SnakeBytes 8/2: Can we just play ball yet?

ICYMI

(Las Vegas Review Journal) Henderson quietly tried to lure Arizona Diamondbacks to Southern Nevada

Last year, Henderson officials quietly began a push to lure the Arizona Diamondbacks from the team’s Phoenix home to their city, records obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal show. Although discussions have stalled, the move signals Henderson’s desire to grow as a professional sports-caliber city.

(The Athletic) The Diamondbacks reportedly flirted with leaving Arizona, exposing themselves as … a business

That’s because the Diamondbacks are a business, and businesses are self-interested. Businesses do what is good for business. The Diamondbacks are looking for a new facility, preferably one to which they have to contribute the least amount of money possible. Spending other people’s money and not your own is good for your business, and the Diamondbacks, as we’ve established, are a business. In that respect, they are no different from every other professional sports franchise in America.

Diamondbacks News (non-stadium category)

(azcentral.com) Zack Greinke’s complicated legacy with the Arizona Diamondbacks

During Greinke’s three-plus seasons, the Diamondbacks finished with 298 wins and 297 losses. They will end up spending $153.5 million on Greinke, who gave them 116 starts counting two in the 2017 playoffs. That year’s wild-card game was the only playoff game they won during Greinke’s tenure; ironically enough, they won despite a poor outing by him.

In all, they spent $1.32 million per Greinke start and managed just one brief postseason appearance.

(azcentral.com) Robbie Ray trade: Why Arizona Diamondbacks didn’t trade pitcher to New York Yankees

“I’m sure there were deals we could have done in other places, but I never really looked at going into today thinking this was, ‘Tear it down to the studs,’” Hazen told reporters. “It was let’s see if we can figure out a way to satisfy some long-term pieces and figure out a way to maybe make the team deeper even if we maybe took a little tick back in trading a number one starting pitcher.”

Around Baseball

(ESPN) Reds-Pirates brawl results in 40 games of bans

Pirates pitcher Keone Kela got the longest ban at 10 games for “intentionally” throwing a pitch near the head of the Reds’ Derek Dietrich and later instigating the brawl. Teammates Jose Osuna (five games) and Kyle Crick (three games) and manager Clint Hurdle (two games) also were disciplined by MLB.

(USA Today) MLB trade deadline 2019: Most intriguing prospects who were dealt

The Diamondbacks feature heavily on this list, with prospects coming to us and leaving us both making apperances