SnakeBytes: Base-maul edition

Recaps

• [FOX Sports] Diamondbacks game report March 12 - "Matt Tuiasosopo was robbed of a single on a lunging catch by Dodgers' second baseman Dee Gordon in the third inning. Tuiasosopo is 3-for-31 with six RBIs this spring. Minor league Rule 5 draftee Michael Lee gave up two runs in the first inning before finishing with two scoreless innings. His calling card? Control. He walked 18 in 128.2 innings at Class AA Mississippi in the Atlanta organization last season."
• [dbacks.com] Miley cruises against Rockies - "I was just trying to get it in," Miley said of his wayward pitch which hit Troy Tulowitzki and forced him out of the game. "I was trying to go in in his first at-bat, and he crushes it. I wanted to make sure I got it in, and I cut it off a little bit." Miley, who has a spot secured in the D-backs' starting rotation, struck out five and held the Rockies to one run and four hits in five innings. "It felt good. I'm making progress," Miley said. "I feel like it's easier to get up and down five times, and that's kind of what you're looking for."
• [ArizonaSports] Pennington and Gregorius lead D-Backs' spring rout of Dodgers - "Starting third baseman Andy Marte delivered the biggest blast of the game, smashing a solo home run off Los Angeles starter Zack Greinke over the left field bullpen to start the D-Backs' three-run second inning. Marte is in the process of trying to revive his career after displaying immense promise as a teenager when he was signed at 16 by the Atlanta Braves... He is off to a solid start in the Cactus League batting .316 with a home run and three RBI in 12 games."

Team News

• [dbacks.com] Cahill still sore, but on schedule - When D-backs pitcher Trevor Cahill woke up Wednesday morning, the first thing he did was assess how his right knee felt. "I got up, and I was like, 'Not bad,'" Cahill said. "When it happened, I was like, 'Oh, it's something structural and there goes the season,'" Cahill said. "But after I lay there for a second, I was like, 'All right.' It wasn't anything structural, so if anything it will just be a little sore, nothing serious."
• [FOX Sports] Early-riser Blanco having a strong spring - Blanco is 42. But the number that best defines him is 40.49. Blanco has thrown out 40.49 percent of the base runners who have attempted to steal on him in a major league career that began in 1997. He is the active leading major league leader, one one-hundredth of a point ahead of St. Louis' Yadier Molina. Blanco does not see it as a competition per se. "All we can do is go there and do the best we can and show them that we can still play this game."
• [AZ Central] Grace may join big-league staff - "Though his official position is hitting coach for the short-season Hillsboro Hops, Grace has spent the entirety of spring training in big-league camp acting as the de facto No. 2 hitting coach behind Turner Ward. Where Grace goes will come down to what happens with catcher Henry Blanco. In camp on a minor-league deal, Blanco is trying to win the backup catcher's job. If he doesn't make the team, he has been told he'll be added to the coaching staff. If he makes the team, it could open the door for Grace."
• [ArizonaSports] D-backs GM: Shortstop position still up for grabs - The battle between Didi Gregorius and Chris Owings has been brewing all spring, but as of now, Towers and the team do not know who will win the job. "We still got some time," Towers said. "We will probably bring both to Australia. They'll both be active there and both of them have played very, very well. You can't go wrong either way. That's probably going to be a decision that we're going to make right before we open up against the San Francisco Giants."
• [dbacks.com] Shortstop competition has roots in Fall League - "This is not the first time these two have competed against each other, though. Back in the fall of 2012, Gregorius was playing for the Peoria Javelinas while Owings starred for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. Those were the two best teams in the AFL that year and the pair of young shortstops were on opposite sides in a championship game like no other the league had ever seen -- one decided in part on a protested call."
• [AZ Central] Trumbo hoping to show he's more than a power hitter - Pollock admired the trajectory before hearing a crunch in the players' parking lot beyond the outfield. He chuckled to himself at the unfortunate surprise some poor teammate would find at day's end. Then Pollock realized the ball had bounced once and hit his brand new Jeep Wrangler, parked at a supposedly safe distance. "I guess some guys, you just don't park there," Pollock said. "If (Trumbo) hits it now, I'm done. I'm on the farthest side ever. We don't hit BP on that field (anymore) though, so I should be OK."

And, elsewhere...

• [Nationals.com] Livan to make retirement official - Livan Hernandez is going to file his retirement papers on Thursday, officially ending his career as a player. He pitched in 2006-2007 for Arizona, giving us a 102 ERA+ in 43 starts, most memorably allowing one run over six innings at Wrigley and getting the W as we clinched the NLDS against the Cubs.
• [WZZM13.com] Growlers plan a 'Salute to Selfies' - Ok, now the bizarro minor-league uniform thing is really out of hand... "It’s a term you probably didn’t even know five years ago: the selfie. Now the Kalamazoo Growlers are preparing to honor the social media meme with a Salute To Selfies night during their July 24 home game against the Wisconsin Woodchucks. The team will wear special jerseys filled with fan "selfies" submitted to the Growlers via social media. "