For the last time before pitchers and catchers report, we crack open the lid on the news-tubes, and peer into them to see what Diamondback-shaped nuggets may be contained therein. Should become a bit easier going forward, so I suspect the frequency of these may get ramped up. But that's down to kishi, I'm just a minion there... Anyway, plenty of stuff to talk about today, so let's get this linky party started! [And yes, those of you who follow me on Twitter might have spotted the pre-release version of this post earlier today... I'm not sure how this managed to get re-released, subsequently...]
Extremely Diamondbacks News
- [AZCentral] Diamondbacks will try to do more with less money - "The reason our payroll is down is because our revenues are down," Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall said. "Our plan is, as we increase revenues and hopefully see a positive outcome, that would go right back into payroll. But because of the economy and the way we've played, our revenues have been down."
- [dbacks.com] Diamondbacks break in Spring Training complex with organizational meetings - "We've got so many new faces and people in new roles that I think it's important to get everyone together," [Kevin] Towers said. "It's important for me to put faces with names. We want to share what our vision is, what our goals are and review our 40-man roster and prospects."
- [FanGraphs] Free Brandon Allen! - "Brandon Allen is entering what should be the prime years of his career. He’s got power, can take a walk, and offers up to six years of team control. He’s the most logical candidate to start at not one, but two different positions in the Diamondbacks lineup."
- [AZCentral] Johnson arb update; Hammock returns; 3 RHPs clear waivers; and other stuff - Nick reports that "Right-handed relievers Daniel Stange, Rafael Rodriguez and Brian Sweeney all cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Reno." He also discusses the possibility of flipping Joe Saunders mid-season.
Solidly Diamondbacks News
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[NY Post] 3UP: 2005 Yankees, Washburn and Haren - "There has been previous reporting done that when the Yankees were looking into reuniting with Carl Pavano this offseason that they would involve a third team as a way to avoid losing their first-round draft choice... I have learned that the team was going to be the Diamondbacks, who essentially would have signed Pavano and then traded him to the Yankees for prospects." Also suggests that, if we had held onto Haren last summer, we could have got the Yankkes - now desperate for starters - to pay big for him. A similar plan with the Yankees was also mooted for Grant Balfour.
- [Phoenix Business Journal] D-backs in Goldwater-Coyotes-Glendale saga - "Some people have noticed that Randy Kendrick — wife of Arizona Diamondbacks Managing Partner Ken Kendrick — serves on the Goldwater Institute board, which is considering a lawsuit to quash a deal between Glendale and prospective Phoenix Coyotes owner Matthew Hulsizer." Co-incidence? Or something more sinister? Tin-foil hats ahoy!
- [dbacks.com] D-backs honor McCullough, Haley with organizational awards - The Arizona Diamondbacks announced that scout Howard McCullough received the Roland Hemond Award, while Single-A South Bend manager Mark Haley was honored with the Joe Garagiola, Jr., Award at the team's organizational meetings this week at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
- [Arizona Daily Star] D-backs, White Sox to play March 7 game in Tucson - The Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox will play a charity game at 1:05 p.m. March 7 at Kino Stadium, stadium district director Chris Bartos said. So that's nice.
- [dbacks.com] D-backs president and CEO Derrick Hall chats with fans - "As for promotional items...All-Star specific include an MLB All-Star pin on April 16 and an MLB All-Star garden gnome on May 21. The gnomes were a huge hit last season." But will they be any better? Will there be any, how you say, gnome improvement?
- [SI.com] The truth about Justin Upton talks - Tom Verducci says. "Kevin Towers never really wanted to move 23-year-old outfielder Justin Upton, but thought it was wise to gauge what kind of value Upton had among other teams. What he found was nothing came close to make him even think about moving Upton." Not much of a surprise there.
- [Phoenix New Times] Justin Upton and Don Baylor This Season: What to Expect - "Ignoring ballparks, Upton can be a better hitter than [Carlos] Gonzalez. He's younger, too. Getting a better approach out of Upton is Baylor's challenge this season." A surprisingly-good baseball article from the New Times.
Not very Diamondbacks news
- [MLB FanHouse] 2011 Farm System Rankings - We're #18 in these, up from #22. "Arizona has some outstanding young bats to lean on in Matt Davidson, Marc Krauss, Bobby Borchering and others, but the D'backs have some work to do in terms of depth."
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[Replacement Level Yankees Weblog] CAIRO v0.6 and Still Too Early 2011 MLB Projected Standings - The D Backs were projected to win 74 games in December 28th and just 70 games on February 11th. That -4 change is the largest negative drop of any team in the league... [H/T to shoewizard]
- [NWITimes.com] Players try to open doors -- or get back in -- at baseball showcase - An interesting glimpse at the far end of the scouting spectrum - the undrafted hopefuls.
- [Stuff.co.nz] Kiwi softballer signs with Boston Red Sox "We believe he shows the aptitude and willingness to be a successful baseball player. He has also showed us the ability to hit the ball out of the park. There needs to be a few minor adjustments made from the softball swing to baseball with the ball coming from different angles."
- [MLB FanHouse] Co-Authors Jim Joyce, Armando Galarraga in Perfect Mess With Book Deal - "Joyce should never again umpire one of Galarraga's games. Not because of the blown call, per se. But because Galarraga and Joyce are now business partners." A conundrum, especially if Galarraga ends up in the D-backs bullpen.
- [WSJ.com] The Most Expensive Game in History - "Saturday's soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City of the English Premier League..will be the richest match played in any sport, at any time, anywhere on the planet Earth." Suck it, Yankees.