Snake Bytes, 11/21: Can't see the woods for the trees edition

Team news

[BaseballAmerica.com] Diamondbacks Top 10 Prospects Chat - BA issued their D-backs Top 10 Prospects list, then had a follow-up discussion. "Gabby Guerrero was in the discussion for the Dbacks top ten list, but will instead rank somewhere in the teens. He struggled with plate discipline and pitch recognition in Double-A this year, both before and after the trade from Seattle. I recently talked with his Mobile hitting coach, who indicated that Guerrero knows what he needs to improve and is dedicated to working on improving. The raw power and arm strength are both plus or plus-plus tools, so there’s a major league outfielder in there if he can improve his approach."

[ESPN] Braves tried to get A.J. Pollock from Diamondbacks for Shelby Miller - Yes, it kind of was a little silly. If the proposal did happen, it shouldn't have taken the Diamondbacks more than a few seconds to hang up. Pollock is the much better player. Both have three years remaining of team control, so that wasn't a factor. The Diamondbacks do need starting pitching, but Pollock has become one of the best all-around players in the game; he was just as good in 2014 but he was injured and played 75 games, so we didn't realize he'd had a breakout season a year ago.

[Scout] Arizona Diamondbacks Bold Prediction for 2016 - While the hot stove is still warming up, there is a lot to be optimistic about with Arizona. The team's 2015 upswing, coupled with the Giants rotation of Madison Bumgarner and four question marks and the Dodgers inability to perform at the level they are capable of, make this a winnable division for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016. They have the prospects. They have some payroll flexibility. Now it's time for them to claim the NL West.

[VAVEL] Premier 12: United States Advance To Finals With Victory Over Mexico - The United States advanced to the final of the inaugural WBSC Premier 12 tournament on the strength of a 6-1 semifinal win over Mexico. Team USA will battle South Korea in the WBSC Premier 12 finale at the Tokyo Dome at 5:00 AM ET on Saturday. All the pitchers used by Team USA had Arizona connections, with former D-back Zeke Spruill starting, and being followed by current prospects Seth Simmons and new 40-man roster addition, Jake Barrett.

[Forbes] Manfred Announces 3-Year Deal With FOX To Have MLB Games Streamed In-Market - As part of the quarterly owners meetings in Dallas, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced that the league and FOX have reached a 3-year deal to provide games streamed in-market to computers and mobile devices. The deal encompasses 15 regional sports networks, including Fox Sports Arizona and the Diamondbacks. You will still need an FSAZ subscription, but this will at least allow me to watch the games when not at home, using non-piratical methods!

[Pinstripe Alley] What could an Andrew Miller trade look like? - "One team interested is the Diamondbacks... Patrick Corbin is the obvious fit here, and Robbie Ray and Chase Anderson are in the mix as well, even though they don't exactly qualify as "overwhelming"... I'm pretty sure the Diamondbacks think they can contend and losing Corbin may hurt them as much as Miller helps them, but he'd be my guy." And this is why we should NOT be trading for a "proven closer". The other team values them WAY too highly.

[dbacks.com] D-backs plant 125 trees in City of Phoenix parks - "Earlier today, Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Lottery and City of Phoenix volunteers planted 125 trees in three City of Phoenix parks as part of the Break A Bat, Plant A Tree program. D-backs pitchers broke 274 opponent's bats in 2015 for a total of 125 shade trees planted in Roadrunner and Alta Dena, Pierce Park and Encanto Park. " Thankfully, the team DFA'd Webster last night, or you'd probably have got 500 words on this thrilling off-season development....

And, elsewhere...

[The Real Japan] Going To A Baseball Game In Japan - With corruption scandals and foreigners winning the top trophies unsettling sumo, the Japanese have increasingly turned their attention to baseball. Children play it all over Japan as a past-time and in high schools up and down the country, and it is as ingrained the the popular culture and the national psyche as it is in America.

[FanGraphs] The Greatest Non-Cy Young Seasons in History - The last time two pitchers had years like the ones Kershaw and Greinke just had and came away empty-handed was 2003, when Pedro lost to Halladay and Mark Prior lost to Eric Gagne. Not since Greg Maddux and Kevin Brown lost to Tom Glavine in ’98 has Major League Baseball seen a more historical trio of pitching seasons in the same league.

[MLB.com] Top 10 prospects available in Rule 5 Draft - "While it might seem like the Rule 5 is a selection of the "not quite good enoughs" in the Minors, every year big league talent is found." However, if the D-backs are to partake in the way they took Oscar Hernandez, they will need to clear room between now and December 10, as our 40-man roster is full.

[New York Post] Chase Utley Rule in works, not that it will fix Ruben Tejada’s leg - Commissioner Rob Manfred disclosed Thursday, during his news conference to wrap up Major League Baseball’s quarterly owners’ meetings, that management’s Competition Committee "made a recommendation that we move ahead with our discussions with the [Players Association] with a view towards altering the rules that [govern] that type of play."

And, finally.

Strange But True: This year's NL MVP is actually YOUNGER than the Rookie of the Year. (via @jaysonst) pic.twitter.com/7Wd3sLmV0B

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 20, 2015