February 8, 2010
The Caribbean Series is the culmination of winter baseball. Shortly after the World Series is completed in the United States, baseball is just beginning in other parts of the world. In the countries south of the United States, nations welcome players back onto the field for the beginning of another year of winter baseball.
Winter baseball is made up of players from various countries along with major and minor league players from the United States. It is partly a developmental environment where players are sent to work on specific aspects of their games and partly a matter of pride as teams attempt to represent their country on an international stage.
Continue reading ‘Dominican Republic Takes Caribbean Series’ »
February 7, 2010
I’ve said it before but let me say it again’ I’ll be the first to admit that I am not a football fan. It is really hard to take a sport seriously that only plays 16 games their entire season and even then the teams have to have a week off.
Baseball players will play more games in Spring Training than their NFL counterparts will play in three complete seasons. And even with all the time off, football players still only play either offense or defense.
Continue reading ‘The Super Bowl From a Baseball Fan’s Perspective’ »
February 6, 2010
During a recent news conference Arizona Diamondbacks General Partner Ken Kendrick suggested the team may be willing to discuss long-term contracts with some of their younger players.
One of the players specifically mentioned by Kendrick was third baseman Mark Reynolds. Reynolds just missed being classified as a Super Two player, which would have made him arbitration eligible in 2010.
Continue reading ‘Reynolds Wrapped? Diamondbacks Consider Long-Term Deal’ »
February 5, 2010
One of the great parts about writing a baseball blog is that you have the opportunity to meet some very cool people who share your passion for the game. The great thing about the national pastime is that fans come from diverse backgrounds yet are connected by their love of the game.
Shortly after the 2006 season, I had an opportunity to meet with Derrick Hall, then the incoming president of the Arizona Diamondbacks who was taking over for Rich Dozer. The meeting was to be held at Hall’s office at Chase Field.
Continue reading ‘New Blog Features Behind Scenes Look at Diamondbacks’ »
February 4, 2010
Yesterday we began looking at the PECOTA statistical model for the Arizona Diamondbacks developed by the Sabermetricians at Baseball Prospectus. Today we will pick up the discussion by looking at the Diamondbacks pitching staff.
There are many that believe the problems of the 2009 Arizona Diamondbacks occurred on April 6, 2009 when staff ace Brandon Webb left the game after just four innings on Opening Day and never returned.
Continue reading ‘A Statistical Look at the 2010 Diamondbacks Pitchers’ »
February 3, 2010
With pitchers and catchers due to report to Spring Training in two weeks, we are now in that part of the off-season where thoughts of last year drift into the backs of our minds replaced with the hopes and dreams of what the coming season will hold.
Typically this is the time of year where media types begin predicting how the baseball season will unfold ending with predictions of the winners and losers. These predictions almost always come back in October to haunt the prognosticator.
Continue reading ‘A Statistical Look at the 2010 Diamondbacks Position Players’ »
February 2, 2010
Groundhog Day is one of the more puzzling holidays that has been created. I’m not exactly sure who thought it would be a great idea to have a hibernating furry rodent get yanked out of a hollow tree and look for his shadow to decide whether winter is over.
Baseball seems to be a whole lot more accurate in determining the changing of the seasons. Every fan knows that winter ends the day pitchers and catchers report to the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues.
Continue reading ‘Groundhog Day and My Proposal for Calendar Changes’ »
February 1, 2010
Two injury plagued seasons had definitely taken their toll on Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Eric Byrnes. Known as a high-energy player who became a fan favorite flying around the outfield running into walls, found himself on the outside looking in at the Diamondbacks roster.
From almost the first day of the 2009 off-season the writing seemed to be on the wall that Byrnes would not return to the Diamondbacks for the 2010 season. That hunch became a fact with the team cutting ties with Byrnes when they signed infielder Adam LaRoche in mid-January.
Continue reading ‘Former D-Backs Outfielder Eric Byrnes Signs with Mariners’ »
January 31, 2010
Major League Baseball recently announced changes to the batting practice hats for each of the 30 teams. This is always good news especially for dedicated fans. It gives you a perfect excuse to go out and buy a new team hat.
I am not someone who has a single baseball hat. I collect hats like many fans collect bobble head dolls. Well to be honest, it is a lot worse than that. I only have about 50 bobble head dolls but according to my wife I have over a hundred Diamondbacks hats.
Continue reading ‘Hats Off to the Diamondbacks’ »
