Spring Training Thread

[AZZenny]

I just saw - 26 days-plus hours until Pitchers and Catchers report. Voluntary workouts have commenced. About six weeks till the first ST game.

What hit me, is that in the past - even last year when I totally did not buy the in-house hype - this news would make me giddy! I counted down every minute till P and C day, and Spring Training was the most wonderful time of year for me. And perhaps it still will come to that, but with first Curt and now RJ gone, and a crew of over-rated mercs run by nerds - I am not real excited. Not at all. I always really anticipated seeing Randy, and Curt as well. This time, not feeling any buzz. Ortiz. Estes. Ho Hum. Vazquez, OK, some curiousity there. Him, and Glaus. Otherwise - eh! I'm going to have to be won over.

I know everyone here turned against RJ at the end - but I always looked forward to every single start, from the first 1-inning ST start on. He made the season for me. I doubt we'll ever see his like here again.

 

[moviegeekjn]

I know everyone here turned against RJ at the end - but I always looked forward to every single start, from the first 1-inning ST start on. He made the season for me. I doubt we'll ever see his like here again.

The second half of the 2004 season, the ONLY home games I made sure I went to were the ones that RJ started.... I missed more games than ever before despite having a season ticket. I'll just be going to a few games this year... always look forward to baseball season, but can't get "stoked" about just the Dbacks... given the situation.

 

[Cland]

I for one can't wait for spring training. I could care less if we lose 100+ games again or whose starting. Bad baseball is better than no baseball. Just ask any Coyote fan...

 

[AZZenny]

Well .... yeah, to a point. Unwatchable baseball isn't better than no baseball, maybe, but I did start to feel some slight, good old-fashioned ST stirrings late today. Maybe just that it was a pretty rough off-season thus far. Or maybe I'm not in such severe withdrawal since I did go to good baseball games all the way up to Thanksgiving week.

 

[BOB_Man24]

Well .... yeah, to a point. Unwatchable baseball isn't better than no baseball, maybe, but I did start to feel some slight, good old-fashioned ST stirrings late today. Maybe just that it was a pretty rough off-season thus far. Or maybe I'm not in such severe withdrawal since I did go to good baseball games all the way up to Thanksgiving week.

You'll get it. I dunno to me there is something great about ST. Even if your team sucks, wins/losses dont count and for the most part you can try to be upbeat and just enjoy some baseball. Gotta love it.

 

[Cland]

Well .... yeah, to a point. Unwatchable baseball isn't better than no baseball, maybe, but I did start to feel some slight, good old-fashioned ST stirrings late today. Maybe just that it was a pretty rough off-season thus far. Or maybe I'm not in such severe withdrawal since I did go to good baseball games all the way up to Thanksgiving week.

Rough offseason?? Wow, outside of losing RJ I thought we had a pretty good offseason. I definitely wouldn't describe it as rough overall. I thought we did a pretty good job upgrading at several position as well as our rotation. Just curious but what is your expectation for this team coming off of 111 loses?

 

[schillingfan]

Rough offseason?? Wow, outside of losing RJ I thought we had a pretty good offseason. I definitely wouldn't describe it as rough overall. I thought we did a pretty good job upgrading at several position as well as our rotation. Just curious but what is your expectation for this team coming off of 111 loses?

The D-Backs spent money, but I'm not sure it was as wisely spent as it could have been, given the money they had available that had come off the books.

My expectation is that the D-Backs will be a slightly below .500 team. Pitching staff isn't good enough to win.

 

[Cland]

The D-Backs spent money, but I'm not sure it was as wisely spent as it could have been, given the money they had available that had come off the books.

My expectation is that the D-Backs will be a slightly below .500 team. Pitching staff isn't good enough to win.

Fair enough. I think our pitching will be improved though...at least our rotation. Obviously Vasquez is no RJ but what could we do RJ wanted out. But I think Ortiz will end up with better numbers than Webb last year. Hopefully moving back down in the rotation will help Webb regain his rookie year form. Even if he doesn't, he can't pitch worse than Fossum did. And I'm not expecting much from Estes but I think he can do a little better than Dessens/Sparks.

But coming off of last year I think if we stay in the race in the NL West or even just stay around .500 I will be happy. Actually, if we hit the cutoff man more than 50% of the time and actually learn our signs I will be content.

 

[Ryanwb]

The D-Backs spent money, but I'm not sure it was as wisely spent as it could have been, given the money they had available that had come off the books.

My expectation is that the D-Backs will be a slightly below .500 team. Pitching staff isn't good enough to win.

you go girl!!

 

[CardNots]

Fair enough. I think our pitching will be improved though...at least our rotation. Obviously Vasquez is no RJ but what could we do RJ wanted out. But I think Ortiz will end up with better numbers than Webb last year. Hopefully moving back down in the rotation will help Webb regain his rookie year form. Even if he doesn't, he can't pitch worse than Fossum did. And I'm not expecting much from Estes but I think he can do a little better than Dessens/Sparks.

But coming off of last year I think if we stay in the race in the NL West or even just stay around .500 I will be happy. Actually, if we hit the cutoff man more than 50% of the time and actually learn our signs I will be content.

Last year after spring training I wasn't impressed by our pitching staff and we know the rest of the story.

This year, I believe our rotation is much better. This coupled with better fielding and some upgraded power we could play pretender for the first half of the season. We should be close to a .500 ball club...