AZZenny
Registered User
Watched the game for about 3 hours from a window seat at Fridays' Front Row since the ballpark wasn't open to fans. Our guys played the Rockies instrux squad. Roof open. Couple dozen Scouts and FO types, Kendricks, and a few family members watching. The waitresses at Fridays kept asking me if I work for the DBacks because I could give info on almost every player.
Reminder to self: Need to get a life.
I saw pitchers Adam Bass (he's in AZFL), Matt Chico - he was just OK; Garrett Mock - inconsistent but interesting - got hit around some; Ryan Doherty- the 7-foot tall guy - I LIKED him - he walks just like RJ - that Ichabod Crane/Giraffe gait, and releases the ball 4 inches from the batter's face; Clint Goocher (ricks around too much - nibbles, pick-off attempt, nibbles...etc); and Dan Pohlman, who pitched well in Rookie ball, but got chewed up today.
There should be a law against throwing to first base to hold a runner if you already have two outs and one or more strikes on the batter at the plate. Ball went sailing past first, and Pohlmans' wheels fell off thereafter.
Saw Carlos Gonzalez - switch hitter, great arm, and Finley lovers will appreciate his habitual adjusting himself at the plate. A tad impatient today, but he clearly knows how to swing.
Augie Murillo had a REAL good feel to him on 3rd and at the plate - just that odd sense I sometimes get about a prospect that there's something special. Extremely calm, but coiled.
Ricardo Mercado made a similar positive impression. Intense but calm and disciplined.
Cesar Nicholas looked real solid and patient.
Steve Garrabrants had a good feel, too - totally hustles, very good read on the ball defensively, sound plate behavior, quick.
I still like Jaime D'Antona, who played a few innings at third - made a lovely bare-hand scoop and precise throw to first of a bouncy bunt when catcher and pitcher were milling around in the way. Just slipped in between them, grabbed, mailed, and nailed the runner. Showed surprisingly good speed running out a grounder, and seemed more patient at the plate than before. (Yes, you detect a bit of bias there. But he did look good.)
Smoke Williams looks a bit lost compared to the younger top-echelon guys, I'm afraid. Say Goodbye, Smoke.
Chris Carter wore the tightest pants I have ever seen in my life on a ball field. They had to have brought the wrong size, because NO ONE would wear pants that tight on purpose - Blood flow would be cut off. Didn't see any defense, but he did beautifully whack a near-HR for an rbi double. Guy can hit.
Alberto Gonzalez, Kenny Perez, Bonifacio, Richar, Hendricks, Reynolds, and Castillo didn't do anything noticeable for good or bad.
Of course this is just my first impression based on this one very brief exposure to most of these guys - couple at bats, 2-3 innings in the field, other than the few guys I've seen in El Paso or AZFL. I hope to get to Tucson for at least one more game - I REALLY want to see Neighborgall pitch - from a safe distance.
Reminder to self: Need to get a life.
I saw pitchers Adam Bass (he's in AZFL), Matt Chico - he was just OK; Garrett Mock - inconsistent but interesting - got hit around some; Ryan Doherty- the 7-foot tall guy - I LIKED him - he walks just like RJ - that Ichabod Crane/Giraffe gait, and releases the ball 4 inches from the batter's face; Clint Goocher (ricks around too much - nibbles, pick-off attempt, nibbles...etc); and Dan Pohlman, who pitched well in Rookie ball, but got chewed up today.
There should be a law against throwing to first base to hold a runner if you already have two outs and one or more strikes on the batter at the plate. Ball went sailing past first, and Pohlmans' wheels fell off thereafter.
Saw Carlos Gonzalez - switch hitter, great arm, and Finley lovers will appreciate his habitual adjusting himself at the plate. A tad impatient today, but he clearly knows how to swing.
Augie Murillo had a REAL good feel to him on 3rd and at the plate - just that odd sense I sometimes get about a prospect that there's something special. Extremely calm, but coiled.
Ricardo Mercado made a similar positive impression. Intense but calm and disciplined.
Cesar Nicholas looked real solid and patient.
Steve Garrabrants had a good feel, too - totally hustles, very good read on the ball defensively, sound plate behavior, quick.
I still like Jaime D'Antona, who played a few innings at third - made a lovely bare-hand scoop and precise throw to first of a bouncy bunt when catcher and pitcher were milling around in the way. Just slipped in between them, grabbed, mailed, and nailed the runner. Showed surprisingly good speed running out a grounder, and seemed more patient at the plate than before. (Yes, you detect a bit of bias there. But he did look good.)
Smoke Williams looks a bit lost compared to the younger top-echelon guys, I'm afraid. Say Goodbye, Smoke.
Chris Carter wore the tightest pants I have ever seen in my life on a ball field. They had to have brought the wrong size, because NO ONE would wear pants that tight on purpose - Blood flow would be cut off. Didn't see any defense, but he did beautifully whack a near-HR for an rbi double. Guy can hit.
Alberto Gonzalez, Kenny Perez, Bonifacio, Richar, Hendricks, Reynolds, and Castillo didn't do anything noticeable for good or bad.
Of course this is just my first impression based on this one very brief exposure to most of these guys - couple at bats, 2-3 innings in the field, other than the few guys I've seen in El Paso or AZFL. I hope to get to Tucson for at least one more game - I REALLY want to see Neighborgall pitch - from a safe distance.
