Diary of a Diehard

Going into Spring Training the Arizona Diamondbacks coaching staff had a set of priorities they wished to address with the team. Among those was the subject of defense. The Diamondbacks last season were atrocious in the field committing numerous errors that ultimately cost them games.

Some of these errors were attributed to the young and inexperienced players on the Diamondbacks roster. Others were simply a break down in concentration that led to mental lapses. Regardless of the reasons, the coaching staff was confident they could address this area and the team would be better in the field in 2010.

Continue reading ‘The Error of Their Ways’ »

One of the more interesting aspects of sports in Arizona is demographic of the fans who attend the game, especially baseball fans. It doesn’t matter which team the Arizona Diamondbacks are playing I always run into someone dressed in the opposing team’s colors.

Typically the conversation goes something like they are now residents of Arizona and think of themselves as Diamondbacks fans except for when the team play’s their old hometown team then they have to root against the D-Backs.

Continue reading ‘Battling a Cubs Addiction’ »

It used to be that a trip to Denver and Coors Field meant baseballs would leave the stadium like a squadron of F-16 fighter jets. With the introduction of baseballs being stored in a humidor the runs per game dropped dramatically putting the stadium on par with many others in Major League Baseball by negating the effects of dry air at altitude.

At least that is what we had been led to believe before the Diamondbacks made their first trip to Colorado for a three game series that began Monday. The first game of the series featured a well pitched game by Dan Haren which the Diamondbacks won 5-3. The run total seemed a little high but no more so than others the Diamondbacks have played this year.

Continue reading ‘Altitude Sickness, Immigration Madness, and a Socrates Sighting’ »

With the Arizona Diamondbacks now headed out on an 11-game road trip to Colorado, Chicago, and Houston it is time once again for another edition of ”State of the Home Stand” address where I attempt to recap the past six game home stand at Chase Field.

As is always the case let me start with my standard disclaimer. The viewpoints expressed here are my own personal opinions and do not reflect the views of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Major League Baseball, or any sane human being.

Any coherent thoughts either real or fictional are purely coincidental and are not meant to be taken internally. Should this happen please induce vomiting and immediately contact your doctor. Objects appearing in this article may be closer than they appear. Your mileage may vary.

Continue reading ‘State of the Home Stand Address – April 19 – 25’ »

Major League Baseball announced that Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds has been named National League Player of the Week for the week ending April 24. Considering how the week started that is quite an accomplishment.

Reynolds began the week with a paltry .182 batting average and seemed to be struggling at the plate. Despite being mired in a slump Reynolds felt confident things would turn around and turn around they did.

Continue reading ‘Mark Reynolds Named Player of the Week’ »

The year was 1976. The country was still healing from the Vietnam war and the Watergate scandal. A large faction of the population remained hostile to the changes society was undertaking. It was the bicentennial year and everyone was looking forward to celebrating the country’s 200th birthday.

On April 25 baseball season was underway and the Chicago Cubs had traveled to Los Angeles to play a three-game series against the Dodgers. It was a sunny day in southern California that Sunday. The crowd of 25,167 was there as much for the sun tan as they were for ball game.

Continue reading ‘Rick Monday’s Patriotism Remembered’ »

During the last road trip the Arizona Diamondbacks visited the Los Angeles Dodgers for three games.  The final game of that series fell on April 15 which has been designated as Jackie Robinson Day throughout Major League Baseball.  While every team commemorates the day it is especially pertinent for the Dodgers.

Every player, coach and umpire wore uniform number 42 in tribute to the late Jackie Robinson.  For the fans in attendance at that game it was a very special experience.  For baseball fans in Arizona that tribute seemed very distant.

Continue reading ‘Jackie Robinson Day Chase Field Style’ »

Each season the Arizona Diamondbacks sponsors “Mystery Ball night at Chase field. In the rotunda near the team shop will be tables set up lined with black paper sacks the size of lunch sacks.

Fans are able to purchase one of these sacks for $40 with all proceeds going to the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, the charity arm of the team. Inside the sack is an autographed baseball signed by an Arizona Diamondbacks player or a Major League Baseball player from another team.

Continue reading ‘Diamondbacks Sponsor Mystery Ball Night’ »

To celebrate my father’s 70th birthday, I decided to take him to an Arizona Diamondbacks game. Regular readers of this blog may wonder whether this was really a birthday gift or did I just forget to go shopping and decided to pick up a few extra tickets to the game while I was there. As strange as it sounds I actually planned this gift.

When I was growing up my father like many others throughout this country gave up his time to coach Little League baseball. It was not just to spend more time with his son. At the time of tryouts a league official explained the severe lack of coaches they had and how they would have to contract the league leaving a lot of boys out of baseball.

Continue reading ‘Father and Son Diamondbacks Outing’ »