SnakeBytes 7/11: Oh Thank Heaven

Quotables

They got off to a terrible start, and I've got a lot of friends in the business who will agree with what I'm going to say next. The 2014 Diamondbacks have earned a ton of points because of the last two months. They could have easily said, "This is not our year," but they have scrapped and scrapped. So what I've seen in our system is mirrored here -- and that is toughness, competitiveness. They're not real happy, because they're getting beat more than they're winning, but they're not giving up.

- Tony LaRussa on the D-backs 2014 season

I talked to [Reno manager Phil] Nevin last night. We'll see what we're going to do. ... We're just kind of talking to him. We talked to him a couple of days ago. He was a little susceptible to breaking balls. He wasn't recognizing them real well.

But now he's starting to get there. We'll see how he does [Wednesday]. Then we'll talk to the medical people. We have to make sure medically that they're comfortable with whatever we might do. If you get the go-ahead on that, you try to determine whether he's ready and bring him in.

- Kirk Gibson on Mark Trumbo coming back for the Giants series

Daily D-backs

D-backs Goals: Trim payroll, get healthy, trim more payroll
The Diamondbacks entered this season with a payroll north of $110 million, and Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall said this week he expects a similar figure next season.

Tony La Russa settling in, adjusting to new role with D-backs | dbacks.com
Tony La Russa was named chief baseball officer for the D-backs on May 17. Recently, he sat down with MLB.com to discuss a variety of topics.

Lincecum looks to stay hot vs. D-backs | MLB.com
It hasn't been determined yet, but left fielder Mark Trumbo could be back in the lineup Friday night when the D-backs open the three-game series in San Francisco that leads into the All-Star break. Trumbo has been out since April 22 with a stress fracture in his right foot. He has been tearing up Triple-A pitching this week in his rehab assignment at Reno, hitting .458 (11-for-24) with five homers and 12 RBIs in seven games. He went 3-for-4 with a homer, RBI and two runs scored Tuesday night against Las Vegas, playing the full nine innings for the first time.

Pitching a concept: Dave McKay invents throwing tool
They say necessity is the mother of invention, and Diamondbacks first-base coach Dave McKay needed a way to throw year-round. After he took the winter off from throwing more than a decade ago and came back with a sore shoulder, McKay, now 64, was told that at his age he should throw 12 months a year.

Farm Report | azcentral.com
Veteran infielder Ronny Cedeno has played well since joining the Aces via a trade, hitting .375 with an .897 OPS in nine games while reliever Jake Barrett has struggled since being called up from Double-A, though, recording an 8.22 ERA and 1.957 WHIP in eight appearances.

Pitch and catch with Miguel Montero | azcentral.com
Each week, azcentral sports visits with a Diamondbacks player or coach for Diamondbacks Extra, this week we hear from Miguel Montero.

D-backs face decisions as Trumbo nears return | FOX Sports on MSN
utfield injuries forced the Diamondbacks to delve into their farm system earlier than planned this season, and they haven't been disappointed. Ender Inciarte has proven to be a more than capable defender in center field and a reliable option as the leadoff hitter. David Peralta had one of the best first months in franchise history.

Stanton gets mic'd up | MLB.com
Marlins All-Star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton gets mic'd up for his pregame warmups and batting practice at Chase Field in Arizona

Around the MLB

Mets fans regarding everything

Raul Ibanez takes pride in his defense

Abreu glares at umpire | MLB.com
Bobby Abreu draws a walk despite an uncharitable call from the third-base umpire, and lets him know with a not-so-subtle glare

The Mystery of the Vanishing Screwball | NYTimes.com
Why has one of baseball’s most effective pitches all but disappeared from the game?

Ryan's strong throw | MLB.com
Brendan Ryan fields a grounder deep in the hole at short and makes a strong off-balanced throw to nab Yan Gomes at first base

This Is SportsCenter -- Bryce Harper - YouTube
Bryce Harper looks tough wearing his signature eye black.

Nation Disturbed By Photos Of Bud Selig In ESPN’s Body Issue | The Onion
Calling the pictorial "disgusting" and "very unsettling," millions of Americans were reportedly deeply disturbed by the semi-nude photos of 78-year-old Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig in ESPN The Magazine’s annual Body Issue last week, sources confirmed Friday.

Ex-minor leaguers sue MLB over low salaries
Senne and former minor league players in each of the 30 big league organizations are suing Major League Baseball, alleging violations of federal wage and overtime laws in a case some legal observers suggest has significant merit. They are seeking class-action status on behalf of the estimated 6,000 ballplayers who toil each summer in outposts stretching from Bluefield, Virginia, to Bakersfield, California, as well as an unspecified amount of back pay.

Let’s Imagine a Baseball-Playing LeBron James | FanGraphs Baseball
It’s Micah Owings crossed with God.

Bradley's outstanding catch | redsox.com
Jackie Bradley Jr. tracks down a fly ball in center and makes a tremendous diving catch to rob Tyler Flowers of a hit.