Snake Bytes 3/25: Don’t Look a Smith Horse in the Mouth

Diamondbacks News:

Cleveland 5, Diamondbacks 6

Tim Locastro was HBP, Carson Kelly continues to struggle offensively, Caleb Smith.....well....somehow got the W after allowing 5 runs off 8 hits in just 5.2 innings pitched.....The rest of the guys were looking good. Marte, Rojas, Esky and Cabrera continue to make noise at the plate, and the bullpen held things together once Caleb Smith was lifted.

Jon Duplantier returns to action

From the blurb: ..... threw a perfect inning in Wednesday’s spring game against Cleveland.

Daulton Varsho optioned to Triple A-Reno

From the article: Five other players were reassigned to minor league camp: pitchers Miguel Aguilar, Ryan Buchter and Seth Frankoff, along with infielders Domingo Leyba and Juniel Querecuto.

Domingo Leyba: Denied opening day roster spot

Maybe the Padres might be in need of a SS?

From the blurb: Leyba’s chances of securing an Opening Day role with the Diamondbacks were effectively dashed after he was outrighted off the 40-man roster in November, but he still got the opportunity to compete for a job this spring.

MLB stadium dimensions: Outfield walls ranked

Chase field makes the top 10, if that means anything.....

Baseball News:

MLB cracking down on pitchers’ use of foreign substance on baseballs

From the article: ESPN’s Jeff Passan (Twitter thread) and ESPN’s Jesse Rogers provide further detail, reporting that the league will have compliance officers monitor dugouts, clubhouses, tunnels, bullpens and batting cages in an effort to reduce the use of foreign substances. Those officers will also pull random samples of baseballs to be analyzed in a third-party lab. Balls suspected of being doctored by a pitcher will be tested against that pitcher’s spin-rate data from Statcast.

MLB’s memo indicates that pitchers are subject to discipline from the Commissioner’s Office whether evidence is discovered during the course of a game or after the completion of a game.

In-game video returns to baseball, with some changes

From the article: “To take our game back 30 years, I think you’re not doing it justice,” J.D. Martinez told Sports Illustrated last March. “It’s a joke. It’s gotten so ridiculous.”

and..

“I’m really mad that we don’t have it because, to be honest, with all due respect, we didn’t cheat,” Javier Baez told reporters near the end of last season. “We’re not cheating, and we have to pay for all of this.”

Carolina Disco Turkeys unveil Travolta-like logo

Would be a cool hat in my opinion but after following some links it looks like only shirts are available.

Snek Byte:

Technician finds dead snake in family’s dryer

RIP, bro.