Josh Byrnes
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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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2009 DIAMONDBACKS SEASON PREVIEW - PART III
* WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN - As a franchise, the Diamondbacks' age, payroll and record rocketed sky-high on the way to their 2001 World Series victory. Those expensive, aging veterans that won Arizona's first major professional title began to fall from the stratosphere in the seasons to follow. The 2002 Diamondbacks (98-65) managed to repeat as NL West champs, but were swept 3-0 in a NLDS rematch with St. Louis. By 2003, Arizona would slip to a third-place finish at 84-78 behind a half-hearted mix of veterans and youngsters.
Fortunately, Arizona had found its cornerstone in Brandon Webb, whose sinker opponents were helpless but to pound into the infield grass. Drafted in 2000 while the "old" school roster was still ascendant, Webb would make his debut in 2003 and come to exemplify the Diamondbacks' new strategy: to win by developing its own talent. Another pair of building blocks joined the organization that year with the selections of Conor Jackson and Carlos Quentin....
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Snakes Stake NL West Hopes on Dunn's Mighty Bat
Well, damn. Just when you thought the Diamondbacks had opted against a move for one of the big bats available on the trade market, they land the major league leader in home runs -- a week and a half past the trade deadline!
Kudos to Josh Byrnes and the front office crew for making the move to acquire Adam Dunn.
Arizona's offense, which surged after the All-Star Break, sputtered once again beginning with the July 31-August 3 series in Los Angeles. In splitting a four game set with their closest division rivals, the Diamondbacks scored a grand total of nine runs. They managed to exceed that pace in subsequent series against the woeful Pirates and Braves, but Arizona bats could not put enough runs on the board to avoid a 3-4 home stand.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, have added a formidable hitter in Manny Ramirez, whose scorching hot bat may yet carry them past Arizona in the NL West. The trade for Dunn is a direct answer to the challenge laid down by LA.
The fit is not ideal for...
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