Wactivist
Mar 30, 2008 May 31, 2012 23 482
I am a big D-Backs fan who left the valley of the sun to work in DC for a few years, then went to Nashville, and now am back in DC. I get home for opening day every year, at least a few days of spring training, and try to catch the D-Backs whenever they are in the mid-Atlantic area.
BTW, that is an actual picture I took of my myself at a West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx baseball game. It is my desktop picture at work - and it has drastically reduced my productivity.
website: SkyMall Explained
a fan of
Arizona Diamondbacks
Phoenix Suns
Denver Broncos
Arizona St. Sun Devils
Georgetown Hoyas
Phil Mickelson
Tottemham Hotspur
Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi
RSSUser Blog
The D-backs own the best defense in the majors and rank second in the NL in homers thanks to breakout seasons from players like Justin Upton and Ryan Roberts, as well as a homer-friendly home park. But that might not be enough to make a dent in a powerhouse team like the Phillies, or even prevent the Giants from winning the West and getting a chance to defend their crown ...
MLB.com: Towers = D-Backs Turnaround
Great article that focuses on Towers and gives him credit for recent success. Talks about Towers being old school (cares about scouting), Gibson being big time (his reputation means kids will listen to him), the new culture of accountability (with a subtle hit at the old f.o.), and how bright the future is for this team. We will see how they play it if this thing comes crashing down ... but let's enjoy the moment (and the article).
MLB taking over the Dodgers.
"I have taken this action because of my deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers and to protect the best interests of the club," Selig said Wednesday in a statement.
From the front page of ESPN.com - video of Jupton and CY working on their cricket swing. [Jim: Hat-tip to Clefo, who posted the link first, but I prefer the one with the video goodness!]
Diamondbacks left-hander Clay Zavada did not undergo his scheduled physical exam on Sunday night and did not show up for workouts on Monday morning, and General Manager Kevin Towers said the reliever is considering retirement.
"He was having some doubts on wanting to go through this again," Towers said.
Keith Law Ranks D-Backs Farm System 13th
"13. Arizona Diamondbacks
I admit to liking this system more than most, but I loved their 2009 draft haul and several of those players had strong full-season debuts. Jarrod Parker's promising return in instructional league -- with velocity as good as ever and improved lower-body strength -- is also a factor in putting them in the top half of farm systems, given that he's their one impact prospect who might see the majors this year."
Schefter: Its Studesville
Broncos interim coach will be RB coach Eric Studesville..
The Phoenix crowd is wired differently from a typical NBA crowd: more urgency, more unbridled excitement, more vitriol for the refs, more hatred for their opponents, more everything. It's like a college atmosphere, only angry and more desperate. Everyone wears orange, everyone screams, everyone seems hopelessly tied to the ebb and flow of the game. When the wrong call or break goes against them, 40 years of torture quickly bubble to the surface and every defense mechanism kicks in. It's tangible. You can feel it. They totally believe in this team ... only they totally don't. If that makes sense.
about 2 years ago
Wactivist
0 comments
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Phoenix Suns Weigh In Heavily On AZ Immigration Law Debate
This is only going to put more pressure on the D-Backs and MLB.
I have to address Eric Byrnes' at-bat in the 11th inning. Now, I don't want to over-react and get all hyperbolic, but this may have been the worst at-bat in major league history. I'm serious. With the bases loaded and one out, Byrnes violated an absolute cardinal rule by actually pulling his bat on a squeeze bunt. No, really, he did. Players are taught from youth ball that on a squeeze, you have to do whatever you can to get the bat on the ball. Throw your bat, throw your body, but get the bat on the ball to protect the runner. Instead, Byrnes put his bat out to bunt and then pulled it back, hanging Ichiro out to dry for a caught stealing at the plate.
How inexplicable was all this? Texas manager Ron Washington got ejected for arguing that the pitch should have been a strike because Byrnes had bunted at the ball. When home plate umpire Jim Wolf informed him that Byrnes pulled the bat back, Washington refused to believe it, saying he had never seen such a thing in all his years in baseball -- that he could not even fathom such a thing! -- and continued to argue. It was only when watching the replay later that Washington realized he was wrong, that Byrnes had indeed pulled the bat back.
Byrnes capped off the dreadful at-bat by looking at strike three to end the inning and account for two outs without ever leaving the batter's box, which generally is not easy to do. And if all that sounds incredible, how about this? Byrnes left the clubhouse quickly after the game, riding his bike in the hallway past reporters and general manager Jack Zduriencik, looking more like a bike messenger than a major leaguer. Which he may not be soon, given that he is also hitting .107.
Meanwhile, the organization is trying hard to change the yucky vibe at home, moving away from the ham-handed, in-game shenanigans that mock an authentic ballpark experience. They have solicited players for advice on how the stadium should feel.
Chase Fail? (I really hope this means they are getting rid of Baxter!)
11. Josh Byrnes, Arizona Diamondbacks
I'm not quite sure if the Diamondbacks are a team whose young players haven't developed as well as they should or an extremely young team that just hasn't come all the way together yet, not that these are mutually exclusive possibilities. Either way, Byrnes has done an admirable job collecting young talent and patiently letting it develop. The odd questionable move like trading away Carlos Quentin has been more than balanced out by savvy moves such as trading for Dan Haren. There's a championship team somewhere in this collection of talent.
Diamondbacks 5, Mets 2 - Delayed Domination
by Wactivist on Aug 3, 2009 12:29 AM EDT
on AZ Snake Pit
Record: 46-59. Pace: 71-91. Change on last season: -7.
On a day when Citi Field ticket takers distributed promotional orange t-shirts to an optimistic crowd gathering for an early game, fans headed home hours later seeing red, due to a brilliantly efficient complete game victory by Jon Garland. The righty's 106 pitches, 76 strikes, and just two runs on six hits gave the Diamondbacks their 46th win while pushing the Mets 7.5 games behind the Rockies as their bid for a postseason wildcard berth continues its brisk march toward improbability.
If this is how two and a half hour rain delays impact Jon Garland, then let's do what we can to ensure his next several starts are all in the Pacific Northwest. Garland, who didn't need to strike out a batter until the sixth (he managed only two Ks the entire game) was aided by two double plays (courtesy of David Wright each time), started 67 percent of batters facing him with a strike, and into the sixth (when I stopped counting) had only allowed more than 2 balls on any single batter four times. In short, absolutely efficient domination.
More after the jump.
Road Trippers for D-Backs
by Wactivist on May 23, 2009 12:03 PM EDT
on AZ Snake Pit
One thing is clear about the Snakepit, we have a scary willingness to threaten the livlihood of adorable animals in order to get our offense going. Sadly due to our offense having no soul, many furry creatures have died as a result.
A second thing is clear though as well - and this is the reason I am writing. A huge chunk of the readers here live outside of Arizona and follow our team largely through this blog.
I think it goes without saying, the D-Backs aren't one of those teams that has huge chunks of fans all over the country. We aren't the Yankees, or the Cubs, or the Red Sox where you could roll into any ball park in the country and find a few supporters of your team in attendance. In fact, since moving to Nashville I have not seen a single D-back fan ... and I even went to a Reno Aces game!
My point: We can probably fix this - sorta.
I want to travel to see our boys. Drive up to Cincinnati for a game. Head up to St. Louis. But, and no disrespect to my friends who live in those areas (or even here) ... I want a freaking D-Backs fan to be there to enjoy it with me! Especially since this year the prospects for a win are slim anyway!
I'm sure I'm not the only person in this boat. Right?
So - an experiment. Let's use this thread to post road games (or even series) people are interested in going to. One comment per game or series, and allow people to have a bunch of mini discussions to see if we can't put together a few road trip snake pit games in random places. Heck, I'll bring the giant poster of St. Penelope of the Cross in case of emergency.
UPDATE: If you want to go see any of our minor affiliates, you shoudl list them here too.
In case you were wondering what that bizarre feeling was.
A Night with the Aces in Nashville, a AAA Recap
by Wactivist on May 13, 2009 3:20 AM EDT
on AZ Snake Pit
This is my first attempt at a recap, it is hard work. Please forgive any errors, poor writing, or cynicism. Hope you find it enjoyable nonetheless - Wactivist
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Nashville Sounds - 5 |
Let me just start by saying that I think I now know why we keep pulling people up from AA instead of from AAA. Our boys in Reno just aren't that good. Or, well maybe since we keep pulling all our talent up from Mobile nobody gets a chance in Reno. Chicken or egg, this is the impression I got after watching nine horrible innings against my current hometown Nashville Sounds. I left glad to have seen some baseball, but demoralized that the diamond(back) in the rough I was looking for with my amateur snakepit eyes ... just wasn't there.
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As more time passes, I'm starting to agree with this fan. Great photo from the AZ Republic.
about 3 years ago
Wactivist
2 comments
2 recs
Great Reilly Article on ESPN about D-Backs Season Tix Scholarships
It's an idea D-backs CEO Derrick Hall came up with at one game when a season ticket-holder who'd lost everything, even her car, introduced herself. She told him a fan in her section had bought her two season tickets for the rest of the year, even picked her up every game and took her home. And Hall thought, Why don't we do this for our fans? So he asked fans to send in "applications" for scholarships. Soon, his e-mail in-box was swamped.
From Spring Training 2008 ... just booked my flight out for 2009 and am EXTREMELY excited. Anyone planning on going to games the week of the 14th of March?
Game Day Threads Just Got Insane: Snakepit now has a mobile browser version.
by Wactivist on Feb 10, 2009 3:50 PM EST
on AZ Snake Pit
I was late to work when I saw the interview Jim did with Brynes and figured what the hell, I'll see if I can't pull it up on my phone and deal with the weird formatting ... better than waiting.
Turns out, at some point in the recent past, SB Nation added a mobile version!
Maybe this is old news - and if it is, I apologize. But for the rest of you - check it out!
Diamondbacks Decide to Postpone Penant Race
... okay, maybe not. But the way things are looking for us right now - might not be the worst idea out there to follow our Senator's lead and just take our ball and bat and go home.
From Nick Piecoro's blog today:
D-Backs dynamite PR man Mike McNally says his club has the youngest Opening Day roster in the majors with an average age of 27.84 years.
Here’s the five youngest:
Diamondbacks: 27.84
A’s 28.14
Twins 28.101
Marlins 28.175
Braves 28.192
Opening Day Poll: YOU PLAYING HOOKIE?
by Wactivist on Mar 31, 2008 10:58 AM EDT
on AZ Snake Pit
So the 2008 season starts for our boys in just a few hours. My quick question to all of you is ... how many of you are skipping work to watch the game today?
I have the luxury of "working" from home today ... so I am definitely in the hookie column and I can't wait!
I live out East and dished out the cash for the Extra Innings package this year - so I will get to actually watch the game on a TV instead of dealing with the eleventy-billion problems mlb.tv always has this time of year.
So vote in the poll and tell everyone how you plan on following the game today!
Go Snakes!!!!!
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