SnakeBytes 5/24: Here Come the Madres

Quotes

It’s probably the strength of our team, the most consistent part. The days of getting up and slugging the ball out of the ballpark after a walk and an error are over. That’s our belief. That’s why the team is built the way it is built. So far, it’s been good. We have to continue to do that.

-- Kirk Gibson

The GM (general manager Kevin Towers) put together a group of guys that try to play the game the right way. That’s the most important thing right now. playing defense, doing the little things. We are doing pretty good so far.

-- Martin Prado

Diamondbacks Home Cooking

D-backs return home to take on nemesis Padres | foxsportsarizona.com
Which team has given the Diamondbacks the most trouble since the start of the 2012 season? Bud Black’s Padres have won 13 of the last 21 games between the two after winning the series in San Diego from May 3-5, and they are 8-2 in the last 10 games at Chase Field.

D-backs demonstrably dominant on defense | foxsportarizona.com
One of Gibson’s top priorities when he became manager in 2011 was cutting down on stolen bases allowed, and the D-backs have improved appreciably in holding runs by varying pickoff moves and using the slide step to get the ball to the plate more quickly. The D-backs have given up only 15 stolen bases -- one every three games -- which is tied for the fewest allowed in the NL. They led the majors in fewest steals allowed the last two years (48 in 2012, 61 in 2011) after giving up 115 in 2010.

Good news: No structural damage in Eaton's elbow | foxsportsarizona.com
Exam shows no structural damage in Eaton's elbow; rehab program to resume with goal of late-June return.

Brandon McCarthy feeling good; farm report; & other stuff | azcentral.com
Then consider what McCarthy felt like at this point in past seasons. "Usually, starting about three or four weeks ago, it becomes an anti-inflammatory pill-popping session, anything that gets you from one day to the next," he said. "I haven’t even needed one.

Heath Bell’s Return To Dominance | FanGraphs
The biggest difference between 2013 Bell and 2012 Bell has been the control. Bell’s two walks in his last 17.2 innings comes out to just over 1.0 BB/9, over three walks per nine innings less than last season. Given the massive gulf between his fastball control and offspeed control, the reason is intuitive: he’s sticking with the fastball more often in general, and specifically in hitters’ counts.

Jurickson Profar, Andrelton Simmons, Didi Gregorius putting Curacao on baseball map | dbacks.com
"These are very small communities with good kids, good morals and parents who really educate their kids. It all starts with the home life and the Little League structure these kids start at age 6. You want to talk about coaching and makeup? These kids speak and understand English, Spanish, Dutch, Papiamento and some French. Smart kids with the perfect baseball bodies. They don't walk, they bounce."

Questions Loom Over Arizona Diamondbacks Roster (with redundant commentary about grit) | Yahoo! Sports
Adam Eaton--not the former pitcher--has been heralded as a potential leadoff man and everyday centerfielder. His guts and grit define the D-backs and are everything Kirk Gibson looks for in his players. Eaton's return would give the team four quality outfielders, including Jason Kubel, Cody Ross, and Gerardo Parra, who happens to lead Major League Baseball in WAR (2.9). Kirk Gibson has taken a shine to testing different lineups, and he will likely regularly rotate the four outfielders, starting each one three times every four days.

Baseball Stuff

D'backs ready to defend RCBL title | newsleader.com
The Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks open the 2013 Rockingham County Baseball League season Fri. wait this isn't about the d-backs... Well, I guess it is.

MLB Gameday Scout Explores Own Existential Dread | NotGraphs
I have an obsession over how stupid SCOUT is for mlb.com but after this I question everything I have ever said.

This college baseball team is the best at postgame interviews | For The Win
You thought shaving cream pies were cool? Check out these postgame moves.

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One of these things is not like the other (and it's not Albert Pujols' BA heyo)

The Ultimate Wallet Accessory: An MLB Lifetime Ballpark Pass | buzzfeed.com
These 12 guys and a few lucky others know that the Amex Black card is nothing in comparison to baseball's golden ticket.