The Official 2008 Spring Training Thread

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Today marks the true first day of spring, as Cactus League games are here. The Diamondbacks are currently taking on the Rockies.

 

[FArting]

They tied with the Rockies 5-5.

 

[FArting]

Why do some teams play college baseball teams during spring training?

 

[Mulli]

Why do some teams play college baseball teams during spring training?

Confidence builders.

/Cubs

 

[devilfan02]

Was anyone at the Dbacks game yesterday? If so, how did Micah look? I heard he was only throwing offspeed stuff, no fastballs

Emilion B. is going to make a strong run at making this team. I think his situation will be a lot like Owings was last year in that the club would rather have him start the season in the minors but he's playing too good. He can play 2B, SS, and RF and you factor in his speed/base running and the kid should get a solid look at making the club. I was very happy that he didn't get dealt in the Haren trade

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

D-backs at the plate: Mark Reynolds blasted a three-run homer far over the left-field wall in the fourth inning to get the D-backs on the board. The homer scored Conor Jackson and Eric Byrnes, who had singled ahead of him. Jackson was 2-for-3 in the game to bring his spring average to .667.

D-backs on the mound: Brandon Webb was questionable for his start with flu symptoms, but wound up pitching well in two scoreless innings. Billy Buckner, who was acquired from Kansas City in the offseason, made his D-backs debut and got roughed up a bit, allowing four runs in two innings. Dustin Nippert suffered the loss as he allowed three runs in the ninth, his lone inning of work.

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com...=2396417&vkey=spt2008gamer&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Was anyone at the Dbacks game yesterday? If so, how did Micah look? I heard he was only throwing offspeed stuff, no fastballs

Emilion B. is going to make a strong run at making this team. I think his situation will be a lot like Owings was last year in that the club would rather have him start the season in the minors but he's playing too good. He can play 2B, SS, and RF and you factor in his speed/base running and the kid should get a solid look at making the club. I was very happy that he didn't get dealt in the Haren trade

Seems the organization agrees with you on Bonifacio:

"Don't forget Boni: Second baseman Emilio Bonifacio will get an opportunity to win the final roster spot should Chad Tracy not be ready to start the season. Bonifacio displayed versatility this winter, when he played some outfield for the Licey Tigres. He has played well in camp so far, which may be in part because of the experience he got in the big leagues last September.
"He seems a lot more comfortable this spring than he did last spring," Melvin said."

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com...d=2396885&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari

 

[Lefty]

Went to today's game against the White Sox. Haren pitched two innings and gave up one run. He was throwing pretty hard. Bonifacio(sp?) was the best hitter. He buntrd/pushed a pitch into left field and with his speed, easily made it to second. The one guy who looked bad was Brandon Lyon. He got hit very hard. Hopefully that is not a thing to come for him.

 

[Brian]

Went to today's game against the White Sox. Haren pitched two innings and gave up one run. He was throwing pretty hard. Bonifacio(sp?) was the best hitter. He buntrd/pushed a pitch into left field and with his speed, easily made it to second. The one guy who looked bad was Brandon Lyon. He got hit very hard. Hopefully that is not a thing to come for him.

Agreed, BUT I never worry one iota about the outcome of games this early in Spring training. Often veteran pitchers take the mound just trying to work on specific pitches, regardless of results.

If it were to continue into the last 10 days of spring training I'd be concerned.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Pitching schedules:
Tony Pena has been added to tomorrow’s docket. One inning in Surprise.
Wednesday: Gutierrez (2 innings), Scherzer (2), Brown (2), Rosales (2), Murphy (1) (Rosen – backup)
Thursday: Haren (3), Ambriz (2), Fruto (2), Medders (1), Peguero (1) (Enright/Roemer)
Friday (vs. Padres): Davis (3), Green (2), Rosen (1), Nippert (2), Pena (1)
Friday (vs. White Sox): Gonzalez (3), Cruz (2), Robertson (2), Enright (1), Roemer (1)
Saturday: Owings (3), Qualls (1), Lyon (1), Petit (2), Buckner (2)
Sunday: Webb (3 or 4), Medders (2), Gutierrez (2), Rosales (1), Murphy (1).

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/NickPiecoro

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

D-backs at the plate: The D-backs started the first with three straight hits by Eric Byrnes, Emilio Bonifacio and Conor Jackson with Jackson's triple giving them a 2-0 lead. Two outs later, Justin Upton hit his first homer of the spring a line drive to center to cap the four-run inning. Chris Snyder hit his second homer of the spring, a solo shot, in the third. Jackson was right in the middle of the action in the fourth as well, as he hit a grand slam off Kameron Loe.

D-backs on the mound: Ace Brandon Webb made his second start of the spring and the sinkerballer recorded eight of his nine outs on the ground with the other coming on a strikeout. Webb had trouble finishing innings as both of the runs he allowed came with two outs. Reliever Tony Pena made his first appearance of the spring and worked a 1-2-3 sixth inning. Pena had been delayed in the Dominican Republic due to visa issues.

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com...=2404449&vkey=spt2008gamer&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari

 

[devilfan02]

There's the offense we're looking for!

I really hope Bonificio makes the club

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Diamondbacks at the plate: The Diamondbacks tacked on four runs in the bottom of the eighth, behind a two-RBI single by Alex Romero. Justin Upton legged out a would-be inning-ending double play to get the Diamondbacks on the board in the bottom of the fourth, with an RBI fielder's choice groundout to first, scoring Orlando Hudson from third base.

Diamondbacks on the mound: Juan Gutierrez started and pitched two perfect innings, striking out three of the six batters he faced. Scherzer had a rough outing, allowing three earned runs, two off solo home runs, in two innings of work. His line included four hits, four strikeouts and a wild pitch. Brooks Brown got the win, allowing one hit in two innings of relief work.

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com...=2407016&vkey=spt2008gamer&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari

 

[FArting]

How do split squads work?

 

[devilfan02]

Sounds like Haren looked good yesterday (3 IP, 2 H, 3 K's, 0 R's)

I'm very excited to see what this staff can do. They'll be tested early as 22 of our first 28 games are vs the NL West

 

[Mathew81]

How do split squads work?

They basically just send half the team to play one opponent and the other half plays a different opponent. It gives the coaches more opportunity to see what the younger players can do.

 

[Avondale Red Rage]

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com...=2404449&vkey=spt2008gamer&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari

Was at the 3/4 game. The Upton homer was a line drive that was still rising as it passed the center field fence. WOW.

Saw Maddox pitch today against the Rangers and he looked solid (3 ip, 1H). Padres have a rookie Chase Headley who looks like a stud.

The NL West is gonna be fun this year!

Surprise is my new favorite venue, what a great place to watch a ball game.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Good news today as the Diamondbacks announced that Randy Johnson will see his first Spring Training action tomorrow.

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com...d=2413366&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Home runs for Byrnes and Salazar today, Johnson allows one run in his three innings of work.

 

[HooverDam]

So I tried to go to the Angels-Dbacks game today, but it was sold out and the scalpers were selling $14 tickets for $50, ridiculous!

So instead, my family and I went to the TGI Fridays at Chase Field (just to keep the baseball theme going ). Let me tell you all, the new jumbotron is INSANE. I wish I had a camera on me, because this thing is just so big I couldn't believe it. It looks like its between 4 and 6 times as big as the old one, that entire rectangle area in the outfield (that used to have a jumbotron, scoreboard and ads) is all one giant screen, I can't wait to see it cranked up.

Now if only they'd clean the roof and paint the Chase Field logo up there

 

[PDXChris]

Now if only they'd clean the roof and paint the Chase Field logo up there

Are you trying to get my blood pressure up again.

 

[HooverDam]

So the final Spring Training numbers are out, and I think they're interesting:

Chicago Cubs: 181,280

San Francisco Giants: 148,935

Seattle Mariners: 135,146

Los Angeles Angels: 118,191

Diamondbacks: 110,894

Texas Rangers: 103,110

San Diego Padres: 95,261

*Oakland A's/Dodgers: 91,875

Milwaukee Brewers: 88,499

Chicago White Sox: 87,301

Kansas City Royals: 83,118

Colorado Rockies: 72,550

Total: 1,316,160

From: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/cactus/articles/0327cactusleague0327-ON.html

What the heck is the matter with Tucson? I just do not understand why that city is such a black hole for sports support outside of UA Basketball. Obviously, the Diamondbacks were able to do OK down there because they are Arizona's team and its a short drive for Phoenix fans, but does it surprise anyone that the Rockies and White Sox are among the lowest in attendance? (KC is down there too, but that team is awful and has a stadium thats quite a far drive for most Valley residents).

Now, Colorado and the White Sox aren't teams like the Cubs with super huge followings, but they'd certainly do better if they relocated to the Valley. Chicago (AL) is already trying to move up to the Phoenix area, and last week on the radio Gambo and Ash discussed the Diamondbacks eventually moving northward as well.

I know the teams that are there have something to do with it, but the Phoenix teams drew on average 116,228 whereas the Tucson teams drew 90,248. I'm really not going to be surprised if Colorado and Arizona move up to the Phoenix area in a few years.

 

[PHXSportsFan4]

Haren looked awesome in his last spring start. It's going to be so nice having two aces again

 

[Phxchris1989]

So the final Spring Training numbers are out, and I think they're interesting:



From: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/cactus/articles/0327cactusleague0327-ON.html

What the heck is the matter with Tucson? I just do not understand why that city is such a black hole for sports support outside of UA Basketball. Obviously, the Diamondbacks were able to do OK down there because they are Arizona's team and its a short drive for Phoenix fans, but does it surprise anyone that the Rockies and White Sox are among the lowest in attendance? (KC is down there too, but that team is awful and has a stadium thats quite a far drive for most Valley residents).

Now, Colorado and the White Sox aren't teams like the Cubs with super huge followings, but they'd certainly do better if they relocated to the Valley. Chicago (AL) is already trying to move up to the Phoenix area, and last week on the radio Gambo and Ash discussed the Diamondbacks eventually moving northward as well.

I know the teams that are there have something to do with it, but the Phoenix teams drew on average 116,228 whereas the Tucson teams drew 90,248. I'm really not going to be surprised if Colorado and Arizona move up to the Phoenix area in a few years.

lol, it's pathetic isn't it? Try being a fan of a sport OTHER than golf or biking down there and that is NOT U of A... good luck finding fans other than yourself in that city.