Can someone explain?

[Stan C]

I've been travelling and had some health issues so not able to keep up like I would like. I went to first dbacks spring training game last night, and noticed a couple things that have me confused.
First, What's up with Aquino. He got shelled last night, and when I looked up his ERA it's obvious that was not the first time. 16.2 but only 3.1 innings pitched, is he hurt? I know Valverde is?
THe second I was hoping to see some of our top prospects, but one is not doing well at all. Quentin only has 3 hits and batting .125. Anyone know the problem there?
Thought it was interesting they had Cintron at 3rd during BP, and Santos at short. They played Barden in releif of Glaus, I have not heard of hime before.
I'd appreciate an update from those of you who have been able to follow more closely.
Thanks
Stan

 

[AZZenny]

Aquino had some muscle strain around the forearm/elbow and they took him out of games for a few weeks to rehab it - he feels OK, supposedly, but last night was just his second outing since he was shut down. So for him it's like the first week of ST all over, and they have to bring him up to speed slowly. He won't look ready for another couple weeks. That's OK, because Brandon Lyon (who wears Schilling's #38, ironically) has been stunning and could be a closer in a pinch.

Valverde will probably start in AAA, still working back from injury/ surgery.

Quentin started extremely slow last year, too, didn't heat up for almost 6 weeks of full-time play, but everyone assumed it was the recovery from the previous year's TJ surgery. They may also be tinkering with his approach so he doesn't get plunked so often. He hurt his back in the fall - hope that's not a problem. I won't worry until May. It's not that he can't hit big leaguers - because he isn't hitting against the other team's minor leaguers right now, either. (Much as I do drool over Carlos, there is a teeny piece of me that feels like he gets a bit too much glory from the national press, at the expense of Conor Jackson. Btw, I heard Brennaman say last night that Matt Williams is absolutely in love with Conor Jackson.)

Cintron has looked great at SS and third, and at the plate, too - and on another thread, people are therefore rueing the signing of RastaRoyce Clayton. I actually think Melvin will give the starts to the better player, names and contracts notwithstanding, and he says Alex has really impressed him with his maturity and performance.

Barden is one of our upper-mid-tier prospects, nothing outstanding. The prospect who is re-opening eyes is Sergio Santos. He had some long-postponed shoulder surgery and this is his first season pain free and full range of motion, apparently. I think everyone had gotten a little bit disappointed in him the last year or so. He's only 21, he's hitting well against big league pitching, showing pretty solid defense at SS, reasonable speed. BA said this may be his breakout year. (i.e., save the Steven Drew money and put it towards pitching.)

Btw, they had Melvin miked for several innings last night - I really, really, like him.

Hope your health is better - we have a watchable DBacks team this year.

 

[CardNots]

Cintron is no Clayton on the field. I haven't heard if Cintron has improved his fielding. Don't get me wrong, I like Cintron but up the middle defense is critical to winning games.