With the first week of the season behind us, it seems like a good time to introduce a new weekly feature here at the ‘Pit: the National League West recap! Every Friday, we'll go over points that could prove important for the rest of us--injuries, records, and general trends in the rest of the West. We'll skip Dback news, because, well...look around you. If you've missed it, I'm sure you can catch up before we get started.

After a week of competition, the division is separated by one half game between each team; the reigning "world" champions are in the cellar, while the Rockies carry the first place banner through the first six games (talk about small sample size!). After the jump, a closer look.

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Hope everyone is having a safe and happy Memorial Day. Let's hope there's a win in it for us tonight. On to the links!

Recaps and Previews

• [dbacks.com] D-backs stung late, lose seventh straight
  "We had an edge about us today," Upton said. "We've really been getting stomped out, but today we fought and just got beat. We've got to find a way to have that edge every single night."
• [tsn.ca] Torres, Giants rally to sweep Diamondbacks
  "Today there [was] different guys who stepped up throughout the game," said Posey. "We have a good lineup here and it's not like we have to count on any one guy to do it all."
• [mercurynews.com] Giants rally to beat Arizona
  Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds made a diving stop on Pablo Sandoval's grounder that nearly resulted in a game-ending double play, but Sandoval beat the wide relay, and Torres scored to tie it."
• [miamiherald.com] Arizona Diamondbacks (20-31) at Los Angeles Dodgers (28-22), 9:10 p.m.
  "Today I thought we fought pretty hard," said starter Ian Kennedy..."Games like this are tough to lose, especially because we lost so many in a row. You could kind of see that it looked like we were going to win. It's tough to lose those ones." The second part of Kennedy's quote? "...because of that goddamn bullpen." 
• [mlb.com] Ethier returns as Dodgers open with D-backs
  Great. Ethier's back, just in time for the DBacks to roll into town.

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Yeah, we're gonna run this into the ground.

Recaps and Previews

• [azcentral.com] Arizona Diamondbacks' rally sputters in loss to Colorado Rockies
  This time, the bullpen gates swung open and disaster did not immediately ensue.
• [Phoenix New Times] D-Backs Lose Tough One in Denver, But Don't Diss the Bullpen This One Time
  I'm not going to bother quoting this, because they misnamed Ryan Roberts as Robin Roberts.
• [The Associated Press] Chacin leads Rockies past Diamondbacks, 3-2
• [dbacks.com] Kennedy steadies himself, but D-backs fall
  Ian Kennedy settled down after a rough first three innings, but the DBacks offense came up short in a 3-2 loss to the Rockies on Tuesday night. 
• [mlb.com] Tulo powers Rockies to win over D-backs
  Reynolds said, "He was throwing a lot of off-speed stuff, and he was keeping us off balance pretty good. We just weren't able to get anything going against him."
• [mlb.com]Ubaldo, Rockies try to charm Snakes
  "We can't just go out there and feel like we can not play up to our best and still win...Any time you play in the division, you want to win those games, because those are the ones that matter."
• [ktar.com] D-backs set for crucial stretch
  

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Since yesterday was an off day, there are a lot fewer links. No recaps, and only one preview to be had.

• [miamiherald.com] Arizona Diamondbacks (20-25) at Colorado Rockies (22-22), 8:40 p.m.
• [dbacks.com] Inbox: Reason to be concerned with Haren?
• [examiner.com]Diamondbacks notebook: Conor Jackson’s power outage is puzzling
• [bleacherreport.com] Diamondbacks Host Season Ticket Holder Town Hall
• [dbacks.com] Hinch has fun at Haren's expense
• [sportingnews.com] Ballpark Breakdown: Force strong in Texas
  An interesting article about park factors.
• [azcentral.com] Arizona Diamondbacks' Tony Abreu likely headed to DL
  It was confirmed by Steve Gilbert this morning on Twitter--Abreu to 15 day DL, and Ryan Roberts has been recalled from Reno.

Now that I'm home from physical therapy (I graduated to the bike today!) and a delicious breakfast, I figured I'd do some SnakeBytes.

Recaps and Previews

• [mlb.com] Arizona Diamondbacks lose to Toronto Blue Jays
  "It certainly was encouraging watching us play and watching us show some fight and play better baseball. Not a great day today, but it's not going to spoil a pretty good showing at home."
• [Phoenix New Times] Arizona Diamondbacks Take Two of Three from the Toronto Blue Jays
  And what do you know? The bullpen is actually getting opposing hitters out and the DBacks offense is showing signs of life, scoring eight runs in each of the DBacks wins this weekend.
• [kansascity.com] NL West: Fortunate Giants search for life at home
  Arizona is 6 1/2 games off the lead and three games out of third place in the standings, and is hoping an upcoming stretch of division games will shave some of the deficit down. The Diamondbacks will visit Colorado, San Francisco and Los Angeles before hosting the Rockies for three games in the desert.

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Um, yeah. I'm so tired of reading about how Hinch is frustrated but optimistic, so I'll spare you all the pain of reading quotes from the articles.

Recaps and Previews

• [dbacks.com] Offensive rut continues for D-backs in loss
  Yep. We suck.
• [espn.com] Wa happen? Dodgers blindside Haren and Diamondbacks, 13-3
  I hate including things from the other team, but...yeah.
• [FoxSportsArizona.com] D-Backs get no relief
  "The last two times Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch went to the mound to change pitchers Tuesday night, he did not say a word. He just reached out his hand to take the ball from another beleaguered reliever. Maybe Hinch is right. Maybe the time for talk is over."
• [mlb.com] Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks - May 12, 2010
  Great. Edwin Jackson vs Hiroki Kuroda. I hope EJax can make me like him again...
• [miamiherald.com] Los Angeles Dodgers (16-17) at Arizona Diamondbacks (14-20), 9:40 p.m.
  Yeah, super excited.

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Now that I've finished reading last night's epic GDT, I figured it was time to do some SnakeBytes. 

Ready? Go!

Recaps

• [azcentral.com] Arizona Diamondbacks edged by Milwaukee Brewers
  Edwin Jackson was better this time. Much better. Then again, anything had to be better than his previous two starts, two of the worst of his career.
• [The Associated Press] Gallardo, Brewers edge Diamondbacks 3-2
  Gillespie, a third round draft pick of the Brewers in 2006, led off with a home run. The Diamondbacks later took their only lead when LaRoche walked with the bases loaded.
• [dbacks.com] Gillespie gets first big league homer
  The DBacks outfielder homered to lead off the third inning Friday night against the Brewers, the team that dealt him to Arizona last July as part of a trade that sent Felipe Lopez to Milwaukee.

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So now that I've given us the requisite NASA pun for the day...links!

Recaps and Previews

• [dbacks.com] D-backs beaten on Lee's walk-off homer
  "To start off with a leadoff walk is dangerous, and they reminded us why. The walk didn't cause the homerun, but it certainly gave them some momentum. And Lee didn't miss the first pitch, as you saw."
• [miamiheald.com] Arizona Diamondbacks (13-15) at Houston Astros (9-18), 8:05 p.m.
  "We were trying to go away, but it was up and in the middle, Gutierrez said of the final pitch. "I made a mistake and paid for it."

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I almost put a terrible pun in the title, but restrained myself. 

Recaps!

• [The Associated Press] Arizona shuts out Houston 1-0
  Justin Upton homered and Ian Kennedy pitched 6 2/3 solid innings as the Diamondbacks beat the Astros 1-0 on Tuesday night.
• [playerpress.com] Astros Falling on Hard Times Again
  All the Arizona offense needed was a solo shot off of Oswalt in the third by Justin Upton to defeat the last place team in the Central Division.
• [mlb.com] Arizona Diamondbacks at Houston Astros - May 5, 2010
  The Astros have lost eight games in a row and the Dbacks are trying to spark their offense. That means both clubs, who meet Wednesday night in Minute Maid Park, are looking to shake things up a bit.

After the jump, we have player news and some more unwritten rules of baseball.

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Yeah, so...maybe it's a good thing I couldn't see the game. We went swimming instead (and holy crapola, was it cold).

Recaps first.

• [dbacks.com] Jackson, D-backs overwhelmed by Rox
  There's really no way to sugarcoat this one, and to his credit, D-backs manager AJ Hinch did not even try. "That was pretty ugly from the beginning," Hinch said. "They beat us up. It was a bad night."
• [phoenixnewtimes.com] Arizona Diamondbacks Lose 12-1 Behind (So What Else is New?) Terrible Pitching.
  Jackson blew so badly that it was painful to watch. By the time Diamondbacks manager AJ Hinch pulled him from the game, he had given up nine runs on 11 hits to the Colorado Rockies--and it was only the beginning of the third inning.

Previews, some positive player news, and random baseball news after the jump.

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Finally found some reliable wifi downtown (Epic Cafe, frequented by Nick Piecoro during spring trainings past), so here are today's SnakeBytes! As usual, recaps first, and I'm totally relying on the recaps for this game, because, once again, my epicfail of a job took precedence (and it didn't help that it was on the FSNplus channel.)

Recaps

• [azdailysun.com] Haren, D-backs top Rockies  
  And just like that, a team that seemed to be in five-alarm panic mode is just a win from the .500 mark after victories in three of its past four in games against playoff teams from last year. "We've got to beat everybody," Diamondbacks manager AJ Hinch said. "We try not to get too far ahead of ourselves as far as who we're playing. We feel like we can play with anybody."
• [The Associated Press] Haren strikes out 10 as Diamondbacks beat Rockies
  Haren got all the support he needed in the first inning when the Diamondbacks jumped on Hammel. With two outs, Justin Upton walked, Mark Reynolds singled, and LaRoche homered into the Rockies bullpen to give Arizona a 3-0 lead.
• [denverpost.com] Night of big losses for Rockies
  On the 15th anniversary of the Rockies' first home run in the inaugural game at Coors Field, Dante Bichette threw out the first pitch to former teammate Larry Walker. That qualified as the premier highlight, as mounting injuries proved a buzz kill in the Rockies' 5-3 loss that spawned a dramatic roster shuffle. 

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Unfortunately, I missed yesterday's game due to work, but this morning's links are full of happy (and the requisite oh noez the bullpen story).

First, recaps of yesterday's game.

Recaps!

• [azcentral.com] Arizona Diamondbacks top Philadelphia Phillies, take 2 of 3 in series
  "I like the fact we stuck our nose in there and battled. Hopefully this catapults it to 20 straight, to be honest. This could be really good for our club."
• [ajc.com] Reynolds leads Diamondbacks past Phillies 8-6
  Reynolds had a season-high four RBIs and Chis Young added three hits for Arizona, including two doubles. The Diamondbacks tied a season high with 15 hits, which also was the most allowed by the Phillies this year.
• [examiner.com] D-Backs gain immediate confidence builder
  "Right now, I feel good and feel stong," Qualls said. "I'm limiting my mistakes and finishing better. That's a pretty good sign for me."

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Kinda glad I missed last night's meltdown, but because of it, there's more bullpen woes in the links today.

Links after the jump.

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Noticeably less doom and gloom after a win, and especially one where the bullpen didn't give us all heart attacks. [Edit by Jim. Probably helped that it wasn't on TV. I think soco and myself,  who were at the park, used up our year's quota of adrenaline in that ninth inning!]

Links after the jump.

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Since there was no Diamondbacks action last night, today's edition of the SnakeBytes is mostly feel good stories and rumors and a preview of tonight's game.

All of that after the jump.

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I don't have anything witty to say...

Links!

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Well, another morning, another blown game courtesy of the bullpen. I'll be taking over for Zephon for the weekday SnakeBytes from now on.

A big screw you to Adolf Hitler on his 121st birthday (I wonder if the rumors of him living in Sun City are true?)...hopefully Timmeh enjoys his day off on this beautiful 4/20.

Recaps from last night, previews of tonight, news from around the league, and how to pick a baseball glove, all after the jump. (If you haven't yet, click the link in the picture caption.)

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With PhoenixFly MIA, I decided to step in for the lower division league recaps. To catch up, this recap will include the first two weeks of results. In order to keep this short, I'll just skip analysis of week one.

Week One

Spaghetti Monsters 8, Yiddish Pimp Slap 1
Gotham City Knights 6, The Septimoes 3
Alabama Slammers 5, Gang of Nine 5
Wimboes Barmy Army 6, A Tangled Webb 4
Scratch my Ichiro 5, child please 3
Chazwozzles 5, Dantes Revenge 4
Mizzoula Osprey 7, Tempe Prangers 3
3 Molinas 1 Cup 8, Sprankton 2

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Hey guys! I know that DbacksSkins has rounded up three of the Tucson 'Pitters for a Toros game (at different times) but I've met him before, and I want to meet the rest of  you.

I know it's been suggested before, but let's all go to a Toros game. I know scheduling is usually somewhat difficult, but if it helps, I can to do pretty much any game except for the last two weekends in July. So check out the Toros schedule (opens in a new window) and leave any dates you'd be available in the comments! 

(Yes, any Phoenix/Flagstaff/wherever 'Pitters who want to drive down to join us are welcome as well.)

Hopefully, someone more powerful than myself will be awesome and promote this to the front page... :-)

[Bumped again, since we're two weeks less than a week away from the scheduled date!]

As most of you have heard, I'll be in LA for Mark Reynolds' birthday (not at the soco party...sad.) and, even better, at the game. I have my tickets and Sedona Red gear ready to go for next weekend.

I decided that as a small shoutout to the 'Pit and our boy Mark, I'd make him a happy birthday sign. This is where you guys come in...I want you to help me choose what to put on the sign. Leave suggestions in the comments, and I'll choose before I leave on August 1st. Look for us on tv (we all know how much Mark Grace loves female Diamondbacks fans...) and pictures afterward. :-)