There may still be a month of baseball left before the playoffs begin, but following their weekend series in the Bay, the Arizona Diamondbacks may have effectively crushed the San Francisco Giants’ hopes of repeating as world champions.
Despite the Giants taking Game 1 of the three-game series, the D-backs dominated the next two games, winning 7-2 and 4-1. Even though Carlos Beltran’s bat finally woke up and Cody Ross started to get hot, the Giants’ offense still struggled.
But the weekend series revealed more than just the fact that San Francisco’s offense has been atrocious this season. Read more... (402 words, 2 images, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)
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How the Arizona Diamondbacks Ended the San Francisco Giants’ Season
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In an attempt to provide a spark for their struggling offense, the Arizona Diamondbacks have traded struggling second baseman Kelly Johnson to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, picking up second baseman Aaron Hill and infielder John McDonald in return.
“He’s struggled to put together a year like he had last year,” Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. “It wasn’t from a lack of work. To be honest with you, it was very tough to tell him he got traded today. He has high expectations of himself, he’s very professional. He worked harder—he probably worked too hard.” Read more... (301 words, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)
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Arizona Diamondbacks Trade Kelly Johnson to Toronto Blue Jays
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The wounds that were left by the tragedy that took place in Tucson on Jan. 8 are still going through the healing process.
It was on that day that a gunman opened fire at a local supermarket, killing six people and wounding 14 others, including congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
While the whole event left the city in a state of mourning, it was the death of 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green that caused the entire country to pause and reflect on how precious life is. As the daughter of Dodgers scout John Green and granddaughter of former Cubs general manager and Phillies manager Dallas Green, Green’s untimely death also left an indelible mark on the baseball community. Read more... (257 words, estimated 1:02 mins reading time)
No one could have guessed that the National League West would be this tight of a race down the final stretch of the season. No one could have fathomed that the Colorado Rockies would be right in the thick of it, either. Thanks to the recent September woes of the San Diego Padres, the Rockies have managed to win their last ten straight games, pulling within 1 1/2 games of the Padres and San Francisco Giants for first place in the NL West. Read more... (297 words, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)
I hate to mention this sort of thing, which, in effect would give some sort of credence to the fact that it actually matters, but baseball is our American pastime and I feel obligated to come to its defense when political ignoramuses infect the game that we all love with their contrived, sophomoric agendas. Read more... (420 words, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have given up. They have assumed the position of capitulation. In this position, they have traded away their ace Dan Haren for the Angels Joe Saunders and 3 pitching prospects. Capitulation.
Look, I know the season is lost for the D-Backs but you don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. What I ask you does this trade do to serve the D-Backs interests? What? Besides the D-Backs saving Haren’s salary, what? They have given away their very building block plus some prospects as well. In my opinion, the D-Backs have capitulated this season and their future as well. Read more... (236 words, 1 image, estimated 57 secs reading time)
It won’t be much of a surprise to anyone when July 31st roles around the Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves in a familiar position: at the bottom of the NL West. And it wasn’t too big of a surprise that the team fired manager AJ Hinch & general manager Josh Byrnes yesterday after starting the season a miserable 31-48, now 15 games behind the division leading Padres. But what caught a few people off guard was the hiring of Kirk Gibson to take over the deplorable D’back clubhouse. Read more... (315 words, estimated 1:16 mins reading time)
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Diamondbacks Hire Kurt Gibson As New Manager
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Tempers have been escalating with the Tampa Bay clubhouse and on Sunday they boiled over into the dugout during the Rays’ game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. After going hitless against Edwin Jackson in his 149-pitch performance on Saturday, the Rays’ frustrations got the best of them when B.J Upton and Evan Longoria went toe-to-toe in a heated altercation. Upton pointed his finger and got up in Longoria’s grill after the Longoria questioned the center fielder’s effort in the fifth inning, when Gerardo Parra hit a two-run home-run that helped give the D’backs a 2-1 win over the slumping Rays.
“It’s a byproduct of a frustrated team,” Longoria said. “We’re trying to win games and guys are going to have differences of opinion. I just wanted to know what was going through his head. The bottom line, we’ve talked about it and it goes no further than today.” Read more... (257 words, estimated 1:02 mins reading time)
photo credit: Jim Epler
Take the tour at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and the tour guide will tell you. “Cole Hamels hasn’t left the city all off season.” And if you take that tour you can see for yourself when they let you take a few steps inside the roped off locker room. Look around and you’ll see all the lockers empty, except one, Cole Hamels’.
In an off season where the Phillies traded an ace and acquired another a lot of debate has taken place. How could the Phils part with Cliff Lee? Whose going to be the fifth starter? How’s the bullpen look?
Lost and seemingly forgotten in all of this is Cole Hemels. Remember him? Read more... (509 words, 2 images, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)
photo credit: Peter McCarthy
- The Brewers have signed OF Jim Edmonds to a Minor League Deal with an invite to Spring Training. The contract is worth $850K and if he makes the team he could make up to $1.65 Mil. Edmonds did not play in 2009.
- The Yankees have agreed to terms with OF Randy Winn. Basically closing the door on a Johnny Damon return to pin-stripes.
- The Cubs have signed INF Chad Tracy to a Minor League Deal. Tracy spent his first 6 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tracy at one point was considered an up and coming player with a high upside until injuries started to derail him a bit, starting in 2007 with a knee injury that required surgery. Read more... (274 words, 2 images, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)
