Diamondbacks Spring Training Round-Up: WBC? What's that?

Quotes of the Day

• "The change-up was actually really good today. I was able to set a lot of guys up with that and do some good things with it. Hopefully the strikeouts come because of that changeup. I think it sets up a new layer and it's hard to stay on my stuff, but I have to execute to make that happen."
  -- Brandon McCarthy

• "It was just a tough day energy-wise. Early on I was completely out of synch, I didn't feel good mechanically...Then in the fourth inning, I was kind of just going along, and I hit a wall and got dead tired. Overall, it was just kind of a weird day, but I'm glad I was able to make an adjustment and it'll give me a chance to work on some things this week."
  -- McCarthy

• "Yeah, that was not a strike, but I am really thankful for it. It's one of those ones that makes the day look a lot better at least and lets me end on a good note, but I was struggling to execute there."
  -- McCarthy, on his last pitch
• "He didn't get any hits in the WBC, but he came back and he's got a great attitude. His kind of 'court awareness' has been really good since he's been back."
  -- Kirk Gibson on Gerardo Parra

Sedona Green?

The Diamondbacks will wear green caps and will use green bases this Sunday in celebration of St. Patrick's Day as we host the Dodgers at Salt River Fields - the first time the D-backs have worn St. Patrick's caps. The sold-out game will feature three Irish bands prior to the gams, fans can get "Irish beer" (I'm assuming green!) at carts on the main concourse and Reuben sandwiches at section 215. The Chase Field Team Shop is selling a replica of the fitted cap, and an adjustable version will be available at each of the Salt River Fields Team Shops on Sunday; select game-used and authentic green caps worn by D-backs players and coaches will be available online thereafter.

Injury report

If you haven't seen Jason Kubel's name in our recaps of late, that's because he has missed a couple of games. He was last in the line-up on Tuesday, and probably won't be in it today, as his left knee is playing up. It has been a source of issues before, and was perhaps responsible for Kubel being a late scratch for the game against the Angels that was rained out. Better news for Wade Miley, however: Nick Piecoro reports. he threw a bullpen session yesterday and will probably appear in a B-game early next week. He thinks his "dead arm" may have been a result of him being a bit over-aggressive with his throwing program at the start of the year.

World Baseball Classic Round-up

Well, there's probably not much more that needs to be said. America lost 4-3 to Puerto Rico, though it was a very, very exciting game at the end, especially in the eighth inning, when the USA clawed their way back, but couldn't quite get there, scoring twice and stranding the tying run on third. The victory means two debutants in the semi-finals, with both PR and the Netherlands there for the first time. Puerto Rico will meet the Dominican Republic today, starting at 10am. The winner will meet the Dutch on Monday, and the loser has the likely harder task, facing the Japanese team in the other semi on Sunday night. Still, we get Heath Bell, David Hernandez and Willie Bloomquist back now.

Around baseball

• The Royals lost only their third game of spring, going down 8-1 to the Dodgers, not helped by the Royals' four errors, leading to three unearned runs. Offense of the day went to the White Sox, who scored 15 in crushing a split-squad of their cross-town rivals 15-3 at Camelback Ranch. The other half of the Cubs beat Japan, 7-5, and the Dutch squad prevailed against the Mariners, 8-1
• And so it begins... "Major League Baseball suspended the journeyman minor league pitcher Cesar Carrillo on Friday, in the first instance of discipline linked to a South Florida anti-aging clinic... [He] was suspended for 100 games for making false statements to baseball investigators about his ties to the anti-aging clinic, Biogenesis, according to a person in baseball briefed on the matter." Interesting to note, his punishment is twice as severe as it would have been for failing a test.
• Mound conferences may be a little more crowded this year, with interpreters allowed to join them if necessary.