Ah, opening day for most of baseball. I don't know about you, but I am not crazy about the idea that we only get games for a handful of teams. If I was commissioner, I'd have everyone start play on the same day. But there are plenty of things I'd do if I was commissioner, and Selig is still really cagy every time I ask if I can have job when he retires.
DBacks News:
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[AZ Central] Unabridged scouts' takes on the 2011 D-Backs - This post is number one with a bullet- if you don't read any other link I put up today, read this one. When it says unabridged, it means unabridged, so you get a pretty good paragraph on (almost) every player we'll have at our disposal tomorrow- Kam Mickolio doesn't get a mention, but Brandon Allen and Zach Duke are discussed to make up for it. Seriously. Read this.
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[DBacks.com] Past struggles make D-backs pitcher Ian Kennedy appreciate Opening Day start even more - From missing most of 2009 to starting on Opening Day for 2011. IPK put up some decent numbers for us last season, so we're definitely hoping for more of the same this year.
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[Fox Sports Arizona] Optimism meets reality for Towers - And I think we're all relieved that they've finally been introduced.
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[Arizona Sports] Looking at D-backs season through Magic 8 Ball - Oh, sure, the Magic 8 Ball may not be the most valid of methods to predict the season. But I've had no luck summoning the spirit of Shoeless Joe Jackson on my ouija board, so we'll just have to deal with it. Besides, it's not like most predictions are any more concrete than this.
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[AZ Central] Arizona Diamondbacks not without some bright spots - Obviously, AZ Central is trying not to raise hopes too much this season. "Look, the team isn't completely terrible."
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[ABC21News.com] 7 Bold baseball predictions for 2011 season - Look, there's some bold predictions here (Rockies/White Sox World Series? How many games are snow delayed?) but their prediction for the Diamondbacks certainly is not one of them.
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[Hardball Times] Five questions: Arizona Diamondbacks - How do you know HBT actually got a Diamondbacks fan to write this piece? Because the five questions aren't variations on "Who are these guys?" Whoever this Jim guy is, he seems to know his stuff.
You know what the Giants preview on MLB says? "Under the radar, Giants ready to defend title." Look, I know San Francisco likes to play up the martyr thing. I hate them for it. But being defending champs? That's about as far as you can get from being under the radar, without being the Cubs, Yankees, and Red Sox. You won the World Series. You aren't going to catch anyone by surprise.
Around the NL West:
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[LA Times] Dodgers trying to regain their focus - "The players were focused. They paid attention to details. And they got along." Which is, of course, why Andre Ethier is so focused on the game that he's already wondering where he's going to be playing next year.
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[Rapid City Journal] Opening Day: Are we a Twins or Rockies town? - We all knew that the legendary Colorado-Minnesota rivalry would come to a head one day, and it looks like Rapid City, SD will be the chosen battleground. According to the MLB blackout maps, though, Rapid City is a Twins and a Rockies town, which of course means that they can't watch either of them online.
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[Sign On San Diego] Questions abound as Padres open season in St. Louis - Only eight players return to the San Diego roster from Opening Day 2010. Do the Padres have a higher rate of roster turn-over than the Diamondbacks do?
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[San Francisco Examiner] San Francisco Giants fans donate money to fly ‘Beat LA’ banner at Opening Day - Look, Giants fans, you don't like me and I don't like you- well, there are exceptions to that. Pygalgia's cool, but I'll never like those stupid panda hats. Anyway, my point is that, while we disagree on many things, this is pretty damn funny to me. Well played.
Around Baseball:
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[MLB SBNation] Baseball's Back! Your 2011 Opening Day Viewing Guide, For Maximum Enjoyment - Sure, some of the games have already started, but there's some very important talking points to consider for each game.
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[MLB Trade Rumors] Your Alphabet Of 2011 Storylines - How to write about the storylines of the season, and entertain a one year-old kid? MLBTR combines both tasks quite deftly, I think.
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[Yahoo Sports] Twins' Morneau ready to start at 1B on opening day - After missing the last half of the regular season to a concussion, Morneau is ready to return to playing baseball.
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[Beyond the Boxscore] How Do Good Starting Pitchers Differ From Other Pitchers? - Beyond the Box Score - I know I'm a much more casual fan than some others- but this look at how pitch selection by starters is kind of fascinating to me.
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[Deadspin] Timing The Trots For Six Famous Home Runs; Or, Bo Jackson Will Blow Your Mind - Look, win or lose, our team is playing tomorrow. It's finally baseball time, after a winter of waiting and all the questions of spring training. Let's watch some home run trots to get in the mood.
Get some rest, DBacks fans. Catch a few games if you get a chance- I'm listening to the Royals play the Angels right now, and cheering for Frenchy- but it's just killing time until the real thing starts for us tomorrow. 2011 kicks off in Denver for the DBacks. We may not have much optimism for the season, but there's 162 chances for the team to give us something we'll enjoy. Get ready to cheer, and go DBacks.