Intro by Jim. This one had some eerie similarities to yesterday. In both, Arizona jumped out in front early, on a pair of home-runs, then watched the Giants claw their way back into things. The starter - Daniel Hudson today, instead of Ian Kennedy - went 6.2 innings, flagging a bit at the end, and the bullpen held on for the victory, by the score of 5-4. Of course, Aaron Hill probably much preferred this game...

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I woke up this morning not disappointed.The team fought to the end,showed real class and exceeded expectations.

The Snakepit was THE best place to be throughout the season with knowlegble ,geeky and funny fans.I enjoyed it all.

A huge shout out to St. Penelope ,My Little Ponies,and all the visiting fans who were generous with their praise.

I learned so much about the sport here,not being brought up with it.

A huge thank you to the team,and all who run the Snakepit.It's been a blast.

[Though Star Wars Day started off well, it turned nasty in the later innings...]
Record: 93-66. Pace: 95-67. Change on last season:+29.

After two impressive and important wins ,I wasn't expecting too much from this game.I thought with Gibson resting players we might in fact not do too much against Lincecum but I was wrong...

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Record: 68-53.  Pace: 91-71.  Change on last year: +21

Well,this was a little unexpected.

Jason Marquis started for the D'backs and I can safely say confidence was not high. He was decidedly shaky in his previous two starts but I felt once a rapport developed between him and the infield, all would be well.

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Record: 41-34. Pace: 89-73. Change on last season: +12

The results of this game seemed to hang on a few defensive plays. A couple of double plays and Xavier Nady's knockdown which kept the Royals from scoring in the 6th. Hopes were raised by Justin Upton getting his 31st hit in the first inning with two outs but Chris Young failed to get on base. And that looked like being the pattern for the night...

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I've ironed my Gonzo tee shirt, brushed off my World Series cap, prepared a series of delicious menus, lined up cat macros, oh, and a huge supply of maalox.

I've been changing my sleeping habits so I wake up in the early  hours, am going to pay for MLB radio which involves loaning someone else's credit card, telling the cats to keep off the damn laptop and bracing myself for a woeful season while hoping for a great one.

Oh and I'm very nearly over the loss of Mark Reynolds. *sob sob*

The Dog days are over, as Florence and the Machine sing.

Today was bring your dog to the game day, which was fair enough because it was a "bitch" of a game. I wasn't particularly hopeful because Rodrigo Lopez was pitching and he has been less than stellar lately. Stephen Drew continued his run of good form by a single to start with. Justin Upton doubled and though Kelly Johnson struck out, CY walked loading the bases for our  two power hitters. Could they score a run between them? Could they heck as like.

Lopez dispatched the three hitters he faced smartly giving us hope. Nothing much doing by either team in the second. Hopes were hugely raised by Drew's solo HR at the top of the third but then, oh then my best beloved. Eli Whiteside doubles, Matt Cain bunts for a single, Andres Torres doubles to bring in a run. Freddie Sanchez gets Cain home with a fly ball. There was a visit to the mound but we knew by then mere words were useless. The utter misery continued; Aubrey Huff played into a force out and Torres scored, Pablo Sandoval doubled and Huff scored then mercifully Lopez got the final out, probably because the Giants were tired of running.

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Dan was not on form; Mark homered; no-one on GDT.  Pirates 6,D'backs 3.

Oh, you want more?  Then I'll unroll my parchment, sharpen my quill and make you feel faintly sick.

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So very much for the tee shirt.It arrived safely but I found the kittens sitting on it in my hall and I had to persuade them it wasn't for them.I'm trying to borrow a camera to how you how it looks.I'm late posting this because I got an eye infection and was not allowed to use a computer or read so lucky it happened after the season ended.The Pit has the best fans in the world.

At the start of the 2001 season ,a British baseball fan emailed into the game presenters to say,he had climbed Mount Everest(not to the top but one of the part way climbs)He hated the Yankees so he took a NY baseball cap with him to burn to curse them.The year,the Diamondbacks came out of nowhere to beat them and they haven't won since.Coincidence or not?I don't think so

I noticed on a few GDTs people mentioned they had blogs.I wondered if anyone wanted to friend me on their blogs?I use LiveJournal,Multiply and Blogger(they are all identical and automatically linked)

It'd be good to get to know some of you better.

My blogs are mostly cat macros so there's not much reading involved,lol

If you don't want to leave a link here,email me.

If you have no desire to read the fervent workings of my mind,that's okay too.

So,I know this is good news financially for the city and the ballpark but does it have any other meaning? Is it any measure of prestige for the D'Backs team?

I  personally find the All Star game a huge bore.I enjoy the pre game stuff,the parade of Hall of Famers and things like that but I can't take a game seriously that is basically a pick up one.

I'm pleased about it of course but just wonder about the long term benefits.

I laughed my socks off at this, then went .

"Wait, it's serious"

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Why-the-Colorado-Rockies-should-sign-Barry-Bonds?urn=mlb,82263&post_comment=1&success=1

So what do you think? It's be great for all the other teams having that mastodon in the outfield but haven't the Rockies suffered enough?

I can't see him playing again frankly, who wants to take on that burden?

Surely, the only  possible opening for him is a DH, and hello! the Rockies are in the NL.

For those of you who wish to macro-ise and have no mad photoshop skills like our Jim ,I recomend these two sites.

http://wigflip.com/roflbot/

and

http://www.kscakes.com/LolCats/

They are both simple to use .

I'd like to thank the D'backs for giving me an awesome season of baseball.Now the hurt has faded,I realise what a brilliant job the babybacks did and look forward to next year with such hope.I'd also like to thank everybody here for the fun and yes,the heartbreak you've shared with me this season.It's been great but 08 will be greater.

What he must have is that intangible something that gets players to go out and play their hearts out for him. I still think he makes so weird choices; the ever switching line-up and taking out pitchers too late,but some guys are just good gameday managers and some do it in the preceding days in the clubhouse.Okay Melvin,I tip my hat to you,you've made a believer of me.

I hearby christen EdGon "The Paramedic" He comes in fast,without warning and stops the bleeding.Do teams,fans or baseball really appreciate what someone like EdGon does? Is there even a name for him?We all know about Webby mowing 'em down and Valverde making great saves,but this young man,not even a wily old veteran has pulled our chesnuts out of the fire so often.I admire what he's done because he started the season hoping to be a starter then humbly took this lesser and unsung role for the good of the team.Edgon,you are a star to me.