July 13, 2006
I happened to be wandering the web looking for information about the Diamondbacks and whether they would be buyers or sellers as the trade deadline loomed when I came across a story out of Sioux City. The story was about their minor league baseball team, the Sioux City Canaries (now there is a name that will strike fear in an opponent). Their lead-off hitter for Wednesday’s game was Jim Eriotes. This was Jim’s first game with the Canaries and was quite a media event. It seems Jim’s claim to fame is that he is now the oldest person to be in a professional baseball game. Jim is 83 years old which makes him just slightly older than Julio Franco.
Continue reading ‘File this under “What were they thinking”’ »
July 12, 2006
Desperate times require desperate measures and make no mistake; this is as desperate a time as I can ever remember. Over the course of the past ten years the National League’s record in the All-Star game is a pathetic 0-9-1. This is beyond sad, this is near suicidal state. Since the commissioner instituted that insane rule that the winner of the midsummer classic would have home field advantage in the World Series, the National League has gone winless. It has become obvious that the players themselves cannot solve this crisis. It’s time we brought in some help.
Continue reading ‘Who is this monkey and what is he doing on my back?’ »
July 11, 2006
The Major League Baseball All-Star game is a dichotomy within the world of sports. On the surface it is a celebration of sorts, a milestone that marks the half way point of a marathon of 162 games. It is an opportunity for the fans to recognize their favorite players. Notice that I said recognize their favorite and not recognize the most deserving. Let’s not be delusional, the majority of fans voting do so based on name recognition not on merit. How else can you explain Mike Piazza being voted as the starting catcher for the National League? When was the last time a reserve catcher was named the starter of anything?
Continue reading ‘Hey Now You’re an All-Star’ »
July 10, 2006
Two years ago after the debacle of a 51-111 record, the Diamondbacks decided they needed to go a different direction with their coaching staff. Al Pedrique filled in as best he could after Bob Brenly was fired on July 2. Pedrique managed to win 22 games while losing 61 for the rest of the season. Once the last game was finished on the 2004 campaign the Diamondbacks management expressed their desire to find a different manager.
Continue reading ‘What About Bob?’ »
July 9, 2006
With the final out the players shook hands then began to gather their things. Everyone would have the next 4 days off with the exception of Brandon Webb who must take a plane to Pittsburgh as the representative of the Arizona Diamondbacks at the All-Star game.
Continue reading ‘And So It Ends’ »
July 8, 2006
The time of darkness continues as the Diamondbacks are still away. After painfully watching the three-game meltdown in Los Angeles, the team is now in Colorado for the final three games leading up to the all-star game. Colorado is tied for first place in the National League West so my confidence in the Diamondbacks doing anything is slim to none.
Continue reading ‘Tut, Tut, Looks Like Rain’ »
July 7, 2006
Fourteen days seems like an eternity. It was two weeks ago yesterday that the Diamondbacks left town. It has been two weeks since I was last at Chase Field and I am beginning to get homesick. While I have never served time, I can only guess that this is what it feels like to be incarcerated.
Continue reading ‘The Darkness Continues’ »
July 6, 2006
There are times in your life where you just somehow make a connection with someone or something. This has been the case with me and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The franchise was awarded on my birthday March 9, 1995 and I have been a fan ever since. I’ve spent a lot of time following the Diamondbacks and Bank One Ballpark was like my second home.
Continue reading ‘Diamondbacks, make it a part of you’ »
July 5, 2006
The series with the Los Angeles Dodgers was brutal. After sweeping the Dodgers in May in a two-game series, the Diamondbacks come to LA and get swept in three games. It wasn’t just losing these games, it was the way they were lost. The first two games were lopsided routs and the final game though the score made it look a lot closer than it was.
Continue reading ‘This must be the jungle because there are head hunters everywhere’ »
