Eric Byrnes
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Game Report: Snakes v. Rockies, April 22, 2009
The Diamondbacks found the formula on Wednesday afternoon: a strong performance from their starter, a crooked number of runs on the scoreboard, and a bullpen that pitched like it mattered. These three things are all you need to know about Arizona's 2-0 win over Colorado.
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1. HAREN WAS STELLAR ... AGAIN. He pitched brilliantly in his first three outings, only to see lesser pitchers Ubaldo Jimenez, Randy Wolf, and Jonathan Sanchez rewarded with victories that should have been his. Once again, Diamondbacks starter Danny Haren pitched deep and well on Wednesday. His line: 7 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K. Haren now boasts an impressive 1.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 26 K in 26 IP. What else can we say? The man is amazing.
2. THE BATS GAVE HIM THE LEAD. Arizona's offense did not produce much, but the bats came through when it mattered most. The game was scoreless and Haren had thrown 103 pitches when Chris B. Young singled to lead-off the Snakes' seventh. Chris Snyder followed an Eric...
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Diamondbacks Notes: April 22, 2009
* GAME 2 GOES TO THE ROCKIES - The Diamondbacks (5-9) are almost ready to put together a total team effort. On Tuesday night, Arizona got another worthy performance from a starting pitcher: Yusmeiro Petit (5 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 K). The offensive surge continued, powered by Chris B. Young, Eric Byrnes and Mark Reynolds homers. Felipe Lopez had three of the Snakes eleven hits against the Rockies (5-8).
Now if only the bullpen can do its part, the Snakes will be in business. Asked to protect a three-run lead, the relief corps instead surrendered six runs in the last four frames. The final result was a 9-6 Colorado win. On account of the loss, Arizona remains without back-to-back and series wins on the year. The Diamondbacks will try to take the rubber match this afternoon at Chase Field.
* BULLPEN BLUES - Arizona relief pitchers have been spared some scrutiny for the team's woes. This owes in part to the slow start on offense. There have been few late leads to protect, so...
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Top 5: Reasons To Be Happy About The Diamondbacks
Diamondbacks Nation has been feeling a bit frustrated about the start to the season for the Snakes.
Perhaps our expectations were too high. Our sense is that this team is capable of much more than they have consistently shown so far. But we have not lost faith.
Rather, we think the team is capable to achieve great things in 2009. We only want to see the Diamondbacks play to the true level of their abilities.
There are plenty of reasons to be happy about the Arizona Diamondbacks. Here are our Top 5 --
1. The Rotation Is Strong. The win-loss record does not show it, but the Snakes' starting pitchers have been incredible in 2009. Through thirteen games, Arizona’s rotation has made five quality starts (defined as at least six innings pitched with three runs or fewer allowed). But even when they've not met the QS-standard, the starters have kept the team in games.
Only twice in the first thirteen have the Diamondbacks starters really taken it on the chin. Those games featured...
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Game Report: Snakes v. Cards, April 14, 2009
No Arizona player would have been better to come to the plate in the situation. Down by a 4-3 score in the eighth, runners on first and second bases, Arizona on a nasty grip of play. With two outs and the pitcher's spot up, Conor Jackson was called on to pinch hit.
The tension in the team had built in the months since Manny joined the Dodgers, through the end of 2008, over a frustrating off-season, during a loser of a spring, and well into the second week of the 2009 campaign. Hands, jaws and bellies all clenched.
How tightly wound were the Snakes, at three games below .500 despite playing their third consecutive home series? They were coiled, but not like Diamondbacks ready to strike. No, they were in a box, getting poked with a stick for their eighth game in a row.
LOVE DON'T GRIP.
Good thing Jackson is a flow player. There is a fluidity to his stance and the path of his bat that defies the paralyzing effects of pressure. He stands tall in the batter's box and swings his hips...
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Game Report: Snakes v. Dodgers, April 12, 2009
* PHANTOM RUN - We took a break from biting the heads of chocolate bunnies to take in the Diamondbacks-Dodgers game on Sunday. Unlike the Friday or Saturday night affairs, Sunday's game was a close contest throughout, ending with a 3-1 loss that gave Los Angeles the series win. Dan Haren (6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K) pitched another great game and was once again denied the victory.
The turning point in the contest came in the top of the second inning. With the Diamondbacks up 1-0, the Dodgers had runners on 2B and 3B with one out and Los Angeles pitcher Randy Wolf at the plate. On a 2-2 pitch, Wolf hit a line-drive back through the box, which Haren fielded on the fly for the second out. In an instant, Haren wheeled and threw to Felipe Lopez, who retired Juan Pierre at 2B to end the inning.
The Arizona players jogged into the dugout under the apprehension that they had kept the Dodgers off the board in the inning. But by the time Mark Reynolds stepped in to lead off the bottom of...
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