Diary of a Diehard

The Arizona Diamondbacks are once again partnering with Fry’s Foods as part of their Fan Loyalty program. Fans that have a Fry’s Rewards card can scan their card at each Diamondbacks game and receive 5 points for attending.

You can receive additional points for each dollar you spend at Fry’s Foods purchasing specific grocery items. After accumulating points you can trade them in for prizes that range from Diamondbacks merchandise to autographed memorabilia to baseball experiences.

Continue reading ‘D-Backs Fan Loyalty Programs’ »

Baseball is just a game. That statement should be a constant reminder to all of us and never more so than when tragedy strikes. Keli McGregor, the president of the Colorado Rockies was found dead this morning in his hotel room in Salt Lake City Utah.

McGregor was traveling with the Rockies CEO and Chairman Charlie Monfort and executive vice president Greg Feasel. The cause of death appears to be by natural causes but there will be an investigation by the Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office.

Continue reading ‘Colorado Rockies President Passes Away’ »

Baseball is a funny sport. It is 162 games of grinding through the day-to-day routines hoping to piece together some positive results. When a team is playing well fans are reminded not to read too much into it as baseball has a way of evening out.

Likewise when a team is struggling fans are told not to get too upset as baseball has a way of evening things out. When a team is battling a losing streak we hear clichés such as, “all we need is a change of venue” or “the season is young, a couple of games is not going to make or break us”.

Continue reading ‘Diamondbacks Bullpen Woes Continue’ »

After a 4-2 home stand to begin the 2010 season the Diamondbacks left the confines of Chase Field for a six-game road trip featuring three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers followed by three games against the San Diego Padres.

Hopes were flying high especially given the struggles both the Dodgers and the Padres have had to begin the season. In almost a perfect storm, the Diamondbacks find themselves flying back to Phoenix having gone 1-5 on the road trip.

Continue reading ‘Diamondbacks Finish Woeful Road Trip’ »

In a nuance created by the scheduling Gods at Major League Baseball, the Arizona Diamondbacks did not need a fifth starter in their pitching rotation until today. This was due to the fact that scheduled off days meant the first four starters could work on regular rest and remain on schedule.

Before Spring Training the goal was for Brandon Webb to be slotted as the fifth starter giving him an extra two weeks to prepare for his first start. Those plans fell by the wayside when Webb suffered a setback in early March.

Continue reading ‘Kris Benson Makes Diamondbacks Debut’ »

At my daughter’s wedding we had several family members who traveled great distance to be here for the event. My wife’s sister and her family came from Idaho and decided to make a family vacation out of the trip.

They were hoping to see a baseball game at Chase Field while they were here but the Diamondbacks were out of town. It seemed kind of strange to me that they would even think there would be a home game. After all, the wedding was planned to make sure I wouldn’t miss a game.

Continue reading ‘The Designated Fan’ »

Being a father is a joy. I was there as each of my five children were born and held them as they took their first breaths of life. The first four were daughters followed by my son. As I stood there gazing down at each one I was filled with equal amounts of joy and terror.

The joy came as I thought about raising each of them and all the experiences we would share together. The terror came about as I realized that each of them would grow up and get married.

Continue reading ‘Weddings, Daughters, and Baseball’ »

April 15 has been designated as Jackie Robinson Day by Major League Baseball. It is a day set aside to commemorate Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball. It is one of my favorite days as it gives fans everywhere an opportunity to ponder the events and more importantly the person who changed baseball forever.

In the past few years the pageantry surrounding Jackie Robinson Day have gotten bigger as players, coaches, and umpires now wear number 42 to recognize this great man.

Continue reading ‘Jackie Robinson Day’ »

Baseball used to be so simple. Opening Day was signified by a parade in Cincinnati followed by an afternoon baseball game. Somehow that all changed, Opening Day has been replaced by Opening Week and games start on all dates and times.

Continue reading ‘Opening Day Redux’ »