Official Dbacks 2008 Season Thread

[AZGrizFan]

I'm expecting a step back from Beckett, Dice-K was overrated, they didn't get Santana, Schilling is done, Lester gave up 10 HR's in just over 60 innings...Lowell played out of his MIND last year and won't duplicate that, JD Drew is a putz and a clubhouse cancer, Varitek is a shell of his former self, Lugo is a stiff at short...

So, my thumbnail analysis is you've got a suspect pitching staff (at best) after Beckett, you're placing unlimited faith in two rookies (Ellsbury & Pedroia) you've got a third baseman who's primed for a HUGE fall and 3 position players that couldn't start on most other teams in the bigs. Hopefully half a team can get you to the promised land again.

You owe me a computer screen......I laughed so hard...

Glad you're not running Player Personnel on my team...

We will see, my friend....we will see.....

I notice you're not refuting any of my analysis, however....

Lowell had half his homeruns by 5/31. That's NOT good.

[Col Hogan]

You owe me a computer screen......I laughed so hard...

Glad you're not running Player Personnel on my team...

We will see, my friend....we will see.....

I notice you're not refuting any of my analysis, however....

Lowell had half his homeruns by 5/31. That's NOT good.

OK, I thought my comment about you NOT doing player personnel for my team was analysis of your comments...but here goes...

Beckett will have an even stronger year...those who have faced him in live pitching so far this spring say his stuff is "mid-season form"...
Dice-K will improve over last year...he adapted to a new system and will shine (as Beckett did last year in year 2 with the Sox)
Lester did give up the homers...but was still working his way back...He had a strong off-season and will be a strong three or four pitcher...
Shilling... ...I think his injury is the best thing that happened to the 08 Sox...
Buchholz worked out at API in Arizona this off-season...put on ten pounds of muscle,,,and will have a great season...
Who will the fifth picther be...Wakefield is still hurting...Tavarez is possible...
The Bull pen is still strong....
OVERALL PICTHING RATING - like last year when the Sox were First in ERA, BAA,OPS,WHIP and second in saves in the AL, I expect a strong season from the mound...

In the field, a Gold Glove first baseman who is strong with a bat...a Rookie of the Year second baseman also strong with a bat...a WS MVP at third who I also expect to have another strong year...Manny who is playing for the club to pick up a $20M option and spent the off-season in Arizona at API, A speedy kid (Ellsbury) in Center and J.D. Drew (who had a strong second half and good playoffs) anchor a defense and offense that can stand up to ANYBODY...

While Varitek is not the powerhouse at bat that he once was...he's considered one of the best catchers at handling a pitching staff in MLB...

Yea, I expect a great season...

[Col Hogan]

I forgot...Big Papi's knee is better, and he's swinging the bat without pain...

[dbackjon]

This is a Dbacks thread - not a RedSux thread....

[Col Hogan]

This is a Dbacks thread - not a RedSux thread....

Not my intention to hijack it...but a butthead challenged me and I could not resist...

[dbackjon]

This is a Dbacks thread - not a RedSux thread....

Not my intention to hijack it...but a butthead challenged me and I could not resist...

Typical Red Sox fan - think they rule the world...

[Col Hogan]

Not my intention to hijack it...but a butthead challenged me and I could not resist...

Typical Red Sox fan - think they rule the world...

And until the next WS...you gotta live with that...

[dbackjon]

Typical Red Sox fan - think they rule the world...

And until the next WS...you gotta live with that...

touche!

At least I can live with the fact that the only time I saw the RedSux in person last year, they lost

[dbackjon]

Owings works on changeup, Rockies and Diamondbacks finish in 5-5 tie

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP)—Micah Owings is working on his changeup this spring, so the results in his first outing weren’t that important.

The Arizona right-hander gave up two runs and two hits in two innings, and the Diamondbacks tied a Colorado Rockies split squad 5-5 Thursday in a rematch of last year’s NL championship series.

“I felt pretty good,” said Owings, who figures to be the No. 5 starter in the rotation. “I’m working on some new things, adjusting a little bit on the rubber and trying to get a feel for all my stuff right now.”

He has moved slightly to the right on the rubber this spring.

“He’s always tinkering, trying to get a little bit better,” Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. “Today he was focusing on his changeup. He probably threw several more, especially in different counts, than you normally see him.”

The game was called after nine innings. Arizona rallied from down 4-0 to go up 5-4. Colorado tied it when Jeff Baker was hit by a pitch from Jailen Peguero with the bases loaded in the ninth.

Kip Wells got off to a good start in his attempt to earn a spot at the back of the Rockies’ rotation, pitching two scoreless innings.

Hours after agreeing to a lucrative contract, Colorado closer Manny Corpas threw a scoreless, if shaky, inning. Corpas, whose four-year deal is worth just over $8 million, struck out Chris Young, but gave up singles to Orlando Hudson and Conor Jackson, then walked Mark Reynolds to load the bases.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=280228129

[dbackjon]

• Active Roster
  Pitchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
  37 Juan Cruz R/R 6-2 155 10/15/78
  49 Doug Davis R/L 6-4 215 09/21/75
  31 Edgar Gonzalez R/R 6-0 225 02/23/83
  15 Dan Haren R/R 6-5 220 09/17/80
  51 Randy Johnson R/L 6-10 225 09/10/63
  38 Brandon Lyon R/R 6-1 195 08/10/79
  52 Brandon Medders R/R 6-1 190 01/26/80
  57 Dustin Nippert R/R 6-8 225 05/06/81
  44 Micah Owings R/R 6-5 220 09/28/82
  36 Jailen Peguero R/R 6-0 195 01/04/81
  56 Tony Pena R/R 6-1 220 01/09/82
  48 Yusmeiro Petit R/R 6-0 230 11/22/84
  50 Chad Qualls R/R 6-5 225 08/17/78
  45 Doug Slaten L/L 6-5 200 02/04/80
  17 Brandon Webb R/R 6-2 230 05/09/79
  Catchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
  7 Robby Hammock R/R 5-10 185 05/13/77
  26 Miguel Montero L/R 5-11 195 07/09/83
  19 Chris Snyder R/R 6-3 230 02/12/81
  Infielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
  2 Chris Burke R/R 5-11 180 03/11/80
  6 Stephen Drew L/R 6-1 185 03/16/83
  1 Orlando Hudson S/R 6-0 185 12/12/77
  34 Conor Jackson R/R 6-2 225 05/07/82
  11 Augie Ojeda S/R 5-8 170 12/20/74
  27 Mark Reynolds R/R 6-1 200 08/03/83
  18 Chad Tracy L/R 6-2 200 05/22/80
  Outfielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
  22 Eric Byrnes R/R 6-2 210 02/16/76
  76 Alex Romero L/R 6-1 185 09/09/83
  12 Jeff Salazar L/L 6-0 190 11/24/80
  10 Justin Upton R/R 6-3 205 08/25/87
  24 Chris Young R/R 6-2 180 09/05/83

[AppGuy04]

Hey Jonnie boy, its baseball time, you knew'd I'd be back for my Cubbies to go to the World Series in 08

[dbackjon]

Hey Jonnie boy, its baseball time, you knew'd I'd be back for my Cubbies to go to the World Series in 08

I was hoping you'd be back to watch my Dbacks go all the way this year!

[AppGuy04]

Hey Jonnie boy, its baseball time, you knew'd I'd be back for my Cubbies to go to the World Series in 08

I was hoping you'd be back to watch my Dbacks go all the way this year!

Wishful thinking at its best

[dbackjon]

I was hoping you'd be back to watch my Dbacks go all the way this year!

Wishful thinking at its best

We are better than the team that won 90 games and had the best record in the NL last year...

The Cubs?? Good luck finishing ahead of Milwaukee...

[dbackjon]

Friggin Rain Delay.

WTF do you start the season in cold-weather cities, when you have a great setup in Phoenix??


Milwaukee at Cubs, and Toronto at NY also delayed - and the visiting team on each has a dome/covered stadium....


MLB can be so friggin stupid some times.

[dbackjon]

Dbacks up 3-2 in the 7th.

[dbackjon]

Dbacks win opener 4-2!!!!

HR's by Young, Byrnes and Salazar.

RBI single by Jackson

Winning Pitcher - Webb
Save - Brandon Lyon

[AppGuy04]

Wishful thinking at its best

We are better than the team that won 90 games and had the best record in the NL last year...

The Cubs?? Good luck finishing ahead of Milwaukee...

Don't need luck when the Brew Crew has Eric "past my prime" Gagne as their closer

[dbackjon]

Don't need luck when the Brew Crew has Eric "past my prime" Gagne as their closer

Yet strangely, the Cubs still LOST THE GAME...

[AZGrizFan]

Beckett will have an even stronger year...those who have faced him in live pitching so far this spring say his stuff is "mid-season form"...
Dice-K will improve over last year...he adapted to a new system and will shine (as Beckett did last year in year 2 with the Sox)
Lester did give up the homers...but was still working his way back...He had a strong off-season and will be a strong three or four pitcher...
Shilling... ...I think his injury is the best thing that happened to the 08 Sox...
Buchholz worked out at API in Arizona this off-season...put on ten pounds of muscle,,,and will have a great season...
Who will the fifth picther be...Wakefield is still hurting...Tavarez is possible...
The Bull pen is still strong....
OVERALL PICTHING RATING - like last year when the Sox were First in ERA, BAA,OPS,WHIP and second in saves in the AL, I expect a strong season from the mound...

In the field, a Gold Glove first baseman who is strong with a bat...a Rookie of the Year second baseman also strong with a bat...a WS MVP at third who I also expect to have another strong year...Manny who is playing for the club to pick up a $20M option and spent the off-season in Arizona at API, A speedy kid (Ellsbury) in Center and J.D. Drew (who had a strong second half and good playoffs) anchor a defense and offense that can stand up to ANYBODY...

While Varitek is not the powerhouse at bat that he once was...he's considered one of the best catchers at handling a pitching staff in MLB...

Yea, I expect a great season...

So....

Beckett is hurt.
Bucholtz couldn't even crack the rotation, and they're leaning on a tired, old FAT man to be the 5th starter...
Surprise, surprise, JD Drew is hurt again (is that REALLY what $17 million buys you?)
ManRam's stats have declined alarmingly the past three years (is that REALLY what $20 million buys you?)
Big Papi went 0-fer Japan....

Hows that rotation treating you now?

[dbackjon]

FUDGE!!

Brandon Lyon blows the save - gives up 3 run bomb in 9th

[dbackjon]

Dbacks manage only one hit, still leave the bases loaded in the 8th, lose 3-2.


Byrnes is killing us right now.

[AZGrizFan]

Dbacks manage only one hit, still leave the bases loaded in the 8th, lose 3-2.


Byrnes is killing us right now.

I get really tired of the D-Backs making rookies look like Cy Young.

[dbackjon]

Dbacks manage only one hit, still leave the bases loaded in the 8th, lose 3-2.


Byrnes is killing us right now.

I get really tired of the D-Backs making rookies look like Cy Young.

I told one of my co-workers that we'd probably get no-hit. The Dbacks have done this throughout their history - make young pitchers look really, really good.

it sucks!!

[AZGrizFan]

I get really tired of the D-Backs making rookies look like Cy Young.

I told one of my co-workers that we'd probably get no-hit. The Dbacks have done this throughout their history - make young pitchers look really, really good.

it sucks!!

Well, if we only win 35 games this year, I hope it's the 35 that B. Webb pitches, since I've got HIM on my fantasy team.