he might just end up being put at the back of the rotation with all of these pitches. :P

There are some interesting bits in this, though. Apparently Zavada threw a pretty mean curveball in his college days, but simply went away from it when he started in professional ball. Also, he only started to throw his very good change-up (which manager A.J. Hinch calls a "Bugs Bunny Changeup" in the article for how it keeps hitters off-balance) when he was at rookie-level Missoula. I guess that's how you make it to the majors as a 30-something-th round pick - redefine your entire pitching arsenal.

Tuesday "Scribblings" at D-Backs Spring Training from Steve Gilbert

2010-02-24T15:37:14Z

Tuesday "Scribblings" at D-Backs Spring Training from Steve Gilbert

Steve Gilbert goes over a few notes from the second day of DBacks Spring Training.

- Chad Qualls and his surgically-repaired left knee are both looking good in his first couple days of ST.
- Details of Zach Kroenke's Rule 5 status.
- News on minor-league bullpen lefty Jordan Norberto, who is apparently drawing some rave reviews from both Manager A.J. Hinch and GM Josh Byrnes. The piece mentions that Norberto could see some major-league time in 2010 if he can reel in his control a little.

If Norberto's really progressed significantly, this could be huge news for the D-Backs, who are depending on the unproven Kroenke and the reverse-splits of Clay Zavada as the left-handed options of the major-league 'pen.

Gonzo's #20 soon to be retired?

2010-02-23T23:48:00Z

Gonzo's #20 soon to be retired?

TUCSON -- The D-backs are reconsidering their policy of only retiring the uniform numbers of players who are inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, a move that could pave the way for the club to honor Luis Gonzalez.

Khalil Greene Not Reporting to Spring Training

2010-02-22T16:17:05Z

Khalil Greene Not Reporting to Spring Training

Texas Rangers utilty-man Khalil Greene is apparently not reporting to camp because of personal issues. There is a slight Diamondbacks connection here, as Greene was signed by the Rangers after they couldn't pry Augie Ojeda from the D-Backs to fill a similar role. Could Greene's absence prompt the Rangers to re-engage the Snakes for Ojeda, and if so, how much would they now be willing to give? Other options are sparse, with the possible exception of Felipe Lopez, who may not be willing to take a utility job.

Documents show Dodgers intend to cut payroll

2010-02-22T16:12:43Z

Documents show Dodgers intend to cut payroll

Not that this spells any certain or immediate doom for the Dodgers, since the planned payroll reduction to $107 million is still leaves them with one of the highest paid teams in the league.