SnakeBytes, 3/1: Let the games begin!

Team news

[dbacks.com] Zack Greinke's D-backs debut Friday vs. A's - Zack Greinke will make his D-backs debut Friday against the A's at Salt River Fields. Right-hander Matt Koch starts Tuesday against the University of Arizona and Rubby De La Rosa will get the nod in Wednesday's Cactus League opener against the Rockies. Robbie Ray, who is competing for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, will start Thursday, Greinke on Friday, Shelby Miller on Saturday and Patrick Corbin on Sunday.

[AZ Central] Pollock delayed due to soreness - Hale did not offer much in the way of details, though he did say this: He does not believe the injury to be serious, but since Pollock hasn’t taken batting practice the past three days, Hale expects to make a lineup change. Hale said he did not know the specifics of the injury, like whether it was related to Pollock’s elbow or shoulder or something else. "He has a little bit of a sore arm," Hale said. "He has it every spring, just from swinging a lot and throwing. It’s nothing major."

[Examiner] For Diamondbacks, competition is just heating up: Greinke starts Friday - Perhaps the most high-profile battle is between Nick Ahmed and Jean Segura at shortstop. Ahmed, for one, does not seem terribly concerned. "My mind set is to grow and get better," Ahmed said. "I come into each camp to win a job. Nothing is a given. Whatever Chip has, I’ll do to the best of my ability. It’s good to have guys push each other, and competition is healthy for many positions."

[12NEWS] Archie Bradley's house is the place to be during spring training - "We have a pool table, air hockey table, ping pong table, basketball hoop inside and outside the pool, PlayStation, Xbox, Ninetndo 64, just about everything you could think of," joked Bradley. The Diamondbacks pitcher is the host with the most this spring, as Jake Lamb, Kaleb Fleck and Evan Marzilli are all staying at his place. They have their roommate situation down to a science. "It's a nice system, Evan and I do all the cooking and Kaleb and Jake do all the dishes and clean up. So we've got a good system going," said Bradley.

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks to go easy on Welington Castillo's workload - There were times last season when catcher Welington Castillo’s bat made it difficult for manager Chip Hale to take him out of the lineup. Hale said Monday the Diamondbacks will need to be careful not to overwork Castillo this season, but he stopped short of giving a target for games played. "I don’t want to put a number on it because we’re going to really go on his body and how he feels," Hale said. "But it’s important that we keep him rested and at the top of his game offensively and defensively."

[Arizona Sports] D-backs fifth starter, bullpen jobs on the line - [Daniel] Gibson became a late addition to the conversation when after watching a recent bullpen sessions Hale heaped praise upon the young left-hander. "He’s got good stuff; very impressed," Hale said. "We saw a lot of him in the Fall League and he’s much better than what we saw in the Fall League. He’s very impressive. He had a great year for us in the minor leagues. He’s a real bright star for us in our system, and he’s shooting for a shot on the team."

[FOX Sports] 'New' Archie Bradley embraces familiar challenge with Arizona Diamondbacks - "I'm sick of the 'prospect' label or 'he's coming.' I want to be here," Bradley said. "I want to spend the whole year in the big leagues. I sat down after (last) year ended and looked at the year in review, the ups and downs, the struggles, everything. It was huge eye-opening experience, a huge maturation process. I just remember I wanted to set goals for this year and I wanted to have a new attitude. It's easily the hardest I've worked and the smartest I've worked. Last year is in the past. A new year, a new me."

[AZ Central] Lopez hoping for fresh start - Right-hander Yoan Lopez still doesn’t want to talk about what happened last summer. Nor, it seems, does anyone associated with the Diamondbacks. Not specifically, at least. They use the phrase "personal reasons," but offer nothing more to explain his unauthorized departure from his Double-A team last July. "I grew up a lot," Lopez said, speaking through interpreter Eddie Oropesa. "I know I made some mistakes last year, but it’s a new start and I feel mentally strong."

And, elsewhere...

[AZ Central] Chicago White Sox’s Adam Eaton takes heat for Oscars tweet - A former Diamondbacks player has taken some heat for a tweet he posted during the Oscars. During Chris Rock’s opening monologue on Sunday, Adam Eaton, who plays for the Chicago White Sox , tweeted why "does it always have to be about black and white? #American." He has since deleted the tweet. Some of Eaton’s Twitter followers took offense to Eaton’s statement.

[New York Times] For Bronson Arroyo, a Comeback at 39 Would Be Pure Gravy - “I’ve been saying for a long time, I’m going to outlast Papi,” Arroyo said. “But I’ve got to make it through this season. He might outlast me if I don’t make this club, or if my arm can’t handle the torque of pitching multiple innings. “But I’m proud of what I’ve done in this game, man. If I don’t make it out of this camp and this arm just won’t go, I’m completely satisfied with what I’ve done in the game.”

Seriously!!! pic.twitter.com/7zwb9okOCH

— New York Mets (@Mets) March 1, 2016

Yes. That is Yoenis Cespedes and Noah Syndergaard riding horses to spring training this morning.