2012 Arizona Diamondbacks season thread - June edition

[AZ Native]

Since you seem to be missing my point I'll make one last stab at it. I have been talking about range. Parra doesn't have great range. He has an arm which helps improve his stock defensively. You don't need that much range in left since there is little ground to cover.

Example:

Removing small samples, here is Parra's range factors for left-
2009- 0.7 (577 innings)
2010- 8.7 (569.1 innings)
2011- 7.2 (1018 innings)

In center-
2009- -0.2 (328 innings)
2012- 2.4 (203 innings)

Chris Young has had some truly awful years out there but has since improved dramatically.
2007- -7.6 (1263 innings)
2008- 3.1 (1390 innings)
2009--3.5 (1020.1 innings)
2010- 5.6 (1350 innings)
2011- 14.5 (1373.1 innings)

As for Jeter, since 2000 of qualified short stops he has the lowest range, and it isn't close. He is at -84.9. 2nd closest is Yuniesky Bentacourt at -43.9.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.as...ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&players=0&sort=20,d

This is too precious to let go. I appreciate your passion for the game. But what I see is someone sitting at the computer and pounding on the keyboard to bring up these million stats to prove your point.

I admit to being old school. I have watched baseball for over 50 years. Long before these stats could be at the fingertips of someone savvy enough to punch in this info, pull up all these obscure sites and throw a million stats at us to prove your point. What ever happened to actually watching the games and forming an opinion based on your observations? I see CY's positives, his negatives. I see Parra's positives, his negatives. I do not need to rely on some website that looks like they are trying to figure out how to split the atom.

Baseball is a simple sport, yet complex at the same time. It has survived because of this. Baseball is the only major sport without a clock. Time can never run out on your team, always leaving open the possibility, however slight, of a late-inning comeback. Admit it. Who among us has not gone to bed, team down 6 runs in the ninth, only to wake up and discover we missed an incredible come-from-behind victory?

Geez, I miss the good old days.

 

[82CardsGrad]

What a pathetic performance tonight... against a totally unproven rookie, we produce 6 hits and are shutout.
CY with yet another 0-for and is now down to .259... Good God he is horrible!

Upton now down to .243 as he too goes hitless once again.

This is painful to watch...

 

[thirty-two]

My favorite part was watching Upton semi-run/jog to a pop up blooper, only to watch it fall right in front of him. Both Hill and Goldschmidt ran their ass off for a farther distance and were almost there to catch the ball. Yet, Upton has less ground to cover and didn't even look like he hustled.

Upton is really starting to piss me off.

And really, blanked by the Rockies? UGH!

 

[az240zz]

Its time to move Upton out of the 3 hole. Move him down to 7th and put either Goldy or Kubel in the 3 hole.

 

[UncleChris]

Upton has all the hustle of weighted snail. They need to kick his sorry arse and have him sit for awhile till he figures it out. I think this kid has a head full of spiders.....

 

[JS22]

Its time to move Upton out of the 3 hole. Move him down to 7th and put either Goldy or Kubel in the 3 hole.

I'll go a step further and say it MIGHT be time to move Upton for some pieces.

He's had "potential" for, what, 5 years now? I think he'll always be a streaky player who teases you with stretches of dominance.

 

[AZ Native]

I'll go a step further and say it MIGHT be time to move Upton for some pieces.

He's had "potential" for, what, 5 years now? I think he'll always be a streaky player who teases you with stretches of dominance.

You're going to give up on a guy who after 5 years still does not hustle or have a clue?

It hurts to watch someone with so much talent play so mediocre.

It is easy for me to root for the average player giving 100% all the time but so difficult for me to watch the product a talented player like Upton brings.

I mentioned trading him last year and that did not go over well.

Will we be having the same discussion next year?

 

[82CardsGrad]

Someone told me that Kendrick went OFF on Upton and Stephen Drew on one of the local radio shows today... anyone catch it??
His frustration with Upton isn't a surprise at all... and I guess he feels Drew should've been back with the team by now - so he was actually questioning Drew's commitment and work-ethic!

 

[thirty-two]

Someone told me that Kendrick went OFF on Upton and Stephen Drew on one of the local radio shows today... anyone catch it??
His frustration with Upton isn't a surprise at all... and I guess he feels Drew should've been back with the team by now - so he was actually questioning Drew's commitment and work-ethic!

Here's a few quotes:

""I'm going to be real direct about Stephen," Kendrick said. "I think Stephen should have been out there playing before now, frankly. I, for one, am disappointed. I'm going to be real candid and say Stephen and his representatives are more focused on where Stephen is going to be a year from now than on going out and supporting the team that's paying his salary."

and

"I think Justin is an enigma at this point," Kendrick said. "I know he had an injury (thumb) early on and may be a little bit of a nagging injury. But he's played. He's certainly not the Justin Upton that he has been in the past and that we would expect of him. He's 24 years old and it's time for him to be a consistent performer and right now this year he's not been that."

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/dia...ks-ken-kendrick-criticizes.html#ixzz1wyOtiQmX

 

[thirty-two]

Upton is not in the lineup tonight.

(neither is Goldy...)

 

[The Commish]

This team needs a trade to shake things up. Normally I'm not a big advocate of that but its clear that we need to make a move.

 

[overseascardfan]

This team needs a trade to shake things up. Normally I'm not a big advocate of that but its clear that we need to make a move.

I really wish ARZ would have traded Drew before he got hurt last year. It wasn't like we in 1st at the time, in fact it was when he went down that the D'Backs started their run. Depending on what ARZ can get I would try and deal Upton & Young, they are so close you have to trade both or the other will become a cancer. Hopefully the league did not approve the rule that takes away draft pick compensation because Drew is as good as gone next year. I would like to see an OF of LF - Parra, RF - Kubel, CF - Pollock.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Kendrick should go off more often! What a game tonight... Kennedy was masterful with 12 K's in only 6 innings!

Blast away Kendrick!!!

 

[TJ]

Here's a few quotes:

""I'm going to be real direct about Stephen," Kendrick said. "I think Stephen should have been out there playing before now, frankly. I, for one, am disappointed. I'm going to be real candid and say Stephen and his representatives are more focused on where Stephen is going to be a year from now than on going out and supporting the team that's paying his salary."

and

"I think Justin is an enigma at this point," Kendrick said. "I know he had an injury (thumb) early on and may be a little bit of a nagging injury. But he's played. He's certainly not the Justin Upton that he has been in the past and that we would expect of him. He's 24 years old and it's time for him to be a consistent performer and right now this year he's not been that."

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/dia...ks-ken-kendrick-criticizes.html#ixzz1wyOtiQmX

I have no real problem with what Kendrick said about either player. While I understand Drew's injury was serious, it didn't seem like a 12-month injury at all. Something tells me he is moving very casually through rehab, unless there is a setback that none of us are familiar with right now.

Upton is the face of the franchise. For him to be batting .240 is unacceptable. I love Upton and think he can be a five-tool player, but he just isn't getting it done anymore. Glad he got benched today. My feeling is that if trading him can bring us top-tier prospects, do it.

 

[Gaddabout]

Here's a few quotes:

""I'm going to be real direct about Stephen," Kendrick said. "I think Stephen should have been out there playing before now, frankly. I, for one, am disappointed. I'm going to be real candid and say Stephen and his representatives are more focused on where Stephen is going to be a year from now than on going out and supporting the team that's paying his salary."

and

"I think Justin is an enigma at this point," Kendrick said. "I know he had an injury (thumb) early on and may be a little bit of a nagging injury. But he's played. He's certainly not the Justin Upton that he has been in the past and that we would expect of him. He's 24 years old and it's time for him to be a consistent performer and right now this year he's not been that."

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/dia...ks-ken-kendrick-criticizes.html#ixzz1wyOtiQmX

This is what GMs of big-city teams do, with varying results. The fact he's never really done this before (and I can't think of a D-Backs GM who has), it probably had some weight to it in the locker room.

Curious to see if this carries them more than a week.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I'm usually not a fan of owners opening their mouths much, but let's face it. Right or wrong, Drew has never been known for his work ethic, and I bet that "his representatives" are very key words in Kendrick's statement.

 

[BC867]

This is what GMs of big-city teams do, with varying results. The fact he's never really done this before (and I can't think of a D-Backs GM who has), it probably had some weight to it in the locker room.

Kendrick was the one who dropped hints about Gonzo and steroids. I resented him for it because Luis always gave his all for the team, perhaps -- PERHAPS -- even bulking up for his 57 homerun season, following 31 and preceding 28.

I support what Kendrick said about Upton, who has never given his all for the team . . . right up 'til the present. Stopping short of catching fly balls, standing at home plate admiring his own, not hitting the cutoff man, temper tantrums in the dugout.

I have felt that either Young or Upton had to go, because each seems to be a bad influence on the other. It looks like Kendrick has made that decision. And made it public.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Things are definitely getting "interesting" in the clubhouse when it comes to Upton. Not sure if this is Gibby calling the shots, or, if upper management is instructing Gibby on how to deal with Upton.


Diamondbacks Manager Kirk Gibson sat Justin Upton for the second time in four days Tuesday and said more time out of the lineup could be in store for the struggling right fielder.


"I sat around and really didn't do much, and I'm still pissed off about the way I'm playing and I'm not playing, so I don't know if it was productive," he said.

Upton went on to say that he expects to play every game, but when asked if he thinks he'll be in the starting lineup tonight, he said this:
"It's hard to expect anything around here. I really don't know. I'm going to come in here tomorrow and wait until the lineup pops up on the screen just like everybody else."

Upton is batting .143 (4 for 28) in his past seven games following a nine-game hitting streak in which he went 13 for 31 (.419) from May 17-26. Overall, he entered Tuesday batting .243 with five home runs and 20 RBIs.

"It's day to day right now," Gibson said of Upton before Tuesday's game. "He's not playing today, he might not play tomorrow. We have an off day the next day. I don't know. But today, I knew I wasn't going to play him.

"I think he's over-thinking. I think he's over-trying. Things aren't coming naturally to him. He's tried a lot. He's a little bit lost in who he really is. And he's really frustrated as you can see."


Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/dia...ks-justin-upton-sits-again.html#ixzz1x3ghEdXu

 

[82CardsGrad]

Oh boy... Gibby sitting Upton again tonight!! Going with Pollock in left and Parra in right! Wow... Pollock - a rookie batting .229 getting the start over J-Up. Yup... things gonna get quite interesting the rest of the way...

 

[AZ Native]

I agree. Someone is trying to send a message. Will it be received?

 

[Lefty]

No way Drew re-signs with the Diamondbacks after what Kendrick said. I think the Diamondbacks should trade Drew before the deadline to get something for him.

 

[82CardsGrad]

No way Drew re-signs with the Diamondbacks after what Kendrick said. I think the Diamondbacks should trade Drew before the deadline to get something for him.

He needs to play and show he's back from the injury in order to get anything worth a damn in return...

 

[overseascardfan]

He needs to play and show he's back from the injury in order to get anything worth a damn in return...

+1. I think he is trying to stick it to ARZ knowing that if he doesn't play they will not receive draft pick compensation for him and he will still get some stupid team to pay him his money.

In other news can someone remind Wade Miley that he is the #5 in the rotation, the guy is just lights out the last month. Also, looks like Goldy took the minor rumors to heart and is starting to heat up, hopefully Upton gets the message and it rubs off on him.

 

[AZ Native]

I believe that for Kendrick to say what he did about Drew, there was plenty said behind closed doors that we will probably never know about. We are all mushrooms, kept in the dark and fed $hit.

 

[Lefty]

I believe that for Kendrick to say what he did about Drew, there was plenty said behind closed doors that we will probably never know about. We are all mushrooms, kept in the dark and fed $hit.

Gambo said Drew has been 100% for the past month.