Recaps
- [MLB.com] Kennedy shuts down Mets not named Ike in win - "Davis, a Scottsdale Chaparral High School graduate and former Arizona State standout (really? Who knew...), became the seventh player this season to hit three homers in one game. Kennedy, however, became the first pitcher in one of those games on the opposite side of the homers to earn a victory."
- [AP] D-backs overcome Davis' 3 HRs to beat Mets 6-3 - "Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said Upton might have a timing issue, adding that Upton has also been a more selective hitter this season. Upton is waiting on more off-speed pitches and looking to make contact more than hitting for power, Gibson believes."
- [Amazin' Avenue] Ike Davis Clubs Three Home Runs, Still Not Enough - "We knew it was over when Jason Bay and Kirk Nieuwenhuis struck out in succession to end the eighth inning with two runners on." Clearly, they had more faith in J.J. Putz than we did!
Team news
- [ESPN] State of Diamondbacks: Similar to 2011? - "As 2011 taught a lot of teams, a 5½-game lead in either the division or Wild Card can easily be overcome. So if the final pieces in the puzzle fall into place, the NL West could be an interesting division over these last 62 games."
- [FSAZ] Towers: Bauer's big league stint a wake-up call - Towers said Bauer, after his last two starts in Triple-A before his callup, told D-backs director of player development Mike Bell he did not have his usual velocity and wasn't quite right physically. "We felt like 'Hey, physically let's give him a break as well as mentally,'" Towers said. "By the end of the year hopefully that velocity comes back and he's able to land the multiple pitches he has."
- [dbacks.com] D-backs Executives to Make Historic Trip to Japan Next Week - "The trip will include meetings with the Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner's Office, MLB Japan, several teams' front offices and public appearances at the Major League Baseball Road Show in the tsunami-affected town of Ishinomaki, as well as the MLB Café in Tokyo."
- [AZCentral] Arizona Diamondbacks' Ryan Wheeler on the rise - "It's been awesome," Wheeler said. "Everybody in the clubhouse has been great. I met a lot of these guys in spring training. They were awesome there, too, so it's been I guess as easy as it can be."
- [dbacks.com] Bergesen settling in with D-backs - "It's been a whirlwind, to say the least," Bergesen said. "I packed everything up and moved the family out here. I've been getting situated the last few days. When I'm just sitting there at night and my son is asleep, I finally get the peace and quiet to think about everything. It's been crazy, but it's been all good stuff."
Baseball news
- [Yahoo!] Marlins' Jeffrey Loria and David Samson conned Miami, lined their pockets and held a fire sale - And this should be Exhibit A as to why public funding of sports stadia is a horrible idea.
- [NYTimes.com] A Catcher Masters the Mind Games Within the Game - A fascinating look at the mental and physical demands on a catcher demonstrated over a 14-inning game.
- [ESPN] Josh Hamilton out of lineup after being booed - So, not just Justin Upton then... Manager Ron Washington said he was surprised to hear the fans boo Hamilton, but said it was their way of voicing their "dissatisfaction." "I have no problem with that because they boo me," Washington said. "They do love Josh. Even though they booed him, they still love him."
- [AZ Central] Major League Baseball's eyes turn to replay use - "We're now going to add it on trapped balls in the outfield and, as I call them, bullets down the right- and left-field line," Selig said during a radio interview on ESPN New York 98.7 FM.