Diary of a Diehard

The number of entries on Diary of a Diehard was quite consistent for nearly two years then suddenly at the end of the 2008 season they ground to a halt. Over the off-season my email inbox was littered with equal amounts of get well cards and messages questioning what was going on. In the immortal words of Mark Twain in a letter to Frank E. Bliss in 1897, “”It has been reported that I was seriously ill–it was another man; dying–it was another man; dead–the other man again…As far as I can see, nothing remains to be reported, except that I have become a foreigner. When you hear it, don’t you believe it. And don’t take the trouble to deny it.” I would love to come up with an incredible tale where I found the secret to time travel and have spent the better part of the off-season travelling through time looking for the exact origin of baseball and if it did indeed evolve from rounders rather than been the invention of Abner Doubleday. The problem with that theory is that if I really had a time machine I would be able to go back in time to the end of the 2008 season and resume posting without interruption. I seriously hate when logic ruins a perfectly good blog entry.

Continue reading ‘What Happened?’ »

After nearly three weeks of the 2004 season, it is clear that the Arizona Diamondbacks are in desperate need of help for their pitching staff. The departure of Curt Schilling is far more profound than the team had imagined. The thought was that Brandon Webb would be an adequate replacement for Schilling and that Elmer Dessens would rebound and give the Diamondbacks a lot of innings. The team planned to have Shane Reynolds be a capable fourth starter then finalize the rotation with knuckleballer Steve Sparks. Joe Garagiola Jr. had the statistics that stated Sparks would shine in the National League. Instead, he has been roughed up in nearly every game he has pitched in. This coupled with Reynolds beginning the year on the disabled list and the implosion of the bullpen has everyone scratching their heads wondering what to do next. The thought was that Matt Mantei would begin the season as the closer then the Diamondbacks would trade him eliminating $7 million in payroll. Instead, Mantei has struggled on the mound reducing his trade value to the point where the team cannot move him. Outside of Randy Johnson and Brandon Webb, there is not a lot to be encouraged at from the pitching staff of 2004. With a slow start, look to see the Diamondbacks consider some moves even before the all-star break to shore up their pitching corps.

Continue reading ‘Pitching? We Don’t Need No Stinking Pitching’ »

It seems Father Time is a baseball fan as the Diamondbacks and their Olden Gloves hang on to win the National League Western Division by 2 games over Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants. It seems like sweet vindication to the aging stars of the Arizona Diamondbacks to show that hey maybe they weren’t so old after all.

Continue reading ‘Post-Season Thoughts’ »

Matt Mantei is now telling everyone that his 2001 season is officially over. He will fly to Georgia and meet with doctors to determine whether surgery will be required on his pitching elbow. If surgery is indeed required, Mantei may be out until the All-Star break of 2002.

Continue reading ‘Mid-Season Rumors’ »

Word coming out of the Diamondbacks organization was that they would not be very involved this off-season with free agent signings. The team would like to reduce payroll while maintaining the core of their team intact. That is why the Mark Grace deal makes so little sense. With the Diamondbacks already having an abundance of first basemen on the roster, adding a 36 year old veteran seems questionable.

Continue reading ‘Off-Season Rumors’ »

It is questionable whether the Diamondbacks will pull the trigger on any trades between now and the trading deadline on July 31. It is not that the Diamondbacks are not willing to make a trade. The issue is whether the Diamondbacks can afford to make a deal. With attendance down again this year, Arizona expects to lose more money than they did last season. This makes it extremely difficult to add more payroll when revenues are declining. Given the current financial situation, the only move the Diamondbacks may make would be to transfer equal payroll or perhaps unload some of their higher price players. Regardless of this situation, there are still a couple of trade rumors that continue to make the rounds.

Continue reading ‘More Trade Rumors’ »

Given the multitude of injuries the Diamondbacks have endured this season, you have to give the team credit for working through their adversity. Matt Williams continues his rehabilitation on his right quadriceps muscle while Durazo is back on the disabled list with soreness of his surgically repaired wrist. Todd Stottlemyre’s elbow is in much worse shape than first noted leaving a large hole in the starting rotation. Given these injuries and the tight race in the National League West, the Diamondbacks look to pull off a deal before the July 31 trading deadline. There have been two interesting deals talked about in the press lately.

Continue reading ‘Trading Deadline Looms Large for Diamondbacks’ »

Matt Mantei went onto the disabled list for a second time in a month. He is suffering from a weak arm and will begin rehabilitation this week. The Diamondbacks have placed him on the same workout program they used for Todd Stottlemyre last year as he recovered from a torn rotator cuff. Mantei continues to throw on the side and is reporting no pain. In his absence, the Diamondbacks have been using a bullpen by committee. Byung-Hyun Kim continues to dominate his opponents and is the Diamondbacks best hope for a closer. Vicente Padilla was brought up from Tucson to fill Mantei’s roster spot and has looked very good in his outings for the Diamondbacks. Even with the emergence of these two young stars, the Diamondbacks continue to talk with other teams about possibly acquiring another relief pitcher. The name that seems to come each time is Roberto Hernandez of Tampa Bay. Arizona tried to trade for Hernandez last season but a deal could not be worked out. Talks are resuming between the teams. Don’t be surprised to see a trade happen before the all-star break. Given the log jam of outfielders the Diamondbacks possess, it seems most logical that the trade will involve some package of these players.

Continue reading ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ »

During the second inning of the final home spring training game at Tucson Electric Park, Matt Williams broke the second metatarsal bone in his right foot. Williams being the gamer that he is, completed the at bat by lining hard to the center fielder. After the out, Williams was taken to a local hospital for x-rays before returning to Phoenix to meet with team physicians. The break was a non-displacement injury meaning no surgery will be required. Team doctors are confident Matt will be able to return in 6 to 8 weeks. This is a tremendous blow to the Diamondbacks as Williams is looked at both as the clean-up hitter and more importantly as the clubhouse leader. In the third inning, Williams was replaced by Lenny Harris who will most likely be Matt’s replacement during his absence. Others who may get playing time at third base are Greg Colbrunn and Hanley Frias. Andy Fox, who would have been the back-up third baseman is still healing from a broken hand. Fox is expected to be sidelined until at least mid-April.

Continue reading ‘Bad Breaks of Spring’ »