Snake Bytes: 03/15 - Moving Forward

Diamondbacks news

[AZ Central] Torey Lovullo seeing signs of improvement from Ketel Marte

Post game comments from TL.

[AZ Central] Prospect J.B. Bukauskas shows tantalizing potential at Diamondbacks camp

Having Bukauskas trust his stuff in short bursts has translated in some good results thus far. D-Backs will maintain him in a bullpen role for the time being but have not ruled out a starting job in the future.

[DBacks.com] Notes: Smith scuffles; Weaver in sim game

Smith says: “It’s still spring training and there’s still a lot of time to fix it and we just have to move forward.”

[DBacks.com] Predicting D-backs’ 2021 Opening Day roster

Steve Gilbert predicts Rojas, Mathisen and Thompson but no Bukauskas.

[Arizona Sports] Arizona Diamondbacks demote 3 pitchers from spring training camp

Matt Peacock joins Triple-A Reno, Josh Green and Sam Moll head to Minor League camp.

[RebelWalk.com] Five questions with Deric Ladnier, Arizona Diamondbacks director of amateur scouting

“I have always felt taking the best talent, regardless of whether it is high school or college, is the best way to build an organization.”

Around The MLB

[Yahoo Sports] Moneyball Turns to Crypto: A’s Selling Suites for One Bitcoin

Says A’s president Dave Kaval: “Part of the reason we’re doing this is the price makes sense. Since a bitcoin is worth about the same as a season suite it gives our fans some different choices. And it kind of tests it to see if it’s something we’d like to do in more aspects of our business. And the other reason is, especially in the Bay Area you see more people discussing or transacting with bitcoin. We’re trying to be innovative in an era that we’re in the forefront. The A’s have always had a long history of innovating, so we felt this is a great way to do that.”

Across The Pacific

[Japan] Fire-balling teen Roki Sasaki pitches in 1st pro game

The right-hander, who one pro scout clocked at 163 kilometers (101.3 miles) per hour in an April 2019 training camp, turned pro last year with the Lotte Marines, one of four teams that named him their top 2019 draft choice. With coronavirus restrictions in place, the host Marines sold all 5,000 tickets they made available for Sasaki’s debut game.

[Japan] Japan to allow foreign athletes to enter after lifting virus emergency

The Japanese government is making arrangements to allow foreign athletes contracted to professional teams to enter the country after the state of emergency is lifted nationwide on March 21.

Former D-Back Kevin Cron beat the travel ban in December 2020 and has been with his team ever since, as you can read in this interesting article from the begin of March.

[Japan] Pitcher Tanaka expected to post big win for the Miyagi economy

Masahiro Tanaka’s return to Nippon Professional Baseball will generate 5.717 billion yen ($54.2 million) a year for his team and the local economy of Miyagi Prefecture, according to an estimate by an expert in the field.

“The findings reveal that Tanaka’s annual salary of 900 million yen is not so expensive because he will have a huge economic impact on the local community,” expert Miyamoto said in a statement.

[Korea] Choo Shin-soo ‘confident’ vs. Japanese ace in possible Olympic duel in Tokyo

“I’ve faced him in MLB, and it’ll be fun to see him in the Olympics,” Choo said Sunday of Tanaka before the Landers’ practice game against the KT Wiz in Ulsan. “Since we’ll be representing Korea and Japan at the Olympics, the mindset will be much different (than in the majors).”

[Taiwan] CPBL opens baseball season, thrills sports fans worldwide with sold-out crowd in Tainan

Across The Wall

[Mexico] Adrian González suiting up for Mexican baseball and Olympics?

Former MLB All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is reportedly interested in playing for the expansion Guadalajara Mariachis this summer after not appearing in a game since 2018. He is training for the upcoming season with hopes of appearing for Mexico in the Tokyo Olympics.