azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Jack Magruder, Tribune
TUCSON - Javier Vazquez broke out his breaking pitches Tuesday, the next phase in his preparation for his openingday start April 4.
Vazquez struck out seven, including two of the first three batters he faced, and gave up one run in 4 1 /3 innings against Diamondbacks minor leaguers in a camp game at Kino Sports Complex while the rest of the major leaguers had the day off.
Vazquez gave up two hits and one walk, and left after his pitch count reached 68. He threw 46 strikes.
"Everything was working all right. I got my work in. I threw all of my pitches,’’ Vazquez said.
Vazquez struck out at least one batter in each inning, two in the first and two more in the fourth, and got five batters swinging.
"It was a good day to work on the breaking ball,’’ D-Backs pitching coach Mark Davis said. "He threw enough breaking balls for me to get a good gauge of where he is at. I think we got a lot accomplished.’’
The only run Vazquez permitted came in the third, when Jamie D’Antona walked, took third on a Danny Richar single, and scored on a Brandon Simon sacrifice fly.
Vazquez will make his next start March 20 in Tucson in a split-squad game against Seattle. His only spring start in the Valley will come on March 25 against Texas in Surprise, a 7:05 p.m. game that is to be televised by Fox Sports Net Arizona.
COUNTING THE DAYS
The D-Backs are scheduled to play 21 games in the next 18 days before their next off day on April 3, the day before the regular season begins with a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs at Bank One Ballpark.
The Cubs might be down to their third pitching option to oppose Vazquez on opening day. Kerry Wood, the scheduled starter, has been shut down because of bursitis in his right shoulder. Wood’s logical replacement, Mark Prior, was scratched from his scheduled Monday start because of right elbow inflammation.
The Cubs have said they do not believe either injury is serious, but that is what they said last spring before arm injuries sidelined both Wood and Prior for the first two months of the regular season.
SHORT HOPS
The D-Backs have 49 players in camp after Monday’s roster moves, including 25 pitchers.
The D-Backs were said to be interested in re-acquiring righthanded reliever Bret Prinz, who is in the New York Yankees’ camp, but a team official said Prinz’s name has not come up since it was mentioned in one of the Randy Johnson trade scenarios in December. Prinz is out of minor league options and must make the Yankees’ roster or be subject to a waiver claim. . . .
New ownership partner Jeff Moorad was scheduled to have a special
luncheon guest Tuesday at BOB — Hall of Famer Willie Mays. The two have been friends for years, since Moorad negotiated several business deals for Mays. Mays spends time each spring in the San Francisco Giants’ camp.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=38041
TUCSON - Javier Vazquez broke out his breaking pitches Tuesday, the next phase in his preparation for his openingday start April 4.
Vazquez struck out seven, including two of the first three batters he faced, and gave up one run in 4 1 /3 innings against Diamondbacks minor leaguers in a camp game at Kino Sports Complex while the rest of the major leaguers had the day off.
Vazquez gave up two hits and one walk, and left after his pitch count reached 68. He threw 46 strikes.
"Everything was working all right. I got my work in. I threw all of my pitches,’’ Vazquez said.
Vazquez struck out at least one batter in each inning, two in the first and two more in the fourth, and got five batters swinging.
"It was a good day to work on the breaking ball,’’ D-Backs pitching coach Mark Davis said. "He threw enough breaking balls for me to get a good gauge of where he is at. I think we got a lot accomplished.’’
The only run Vazquez permitted came in the third, when Jamie D’Antona walked, took third on a Danny Richar single, and scored on a Brandon Simon sacrifice fly.
Vazquez will make his next start March 20 in Tucson in a split-squad game against Seattle. His only spring start in the Valley will come on March 25 against Texas in Surprise, a 7:05 p.m. game that is to be televised by Fox Sports Net Arizona.
COUNTING THE DAYS
The D-Backs are scheduled to play 21 games in the next 18 days before their next off day on April 3, the day before the regular season begins with a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs at Bank One Ballpark.
The Cubs might be down to their third pitching option to oppose Vazquez on opening day. Kerry Wood, the scheduled starter, has been shut down because of bursitis in his right shoulder. Wood’s logical replacement, Mark Prior, was scratched from his scheduled Monday start because of right elbow inflammation.
The Cubs have said they do not believe either injury is serious, but that is what they said last spring before arm injuries sidelined both Wood and Prior for the first two months of the regular season.
SHORT HOPS
The D-Backs have 49 players in camp after Monday’s roster moves, including 25 pitchers.
The D-Backs were said to be interested in re-acquiring righthanded reliever Bret Prinz, who is in the New York Yankees’ camp, but a team official said Prinz’s name has not come up since it was mentioned in one of the Randy Johnson trade scenarios in December. Prinz is out of minor league options and must make the Yankees’ roster or be subject to a waiver claim. . . .
New ownership partner Jeff Moorad was scheduled to have a special
luncheon guest Tuesday at BOB — Hall of Famer Willie Mays. The two have been friends for years, since Moorad negotiated several business deals for Mays. Mays spends time each spring in the San Francisco Giants’ camp.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=38041
