azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 23, 2005 12:00 AM
TUCSON - Manager Bob Melvin was in a complimentary mood Tuesday.
First, he praised Mother Nature for keeping the rain away and allowing his team to get in a sixth consecutive full day of workouts.
Then he doled out kudos to several coaches and players, including new third baseman Troy Glaus, who put on a show for a modest crowd during his turn at batting practice on the first day of full-squad workouts.
"He's got quite an arc (to his swing). He's really a good low-ball hitter, which really plays well in this league," Melvin said of Glaus, who left the Angels to sign with Arizona as a free agent. "Pitchers tend to pitch you down in the zone at times and try to get you to put the ball in play early, and that fits right into his stroke."
So did corrective laser eye surgery. Glaus will be playing his first full season since the procedure and said he can finally pick up the spin and rotation of pitches on a clear, consistent basis.
"When my contacts fit correctly, I saw (pitches) really well, but they never fit correctly. They never do," Glaus said. "But now I see the same every single day, regardless of the wind conditions or anything. It's perfect.
"It's one less variable. This game is hard enough."
Drew 'on deck'
Jeff Moorad, who has been granted approval by Commissioner Bud Selig to join the Diamondbacks' ownership group as a fifth general partner, said the team is prepared to reach out to agent Scott Boras and attempt once again to sign shortstop Stephen Drew, one of two first-round picks from 2004 left unsigned.
"It's a project we have on deck, and one we're very focused on and interested in concluding successfully if we can," Moorad said. "I certainly can't predict the future, but the intent of the organization is to have Stephen Drew a part of the Diamondbacks. We recognize our window is limited, but we intend to address that."
The Diamondbacks have up until a week before this year's June draft to agree to terms with Drew or lose their rights.
Ticket drop
Diamondbacks President Rich Dozer projects the club is on pace to reach season ticket sales close to the 18,000 range, down about 3,000 from previous years.
"We've been in the top three or four in season ticket sales in Major League Baseball. We're going to fall to five or six now," Dozer said, adding the club has received a renewal rate of about 75 percent thus far.
The club has sold about 1,000 new full or partial season ticket packages since Jan. 1, Dozer said.
Fast-tracking?
The Diamondbacks are experimenting with using touted outfield prospect Conor Jackson at first base on occasion this spring, not only because of the depth in the outfield, but because the team feels Jackson is about ready to hit major league pitching.
"This guy is not too far away, and on the hitting end of it, he's got it now," Melvin said of Jackson, who hit 17 home runs and had 91 RBIs last season, split between Class A and Double A.
Short hops
Moorad attended the Daytona 500 on Sunday and watched half of NASCAR's biggest race of the year with car owner Chip Ganassi from a perch just above pit row. "It was one of the most amazing views I've ever experienced at a sporting event," Moorad said.
"Everybody had their headphones on, but I took mine off because I just loved the sound. It's intoxicating."
• General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said there was no progress made Tuesday in pitcher Jose Jimenez's effort to get to camp. Jimenez is having legal issues getting out of his native Dominican Republic.
• Right fielder Shawn Green on the Diamondbacks' chances in 2005: "As an outsider coming in, I would say this is a team to beat. The NL West is strong, but I think it's wide open. I'd put us with the top teams in the West for sure."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/special3/articles/0223dbnb0223.html
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 23, 2005 12:00 AM
TUCSON - Manager Bob Melvin was in a complimentary mood Tuesday.
First, he praised Mother Nature for keeping the rain away and allowing his team to get in a sixth consecutive full day of workouts.
Then he doled out kudos to several coaches and players, including new third baseman Troy Glaus, who put on a show for a modest crowd during his turn at batting practice on the first day of full-squad workouts.
"He's got quite an arc (to his swing). He's really a good low-ball hitter, which really plays well in this league," Melvin said of Glaus, who left the Angels to sign with Arizona as a free agent. "Pitchers tend to pitch you down in the zone at times and try to get you to put the ball in play early, and that fits right into his stroke."
So did corrective laser eye surgery. Glaus will be playing his first full season since the procedure and said he can finally pick up the spin and rotation of pitches on a clear, consistent basis.
"When my contacts fit correctly, I saw (pitches) really well, but they never fit correctly. They never do," Glaus said. "But now I see the same every single day, regardless of the wind conditions or anything. It's perfect.
"It's one less variable. This game is hard enough."
Drew 'on deck'
Jeff Moorad, who has been granted approval by Commissioner Bud Selig to join the Diamondbacks' ownership group as a fifth general partner, said the team is prepared to reach out to agent Scott Boras and attempt once again to sign shortstop Stephen Drew, one of two first-round picks from 2004 left unsigned.
"It's a project we have on deck, and one we're very focused on and interested in concluding successfully if we can," Moorad said. "I certainly can't predict the future, but the intent of the organization is to have Stephen Drew a part of the Diamondbacks. We recognize our window is limited, but we intend to address that."
The Diamondbacks have up until a week before this year's June draft to agree to terms with Drew or lose their rights.
Ticket drop
Diamondbacks President Rich Dozer projects the club is on pace to reach season ticket sales close to the 18,000 range, down about 3,000 from previous years.
"We've been in the top three or four in season ticket sales in Major League Baseball. We're going to fall to five or six now," Dozer said, adding the club has received a renewal rate of about 75 percent thus far.
The club has sold about 1,000 new full or partial season ticket packages since Jan. 1, Dozer said.
Fast-tracking?
The Diamondbacks are experimenting with using touted outfield prospect Conor Jackson at first base on occasion this spring, not only because of the depth in the outfield, but because the team feels Jackson is about ready to hit major league pitching.
"This guy is not too far away, and on the hitting end of it, he's got it now," Melvin said of Jackson, who hit 17 home runs and had 91 RBIs last season, split between Class A and Double A.
Short hops
Moorad attended the Daytona 500 on Sunday and watched half of NASCAR's biggest race of the year with car owner Chip Ganassi from a perch just above pit row. "It was one of the most amazing views I've ever experienced at a sporting event," Moorad said.
"Everybody had their headphones on, but I took mine off because I just loved the sound. It's intoxicating."
• General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said there was no progress made Tuesday in pitcher Jose Jimenez's effort to get to camp. Jimenez is having legal issues getting out of his native Dominican Republic.
• Right fielder Shawn Green on the Diamondbacks' chances in 2005: "As an outsider coming in, I would say this is a team to beat. The NL West is strong, but I think it's wide open. I'd put us with the top teams in the West for sure."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/special3/articles/0223dbnb0223.html
