Diamondbacks News

"You don't talk about playoff previews in May, especially not in Chicago. You do get the occasional rematch, however. The Cubs have themselves one of those this weekend at Wrigley Field. There's one big catch that could get in the way of the Cubs enjoying the visit from the Arizona Diamondbacks, who buzzed through them in a startling three-game sweep in the first round of the 2007 playoffs. It's the young Diamondbacks, not the veteran Cubs, who are playing with the confidence of an emerging force with staying power."

"Carlos Zambrano was ecstatic Wednesday in Cincinnati after learning he would be facing Randy Johnson in Sunday's series finale of the playoff rematch between the Cubs and Arizona. Power pitchers love facing power pitchers and young pitchers love facing legends, so "Big Z" eagerly anticipates his second career matchup against the "Big Unit." "Sweet," Zambrano said."

"The Diamondbacks hope to make a decision on Orlando Hudson’s status before the Chicago series this weekend. Hudson took treatment for his strained right hamstring Wednesday but did no baseball activity, and the D-Backs would like to see him run today before making a call on a possible stay on the 15-day disabled list."

"It was hardly a birthday Conor Jackson will cherish — he received a mouse under his right eye, a headache and some feelings of nausea after a collision at first base Wednesday. That was just the beginning of an eighth inning the Diamondbacks would just as soon forget. Shane Victorino reached first base on a strikeout and a passed ball after running into Jackson, and Eric Bruntlett and Chase Utley followed with run-scoring hits as Philadelphia scored twice for a 5-4 victory at Chase Field."

"Looking to lock up one of the best pitchers in baseball into the next decade, the Diamondbacks have resumed talks with ace Brandon Webb on a contract extension, and it appears the sides are getting closer to a deal. "Yeah, some progress has been made," Webb said. "We've been talking a little bit more. We've made some headway. We'll see where it goes." Webb did not want to comment beyond that, declining to go into specifics."

"A definitive answer on the short-term status of second baseman Orlando Hudson (hamstring strain) could come today, manager Bob Melvin said Wednesday. "We're kind of going day to day here," Melvin said. "I think between today and tomorrow, we'll give it a little bit of time, and hopefully before we go to Chicago (tonight) we'll have an answer." One option is placing Hudson on the disabled list; another is to use him as a pinch-hitter if he can return in two to four days, Melvin said."

"Conor Jackson will remember his 26th birthday for quite a while. The Diamondbacks first baseman was involved in a vicious collision Wednesday night that played a pivotal role as the Philadelphia Phillies rallied for a 5-4 victory in front of a crowd off 21,260 at Chase Field. "

" For the second time this season, a crucial late-inning run reached base on a strikeout, and for the second time the Phillies capitalized. They did not hit often, but they hit at the right times. Eric Bruntlett continued to seize his waning days as a regular, driving in the game-tying run with a double and scoring the game-winning run on a single by Chase Utley as the Phillies rallied in the eighth to beat Arizona, 5-4."

"Shane Victorino looked a little like professional wrestler Rey Mysterio last night at Chase Field. First, they are a similar size. Mysterio is listed at 5-foot-6, 165 pounds, while Victorino is 5-8, 180. Second, they wear distinct headgear. Mysterio wears a mask, while Victorino is one of the few big-leaguers to don a double-flapped helmet. But perhaps most important, both can take a clothesline hit. Victorino survived first baseman Conor Jackson's inadvertent clothesline in the eighth inning of a 5-4 comeback win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, which kept the Phillies in a first-place tie with the Florida Marlins in the National League East."

"Doctors told the Diamondbacks that Orlando Hudson could miss up to 10 days with a strained right hamstring, manager Bob Melvin said, a time frame that could force Hudson onto the disabled list. Hudson was diagnosed after an MRI Tuesday afternoon, a day after he was removed from a game in the eighth inning when he did not appear to have his typical range. “It’s an option,” Melvin said of the disabled list."

"Max Scherzer will tell you he and Randy Johnson don't have a lot in common. Johnson is 44 years old; Scherzer is 23. Johnson is a 6-foot-10 lefty. Scherzer is a 6-foot-3 right-hander. Johnson paid his dues in the minor leagues, spending four years on buses and in cheap hotels before making his major league debut with the Montreal Expos. Scherzer didn't even spend one full season in the minors before the Diamondbacks called him up. But there is a bond between the two men, a gift that makes Johnson the perfect mentor for Scherzer these next few weeks and months: "

"The Diamondbacks won the NL West on the strength of their bullpen last season, and their new relief corps is even better. Chad Qualls, Tony Pena and Brandon Lyon preserved Randy Johnson's 286th career victory with three scoreless innings in a 6-4 triumph over Philadelphia, with Johnson's bases-loaded walk and Stephen Drew's three-run home run in a five-run fifth providing the impetus."

"Shortstop Stephen Drew's name was second on the Diamondbacks' lineup card Tuesday night, a jump in the order, but his mind-set remained the same: Make something happen. Drew did just that in the fourth inning, belting a three-run home run that triggered a 6-4 Diamondbacks victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. "

"An MRI exam Tuesday on Orlando Hudson showed "a little bit of a strain" in his right hamstring, manager Bob Melvin said, and the Diamondbacks second baseman's status is unclear. "So whether it's a two, three, four, five days, we're not really sure," Melvin said. "We're going to have to process that in the next couple of days and see what we're going to do." Putting Hudson on the disabled list remains an option."

"Mr. Evil Eye became Mr. Eagle Eye on Tuesday night. Randy Johnson, known for peering menacingly from behind his glove before going into his pitching wind-up, showed he also can judge pitches from the batter's box. Johnson walked on four pitches with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, forcing in a run to tie the score and paving the way for a three-run home run by shortstop Stephen Drew as the Diamondbacks defeated Philadelphia 6-4 in front of 26,234 fans at Chase Field."

"Adam Eaton finally got a decision. He took the loss. Eaton had not earned a decision after his first six starts, becoming the first pitcher in Phillies history to go six starts into a season without a decision. But he ended that run the wrong way after he allowed five hits, six runs and three walks in four innings of last night's 6-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The loss dropped the Phillies into a first-place tie with the Florida Marlins in the National League East. Is there reason to worry about Eaton? "Concerned? Yes. Worried? No," manager Charlie Manuel said. "

"Doug Davis may have lost his thyroid, but everything else seemed in place when he stepped back on the mound Monday. Davis was pleased with his command and his stuff in a 65-pitch simulated game, which came 25 days after his cancerous thyroid was removed and a week after a radiation iodine treatment kept him isolated for three days."

"Jamie Moyer signed his first professional contract 51 days before Max Scherzer and his 98-mph fastball were born in 1984, and Moyer chuckled Monday when asked how fast he threw when he broke in. "They didn't have radar guns back then," he deadpanned. Moyer, 45, showed again Monday that there is a place in the major leagues for command and control, limiting the Diamondbacks to six hits in seven innings in Philadelphia's 11-4 victory to spoil Scherzer's first major league start."

"Doug Davis, who threw 65 pitches in a simulated game Monday, hopes he can return to the Diamondbacks rotation for the May 20-22 series at Florida, but he said he isn't going to rush things. "The worst thing that could happen would be to get hurt and all of a sudden you (reporters) are on Bo-Mel (manager Bob Melvin) and (general manager) Josh Byrnes: 'Why did you bring him back so quick?' " Davis said. "I want to make sure everyone is happy with the day I come back. I work for these guys. I just do what I'm told.""

"Max Scherzer has a powerful fastball, one he used to dazzle fans in his major-league debut last week in a relief role. On Monday night, the 23-year-old was matched against a veteran almost twice his age, Jamie Moyer, a master of deception. Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin put the situation into perspective after Scherzer, making his first major-league start, lasted only four innings in an 11-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night before a crowd of 21,266 at Chase field."

"Jamie Moyer doesn't throw 95 mph, isn't 23 years old, and doesn't have two different colored eyes. So it's understandable that the veteran lefthander wasn't the marquee attraction in last night's series opener against the Diamondbacks, who sent highly touted - and heterochromatic - rookie Max Scherzer to the mound for his first-ever, big-league start. But what Moyer lacked in pregame billing - Come watch a guy throw 82 mph in his 558th career start! - he more than made up for in performance, pitching seven innings and going 2-for-3 with an RBI double while leading the Phillies to a 11-4 win."

"Jamie Moyer said he got what he deserved Wednesday in a loss to the San Diego Padres. He fell behind in the count often. He served up a lot of pitches right over the plate. He had no such problems last night in a 11-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Moyer (2-2) allowed just two runs and six hits in seven innings. He walked none and struck out five. "It's still a work in progress," Moyer said. "I feel like I've taken some small steps, but the consistency that I would like is just not where I want it to be."

"As the Padres try to catch the Diamondbacks and Dodgers, among others, it becomes more apparent that the farm systems of those rivals did a stupendous job this decade. Both Padres rivals, because of stellar youth movements, appear to be set up for success not only this year, but for the next few years. Beyond the homegrown talent that led it to the National League Championship Series last season and the majors' best record at present, Arizona had other prospects who were better than those in several other organizations, the Padres' included."

"Let's not assert that the Padres should just pack it in now. Nor that the Dodgers and Rockies and Giants should, either. We can't say with full conviction that if you're not the Arizona Diamondbacks, your chances of winning the NL West are zero. Even though, well, they probably are. All that stuff about the first month being meaningless in the long run? Just stuff, as it turns out. Statistically speaking – and does baseball speak any other language? – Arizona would be defying the odds and history by not finishing the regular season as repeat champions. "

"Mark Reynolds said he went to the plate Sunday almost hoping to get jammed, because it would force him to stay back on the ball and let it travel. He jammed his way to two singles, including a broken-bat floater that tied the score at 2-all in the seventh inning, to halt a 3-for-39 slump that included 21 strikeouts. "Talk about a confidence booster. Two bloopers will hopefully get me out of it," said Reynolds, dropped a spot to sixth in the order for the first time since opening weekend."

"As the Diamondbacks won series after series in April, and their hitters pounded balls over fences and their pitchers turned bats into kindling, it was fair to wonder: Is Arizona really that good? Sorry, but no. The Diamondbacks were never going to win 120 games or clinch the National League West by August. In a sense, then, their red-hot April was a bit of fool's gold."

"In a game where quality starters Dan Haren and Johan Santana made their expected quality starts, two throws were about all that separated the DiamondbOne throw was two feet high. The other would have dotted an "i" at 250 feet. With them, the Mets showed the rest of the league that the Diamondbacks can lose a series, even if it wasn't decided until the final inning of the final game.acks and New York Mets. "

"Rookie Max Scherzer will make his first major-league start Monday night and perhaps two or three more after that before left-hander Doug Davis figures to be ready to come off the disabled list. Barring other developments, that likely would mean Scherzer's time in the rotation would be up. As far as his development goes, that might not be such a bad thing."

""Weird" was the word that popped into Mets manager Willie Randolph's mind. When Chris Burke laid down a perfect bunt leading off the eighth inning in a 2-2 game and raced toward second on reliever Pedro Feliciano's errant throw, it began to look like another comeback victory for the Diamondbacks. But the aggressive Burke kept running, and it appeared the hustling play would be the biggest of the game. And it was - for the Mets."

"Conor Jackson made a bad throw, Chad Qualls allowed an earned run, Chip Hale made a bad decision and the Diamondbacks lost a series. All are rarities this season, and all occurred in some form in Sunday afternoon's 5-2 rubber-match loss to the New York Mets, who departed Chase Field having won two of three games, the first time the Diamondbacks have dropped a series since the first week of the season."

"The Mets never had any questions about right fielder Ryan Church's arm. How the former National would adjust to the New York microscope and his ability to hit left-handers were touchy subjects, but Church's cannon of a left arm was beyond reproach. That arm came through for the Mets in a big way here yesterday against the Diamondbacks, setting the table for a ninth-inning outburst that produced a 5-2 win at Chase Field. "

"Pedro Feliciano nearly threw away the game for the Mets, but teammate Ryan Church bailed out the reliever. No one could rescue Arizona first baseman Conor Jackson after his throwing error a half-inning later as the Mets beat the Diamondbacks, 5-2, Sunday to capture the series from the team with baseball's best record. "

"The Phillies are in the midst of a stretch in which they will face some serious pitching. Capital S. Capital P...Arizona will send rookie Max Scherzer to the mound against Jamie Moyer in the opener tonight. The 23-year-old righthander, a first-round pick in the 2006 draft, debuted in relief Tuesday night and retired all 13 batters he faced, seven on strikeouts. Scherzer's fastball topped out at 98 m.p.h. Tomorrow night, the Phils will face 44-year-old Randy Johnson, and while he's not the pitcher he used to be, he still has five Cy Young awards and is capable of dialing up a gem from time to time. On Wednesday, Arizona will send righthander Micah Owings (4-1, 4.42 in six starts) to the mound. The Phils will see righthander Brandon Webb in Thursday's series finale. "

"Today's pitching duel provides not only two of the best pitchers in the National League, but also two of the prizes of the winter trade market. While the Mets landed Johan Santana with a four-player package and a massive contract, the Diamondbacks gave up six players to get Dan Haren and pitcher Connor Robertson from the A's. So far the returns have been good for each team. While Santana is 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA, Haren is 4-1 with a 3.13 ERA."

"Mike Pelfrey was out of the game hours before the conclusion, so sitting in the clubhouse he had the chance to peruse a replay of his performance. While his effort might have caused him to choke on his popcorn, he might have been better served by skipping ahead to the part of the game that showed his counterpart, Brandon Webb. Like Pelfrey, Webb relies on a heavy sinker. But unlike Pelfrey, Webb has mastered his art – improving to 7-0 this season by getting the win in a 10-4 Diamondbacks' victory."

"The first and only time Dan Haren faced Johan Santana, they combined for the best-pitched game in the major leagues in 2005, on Aug. 12 in Oakland. Haren, with the Athletics, threw a complete-game three-hitter, gave up one run … and lost, 1-0, when Minnesota scored on a walk, a stolen base and Michael Cuddyer’s fifth-inning single to right field. “That was cool. I hope it happens again. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow,” said Santana, who will oppose Haren again today after the two premier pitchers available in the offseason changed leagues."

"About 40 minutes into Brandon Webb's start Saturday, the league office sent out a memo naming Webb the NL Pitcher of the Month for April. Reliable, prepared Augie Ojeda made certain Webb got off to a good start in May with a career-high six RBIs in the Diamondbacks' 10-4 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday, evening the series at one game apiece."

"Backup catcher Miguel Montero, who has appeared in nine games and is batting .381, said he doesn't worry about getting more playing time. "Whenever I play, I do my best," he said. "You always have to be ready. I get a lot of chances as a pinch-hitter, and even if I'm not starting, you've go to be ready." Starter Chris Snyder, who had a quality spring training, was hitting only .206 before getting two hits and driving in a run in Saturday's game."

"A successful role player has to stay on top of his game. Augie Ojeda climbed beyond that Saturday. The Diamondbacks utility infielder, getting a start because of an injury to second baseman Orlando Hudson, turned in the best offensive performance of his career, driving in six runs in a 10-4 victory over the New York Mets in front of a crowd of 34,744 at Chase Field."

"Mike Pelfrey stood in front of his locker yesterday afternoon and proceeded to beat himself up for nearly 10 minutes. There was plenty of blame to go around for the Mets' 10-4 loss to the Diamondbacks, but Pelfrey was willing to shoulder the brunt of it after a third consecutive poor start. "

"Carlos Delgado slugged a three-run homer off Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb to erase much of the early damage allowed by Pelfrey. But Duaner Sanchez and Scott Schoeneweis combined to scuttle any chance of a late comeback by surrendering five eighth-inning runs as the Mets lost to Arizona, 10-4, Saturday."

"It's safe for the Arizona Diamondbacks to start printing playoff tickets. OK, that might be stretching it a bit, but by entering May with a 5½-game lead in the National League West, the Diamondbacks put themselves in a very nice historical position. Since 1900, nine teams in major-league history have led their division by five or more games by the end of April. Every one of those teams went on to claim its division title. Five of those teams went all the way to the World Series. The Diamondbacks took a 5½-game lead into May by coming from behind Wednesday to topple Houston, 8-7, after a tying, pinch-hit home run by pitcher Micah Owings, of all things."

"The Diamondbacks’ 10-4 win over the Mets turned into a rout after the starting pitchers departed, as Arizona tagged Duaner Sánchez for five eighth-inning runs, but the late lopsidedness could not conceal another disappointing performance by Pelfrey. Webb, despite giving up a three-run homer in the sixth to Carlos Delgado, improved to 7-0 because he relied on his trusty sinker to record 12 groundouts over six innings."

"Doug Davis’ body reacted very favorably to the iodine pill he took on Tuesday — designed to eliminate any more cancerous cells near his thyroid — and he will likely make his first rehab start on Monday or Tuesday at extended spring training or with the Triple-A club in Tucson."

"Micah Owings loves to compete, but the odds Friday night were stacked much too high against him. A bum ankle, erratic command and no luck in the field led to a shaky performance by the previously undefeated Owings. The Mets knocked him around for seven runs and 11 hits in his 5 2/3 innings and cruised to a 7-2 win in front of 35,682 Friday night at Chase Field."

"New York Mets manager Willie Randolph likes to say how well he knows his players, "better than anyone in the world." So when he tells them something, he expects them to listen. "Most hitters think too much. I try to tell the guys to keep it simple," he said. Keep it simple, and in the case of leadoff hitter Jose Reyes, don't waste time. He told me, 'Try looking for a fastball. You're a fastball hitter,' " Reyes said. Reyes was compliant. He hit Micah Owings' first pitch of the game for a triple, and the Mets took off from there, rolling to a 7-2 victory over the Diamondbacks..."

"In his ongoing recovery from thyroid-cancer surgery, Doug Davis underwent treatment this week that required him to wear a wristband that said "radioactive material inside." But the left-hander threw another bullpen session Friday and is taking aim at a return to the Diamondbacks during the May 16-18 home series vs. Detroit. Davis began taking radioactive iodine pills Tuesday and was quarantined at home the past three days. He said he had to stay at least three feet away from people."

"As they so often do, the Mets came to town, and their bats came alive. They pounded out 12 hits, seven going for extra bases, to beat the Diamondbacks 7-2 in front of 35,682 at Chase Field."

"Somehow, the Mets always find a way to get healthy in Arizona. So what if their opponent has the best record in the majors? Ryan Church and David Wright homered, and Jose Reyes for the second time this season fell a four-bagger shy of the cycle - not that he didn't go for it - as the Mets welcomed back Moises Alou with a 7-2 win Friday night. The Mets, who won for the 14th time in their last 15 games at Chase Field, dealt Diamondbacks starter Micah Owings his first loss of the season. "

"Chase Field still feels like home to the Mets. Buoyed by Jose Reyes' four-hit eruption, the return of Moises Alou and a reconfigured lineup, the Amazin's continued their inexplicable road dominance of the Diamondbacks last night with a 7-2 pounding. "