DBacks Daily 10/12/07 - Get'cha head in the game

by snakecharmer on Oct 12, 2007 3:29 PM EDT in News Comment 17 comments

Sorry for the delay in this, I didn't have a great night last night. (And I don't just mean the game, I mean the Chinese food.) But it's not like much of the news this morning is positive, anyway. (Sorry, Devin.)

Clearly last night was not a pretty game: not from the offense, not from the umpires, and not from the fans. The offense did not come through when it needed to pick up Webb. The umpires didn't have the best judgement, not only at second base but also with the variable strike zone. And the fans, while I applaud their noise and getting involved in the game (finally), should not have actually gotten involved in the game, thereby further allowing the media to paint us all with the same brush.

Obviously the latter is the big storyline of the day, and we all know it. I won't spend too much time dwelling on it but I will list the articles for discussion: Jeff Passan - Hello? Any Diamondbacks fans out there? (Yahoo); Amy Nelson - Touch of controversy (ESPN); Unruly fans stop game (AP). Tulowitzky didn't like (Republic) Upton's antics but Upton says he did as he was taught (Republic). Derrick Hall says that the fans will be watched closely tonight (Republic). (Another rehash of the situation at MLB.com.)

Believe it or not, there was actually a game played last night.. not that it was very good. Willy Taveras was activated (Republic) and gave the lineup a different look, not to mention he can cause problems (MLB.com) on the base paths. Jeff Francis isn't a wow-pitcher, but certainly cruised after the first (Republic). The Rockies frustrated Webb as they have all year (AP), which Webb says was tough luck last night (MLB.com), and the offense couldn't bail him out (MLB.com). And so the Diamondbacks head back to the drawing board after a loss in Game 1 (Republic).

And today is another day, another day to play the game, another chance for a W. We throw Doug Davis tonight (MLB.com), who seems unfazed by this, and don't forget we've got Hernandez in Game 3. These starters' experience outweighs (Republic) that of the Rockies' starters, and hopefully that'll prove to be an advantage.

Here's a tidbit: a contract extension for Melvin (Tribune) will likely be discussed soon. The Trib also explains why Bonifacio, Petit and Medders are still with the team (injury insurance). And here's something I had no clue about: Carlos Quentin underwent surgery (Republic) on his left shoulder and will be sidelined until April. That could put a kink in the Dbacks' off-season plans (aka trades).

Alright everybody, let's get our heads in the game, let's hope the Dbacks get theirs in the right places, and let's WIN tonight! Davis vs Jimenez, 7:18pm. Be there or be here or... or else.

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It's okay....

I'm fine dealing with negative reality, it's just the constant negative predictions that annoy me. We've earned most of our negative news today.

Besides, I've got the music stylings of Tripod and VNV Nation to lift my spirits.

I'm not superstitious, but I'm a little stitious.

by kishi on Oct 12, 2007 3:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You know we're in trouble...

When you are listening to VNV Nation to lift your spirits. :-) Unless it's the old stuff like Praise the Fallen, of course. I'd be going with some Funker Vogt or Front Line Assembly to get the blood pumping.

by Jim McLennan on Oct 12, 2007 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, they've got some good stuff

Their latest album has some nice, energetic stuff. It's all supplemented with a handful of other bands, too.

I'm not superstitious, but I'm a little stitious.

by kishi on Oct 12, 2007 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

On your recommendations, though

I will be starting a new "Post-Game Recovery" station on Pandora. =)

I'm not superstitious, but I'm a little stitious.

by kishi on Oct 12, 2007 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A silver lining

I was a quite bummed about the game. I'm trying to keep my mindset positive, and there is nothing better for that than to make fun of one of the most storied newspapers in the history of our country.

Here is the New York Times article posted today about Valverde:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/12/sports/baseball/12closers.html?ref=baseball

Regarding the Papa Grande moniker: towards the end of the article, they want to show how much we care about our players and their heritage. What better way to show our respect for our lights-out closer than to translate his nickname to "The Big Potato"?

Technically correct, yes, but come on now! We're talking about one of the biggest media powers in the United States! I'm sure they have to have ONE person on staff who can translate Spanish a little bit better than babelfish can.

Their lack of research/preparation was enough to brighten my day and to help my outlook for tonight. Go Doug Davis. (Or should I say, Go Big Cauliflower!)

"All the news thats fit to print"--Ha!

by bcloirao on Oct 12, 2007 3:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, shoot...

At least the NYT actually ran a story on the Dbacks.

Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You're too tight.

by DbacksSkins on Oct 12, 2007 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's something positive

We remind Eric Neel of the 1991 Braves. That can't be all bad:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2007/columns/story?columnist=neel_eric&id=3059839

by andrewinnewyork on Oct 12, 2007 4:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not actually about the Dbacks...

...but John Donovan has a nice piece on Jeff Francis, who beat the SI cover jinx.

I've gotta admit, I'm convinced. This kid could be special.

Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You're too tight.

by DbacksSkins on Oct 12, 2007 6:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

More national exposure.

I should have included this in yesterday's Daily but I missed it. (Thanks to RoxGirl for picking this one up!)

Thomas Boswell of the Post (NO, not the Denver Post. The WaPo!) talks about how the NLCS contenders were built, and how the Nats are now trying to do the same. (With our old buddy, Mike Rizzo)

Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You're too tight.

by DbacksSkins on Oct 12, 2007 7:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Almost outta work and off to the game

wouldnt want to be late. hope i can find parking. if you knew what i looked like i would say watch for me on tv. section 132 row 5!!!! i'll be the guy trying to start a fight with Tool-owitzki. not really but i hate that guy.

got my lucky jersey and lucky socks.

GO DBACKS!!!!

by Adam1 on Oct 12, 2007 7:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Passans article...

"This isn't the Diamondbacks' fault, and it's not Major League Baseball's, either. Sometimes, it's incumbent upon a city to adopt a franchise, and even if the fans chuckle at the public address announcer's imploring fans to chant along to the "Anybody, anytime" catchphrase and roll their eyes at the team's theme song with the chorus "It's a fact, Jack, I back, you back, we back the D'backs," they should support the team by, at very least, showing up.

On the walk back down to the main concourse from Section 307, Row 40, Seat 13, a sign greets those about to leave the stadium.

THE D-BACKS THANK THE BEST FANS IN BASEBALL

Too bad those fans refuse to thank the Diamondbacks in kind."

As much as I would like to find fault with his article, I cannot. Phoenix is a Sports town if it is Golf or good football. I'd throw in NASCAR too, but sorry, that is not a sport. Actually, The Phoenix Open is only popular because of the party on the 16th.
I hope this changes. If Baseball had to do it all over again, I bet they would pass on putting a team here. Can't say I blame them either.

by unnamedDBacksfan on Oct 12, 2007 7:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Like a ground ball single,

baseball had to do with an expansion franchise what a good hitter does with the ball: you put 'em where they ain't. It'd be scandalous if a city the size of Phoenix didn't even get a CHANCE to host an MLB franchise.

It'd be one thing if, like the LA Raiders and LA Rams, Phoenix used to have a team that left due to whatever reason. Not so, in this case.

Then again, if the Dbacks want to leave anytime soon, we Tucsonans will certainly adopt 'em, since we're going to be without professional baseball after next year... :(

Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You're too tight.

by DbacksSkins on Oct 12, 2007 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We've drawn over

two million fans every year since we've been around. That's gotta say something.

We've talked about the fans here many times this season... I'm at a lost to expalin our fans.

Has this city really embraced this franchise? I do not know anymore...

I'll be there supporting them everyway I know how, that's all I can do.

by unnamedDBacksfan on Oct 12, 2007 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's also a little like a relationship.

We embraced the team at first, and they surpassed our wildest dreams by winning the World Series. So we loved them enough to move in with them, and then a mere 3 years later, their spendaholism and failures forced us to leave, dejected.

And now they're back, from outer space. We just walked in to find all these young guys here with a brand new look upon their face. They've come to us with open arms, claiming that they're 100% rehabilitated, and that they're a new franchise... Sedona red, excellent farm system, and all that. The Dbacks have cleaned up. But we're not yet sure if we can trust them again.

However, they're doing all the things this year that we used to love, and who knows? Maybe if they take us to the World Series again, we'll order the lobster...

Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You're too tight.

by DbacksSkins on Oct 12, 2007 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

NEWS FLASH FOR THE STUPID MEDIA

Arizona is one of the ultimate transplant states, and Phoenix is one of the ultimate transplant cities. When we polled to see how everyone became a D'backs fan, most of us weren't even from the area, or from the area originally. Everyone's from somewhere else, and even though I've lived in this state the vast majority of my life, I'm not even technically a native (born in Texas).

The reason why it's hard for Phoenix to be a great sports town is because A) many of our teams area really new (minus the Suns) and B) since most of us are from other places we take our allegiances with us.

I work with a guy who grew up in St. Louis and is a huge Cardinals fan. Sure, he supports the D'backs but the Cards will always be first. I work with a Cubs fan who is the same. And a Royals fan. And a Yankees fan. And an Athletics fan. All these people are from other places and have ended up here in Phoenix. You're not going to be able to convince them to drop their former love for some new team.

The D'backs won't have "diehard" fans until the generations that grow up with the D'backs as their local team get old enough to start using their financial power. It starts with my generation, the people in their early twenties and younger.

Forget the media. They think they can just walk around here with their noses in the air and judge me and my city, but they don't know me. They think they can say what they want about these teams but they don't know them. And that's the way it's going to be until the fanbase is homegrown.

It annoys me but I can live with it, because I know the truth. I know Phoenix is a beautiful city, and that the D'backs are a good, if unexperienced team.

Stay grindy, my friends.

by soco on Oct 12, 2007 8:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ditto

I agree entirely. Passan's article is like the dumb talk shows where the host has to dream up something controversial on a slow day to get listeners to call in. Phoenix filled the BOB to about 65% capacity to watch the 111 loss Diamonbacks in 04. The Cubs didn't regularly start drawing 2 mil until the 90's (65% capacity of Wrigley). Jeff Passan needs to give Phoenix a pass...for at least the next 50 years.

by Melvin on Oct 13, 2007 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs