SnakeBytes, 8/30: Home Front Edition

So, we go on the road to face two teams fighting for playoff spots, and we come home after splitting the trip while averaging over six games at two pitcher's parks?  I don't know about you, but I'll take that.  Now let's build on it.

Previews:

• [cbssports.com] Padres-Diamondbacks Preview - The Padres are looking to end their longest losing streak of the season, which is... four games? Four games? Oh, boo hoo!

• [ktar.com] Diamondbacks return home, host Padres - Interestingly, the Padres are 2-4 at Chase this season. I haven't heard if it's true that Jon Garland starts to cry whenever he hears the music from the roof opening, though.

• [cbssports.com] San Diego Padres (76-53) at Arizona Diamondbacks (52-79) - Wade LeBlanc is 4-6 on the road this year, but 1-0 against the DBacks in four career starts. He attributes his pitching success to lessons he learned from a chimpanzee in the minor leagues.

• [azcentral.com] Thicker grass not an option at Chase - Not enough sunlight means they can't grow thicker grass to slow down groundballs.  Sounds like something science should solve for us.

• [fanhouse.com] Kinder, Gentler Kirk Gibson Trying to Turn Around Diamondbacks - A look at what Kirk Gibson is doing to improve the team. "The menality has to change. He's trying to instill some intensity and some enthusiasm." Making the players grow mustaches is not mentioned.

• [mlbtraderumors.com] 5 Surprises: Arizona Diamondbacks - MLBTR lists five things that caught them off guard about the Diamondbacks season this year. One good, two bad, and two that depend on your point of view.

• [The D-blog] Upton Is In Rare Air - Given that Upton is in his fourth season in the majors, it's interesting to consider that he's still younger than anyone who played a game for the Reno Aces this season.

Around Baseball:

• [nytimes.com] Feeling Empathy for Stephen Strasburg, Mark Prior Makes His Comeback - A pitching prodigy, called a once-in-a-generation talent, given a record draft bonus, he shot through the minors and was derailed by injury- Mark Prior knows how Stephen Strasburg feels.

• [latimes.com] Frank McCourt's donation to L.A. police is to protect (his tarnished image) and to (self) serve - Frank McCourt donated 40,000 tickets to the Los Angeles police- is he being generous, or filling the stands as attendance drops?

• [chicagotribune.com] Manny Ramirez could add spice to the Chicago White Sox's stretch run - "Well, this will be interesting, maybe even fun." Good luck with that, Chicago.

• [washingtonpost.com] Roger Clemens arrives in D.C. federal court for arraignment in steroids case - If you thought you heard calliope music this morning, it's just the circus beginning.

So, we face off against the Padres again tonight.  Here's to seeing that offense we saw in San Francisco show up.