Diary of a Diehard

It used to be that I would spend days dredging through the bowels of the Internet during the off-season trying to piece together what the season schedule would look like for the upcoming year. Major League Baseball never wanted to announce their schedule until after the first of the year making it a mad scramble to come up with details to post to sites such as Now Hitting.

Beginning last season Major League Baseball decided to announce the following year’s schedule before the season ended. This was very welcomed news for those who run fan sites. It gave us ample time to create content and provide information on the next season.

Continue reading ‘The New Schedule Is Here!’ »

There is probably no Arizona Diamondbacks player who should be looking forward to the end of the 2009 season than center fielder Chris Young. Young has unfairly become the poster child for all that went wrong this season for the Diamondbacks.

As the season began Young was being counted on to lead the group of core young outfielders to help the Arizona Diamondbacks rebound from a disappointing second place finish in the National League West to once again battle the Los Angeles Dodgers for the divisional title. Instead Young found himself marred in a season long slump.

Continue reading ‘Chris Crossed’ »

When Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman (that still seems so strange to not type San Diego there) got Stephen Drew to fly out to left field to end the game; the Diamondbacks completed their six-game home stand. The Diamondbacks left the not so friendly confines of Chase Field and embarked on a short three-game road trip to San Diego. This is the last trip to San Diego this season for the Diamondbacks and gives the team an opportunity to try and pull themselves out of the National League West cellar.

With this trip it once again is time for another episode of ”State of the Home Stand Address” where I discuss the just completed home stand. As is always the case, these views are my own and in no way represent the thoughts of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Bud Selig, Major League Baseball, or any other sane fan for that matter. Your mileage may vary, objects in the rearview mirror may be closer than they appear, and this offer is not valid in the states of Texas or Arkansas. I think that covers all of the necessary disclaimers.

Continue reading ‘State of the Home Stand Address – September 7-13’ »

There are times that I just have to stop and shake my head at how odd my life is. Regardless of how many times I keep telling myself that I lead a normal and uneventful life, somehow strange and bizarre things just keep happening. What is even funnier is how the strange and unusual now seems to invade other strange and unusual aspects of my life making it seem even more surreal.

Friday night as I was in the midst of the most incredible experience I have ever had when I changed the bases during a Diamondbacks game, another unusual experience occurred that left my mouth open in disbelief.

Continue reading ‘Circle K Hot Dog Races’ »

One of the unheralded benefits of being an Arizona Diamondbacks season ticket holder is the fact that you are allowed to get into the stadium 30 minutes before the general public for Saturday home games. You wouldn’t think that would be a big deal but on days like today it is a godsend.

Today was supposed to be Tony Pena bobble head day according to the Arizona Diamondbacks promotional schedule that was released before the season began. That of course all changed when the Diamondbacks traded Pena to the Chicago White Sox for first base prospect Brandon Allen.

Continue reading ‘Augie, Augie, Augie’ »

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they have to come to grips with their own mortality. When we are young we think we are invincible and that we will live forever. As we get older we realize that we aren’t nearly as indestructible as we thought we were and by middle age we are paying the price for the follies of our youth.

We still try to hold on to the notion that we are not old and we have years and years to live. Then there comes an event or experience that causes you to stop and ponder, “Is the end near? Am I really going to die?”

Continue reading ‘Am I Dying?’ »

As a diehard Arizona Diamondbacks fan I go to a lot of games. According to my wife that may be the largest understatement she has heard this century. Ok let me rephrase that, I go to a whole lot of games. Having gone to so many games over the 12 year history of the Arizona Diamondbacks there are times that I think I have probably seen just about everything there is to see at a baseball game.

I have watched a no-hitter, I have seen a perfect game. I have watched a pitcher strike out 20 batters in a game and I have endured a 16-inning marathon. Just as I am about to proclaim there is nothing new left to see, something strange and unusual happens and I am reminded that you can never see everything.

Continue reading ‘Officer, I Saw the Whole Thing’ »

Baseball will forever be connected with the number nine. From the fact that there are nine positions on the field to there being 27 outs in a game to the bases being spaced 90 feet apart there is always a number nine involved when you are talking about baseball.

To celebrate the numerology equivalent of a perfect game, Major League Baseball is introducing something they are calling the All-Time Nine for each team. The All-Time Nine allows fans to vote on who would make up the best hitters by position for each franchise. Voting begins September 9 (09/09/09) on mlb.com as well as on each team’s web site and will continue all day.

Continue reading ‘Diamondbacks All-Time Nine’ »

Last Monday the Arizona Diamondbacks sent right-handed pitcher Jon Garland to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a player to be named later. This situation became more bizarre when Jon Garland faced the Arizona Diamondbacks. Garland pitched well and beat the Diamondbacks in the last game of the series.

Tomorrow Garland takes the mound for the second time as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers and will face right-hander Dan Haren.

Continue reading ‘Hanging the Garland’ »