azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Jack Magruder, Tribune
TUCSON - Brandon Webb called his second spring start "90 percent better’’ than his first, and he seemed crisp enough for the regular season.
Webb struck out six batters in 3 2 /3 innings, four called on his pet sinking fastball on the outer half of the plate, against the Oakland Athletics.
He gave up a homer to Eric Byrnes in the third and was charged with another run after leaving the game with two runners on in the fourth inning after reaching his pitch limit. He threw 56.
"The ball felt a lot better coming out of my hand,’’ said Webb, who gave up three hits and three walks in two innings Friday.
"More aggressive firstpitch strikes with the fastball.’’
The D-Backs failed to turn a double play behind him after a leadoff single in the fourth, or he might have finished that inning.
"Much better,’’ manager Bob Melvin said. "When he is locating the fastball, it is tough to get that in the air.’’
Webb got four groundball outs and a fly out.
TONING IT DOWN
Jose Valverde pitched a stress-free eighth inning Tuesday, retiring all three batters he faced, in an about-face from his first spring appearance Saturday when he gave up five runs on three hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning against the White Sox.
The D-Backs were pleased to see a more controlled Valverde, both in his pitches and in his demeanor, after speaking with him about being less outwardly emotional on the mound, especially when he is doing well.
"Guys are fueled by certain things, but when you are a little on the demonstrative side, the other side doesn’t particularly care for that,’’ Melvin said. "When you do it just when you are doing well, guys are doubly not happy with you. We prefer that he tone it down a little bit.’’
Valverde has 18 saves in the last two seasons but was limited to 23 appearances before undergoing right shoulder surgery last season.
INJURY UPDATE
Closer Greg Aquino threw an eight-minute bullpen session Tuesday morning, testing his sore right forearm with fastballs and change-ups. He reported some soreness, but a later examination by Dr. Michael Lee seemed to indicate no ligament or nerve damage.
"He (Lee) did not feel there was any great cause for concern,’’ general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "He’ll take a day or two off then throw again and eventually work back into game situations. There is no timetable.’’
Asked if Aquino would be ready for the regular season, Garagiola said "I would think so.’’
Outfielder Luis Terrero did limited baseball work Tuesday after suffering a bruised tailbone in a collision at second base against Colorado on Monday night, but is penciled in to bat leadoff against the Angels today.
Terrero said his back was numb for several minutes after he slid awkwardly into second base while trying to break up a double play.
SHORT HOPS
Troy Glaus is to play the field every other day for the next week, Melvin said, while Luis Gonzalez is likely to play once in three games, with some DH opportunities in between. . . . Randy Choate will start a five-inning "B’’ game against the White Sox today, with Mike Koplove, Enrique Gonzalez and Bill Murphy also scheduled to pitch.
AT A GLANCE
D-Backs 10, Athletics 2 Notable pitching: Brandon Webb struck out six in 3 2 /3 innings while spotting his sinking fastball on the outside part of the plate. . . . Left-hander Brad Halsey was so efficient in his scoreless 36-pitch, three-inning outing — one hit, one strikeout, two broken bats — that he threw another 18 pitches in the bullpen. . . .
Jose Valverde had a 1-2-3 inning. Notable hitting: Conor Jackson hit his first spring home run. . . . Marland Williams had two singles and a double while also drawing a walk, giving him five hits in nine spring at-bats. . . . Tony Clark had a pinch-hit, three-run double in a seven-run fourth inning. . . . Craig Ansman had two hits for the second game in a row, making him 4-for-4 this spring.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=37660
TUCSON - Brandon Webb called his second spring start "90 percent better’’ than his first, and he seemed crisp enough for the regular season.
Webb struck out six batters in 3 2 /3 innings, four called on his pet sinking fastball on the outer half of the plate, against the Oakland Athletics.
He gave up a homer to Eric Byrnes in the third and was charged with another run after leaving the game with two runners on in the fourth inning after reaching his pitch limit. He threw 56.
"The ball felt a lot better coming out of my hand,’’ said Webb, who gave up three hits and three walks in two innings Friday.
"More aggressive firstpitch strikes with the fastball.’’
The D-Backs failed to turn a double play behind him after a leadoff single in the fourth, or he might have finished that inning.
"Much better,’’ manager Bob Melvin said. "When he is locating the fastball, it is tough to get that in the air.’’
Webb got four groundball outs and a fly out.
TONING IT DOWN
Jose Valverde pitched a stress-free eighth inning Tuesday, retiring all three batters he faced, in an about-face from his first spring appearance Saturday when he gave up five runs on three hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning against the White Sox.
The D-Backs were pleased to see a more controlled Valverde, both in his pitches and in his demeanor, after speaking with him about being less outwardly emotional on the mound, especially when he is doing well.
"Guys are fueled by certain things, but when you are a little on the demonstrative side, the other side doesn’t particularly care for that,’’ Melvin said. "When you do it just when you are doing well, guys are doubly not happy with you. We prefer that he tone it down a little bit.’’
Valverde has 18 saves in the last two seasons but was limited to 23 appearances before undergoing right shoulder surgery last season.
INJURY UPDATE
Closer Greg Aquino threw an eight-minute bullpen session Tuesday morning, testing his sore right forearm with fastballs and change-ups. He reported some soreness, but a later examination by Dr. Michael Lee seemed to indicate no ligament or nerve damage.
"He (Lee) did not feel there was any great cause for concern,’’ general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "He’ll take a day or two off then throw again and eventually work back into game situations. There is no timetable.’’
Asked if Aquino would be ready for the regular season, Garagiola said "I would think so.’’
Outfielder Luis Terrero did limited baseball work Tuesday after suffering a bruised tailbone in a collision at second base against Colorado on Monday night, but is penciled in to bat leadoff against the Angels today.
Terrero said his back was numb for several minutes after he slid awkwardly into second base while trying to break up a double play.
SHORT HOPS
Troy Glaus is to play the field every other day for the next week, Melvin said, while Luis Gonzalez is likely to play once in three games, with some DH opportunities in between. . . . Randy Choate will start a five-inning "B’’ game against the White Sox today, with Mike Koplove, Enrique Gonzalez and Bill Murphy also scheduled to pitch.
AT A GLANCE
D-Backs 10, Athletics 2 Notable pitching: Brandon Webb struck out six in 3 2 /3 innings while spotting his sinking fastball on the outside part of the plate. . . . Left-hander Brad Halsey was so efficient in his scoreless 36-pitch, three-inning outing — one hit, one strikeout, two broken bats — that he threw another 18 pitches in the bullpen. . . .
Jose Valverde had a 1-2-3 inning. Notable hitting: Conor Jackson hit his first spring home run. . . . Marland Williams had two singles and a double while also drawing a walk, giving him five hits in nine spring at-bats. . . . Tony Clark had a pinch-hit, three-run double in a seven-run fourth inning. . . . Craig Ansman had two hits for the second game in a row, making him 4-for-4 this spring.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=37660
