DBacks Daily 9/27-28/07 - Three Is A Magic Number
With the early start this morning (and me being too busy to get this up before o'early thirty), I'll combine the news from today and tomorrow (since many articles are already online) into today's feature. Anything extra tomorrow we'll just post in comments, and if it's big I'll edit it in.
Bonus points for guessing the source of the title (without searching). It is apropos of our situation yesterday and today - yesterday our magic number stayed at 3, but today we only have three games left this regular season!! The win today reduces our magic number to 2. Two for three in Colorado... that's just taking the series. They've done that all year. After today's win, the guys should have some confidence back going to Denver.
Yesterday's loss was tough.. not pretty by any count. Hernandez says he didn't feel right after the rain delay, and Reynolds says they might be pressing. (Republic) Pittsburgh certainly showed up to play. (AP) The pressure is mounting (MLB.com) but there's still time for recovery. (Tribune)
And today's bounce back win was in typical Diamondback fashion - anybody, anytime. This time it was Micah Owings with the big game, 4 for 4 with 3 RBI and 6.1 shutout innings. (MLB.com) (All of today's recaps focus on Owings: AP, Republic and Tribune.) Stephen Drew points out it helped to get on the board early, and Eric Byrnes calls the win "absolutely huge" and even agreed to use the phrase "must-win."
Lots of other news today. Several articles about Webb being pushed back to start tomorrow in Colorado instead of lose him today in Pittsburgh. Cautious? Yes. Smart move? Yes. Webb's 1-3 vs Colorado this season (and 0-1) in Coors Field but I like the caution; better to play him for more innings tomorrow even if is numbers aren't great, because he's our Ace no matter what. And Owings gave us a strong win today anyway. Hopefully the late scratch won't mess with Webb's preparation. He thinks it should be fine. Brandon Medders feels he learned from his travails this season. And clearly the Hairston trade worked in favor of the Padres this year. (Hairston had a 3-run double in tonight's game in Milwaukee that, as of this writing, is the difference in the game.) But scouts still like Rosales and he could be up in the bullpen next season. Speaking of scouts, Mike Rizzo had a hand in 17 of the Diamondbacks playing in the bigs today. Talk about a big influence in team history..
Also today was, as expected, rookie hazing!! No photos found yet, but I'm on the hunt...
Other news around the league that affect the Diamondbacks: Diamondbacks go 0 for 4 in wild card coin flips. To further mess with your head, a 5-way tie is possible for the end of the season among the Mets, Phillies, Diamondbacks, Padres and Rockies. That's as of this morning, and it's looking less likely. Mets and Phillies are now tied for the NL East title, and the Diamondbacks have won, but if Colorado wins (looking likely) there's no way AZ and CO can tie. Further information on NLDS ticket sales was also released.
The rotation for the weekend seems to be lined up as Webb vs Francis, Gonzalez vs Redman, and Davis vs Jimenez. Conor Jackson and Justin Upton figure to start against the lefties.
Important Question: The Yahoo schedule says Saturday's game is not going to be on TV for Arizonans (and probably only local Denver). Anybody know if this has changed due to playoff potential? If it hasn't yet, I say we mount an email campaign..
Thanks for spotting this, Jim! According to the Republic:
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32 comments
Comments
So....
by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 12:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Saturday's contest will be on TV
by Jim McLennan on Sep 28, 2007 1:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thank you!!
This means it might be on MLB Extra Innings. (It's not listed as of 10 minutes ago.) And I might be able to borrow MLB.TV if it's not.
by snakecharmer on Sep 28, 2007 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Five game tie
http://www.baseballmusings.com/archives/023242.php
Hopefully we'll be watching it all from on top of the NL West...
by britdback on Sep 28, 2007 5:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
so then....
by leemellon on Sep 28, 2007 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
See my new post above
by Jim McLennan on Sep 28, 2007 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oops
by andrewinnewyork on Sep 28, 2007 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No
Here are the scenarios based on how we do this weekend.
Sweep (92 wins) - Best record in National League, win NL West
2-1 (91 wins) - Win NL West as well (we could tie records with San Diego if they sweep, but since they would have 91 wins, more than NY or PHI can muster, they will have wildcard based on headsup play - no playoff)
1-2 (90 wins) - Lose NL West to San Diego if they sweep Milwaukee. Tie NY and PHI for wildcard if they both sweep. If either NY or PHI don't sweep, and SD does, we get the wildcard with 90 wins. If SD goes 2-1 and either NY or PHI loses one game this weekend, we win NL West based on headsup play as above)
0-3 (89 wins) Lose NL West to Colorado (or to San Diego if they sweep) lose wildcard to NY/PHI if both sweep, or to Colorado if SD sweeps Milwaukee. All the crazy tie scenarios above are in play.
Basically, if we win 2 games, we're in. If we win one game, then we are still at least in a tie somewhere.
But let's just sweep the Rockies and get home field, shall we?
by andrewinnewyork on Sep 28, 2007 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good work
by Jim McLennan on Sep 28, 2007 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's neither a great nor or close picture...
by Azreous on Sep 28, 2007 1:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That is hysterical..
by batster on Sep 28, 2007 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That should be Sinister
by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And I think that's Q in back on the escalator,
by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Micah may not be 'ELF' since both he..
by batster on Sep 28, 2007 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, the one who's looking down is hunched a bit.
by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe Micah is the lion in the background..
by batster on Sep 28, 2007 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm.....
by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
From Jerry Crasnick on ESPN
by Jim McLennan on Sep 28, 2007 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it really
by leemellon on Sep 28, 2007 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Piggy is indeed the cowgirl.
by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
there are more?!?
by leemellon on Sep 28, 2007 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As Jim said,
Nick Piecoro's blog lists who's dressed as what. For the record, since Piecoro doesn't know, Dana Eveland is dressed as the Queen of Spades.
by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice slideshow
by Jim McLennan on Sep 28, 2007 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Charmer, looks like nobody picked up on
by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 2:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Looks like not :(
by snakecharmer on Sep 28, 2007 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Schoolhouse Rock
by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can't speak for anyone else
by leemellon on Sep 28, 2007 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Technically, it's before mine too
by snakecharmer on Sep 28, 2007 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I caught it
I just didn't think to mention it. New job, shift starting at 6 am = A bit unpleasant.
by kishi on Sep 28, 2007 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Technically, before my time too.
by DbacksSkins on Sep 28, 2007 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
nightmare fuel.....
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/sports/
SLIDE SHOW: Diamondbacks: What a drag to be a rookie
by troubleon14thst on Sep 28, 2007 5:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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