Diary of a Diehard

The Draft is All a Twitter?

2009-06-08T21:13:07Z

Everywhere you turn these days it seems like someone is talking about the social network Twitter. What began as a social experiment for many to keep track of what their friends were doing is now becoming a paradigm shift in communications.

I've personally been playing with Twitter for a little over a year trying to evaluate where it makes sense and what it can be used for. As an Information Technologist I am paid to attempt to look into the future and see where emerging technology can be used.

I have a long list of potential uses for business and personal communications but I have to admit; there is no way I envisioned this technology would become a tool to be used by Major League Baseball for their first year player draft.

]]> For those who have not yet joined the Twitterverse, I should probably preface this post with an introduction to the technology. Twitter allows a user to "tweet" (the Twitter term for posting a new message) a message of 140 characters or less that announces to the world what they are currently doing.

This message is broadcast on a public timeline that others can see. People who are interested in your tweets can subscribe to your messages by "following" you. Following in the sense of Twitter means that your messages are included in a user's timeline and they can see whenever you post a new message with an updated status.

You as a user can likewise follow others that you find interesting creating a community of users with similar interests. Twitter displays the number of people you are following as well as the number of people following you. With such numbers it became inevitable that users would become obsessed with the numbers and attempt to follow as many people as possible and have them follow you back thereby making them seem more important or influential since their messages would be seen by so many people.

All of this is a fascinating study of the social behavior of people but I'll leave that discussion to the sociologists evaluating the effects of this technology on society.

Businesses have discovered that this new communications medium is adept at getting their message out to customers and potential customers. Celebrities have found Twitter to be a great way for them to connect with their fans. It breaks down the traditional barriers between a celebrity and those who appreciate their work.

The Phoenix Suns have been very proactive with their use of Twitter with several of the players, coaches, and management all using the service. In fact there was a game during last season that there was rumor of players using Twitter during a game from the bench.

From a baseball perspective the use has been more tempered. Some players have embraced the technology such as San Francisco Giants pitchers Barry Zito, and Brian Wilson. New York Yankees stars CC Sabathia and Nick Swisher are also regulars on Twitter.

From an Arizona Diamondbacks perspective I am unaware of any players using Twitter. The ballclub is starting to utilize the service with members of the Public Relations staff and Community Services now posting regularly. The team even posts the Diamondbacks line-up for each game via Twitter before the game starts.

Fox Sports Arizona is also evaluating the service and have set up an account for the Diamondbacks booth where you can contact Daron Sutton and Mark Grace. For a few games the booth was fairly active but the newness seems to have worn off and now they don't appear to be actively monitoring.

Now Major League Baseball is attempting to integrate this new communication medium. For the first time ever MLB will use Twitter to broadcast the picks from the first-year player draft being held tomorrow. Not only will users be able to keep tabs on the selections by following MLBDraft on Twitter but they will also be able to comment on the selections by including the term "#mlbdraft" in their message. The tweets containing this hash tag will be included in the interactive MLB Draft application on their web site.

This will of course allow fans everywhere the ability to get up-to-date draft information via their computer, cell phone, or any other Twitter client. That along would make it interesting but MLB has gone one step further.

Several of the potential first round draft picks have agreed to post their status and give fans an insight of what it is like to be drafted by an MLB team. So far Major League Baseball has gotten outfielder prospect following Michael Trout, RHP following Drew Storen, Outfielder following Jacob Marisnick, and RHP following Eric Arnett to participate. This should give fans a unique look at the game as these young players take the first step to what they hope will be a Major League career.

I have to give Major League Baseball credit here. They have begun to embrace the Internet as a new opportunity and are putting the pieces in place to bring baseball strongly into the digital age.

The Game That Never Ends

2009-06-08T05:56:31Z

Today was one of those games that makes you want to go out and buy Rogaine in bulk to fill in the bald spots you've suddenly developed after pulling hair out by the handfuls. On paper this looked like an easy Diamondbacks victory.

Dan Haren with is miniscule ERA was on the mound to face the team with the worst batting average in Major League Baseball. You would think this would have win written all over it. But if this season has taught me anything it has taught me that no opponent is too bad and no lead is too big that the Diamondbacks can't find a way to lose.

]]> For the second time during this road trip Dan Haren pitched an amazing game. He completely dominated the San Diego Padres for 7 innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 5. His ERA is now an amazing 2.33. As he left the game the Diamondbacks led 6-1.

For the second time during this road trip the Arizona Diamondbacks bullpen came in and blew a 5 run lead in the final 2 innings leaving Haren with yet another no decision. Dan has to be wondering what he has to do to get a win this season.

For most of the season he has gotten little or no run support from the Diamondbacks offense. Finally in the last two games he has gotten what for him was a sizeable lead only to see the bullpen blow it leaving him outside looking in.

The frustrating part with the bullpen is it isn't the same pitchers causing the problem. It's like they draw straws during warm-ups to see who gets to implode that day. Today it was Juan Gutierrez and Chad Qualls who before today had been two of the more reliable relievers this season.

With 2 outs in the ninth inning and the Padres sending up little David Eckstein the last thing anyone expected was for him to hit one out of Petco Park. The image of that ball clearing the left field fence will be with me for a very long time.

The latest implosion by the Diamondbacks bullpen is only half the story. As bad as Gutierrez and Qualls looked in the eighth and ninth inning; it was the pitching by Jon Rauch, Esmerling Vasquez, Clay Zavada, and Leo Rosales that was the real story. With the exception of Zavada all of these relievers have had their share of bad luck this season.

From the tenth inning on, the Arizona bullpen looked spectacular. In fact these four relievers combined to through 9-innings of shut-out baseball. Not just shut out but no-hit baseball. The only base runners they allowed were 3 walks by Clay Zavada in his 2.2 innings of work.
So technically; the Diamondbacks bullpen threw an equivalent of a complete game no hitter. Given the struggles this bullpen has had this year I never would have imagined the bullpen would be so dominating.

The problem was, the San Diego Padres bullpen was likewise very stingy keeping the Diamondbacks from plating a run despite giving up 5 hits and walking 4 over the same 9 inning stretch.

It somehow seemed inevitable that the game's outcome would come down to an inning being pitched by former Arizona Diamondback back-up shortstop Josh Wilson. Wilson while with the Diamondbacks pitched an inning of a blowout game and did not allow a run. Today he was not so fortunate.

Wilson allowed 3 runs on 3 hits the biggest being a home run by Mark Reynolds who to that point was 0-6 with 4 strikeouts. The game ended 5 hours and 45 minutes after it started. Eighteen pitchers were used (8 by the Diamondbacks and 10 by the Padres). It was the longest game this year in the major leagues and was the longest game in franchise history.

I guess AJ Hinch can add another notch to his experience belt. He successfully managed an 18-inning game and even had his pitching identified through 22 innings before he would have to turn to a position player. San Diego Padres manager Bud Black wasn't as fortunate and took a loss.

Hopefully tomorrow's starter Jon Garland can go deep in the game. I'm not sure there is anyone left in the bullpen that can come in as relief.

State of the Home Stand Address - May 25-31

2009-06-01T21:58:43Z

With the conclusion of yesterday's game the Arizona Diamondbacks completed a seven game home stand. The team left Chase Field and caught a plane to Los Angeles where they will open a three game series with the Dodgers followed by a four game set with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
That means that it is time once again for another installment of the State of the Home Stand Address where I attempt to give you an update of how the latest home stand went for the Arizona Diamondbacks from a fan's perspective. As a friendly reminder, the viewpoints and opinions expressed here are my own and in no way are they indicative of how others might view the team or Chase Field. This entry covers the three game series against the San Diego Padres and the four game series with the Atlanta Braves.

]]> The Arizona Diamondbacks fresh off their most successful road trip of the season opened up a series with the San Diego Padres. San Diego took the first game in an extra inning affair when the Diamondbacks bullpen failed to hold a 6-run lead allowing 8 runs in the final 3 innings. Game 2 of the series saw nearly an identical situation with the Diamondbacks able to squeak out a win with the tying run just 90 feet away from scoring. The series with the Padres ended with another series loss which is become a regular occurrence at Chase Field this year.
A struggling Atlanta Braves team came to town next and the Arizona Diamondbacks gave Dan Haren some run support; something he is not used to this season. Game 2 saw the Diamondbacks lose but still putting up good offensive numbers. Game 3 went to the snakes in extra innings and give the fans hope that perhaps this team had turned the corner. Those hopes and dreams were immediately smashed in the first inning of game 4 when the Braves scored early and often to earn a split of the 4 game series.
Several new sponsors and signage showed up this home stand. On the leftfield wall is a new sign for SpongeTech. I never would have made the connection between synthetic sponges and baseball but I guess it's pretty huge. The sign is on the scale of the one announcing the 2011 All-Star game so kudos to the Arizona Diamondbacks for getting someone to commit that kind of advertising dollars during these economic times.
The other signage is of a much smaller scale. These include new Brakes Plus signage on the rotating board at the bottom of Section 132. These rotate throughout the game at various times. They are not obtrusive and do break up the color of the green walls.
That lovable mascot D. Baxter the BOBcat got a new toy this home stand when RideNow unveiled a new off-road buggy for the kid's favorite feline to ride on before the beginning of the game. It is a pretty cool vehicle and I especially love the metal Diamondbacks "A" logo hitch receiver cover. I wish I knew where they got that, I've been looking for one of those since 2007. Looks like I may have to go to RideNow and see if they carry them.
Prior to Saturday's game the Diamondbacks hosted a group from the DeVry Institute who set up shop at the Sandlot in the upper deck. Two classes of students had created video games and were demonstrating them; allowing fans to test out the games. My wife and kids had a blast trying out the new technology. Results of the game tests will be introduced during a future game.
All-Star voting continued in the stadium with the Diamondbacks bringing back the Snake, Rattle, and Vote promotion that rewards fans with an opportunity to win prizes for turning in batches of 100 all-star ballots. We did our part turning in 600 ballots giving each of the kids 3 entries into the weekly drawing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed hoping we win one of the grand prizes of an all-star jersey, hat, and program. I'd love to go down on the field for that recognition.
From a food perspective the Garcias tacos have been gaining a lot of popularity especially with my family. They are a great value and taste awesome. My wife and I also tried the Tamales located at the top of Section 135. I was hesitant to try them but after having one of the Red I can wholeheartedly recommend them. For only $5 you get an incredible concession item. They have two versions, red which includes meat and green which is meatless. They do offer free samples to help you make up your mind which ones you want. Definitely give them a try, you'll be happy that you did.
In the never-ending spicy mustard saga I was again thwarted in finding packages of spicy mustard at most concession stands. There are a few places to get it but the distribution of the mustard packets is spotty at best. If I could make one concession change I would make sure spicy mustard was available at all concession vendors who sold hot dogs, sausages, or hamburgers. It should not be this hard to get a condiment.
Well that should do it for this installment. The Diamondbacks return home to Chase Field on June 9 for a three game series with the San Francisco Giants and three games with the Houston Astros. Tickets are still available for all these games. Depending on how things go that series could feature Randy Johnson still going for his 300th win or he could be the latest 300-game winner when he gets here. There is a postgame concert following the June 13 game against the Houston Astros featuring Lifehouse. That is another game you won't want to miss. I hope to see you at the game.

Another Home Stand, Another Loss

2009-06-01T01:23:03Z

As I sat and watched the Arizona Diamondbacks be dismantled by the Atlanta Braves in the final game of the series I couldn't help but wonder why the friendly confines of Chase Field were not so friendly this year to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Over the first 31 games at Chase Field the Diamondbacks have only managed a record of 12-19 and have not won a single series this year.
This is quite different than the past couple of years when Arizona has dominated opponents in the desert. Last season for example the Diamondbacks went a respectable 48-33 at home and during their NL West winning season in 2007 Arizona posted a remarkable 50-31 mark at home.

]]> It's not just the losing record; it is how the Diamondbacks are losing that is so frustrating. It's like the team invents new ways to sabotage themselves. For much of April it was the offense that failed to show up. The starting pitching was strong but the lack of run support made every game a pitching duel.
Now we see the hitters beginning to warm up and the pitching is falling apart. Whether it is the relievers who come into the game and don't retire a batter while giving up numerous runs or in today's case when the starting pitching digs such a hole that it is impossible for the offense to recover from it.
And in those rare occasions when the pitching and offense come together; the defense falls apart. You could probably count on one hand the number of games that the Diamondbacks have won at home that you would classify as a complete game with offense, defense, and pitching all gelling at the same time.
For the Arizona Diamondbacks to have any chance to compete this season and live up to the comments of Derrick Hall and AJ Hinch this needs to change.
The Diamondbacks now embark on probably their most important road trip of the season with a visit to Los Angeles and San Diego. They need to work out the team problems and return on June 9 with new confidence. They have 50 games left at Chase Field this season and they sorely need to regain the home field advantage.

Town Hall Meeting

2009-05-31T02:04:40Z

After an exciting game at Chase Field, my family and I gathered up our Stephen Drew bobble head dolls and began to make our way to the exit. As we walked past the Diamondbacks dugout I happened to notice a large number of fans who remained seated in those sections. Besides the fans there, others were filtering down from other sections to find an empty seat above the dugout.
After 11 innings I was curious what could be going on that these people were staying in their seats. I asked an usher if he knew what was going on and he replied that there was going to be a town hall meeting for a small number of Diamondbacks season ticket holders where they would be allowed to talk to Diamondbacks CEO/President Derrick Hall and manager AJ Hinch. So while I was not invited I decided I needed to crash this meeting.

]]> The town hall started with radio announcer Greg Schulte welcoming everyone and introducing AJ Hinch. Derrick Hall came late apologizing that he could not get an elevator to the main level. The purpose of this meeting was to answer questions from the fans and allow them to get to know AJ a little better.
I always find it interesting that the Diamondbacks are so open and willing to communicate with the fans. I've never found another organization that is so willing to give you a behind the scenes look at how they run their business or allow customers to question some of the decisions that have been made. A lot of the credit for this goes to Derrick Hall. The Diamondbacks have been much more open during his tenure than they were under Rich Dozier.
From what I could piece together the season ticket holders that were invited to this town hall meeting were given an opportunity to submit questions that would be answered by the panel. Greg Schulte had the sheets of questions and moderated the discussion determining whether Derrick or AJ would answer.
As the meeting progressed I watched intently as the question was asked then turned my attention to the audience to try and gauge their reaction to the answers. In nearly all cases the answers given were met with enthusiasm and more than a few times cheers and positive comments from the fans. Clearly management had struck a chord and the fans were buying into the message being given.
Questions ranged from explanations as to how the decision was made to make the managerial change to how AJ was going to gain the team's respect. The panel also touched on whether the team was writing off the 2009 season and building for 2010 and what the fans should expect to see for the remainder of the season.
Since many are probably curious, both AJ Hinch and Derrick Hall still believe they have the talent and the time to make the play-offs this season. They both agree it will be an uphill battle and both relented and said that winning the NL West may not be possible with the Dodgers playing so well but that the Wild Card was not out of the question if the team could put together a sustained winning effort over the second half of the season. Going into July neither believed the team would be in a selling mode but would be interested in making any deal that could help the ball club now and in the future.
There were also questions on the game start times. Some felt that first pitch should be moved to 7:10 like most of Major League Baseball. Derrick explained that overwhelmingly fans supported the 6:40 PM start time and that it would probably remain. He explained that the earlier time helped families be able to bring kids to the game and still get them home at a decent time for bed. He went on to explain how important families were to the Diamondbacks and how they are trying to build a future generation of fans. I was impressed with that message. Derrick talked about conversations he had with other teams and related a story of a conversation he had with the Boston Red Sox. Derrick asked them how they were building a future fan base with kids and families. The Red Sox explained to him that they had little or no interest in focusing on the family and therefore did very little to market to families or younger generations.
There was a question about the all-star game and 2011. During his answer Derrick Hall gave a tidbit of information that the team is hearing that the Colorado Rockies are readying notification to Tucson that they will be leaving Hi-Corbett Field due to the lack of teams in southern Arizona. The Diamondbacks would have no choice but to move as well since one team would not be a viable option.
From the discussion it appears that Arizona is close to deciding on a location for their spring training facility and that it most likely will be a two team complex shared by the Diamondbacks and the Rockies. Derrick would not go as far as naming the location but a decision could come fairly soon to allow adequate time to have the facility available to begin play in 2011.
Overall I came away very impressed with the town hall and the answers that were given to the submitted questions. My confidence level in AJ Hinch as the manager also increased. Listening to him he clearly has the leadership qualities to lead this team. Hopefully the other coaches and players will also see this and follow his example. I give credit to the Arizona Diamondbacks for having a venue such as this to let the fans become more comfortable with the team and the leadership.

The Right Decision?

2009-05-29T19:09:16Z

There were some questions going into the 2008 off-season with regards to the Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitching. The front of the rotation was set with co-aces Brandon Webb and Dan Haren. The back-end of the rotation was also likely set with Doug Davis and rookie sensation Max Scherzer.
The big question was what Arizona would do with the number 3 spot in the rotation. Would they attempt to re-sign Randy Johnson and allow him to complete his quest for 300 games or would they try to find another option that gave them more flexibility?

]]> Almost immediately the fans were told that the Diamondbacks would be holding tight to the fiscal reigns of player payroll and would not be active participants in the free agent market. This of course was a mixed signal as far as the fans were concerned.
On one hand tight fiscal reigns gave the impression that the Diamondbacks had very little money to spend on free agents. This would lead fans to assume that there was no way the Diamondbacks would re-sign Randy Johnson due to his salary requirements.
On the other hand not being active participants in the free agent market would lead one to believe that they would try to re-sign those players they could and therefore would be reunited with Johnson.
The fans were not the only ones who were confused by this seeming double talk. Randy Johnson likewise was left with an uncertain decision. To his credit, Johnson did what he could to try and re-sign with the hometown team offering to accept a contract that was half what he was making the previous season. The Diamondbacks didn't seem that interested and in the end the Big Unit ended up leaving the desert signing a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants.
The Diamondbacks held out looking for just the right deal and the right player.
Their decision to sign Jon Garland was met with equal parts of excitement and confusion. On one hand Garland has been a workhorse and would definitely give the Diamondbacks a pitcher that was durable and capable of eating up innings. On the other hand the contract that Garland was awarded was more than what Randy Johnson had offered to sign for leading the fans to wonder how interested Arizona was in re-signing the future hall of famer.
Now with the season nearly 2 months old it may be interesting to see how these two pitchers compare and whether the Arizona Diamondbacks made the right decision.

Pitcher	W	L	ERA	G	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	WHIP
Jon Garland	4	4	5.75	10	56.1	71	39	36	24	21	1.69
Randy Johnson	4	4	5.71	10	52.0	56	33	33	19	54	1.44

After ten starts each, I was very surprised to see how closely these two pitchers compare. They have identical records of 4-4 and their ERA is within 0.04 of each other with Johnson having a slight edge. Garland has more innings pitched which is what the Diamondbacks had anticipated but the edge is only 4.1 innings which is not that significant. Randy has the edge in nearly every category having given up fewer hits, fewer walks, and most importantly fewer runs.
From this analysis it seems questionable whether Arizona upgraded its pitching staff at all by passing up Randy Johnson and going for the younger Jon Garland. Add to this the fact that Randy will be going for career win number 300 in his next start and the fan excitement that would have generated and you have to believe that the Diamondbacks front office might have missed this one.
Considering how closely these two pitchers compare, it will be interesting to monitor this throughout the year to see which of these two pitchers end up with better statistics and which had the ability to keep their team in the post season race the longest.

Offense vs. Defense

2009-05-28T17:33:56Z

Rarely does a player come along that is the complete package. Usually they arrive with positives and negatives and the manager does the best to accentuate the player's strengths while mitigating or hiding the weaknesses. That is the sign of a good manager to make the best of the talent that he is given. This is not a new or foreign concept, every manager at every level of baseball has to go through this. Whether that player is a child that can't figure out which hand his mitt goes on or if he is Manny Ramirez. Wait, that example is redundant. New Diamondbacks manager AJ Hinch faces a similar problem with this team. Not specifically the confusion as to which hand to wear your mitt on but rather how to manage a player's strengths and weaknesses.

]]> When center fielder Chris Young burst upon the scene during his rookie season in 2007 he looked like that rare player who had all the tools necessary to have a long and storied career as a Major League baseball player. After a few miscues in the outfield he became a defensive gem getting to balls that other outfielders only dreamt about. The success he had defensively was equaled at the plate as well when he hit 30 home runs and stole 25 bases a feat that had never been done before in the history of Major League Baseball.
The Diamondbacks rewarded Chris for his accomplishments signing him to a long-term contract. I remember at the time thinking how smart that move was. It gave Young financial security while providing the team a level of salary stability through the arbitration years. It looked as though the Diamondbacks had at last found their centerfielder of the future and the fans could look forward to play not seen at that position since Steve Finley roamed the outfield during his prime.
The 2008 season saw Young take a step backwards at the plate. While his batting average increased slightly going from .237 to .248 his power numbers dropped 10 home runs. Even more alarming was his strikeout total that went from an already high 141 to an astounding 165. Fortunately Young plays with strikeout king Mark Reynolds so 165 didn't seem so bad when compared to Reynolds 204 punch outs.
During the off-season Chris worked very hard on his plate discipline promising himself that in 2009 he would cut down on the strikeout totals and hopefully return back to the power levels we saw in 2007. This season though has been anything but a success for Chris Young. Through 45 games he has struggled posting only a .172 batting average and already striking out 44 times. At this rate he is on pace to meet or exceed his 2008 totals. What is even more concerning is how lost Chris looks at the plate. From pitch to pitch Young doesn't make the necessary adjustments to pitches he is seeing. His bat angle seems to be less linear than in times past and he appears to be chopping down at the ball. When he does make contact he is getting the bottom of the ball rather than squaring it up on the bat which leads to a lot of fly ball outs. In fact Chris Young is double the league average in fly ball outs. Many have suggested that perhaps it would be best for the Diamondbacks to send Young to Reno to work on his swing and more importantly his confidence. From a long term perspective; that argument has a lot of validity. Unfortunately no answer is that simple.
While Young has struggled with the bat, his defense has been stellar. He is continuing to develop and should be considered in the upper echelon among outfielders. The recently ended series with the San Diego Padres was a prime example. In game 1 the Diamondbacks removed Young from the game as part of a double switch moving Gerardo Parra from left field to center. Shortly thereafter the Padres hit a ball that most likely would have been caught by Young. Parra was not able to get to it and the ball rolled to the wall allowing the Padres to score multiple runs leading to an extra innings win. In game 2 of the series Young was left in the game late. With the tying run on third base a ball was hit to deep right-center field. It looked as though the Padres would not only score the run on third but very possibly take the lead. Instead Young ran down the ball catching it at the base of the pool to preserve the win for the Diamondbacks; the only win they had in that series.
So the question becomes, at what point do you trade off lack of offense for stellar defense? Is a struggling Chris Young costing you more runs offensively than he is saving defensively? If the answer to that is yes then the course of action is probably to send him to Reno to reinvent his swing and his confidence. If the answer is no then I guess we continue the course we are on with the strikeouts mounting as are the defensive highlights. The decision is made even harder by the fact that outfielder Conor Jackson is on the disabled list with Valley Fever and outfielder Eric Byrnes looking just as sickly at the plate. If either of those two come back and posts anything close to career average numbers then it makes a trip to the minors for Young a reality. It's a situation that bears watching to see how it plays out for the rest of the season.

Who's Your Padre? Mad Max

2009-05-27T17:33:04Z

Every season as Spring Training comes to a close the Diamondbacks players all get together and decide on one pitcher that they will withhold all support from whether it be offensively, defensively, or from a bullpen perspective. I'm of course being facetious or at least I think I am. Historically if we look back you could probably make a strong case that my comment was a fact. How else do you explain the lack of support that the team gave to Randy Johnson or before that Brian Anderson? This year's candidate for most unloved would have to be Max Scherzer.

]]> Coming up through the minor leagues everyone raved at the talent that Max Scherzer possessed and how he was destined to become a dominating pitcher in the major leagues. After his debut last season against the Houston Astros where he struck out 7 batters over 4 1/3 innings of work and retired a record 13 hitters, expectations were high for the young fireball pitcher. The Diamondbacks obviously liked what they saw and put Max into the starting rotation. It was at that moment that the other players must have held an emergency meeting and anointed Scherzer with the support cold shoulder. For the remainder of the 2008 season Scherzer went winless despite pitching well in most of his outings.
After the 2008 season the Arizona Diamondbacks announced that Scherzer would remain in the starting rotation and his fate was sealed as the poster child for non-support. Max began the 2009 season similarly to how he ended 2008. He pitched well enough to win but either the bullpen or the offense would find a way to blow a lead making sure Scherzer either got the loss or a no decision. In a brief lapse of focus in Atlanta on May 16, the Diamondbacks forgot who was on the mound and scored a season high 12 runs allowing Max to get his first major league win. The team quickly regrouped and went back to providing no support to Scherzer in his next start in Florida. To add insult to injury the Diamondbacks waited until Max left the game then scored late allowing rookie Clay Zavada to get the win in just his first major league appearance.
Going into last night's game against the San Diego Padres, Max Scherzer was again looking for only his second win of his major league career. Max has been working on pitch conservation and it showed last night. He mowed through the Padres line up collecting not only strikeouts but also inducing the Padres hitters into swinging early in the count getting quick outs allowing him to stay in the game longer. Over the first six innings Max had struck out 10 San Diego hitters and walking none. He was throwing a 4-hit shutout and was dominating his opponent. The problem of course was that his teammates were likewise being shut-out leaving the game in doubt. It looked like another strong outing would go by the wayside and Scherzer would again be without a decision. Max was determined not to let that happen so with bat in hand he led the Diamondbacks offense collecting 2 hits including an RBI double that gave his team the lead. When it looked as though Max would single-handedly win the game the rest of the offense came alive and scored 6 runs giving Scherzer a 6-0 lead. Since the offense had let the team down by giving the Diamondbacks what looked like an insurmountable lead; the bullpen came in to rectify the problem. They gave up buckets of runs in the 8th and 9th innings and it looked as though for the second day in a row the Diamondbacks would lose the game in a late inning implosion. Finally in the top of the 9th with the tying run just 90 feet away center fielder Chris Young ran down what looked like a double to the right center gap to end the game and give Max just his second win in his career. From the looks of how this season is playing out he shouldn't get too comfortable though chances are his next start will see the offense fail to deliver leaving it up to him to win the game all by himself. Here's hoping that Max can talk his teammates into choosing someone else to not support. He has too much talent to deserve this.

Missed Representation

2009-05-26T16:45:26Z

The first year player draft is quickly approaching. I have already noted my picks participating in various mock drafts that are taking place around the Internet. This is a very important draft for the Arizona Diamondbacks. With the team having seven of the first 64 picks in the draft this is a great opportunity to rebuild the farm system which has become depleted as of late due to the promotion of players and through trades to get much needed pieces at the Major League level. This draft is going to be especially interesting for the Diamondbacks given that they recently completed a major overhaul of the player development staff with AJ Hinch moving from Director of Player Personnel to manager and the subsequent moves of Jack Howell and Mel Stottlemyre Jr. to Hinch's staff. I'm not sure I can ever remember a time when a Major League franchise made decisions such as these so close to the draft. It will be interesting to see what impact that might have on draft decisions or philosophies.

]]> The draft this year is taking place in Secaucus New Jersey; which just happens to be the home of the MLB Network. I'd like to say that is a coincidence but I think Major League Baseball planned that so that they could showcase their new television network and broadcasting center. The first round of the draft will be held in Studio 42 which was named to pay tribute to Jackie Robinson. All 30 teams will have representatives at the draft. As in years past the club representatives are basically figureheads there to show a presence. The General Manager and front office staff are normally at club headquarters and phone in the pick which is written down and handed to commissioner Bud Selig who will go to the podium and announce the selection. It is a highly ceremonial process done mostly for show.
The clubs typically select their representative as someone who has been associated with the team in some historical perspective or perhaps to honor someone who the club feels has been important to their success. There is usually also a representative from the player development staff I guess to make sure that the selection's name was written down correctly. How embarrassing would it be if you heard the name wrong on the phone and instead drafted some complete nobody in the first round?
I have been sitting next to my phone almost willing it to ring hoping that when I answered it would be Arizona Diamondbacks President and CEO calling to ask me if I would be willing to act as the Diamondbacks representative at the draft. I mean that seemed like a no-brainer pick. Not that I am historical or important in any way but you have to admit; without the fans teams would never be successful. It would be the perfect message to send to baseball; the Arizona Diamondbacks feel that their fans are important to their success and should be recognized. I think I am quite qualified to take on this responsibility. I have my own pen and in school I always got good grades in penmanship so Mr. Selig wouldn't have to struggle to read my handwriting. I have my own cell phone so if there is a problem with the phones at the MLB Network building Josh Byrnes could still get a hold of me so that the team does not miss their pick. I have a watch and can tell time using both analog and digital timepieces. I'm good at math so even if they throw a curve and use a 24-hour time format I can still figure it out well within the timeline for selecting a player. I have my own Diamondbacks jersey and hat so there would be no doubt which team I represented. I even have a jersey with my name on the back and the number 9 so they could save by not having to print out a name tag for me or wonder what year it was (they would have to remember what century we are in which could be a problem for the Pittsburgh Pirates).
Alas though the phone didn't ring and the Diamondbacks decided to go a different direction. Rather than having a diehard fan represent them at the draft they instead will be sending special assistant to the President Roland Hemond. Mr. Hemond is no doubt very qualified although I am not sure what his penmanship is like or if he has his own pen. I guess I will have to be content just watching the draft on television and wonder what it would be like to be there in person representing my team in deciding what the future will hold.

A Fitting Memorial

2009-05-26T04:08:45Z

Today marked the beginning of a six game home stand for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Their first opponent is the red hot San Diego Padres who entered today's game riding a nine game winning streak. Under the advice of my doctor I am going to restrain from writing about the game today. Neither my nerves nor my blood pressure could take a lengthy diatribe about how the Diamondbacks squandered a six run lead or how once again the team seemed to lack focus both on defense and in the batter's box. No, I am going to instead focus on the events of the game that have a more positive feel to them. Think of this as my own personal "serenity now" moment.

]]> Today's game was a day game made possible because it is Memorial Day, a holiday for most of the people in the United States. In a fitting gesture, today was also military appreciation day at Chase Field. I'd love to say that it was quite a coincidence but I have a feeling that someone in the Diamondbacks organization was aware that these two events occurred on the same day.
It was clear from the moment that you approached Chase Field that this was a special day commemorating the service provided by those in the military. Jefferson Street in front of the stadium was blocked off and in the street were military vehicles and members of the National Guard there to answer questions. It was amazing to see some of these machines and the men who were trained to use them. I was especially pleased to see that fans were taking this opportunity to talk with the soldiers and thanking them for the sacrifices they were making to keep us safe and free.
Inside the stadium the Diamondbacks had brought out the red, white, and blue bunting that was last seen on Opening Day. It decorated the stadium façade and brought a very patriotic feel to an otherwise typical baseball field. Arizona brought out members from each branch of the service and introduced them during an on-field ceremony. When each member of the military were introduced there were loud cheers and the ceremony culminated with a standing ovation to the troops. It was an emotional pre-game routine especially so when they introduced the soldier who suffered traumatic injuries as a result of disarming ordinates.
The ceremonial first pitch which is near and dear to my heart was also filled with somber emotion. Presidential candidate and Arizona Senator John McCain's son in his dress uniform accompanied his mother to the mound where the ceremonial first pitch ball was placed on the mound as a silent first pitch to pay tribute to all of those who lost their lives while serving our great country. There were more than a few tears shed at that moment.
Both the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres wore red hats with their logo in red, white, and blue stripes. These hats are being worn by every team and umpire in Major League Baseball and will be used again on July 4 and September 11. It seemed strange to see these hats but it was a fitting tribute to the military. At three o'clock the game was stopped and everyone in the stadium stood in a national moment of silence to those fallen heroes of the military. This was followed a short time later at the seventh inning stretch with the singing of "God Bless America". While that song is sung every Sunday at Chase Field during home games today it seemed extra special.
The Arizona Diamondbacks should be commended for the efforts they made to recognize the military and their role in keeping this country safe. It was incredibly meaningful and you could see the looks of appreciation on the faces of the soldiers in attendance at the game. It is events like this that make me very proud to be an American and an Arizona Diamondbacks fan.

Making a Draft Mockery

2009-05-25T04:27:37Z

As I logged in this morning I found an email waiting for me from Evan Brunell at Most Valuable Network (MVN). In the email was a plea for help. My mind immediately thought of the scene from Star Wars when R2D2 replayed the holographic image of Princess Leia to a young Luke Skywalker asking for assistance in delivering the plans of the Death Star to the rebel alliance. I have to be honest; the thoughts of Evan Brunell in a dress with a bun hair-do were extremely frightening and something I am sure I will end up telling to a therapist at some point in my life. Evan and the gang at MVN are running a mock draft and have asked bloggers around the country to weigh in on who their team would select on June 9. In the case of the Arizona Diamondbacks selections they asked our good friends over at AZ Snakepit. Unfortunately schedules could not be aligned. The selections were made but no write-ups were given about the players. Evan was therefore asking if I could step in and give details and information on the two selections at numbers 16 and 17.

]]> Let me start off by saying that these are not my selections. I merely evaluated the two choices from a perspective as to why the Diamondbacks may be interested in these athletes. You can see my responses here and here. While I believe both LaVon Washington and Jonathan Singleton are great athletes and will no doubt be drafted at some point in the June 9 draft I think both are stretches for the first round and it is doubtful the Diamondbacks at that point in the draft will select either.
The Arizona Diamondbacks draft philosophy has been relatively consistent over the past several years. Unless they are completely blown away by a high school athlete they will tend to lean towards drafting college players especially in the early rounds. There are several reasons for this. The most likely is that college players have 2-4 years more development than high school players and there is less risk involved in developing younger players. With the Diamondbacks farm system relatively depleted due to call ups and trades such as the one that brought Dan Haren to Arizona, the Diamondbacks need to restock their upper levels of their minor league system and it is faster and easier to do that with college players.
Looking over the draft order and selections in the MVN Mock Draft, the more likely choices for selection by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the number 16 pick would be LHP James Paxton from the University of Kentucky. The number 17 pick is a little more interesting. The Diamondbacks may jump at the opportunity to select LHP Mike Minor from Vanderbilt who they have been high on all year or they might opt to select OF Tim Wheeler from Sacramento State. Arizona has a tendency to draft pitchers higher but it might be questionable to take 2 left handed pitchers back-to-back. For Wheeler to fall to them might be too much for them to pass up especially given the struggles that center fielder Chris Young is having this year. Having someone come up through the minors might just push Young in righting his swing. Let's take a look at each of these selections.
James Paxton has made a somewhat circuitous path to the draft. He began his college career as a reliever and worked his way into the rotation in 2008. That move to a starter has been extremely beneficial for him and the Kentucky Wildcats. As a 6'4" starter he is has one of the highest upsides of any of the left-handed pitchers in the draft. He has a plus fastball that has been clocked at 92-98 miles per hour. His second pitch is a hard breaking slider that complements his fastball very well. He also possesses a change-up but has not used it much in his college career; something he will have to work on in the minor leagues. From a health perspective Paxton has been fairly durable although he has had back and knee problems in the past none of these are a concern going forward. With each outing James Paxton seems to be impressing more and more. If he happens to fall to the sixteenth pick look for the Diamondbacks to jump at the opportunity to pick up a powerful lefty that could end up a top of the rotation kind of pitcher.
Left-handed pitcher Mike Minor has been at the top of most teams draft boards nearly all season. As the ace at Vanderbilt he has shown the ability to carry a team. Originally a 13th round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays out of high school; Minor instead opted to go to college which has paid huge dividends both in terms of development and draft status. Besides his college career; Mike Minor was also invited to be a part of USA Collegiate National team that finished the 2008 season undefeated with a 24-0 record. Minor was a big part of that success including defeating the Cuban Olympic team twice. He finished with a 3-0 record with an ERA of 0.75. Mike Minor has four pitches that he throws although he only uses three of them with regularity. His fastball has been clocked at 92 MPH but typically falls in the 89-91 range. It has late life especially at the bottom of the strike zone. He also throws a quality slider that has a hard break making it a good pitch that he throws for strikeouts. He has an above average change-up but does not throw it often enough in college; something that will change when he gets to the minor leagues. His fourth pitch is a curve which still needs work but could become a weapon as he develops. From a medical perspective he has been very durable and Vanderbilt has managed his workload very well although there is some question about his elbow it is nothing that would warrant concern. Overall Mike Minor is the most polished left-handed pitcher in the draft and is probably the closest to the major leagues of any prospect.
Tim Wheeler is one of those players that Arizona Diamondbacks scouts and front office staff love. He has above average speed and has shown an ability to get on base and hit for high average. He tracks balls very well in the outfield and his average to above average arm will keep opposing base runners in check. The book on Tim Wheeler has been that he will be a top of the order hitter able to make contact and spray line drives. Once on base he has the ability to steal bases and disrupt a game. While he is not a typical slugger, Wheeler has shown signs of power including a 3 home run game earlier this year with Sacramento State University. At 6'4" 205lbs he has a long lanky stride that covers ground very quickly in the outfield. He has the ability to play all 3 outfield positions although his arm strength may be too light for right field. As a left-handed hitter Wheeler might be the type of spark plug the Diamondbacks could use to get on base in front of their more powerful hitters. With his plus speed he has the ability to make opposing pitchers adjust their delivery to keep him at first perhaps giving the other hitters more fastballs to hit. Should the Diamondbacks decide not to take two LHP with back-to-back picks in the first round; look to see Tim Wheeler's name called with pick number 17.
So there you have it. A couple of write-ups for someone's picks along with my two choices in the mock draft along with a third pick just in case the Diamondbacks want to go a different direction. Now it's just a matter of time to find out exactly how things turn out in the First Year Player Draft scheduled for June 9. The draft will be covered by the MLB Network and I know I'll be watching to see what the future holds for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Who Are These Guys?

2009-05-24T05:18:53Z

For the entire 2009 season the Arizona Diamondbacks have never won consecutive series and have not had a winning streak that surpassed three games. Now all of a sudden they have split a series with the Braves with one game to be made up; beaten the Florida Marlins three times in four tries, and have taken the first two games of a series with the Oakland Athletics. I have only one question; who are these guys and what have they done with our Diamondbacks?

]]> Clearly this season did not start out anywhere near what the Diamondbacks had drawn up. It seems every position player decided to go into a slump at the exact same time. The offense has been non-existent. Add to that all of the injuries and it has been a long season and we aren't even through May yet. Who would have expected the Diamondbacks to have only one start from staff ace Brandon Webb or seen their starting left fielder be placed on the disabled list for "general illness" only to be diagnosed with Valley Fever with no timetable for his return? They have also had injuries to shortstop Stephen Drew, first baseman Tony Clark, pitcher Yusmeiro Petit, and pitcher Tom Gordon. There is also the curious case of Chris Young who suddenly can't hit a baseball or reliever Jon Rauch who can barely find the strike zone. Both of these players were being counted on to fill important roles for the Diamondbacks. Now they are both being counted out and the question becomes how long each will remain on the Diamondbacks 25-man roster.
Despite all of this the Diamondbacks have somehow flipped a switch on this road trip ending the day with a 6-2 record and going for a sweep against the Athletics. They have done it in some uncharacteristic ways coming from behind with timely hits and decent defense. Neither of these aspects have been trademarks of the Diamondbacks this season. The successful roadtrip has fans now wondering if the team has turned the corner and is about to make a run at the still hot Los Angeles Dodgers? Despite the winning streak and better play the Diamondbacks still find themselves 10.5 games in back of the Dodgers. Los Angeles has found a way to win despite not having Manny Ramirez in the line-up. That doesn't bode well for the snakes. Rather than get caught up in all of that though perhaps it is time to just savor the moment and find a little happiness in the fact that this team has shown that it is possible to win with the players currently on the roster.

Interleague Mayhem

2009-05-23T05:35:16Z

Let me start off by saying I am not a big fan of Interleague play. Call me a traditionalist or a purist if you will but it just seems unnatural to see the National League teams playing in American League cities and utilizing the designated hitter. I can appreciate the argument that it gives the fans an opportunity to see players from the American League that they may not otherwise be able to see but honestly, how many people in the American League really want to see the Washington Nationals or the Cleveland Indians this year?

]]> The problem with the argument against Interleague play is the fact that it draws huge attendance across almost every demographic. Given the huge upswing in fans at the games it is hard for Major League Baseball to criticize this new cash cow so instead they keep expanding it and building it up in the media. So for the next three games the fans at Oakland will be forced to watch two franchises who have struggled for most of the season and who don't look to be a factor in the playoff race.
For Diamondbacks fans we'll see away games against the Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, and Seattle Mariners. With the exception of possibly seeing Jason Giambi hit his 400th home run, Zach Greinke throw a shut-out or Ken Griffey Jr. hit a monster home run there is very little else that holds interest in any of those match-ups. The home games for Interleague play have the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels visiting Chase Field. The Rangers so far are the surprise of baseball playing nearly .600 ball so far this season. Seeing them come to town and launch fly balls into the stands is not something any Diamondbacks fan wants to see. The Angels with their small ball and pitching depth again will make for three long games against the anemic Diamondbacks offense. No, there are not a lot of positives that can be said about Interleague play when you are a fan of the Diamondbacks. Even with the slight upturn that the team has shown this road trip the future still looks cloudy with a chance of rain for the Diamondbacks season.

Tragedy At Home

2009-05-22T02:22:37Z

I've sat down to write this entry several times and each time I do I have to step away from the keyboard. It is not that I am distracted; it is just that this is one of the most difficult things I have ever written on this blog. As a diehard baseball fan, there are days when I think there is nothing more important than how your team is performing. I have been accused on numerous occasions to have my priorities off-track and that my entire existence revolves around baseball. This is mostly said in jest but still I wonder how many people believe that to be true? Every so often something comes along though that helps us all put baseball and life into perspective.

]]> Prior to yesterday's game against the Florida Marlins the Arizona Diamondbacks were notified that relief pitcher Scott Schoeneweis' wife had been found dead at their Fountain Hills home. She was found on the floor of their master bedroom by their 14 year-old daughter who called 9-1-1 to report what she found. Authorities arrived and found 39 year-old Gabrielle Schoeneweis unresponsive. No cause of death has been determined.
The team was going through their final preparations for the game with first pitch scheduled approximately an hour later. Scott Schoeneweis was summoned to the visiting manager's office where AJ Hinch gave the pitcher the news. Arrangements were made and Schoeneweis flew back to Arizona where he would meet with his four children and family members to begin the difficult process of planning for his wife's funeral.
Words cannot describe the emotion that I felt when I heard this news. No husband should be faced with such a burden. From a personal perspective though this news hit especially close to home. Unfortunately I had to live through an experience very similar to Scott Schoeneweis so I know what he is going through. In my case though it was not the loss of a wife that I had to endure but rather a child but the circumstances were very similar.
My wife and I had one daughter and were expecting our second child. The due date was fast approaching and things appeared to be going extremely well. We had ultrasounds where we were able to see the baby and we were assured that everything looked normal. My wife's due date was still a little ways away but not much. We were anticipating the birth of our daughter yet life seemed to be going normally.
I normally worked in town but on this particular day I was called away on business along with several other people from the office. We travelled to another state where we worked out of another office. At first I was worried about leaving my wife but she assured me everything was fine and that she had family around if she needed anything. She insisted that I go and have fun. We had a full schedule of work but also planned a couple of "team building" activities including an NBA basketball game that night.
I remember after saying good-bye to my wife I turned my focus to the work ahead and the camaraderie of being with the other guys. We were in a good mood and were actually looking forward to the trip and being able to get away from the daily grind at home. We were out on calls working when the office received a call notifying them that something had happened and that my wife was being rushed to the hospital. Her health was ok as far as they knew but she had lost the baby. When I arrived back at the office I was in a particularly good mood as things seemed to be going well. That all changed as the general manager at the office called me in and asked me to sit down. I could see from the look on his face that something was wrong but I never expected to get the news he was about to give me.
As he began telling me what he knew, my mind and my body went completely numb. The joy and happiness I felt immediately left my mind as all I could think about was my wife and unborn child. I tried hard to listen to the words he was saying but they seemed for foreign and distant. It seemed like a dream or in this case a nightmare and I kept telling myself that I needed to wake up but it didn't happen. The general manager explained that they had arranged for a flight to send me back home and that someone would be there to meet me at the airport to take me to the hospital. He asked if I wanted someone to go with me for the flight home.
To be honest, the last thing I wanted was a travelling companion. I just wanted to be alone to try and piece together the events that had transpired and to get myself into a position to deal with the situation I was about to find when I got home. The drive to the airport and the flight back home seemed to last an eternity. My whole life seemed to be unraveling but in slow motion. I replayed the events over and over in my head. I was angry with myself for being out of town. I was frustrated at how slow the flight was going, my heart was breaking knowing I was not there by her side when my wife was going through all of this, I was afraid at what I would find when I got home, I felt guilty that my day had been going well while my wife was dealing with all of this. The thoughts and emotions whirled around in my head.
When I arrived at the airport someone was there to meet me and we immediately went to the hospital where my wife laid crying. I have never felt so helpless in my life. Since the day we started dating I had been there for her. We had been nearly inseparable. And while I could not solve all of her problems at least I was there when she needed me. This time I wasn't there when she needed me the most. That feeling is something I have lived with every day of my life sense and is something I will never forget. Both the doctor and my wife assured me that there was nothing I could have done and that the events would have run their course whether I had been there or not but I always in the back of my mind wonder if that is the case. Could I have seen something or done something differently that might have affected the outcome? Would my daughter still be here if I hadn't been away?
As a family we had to make funeral arrangements. It all seems like such a blur. I was too young to be making these kinds of decisions and I was not prepared to deal with this mentally or emotionally. Family members stepped in and helped us in ways I could never imagine or fully appreciate. Were it not for the thoughts and prayers of those around us I don't know how we could have had the strength to deal with everything we had to do.
I remember how awkward it was when co-workers came to see us. I know they meant well and were trying to be thoughtful and show their love for our family but they also acted as a reminder of me being away from my family and the pain I felt because of my absence. The healing process was slow and I had a hard time concentrating on work. The company was very understanding and looking back I am very grateful to them for all the patience that they showed. Getting back to work was in one sense a relieve as it gave me something to occupy my mind and keep it from drifting back to the loss I had suffered and the circumstances that accompanied it. On the other hand it acted as a reminder of how difficult it is to balance work and home and what can happen when I was not around.
I would love to say that after a time the loss gets easier and that you end up healing but that's a lie. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about my daughter and how much I miss her. I think about all the joy we missed out on and all the events that our family has enjoyed where she was not a part. Since that time we have had other children and life has moved on but I'll never forget the events of that day and the impact it had on me.
My heart goes out to Scott Schoeneweis. Losing a daughter was the hardest thing I have ever endured but it pales in comparison to losing a wife. You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers as you deal with your loss. Gabrielle's passing has left a large void in your life, one that may never heal but if my experience has taught me anything, keeping her memory alive and recounting all the love you felt for her will go a long way towards making your life together seem meaningful.

Let's Play Two

2009-05-20T23:55:48Z

I have been following the Arizona Diamondbacks since March 9, 1995 when then acting- commissioner Bud Selig announced at a meeting in West Palm Beach that baseball owners had voted 28-0 to expand Major League Baseball and awarded franchises to Tampa Bay Florida and Phoenix Arizona. Since that day I have been an Arizona Diamondbacks fan. Over the years I have seen or done pretty much everything imaginable with the Diamondbacks but there is one thing I haven't accomplished as a fan.

]]> I have never been to an Arizona Diamondbacks double header. I'm not talking about a split squad Spring Training kind of affair. No, I am talking about a full-fledged 18 inning experience with real Major League Baseball players in games that actually count in the standings.
I remember when I was a kid, there were certain days in a baseball season where your favorite team was actually scheduled to play two games in one day. These were magical days where if the baseball gods looked down upon you, your team could make up some ground in the standings. It also meant a full day at the ballpark. You get up in the morning, put on your favorite player's jersey then get in the car to head to the ballpark. If you were lucky your dad would take you early enough to watch batting practice before game 1 and if you were really lucky the second game would go extra innings. Those days are long since gone. The players union and Major League Baseball owners would rather spread the games out over a season and with the cost of an average baseball player's salary the last thing a team wants is to over-tax their pitching staff or bench. The double header is definitely a lost art and one that baseball fans everywhere lament. Now in order for your team to play in a double header it has to be a result of some weather related event. Since Arizona plays in a retractable roof stadium, the odds of a weather related event are somewhere between slim and never. Consequently unless you are travelling on the road with the team chances are you will never see the Diamondbacks play a double header in person.
So when rain cancelled game 1 of the series with the Florida Marlins; Major League Baseball scheduled the make-up game to be a double header today. The Diamondbacks have played in 10 double headers not counting today.

Double Header Date	Opponent	Result
April 16, 1998	St. Louis Cardinals	Split
August 20, 1998	Philadelphia Phillies	Split
September 23, 2000	San Francisco Giants	Split
August 3, 2002	New York Mets	D-Backs Sweep
April 27, 2003	New York Mets	D-Backs Sweep
September 23, 2004	Colorado Rockies	Rockies Sweep
June 4, 2005	Philadelphia Phillies	Phillies Sweep
June 3, 2006	Atlanta Braves	D-Backs Sweep
August 3, 2006	New York Mets	Split
September 2, 2006	Washington Nationals	D-Backs Sweep

As you can see, the Diamondbacks haven't exactly set the baseball world on fire when playing a double header. If history is any indication we can expect to see the Marlins and Diamondbacks split the games today. You just never know though, maybe this is just the event that will catapult the team up in the standings and continue the modest 2-game winning streak. So in front of a crowd that looked more the number of fans you would see in the pool area at Chase Field; the Diamondbacks will play 2 games against the Marlins. I've never been jealous of diehard Marlins fans but today I caught myself wishing I lived in Miami and had tickets to a Marlins game.