You May Not Believe This...

Steve Holt — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:19:05 -0000

So, I live in the Valley of the Sun where the D-Backs play, and... they LOVE Adam Dunn here. And, while I don't think that the radio personalities here are great by any stretch of the imagination, there was something astonishing (to me anyway) that happened this morning.

Derek Hall, the President of the Diamonbacks was on the morning show on 620 AM KTAR -- Doug and Wolf, and they spent several minutes discussing Dunn's performance since he's been a D-Back. Do you know what didn't come up? His strikeouts, whether he's a winner, nor his base-clogging ways. Do you know what they did discuss? His OBP (over .500), his slugging pct (over .600), and the fact that he's been a leader! Derek Hall said that he stayed late after the game yesterday taking batting practice, and other Diamonback players followed suit. He remarked that Dunn has really been a positive influence in the clubhouse particularly on the young players on the squad (which the D-backs have plenty).

If you want to hear the interview, it will be available later today here...

I realize that the stats that they are quoting here are small sample sizes, but it's striking to me that they seem to get what's important and what Dunn brings to the table. It's also remarkable to me that I haven't heard once that fact that he strikes out alot and is just a baseclogging loafer who can't play defense and has never been a part of a winner.

For what it's worth, as young and transient a town Phoenix is with only a few years of being a baseball town under it's belt... they sure seem to dwarf Cincinnati in their savvy and appreciation of a player like Dunn. Also, with Derek Hall, local radio personalities, and other D-backs management and players fully behind him, Dunn must feel that he's in a utopian work environment compared to Cincy. I wouldn't be shocked if he really has his best stretch of baseball here through the end of the season and into the playoffs. Of course, it doesn't hurt that he's working for a 9-figure contract.

espn.com Article on Dustbag and the Youth Movement

Steve Holt — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:08:18 -0000

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=3428763&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1

Some highlights:

Volquez is the first pitcher since Al Benton of the 1945 Detroit Tigers to allow two or fewer runs in his first 12 starts in a season. (Hadn't realized this).

Even the trade for which Krivsky was most vilified -- Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez to Washington for bullpen help -- is looking much better in hindsight. (Jerry, tell me you were drunk when you wrote this)

"Watch all the kids and how they gravitate toward me," Baker said. "The people I get along best with, honestly, are elderly people and young people. The people that don't like me most of the time are people my own age, because I don't think like them." (WTF?)

The manager gained a greater appreciation for Griffey when he passed through the trainer's room recently and saw the "ugliest pothole scar I've ever seen" on Griffey's hamstring. (WTF is a pothole scar?)

"Junior has given a lot to this game and this city," Baker said. "You go look at his body and his injury list, and he's left a lot of bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments out on that field. You dig up that field, and there's a lot of Junior bones in it." (Who says this?)

SB Nation User Blog: Steve Holt

You May Not Believe This...

espn.com Article on Dustbag and the Youth Movement