DbacksTalk 2008 thread...

[ducks]

PHOENIX (TICKER) —Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Orlando Hudson left Saturday’s 11-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves in the sixth inning with a dislocated left wrist and may miss the remainder of the season.

After Brian McCann laced an RBI single to shallow center field, the throw to the plate was cut off by Arizona righthander Juan Cruz, who then threw to second base hoping to get the advancing runner. However, his throw went awry, and as Hudson reached for the ball, his wrist collided with a sliding McCann.

“(It’s) not great, dislocation, fracture of a bone in his wrist, and we’re not 100 percent sure whether he has to have surgery,” Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. “Probably a pretty good chance, but we will know in the morning. If he has the surgery, he’s out for the rest of the year, and if he doesn’t, there’s still a chance he could be out for the rest of the year.”

The 30-year-old Hudson, who was replaced by Augie Ojeda, is batting .305 with eight homers and 41 RBI in 108 games this season.

[ducks]

Brian McCann hurt renolds to when he went to third

I think a pitcher should hit him tomorrow

[JMarkJohns]

Shame. Maybe this will help the diamondbacks resign him, though I'm guessing not.

If I'm the Dbacks, I let Hudson, Lyon and Cruz walk, trade Byrnes and Tracy for whatever they can bring (expiring contracts and/or any prospects) and use next season to actually develop the youth this organization has. They never fully committed to it with Carlos Quentin, Scott Hairston, Alberto Callaspo, etc... and now are in a world of hurt for the failing. Had they let Byrnes walk after last year, I think he'd have been a type-a FA. Even a type-b would have brought in some quality draft picks.

I mean, how good would a future would the Diamondbacks have with...

Projected 2008 stats per 150 games

1st: Jackson (.315, 60XBH, 90 runs, 80 RBI)
2nd: Callaspo (.290, 20 XBH, 70 runs, 30 RBI)
SS: Drew (.279, 65 XBH, 80 runs, 70 RBI)
3rd: Reynolds (.245, 70 XBH, 90 runs, 100 RBI)
LF: Upton (.242, 60 XBH, 80 runs, 65 RBI)
CF: Young (.233, 80 XBH, 80 runs, 60 RBI)
RF: Quentin (.288, 80 XBH, 100 runs, 110 RBI)
C: Snyder (.243, 35 XBH, 45 runs, 65 RBI)

BC: Montero (.258, 30 XBH, 45 runs, 30 RBI)
INF: D'Antona (Quality prospect, not enough at bats...)
OF: Romero (.258, 30 XBH, 40 runs, 40 RBI)
UTL: Hairston (.256, 60 XBH, 60 runs, 50 RBI)

Plus, they'd have a bevy of prospects from letting Byrnes and Clark (2008) and Hudson, Lyon and Cruz (2009) walk in free agency or from trades.

It would have its flaws, such as most every batter is right-handed, with only Drew (L) and Callaspo (S) being regular batters not right-handed. Still, the prospects of having Drew (.280), Callaspo (.290), Jackson (.315), Quentin (.290) and the bevy of power with Upton (60 XBH), Young (80 XBH), Reynolds (70 XBH) and Hairston (60 XBH) would be much better than where they are at currently.

Plus they'd have a large amount of money (10 per from Byrnes, 8 per from Hudson and 4 per from Tracy) to throw at a free agent or two.

Oh well, their future is what it is. Just a shame they never fully committed to one particular way. Even had they done what they did, they never should have traded Quentin, no matter the log-jam with he, Byrnes, Young and Upton.

[ducks]

I want hudson back and trade Byrnes for help

[JMarkJohns]

I'd like Hudson too. Ideally the Diamondbacks would have let Byrnes walk, kept Quentin, resigned Hudson and maybe Lyon or Cruz, and been in a much better situation as far as offense and defense goes.

[ducks]

why does tracy have the day off again
is he in the doghouse?

[ducks]

C. Snyder and A. Romero should never sit the same game until upton is back
they both needed for their o

[JMarkJohns]

Tracy hasn't produced since the trade deadline came and went without him being moved. He's completely sucked.

[ducks]

Tracy hasn't produced since the trade deadline came and went without him being moved. He's completely sucked.

oh I think he is tight and trying to hard

[ducks]

webb with 2 rbs

[ducks]

“I got a good piece of wood on that one,” Webb said. “We had a couple of ducks on the pond and that’s when I step it up.”http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap;_ylt=ApyAAm6b5IaVIBh4gdvjUjcRvLYF?gid=280810 129&prov=ap

[ducks]

Arizona RF Justin Upton will begin a rehab assignment in Tucson on Monday. Upton has been out since June 9 with a strained left oblique muscle.

[misterx91578]

Diamondbacks acquire Adam Dunn from Reds

August 11th, 2008 @ 10:57am

by Tyler Bassett/Sports 620 KTAR, John Gambadoro/Sports 620 KTAR

Sports 620 KTAR's John Gambadoro reports the Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired outfielder Adam Dunn from the Cincinnati Reds.

The Diamondbacks are giving up three prospects in the deal, minor league pitcher Dallas Buck and two other players to be named later.

Dunn has 32 home runs in 2008 with 74 RBI. His average this season is .233.

[ducks]

PHOENIX (AP)—The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired slugging outfielder Adam Dunn from the Cincinnati Reds for a minor-league pitcher and two players to be named later on Monday.

The 28-year-old Dunn was batting .233 this season for the Reds with 32 homers, tied for tops in the majors.

The trade gives the first-place Diamondbacks, who entered the day with a 1 1/2 -game lead over the Dodgers in the NL West, a boost to an anemic offense. The Diamondbacks rank 20th in the majors in runs scored.

Arizona (60-58) tried to acquire Mark Teixeira from the Atlanta Braves at last month’s trade deadline before he went to the Los Angeles Angels.

The Diamondbacks sent right-hander Dallas Buck to the Reds in Monday’s trade.

Dunn has a career .247 batting average with 270 career homers and is eligible for free agency at the end of the season.

The Reds are last in the NL Central and on a six-game losing streak.

The Dunn trade comes after a July 31 deal that sent outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to the Chicago White Sox for relief pitcher Nick Masset and a Triple-A player. On Sunday, the Reds designated veteran catcher David Ross for assignment and called up catcher Ryan Hanigan from Triple-A Louisville.

[ducks]

so is jackson back on first?

[misterx91578]

so is jackson back on first?


no Dunn will play right

[ducks]

oh so they have given up on upton?

upton is rehabbing he should be back soon..
tonight he plays in tuscon

[misterx91578]

oh so they have given up on upton?

upton is rehabbing he should be back soon..
tonight he plays in tuscon


no they haven't given up on him. this just gives upton some more time to come back 100%

Dunn is a free agent after the year and mostly likely will be gone

[JMarkJohns]

Not exactly sure what to think. My initial reaction was "great!" but that was when I thought Dunn was a 1B. Now that he's an outfielder, I am a bit worried about PT once Upton comes back. It probably is as easy as moving Jackson back to first (a position he'll need to reacclimate himself to for the return of Byrnes next season, anyways).

[ducks]

this does seem a stange move
maybe the d-backs that since dodgers got manny they needed more o

[JMarkJohns]

As of right now...

1. Drew (SS) - Lefty
2. Ojeda (2B) - Lefty
3. Jackson (LF) - Righty
4. Dunn (RF) - Lefty
5. Reynolds (3B) - Righty
6. Tracy (1B) - Lefty
7. Young (CF) - Righty
8. Snyder (C) - Righty/Montero (C) - Lefty

Upon Upton's return...

1. Drew (SS) - Lefty
2. Ojeda (2B) - Lefty
3. Jackson (1B) - Righty
4. Dunn (LF) - Lefty
5. Reynolds (3B) - Righty
6. Upton (RF) - Righty
7. Young (CF) - Righty
8. Snyder (C) - Righty/Montero (C) - Lefty

Pretty balanced left/right either way, though I have to admit to liking the immediate ability of lineup 1 right now just a bit more, largely because Upton is such a question mark, and Tracy, though slumping, is a quality contact batter who doesn't strike out near as much, and hits for a better average.

[T Park]

Solid move.

Just don't hope for him to hit a sacrafice groundball or fly.

Statistically like the worst at doing that in baseball.

[JMarkJohns]

There's more than a chance that Owings is one of the players to be named later. If he sneaks through waivers, then he'll be traded shortly. If another claims him, the Diamondbacks will pull the waiver, and they'll include him at season's end.

They said both of the PTBNL are on the Dbacks 40-man roster.

[ducks]

ownings is on waivers
wow
they must like their younger piching prospects

[ducks]

Baseball
TUCSON SIDEWINDERS
Rehab work starting gradually for Upton
By Sarah Trotto
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.12.2008
advertisementJustin Upton skipped Triple-A when he ascended to the major leagues last summer as a 19-year-old baseball prodigy.
The Diamondbacks outfielder made his debut at the highest minor-league level on Monday, taking batting practice and serving as the Tucson Sidewinders designated hitter in their game against Tacoma. He went 2 for 5 in Tucson's 9-4 victory.
Upton struck out, flew out, grounded out and hit two singles.
Upton is expected to play five innings in right field today when the team plays in Colorado Springs and work his way up to nine innings. He is scheduled to be with the team until Aug. 22.
"It's the same clubhouse we use in spring training," said Upton after partaking in a pre-game poker game. He jumped from Double-A to the D-backs last season, bypassing Tucson. "As far as the clubhouse, everything's fine."
"The field's in pretty decent shape," he said, making a face. "My goal is to get my work in. That's my main goal."
Upton has been sidelined since July 9 for a strained left oblique. He began batting practice last week.
"It's been definitely frustrating, but at this point I'm just looking forward to being back," Upton said.
In his sixth game since coming off the disabled list, right-hander Max Scherzer allowed two runs, struck out seven and walked one in five innings for the win. He gave up a two-out, two-run double in the fifth inning and threw 50 of his 74 pitches for strikes.
He has allowed five runs in 16 1/3 innings since he was sidelined for shoulder inflammation. A candidate to rejoin the D-backs, Scherzer has increased his pitch count with each outing.
"I thought Scherzer took a good step forward in building his volume," said D-backs farm director A.J. Hinch, who was in attendance at Tucson Electric Park.
"He was in control of the game and mixed in quality secondary stuff. He looked good."
Earlier in the day, the D-backs altered their outfield, trading for Cincinnati Reds left fielder Adam Dunn in exchange for Class A pitcher Dallas Buck and two players to be named later.
"He's going to be good for our lineup," Upton said. "He's a great player, has a lot of power and he's a veteran guy who's been around for a while, so he'll be able to help out not only in the clubhouse but also on the field."
D-backs left-handed reliever Doug Slaten (strained right knee) struck out all three batters he faced in a scoreless inning in his fourth and likely final rehab appearance with Tucson. Ten of his 12 pitches were for strikes.
Slaten allowed three runs in his 3 2/3 innings with the Sidewinders.

[JMarkJohns]

Owings never never going to be better than a #4 pitcher, and that was pushing it. I don't think he has the mentality. He's a contact pitcher who likes to nibble for strikeouts, which leads to a lot of unnecessary walks, and when your stuff makes contact, that leads to runs.

His bat was overrated of late. After a torrid start, he was mired in a terrible slump.

He's a quality player, and, seemingly, a good person, so I'm sure there will be plenty who'll miss him, but the two 1st rounders net by Dunn's departure more than makes up for Owings, and, depending on the third player involved, likely Buck and the remaining package.

[ducks]

rumors are dunn can also play first

[JMarkJohns]

Dunn's played a lot of 1st, but he's not a very good defensive 1st-baseman. They'll need to be very selected of when they play him at 1st.

[ducks]

john is my closer
lyon is my setup man

[JMarkJohns]

Lyon is a FA at year's end. The more saves he racks up, the better his classification level will be and the higher the the Diamondbacks comp picks will be.

Lyon is the closer for this season. He'll net the Dbacks two quality draft picks and next season Rauch will take over for him.

[ducks]

if lyon cost the d-backs playoff games
I will be very upset

[ducks]

ALex Romero is the better d and actually has a better batting average
and makes contact

just does not have as much power but less strike outs

I am not convinced this adam thing is the greatest thing.
especially having your manager guarantee you playing time and batting number 4 the rest of the year

so if he gets in a slumb because he is not used to playoff races he gets the pass


they also all say his d is not all that great.

[JMarkJohns]

Rauch had five blown saves with Washington as Closer. He's not Eric Gagne, circa 2003.

Lyon is a quality closer and I'd be far more upset if a knee-jerk reaction got his role demoted and cost the Diamondbacks high draft picks.

[ducks]

he was solid tonight after two terrible outings giving up 5 runs

[ducks]

ofcourse the manager had a brain fart puting lyon in in a non clausing role and he responding by sucking major ass

closers should be in only in closing roles!

if you get demoted then that is different

[ducks]

I take playoff wins over draft picks any day of the week


I do not follow baseball that much
but if they lose lyon how can they get a draft pick for them
do they do a sign and trade him like basketball?

[ducks]

dogers lost their closer it lucky they got manny and not john

dodgers are in big trouble

[JMarkJohns]

ALex Romero is the better d and actually has a better batting average
and makes contact

just does not have as much power but less strike outs

I am not convinced this adam thing is the greatest thing.
especially having your manager guarantee you playing time and batting number 4 the rest of the year

so if he gets in a slumb because he is not used to playoff races he gets the pass


they also all say his d is not all that great.


Romero is a quality player. He has a bright future ahead of him, whereever that happens to be. Dunn gets on base. He hits homers. Those are two things the Diamondbacks need desperately. If he can replicate games like tonight, I'll be thrilled. Every at-bat he saw a minimum of five pitches. He tallied damn near 30 pitches seen tonight. That's HUGE!

His defense is a concern, but in the outfield his negative impact will be limited. Late in games where the Diamondbacks lead, I'm sure Romero or Salazar will be inserted in for defense. When he plays 1st, similarly with Tracy or Clark.

As for a slump, he's a career 250 hitter, but he consistently does two things and he does them to league-leading proportions: Draw walks, hit homers.

That's his job, and if tonight is any indication, I think he'll be fine.

[ducks]

I guess it is mind boggling a guy can bat less then 240 and people think he is better then slice bread


you know more then I do
he was ok tonight hopefully he can teach the younger onces to bit more patience at the plate

[ducks]

Romero I guess can go to center more
and upton can play center and rf

young is not cutting it with his battering average

if adam is resigned by the d-backs since he is the best thing since slice bread

[ducks]

D. Davis vs. J. Francis
should be a high scoring afair tomorrow
jeff has sucked this year

[JMarkJohns]

I do not follow baseball that much
but if they lose lyon how can they get a draft pick for them
do they do a sign and trade him like basketball?

Every player is assigned to a classification ranking based upon efficiency of performance at their respective position. I think it's based on a body of work for something like three or four seasons. It may or may not be end-weighted to give the most recent seasons a bit more relevance.

Anyways... Class A are the cream of the crop. When a class A free agent is signed away from a team, the signing team forfeits its next drafts 1st-rounder as long as they sit outside the top-15, or it's 2nd-round pick if it sits inside the top-15. The team losing the free agent also nets a compensation pick in a round wedged between the 1st and 2nd rounds. The placement of the comp pick is based upon overall efficiency rankings.

Class B free agents are similar to above, only their departure results in a received 2nd-rounder from the signing team, and a comp pick wedged between the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

In Hudson, Dunn, Lyon and Cruz, they may have four Class A free agents, netting them as many as nine selections (counting their own, assuming they don't sign away a class A FA) in the 1st round, comp round and 2nd round. Best case scenerio is they net roughly 10 of the first 80 picks, including nine of the first 50. Worst case, they net 10 of the first 120 picks, including five or so of the first 50.

Either way the Diamondbacks are in line to have a MONSTER draft.

[ducks]

thanks

you are a nice poster even if you like the suns

[ducks]

it would be intersting if basketball did something like that

[JMarkJohns]

I guess it is mind boggling a guy can bat less then 240 and people think he is better then slice bread


you know more then I do
he was ok tonight hopefully he can teach the younger onces to bit more patience at the plate

Yeah, he's a .240 hitter, but he gets on-base nearly 40% of his plate appearances. That's fantastic. Hudson was a .300 hitter and only got on 35% of the time.

He just gets on base. Factor in his power and he'll greatly help the offense.

He should have had an RBI tonight, only Drew screwed up twice, first by getting picked off in between third and home, but then also by getting picked off so fast, not giving Conor Jackson enough time to get to 2nd base. Had Drew stayed at third, then Jackson's out at 1st, and Dunn's double scores Drew. If Drew takes more time in the rundown and Jackson gets to 2nd, then Jackson scores on Dunn's double.

Dunn was very effective tonight, despite his last strikeout.

[ducks]

d-backs played very sloppy
they should have scored a couple of more runs

tracy was very conservative out on the bases to

[JMarkJohns]

POS Dodgers came back on Phillies bullpen. Dbacks still up only by a game.

[ducks]

I forget in baseball you have to look on base % to

just started watching and trying to understand the game
for years I just watched fox saturday games and then playoffs only

[JMarkJohns]

Would I prefer Dunn to be a .290 hitter with a .350 or better on-base and still hit for power? You bet, but if he were, chances are he wouldn't have been traded.

He is what he is and it's now up to the Diamondbacks to maximize his time with the club. Hell, maybe if all goes well, he can be resigned to a reasonable contract? Trade Byrnes, and it may just be possible.

[JMarkJohns]

I'm so sick of Doug Davis... How he can be a pitcher that just dominates for 2/3 games, then totally sucks for 2/3 and do such within the same three week period just baffles me. He obviously has the talent and the ability to be a solid pitcher, so what the hell, Doug?! WHAT THE HELL?!

[TheTruth]

As a Reds fan I'm sad as hell to see Adam Dunn go, but you guys are gonna hate how unclutch the guy is with runners on base. He strikes out way too much, and doesn't put the ball into play in big spots. I hope the guy helps you to a World Series. God knows he deserves it after playing for the pathetic (and I love them) Reds the past 7 years.

[ducks]

what a nice hit adam
you suck

[JMarkJohns]

what a nice hit adam
you suck

It wasn't entirely on him.

Melvin made two errors that directly led to the loss.

First, he pitched Rauch for like the 7th day in 10, and for the second time in this series against batters he faced last night. Rauch is likely fatigued, and the familiarity got his hanging pitches hit very far.

Second, with Young, a notorious strikeout at-bat, up and a speedy runner on 3rd with less than two outs, Melvin elected to allow Young to swing away vs. a very tough pitcher rather than attempting the squeeze. Maybe it fails and the runner gets tagged out. I think Young is a good enough bunter and Burke at quick enough runner that each makes the play to tie the score. Even had it failed Drew would have remained in scoring position to represent the tying run.

He must be watching some footage of the D'Antoni Suns, because he's not putting his men in situation where they are in the best position to succeed.

Rauch needed a break. I'd have given it to him. Young is not a contact hitter, so I'd have made him bunt.

Sure, Dunn probably should have tallied a base-hit there, but it's never as simple as who made the last out. Dunn will be the goat, unfortunately, whereas it's Davis stinking the place up early - again - and Melvin failing to use his players properly and to their strengths that cost them the win.

[ducks]

thanks for the recap
I just caught the last inning

[ducks]

I agree with davis
his last 3 starts are terrible
why the other one was a no hitting tell the 7
but I guess that was against the lowly paddres

[JMarkJohns]

I agree with davis
his last 3 starts are terrible
why the other one was a no hitting tell the 7
but I guess that was against the lowly paddres

In 11 starts in June and July, Davis went an average 6+ innings per start and roughly a 3.6 ERA. In three starts in August, he's gone an average of 3+ innings per start and has a 12+ ERA.

What the hell, Doug?! WHAT THE HELL?!

[ducks]

In 11 starts in June and July, Davis went an average 6+ innings per start and roughly a 3.6 ERA. In three starts in August, he's gone an average of 3+ innings per start and has a 12+ ERA.

What the hell, Doug?! WHAT THE HELL?!

davis is pulling an ownings:bang:bang:bang

[turiaf for president]

dunn was a knee jerk reaction trade the the dodgers getting blake and manny. dunn hits for great power but his so's and poor batting average well be a huge negative for you guys. like the red's fan said, i cant remember a Dunn walk off homer or even a clutch hit for that matter.

all the dbacks have going for them is haren and webb. IF they do make the playoffs, the prospect of a web haren johnson 1,2,3 would make them competitive in a 5 or 7 game series but they have absolutely no offense to support the pitchers

[ducks]

8 walks for the d-backs tonight
has dunn brought patience to the d-backs?


note to the mlb do not let webb have a 3-0 lead before he throws a first pitch

[ducks]

Miguel Montero and Chris Young hit grand slams—the first time Arizona has hit two in the same game—and the Diamondbacks beat the Houston Astros 11-5 on Saturday night.

Montero and Young hit the first slams of their careers, both connecting off Brandon Backe. Montero also had a solo homer and double, driving in a career-high five RBIs as the Diamondbacks won for the fifth time in six games.

[ducks]

montero hit his sceond and third homer all year
unreal

[JMarkJohns]

Not to mention Dunn: 2-2, 3 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 1 SB

He's now hitting .333 and has an on-base of .520 to go with two doubles, 3 runs and 3 RBI in five games.

[ducks]

steve drew before tonights game had a 17 game hitting streak
17 games 25 hits
batting 360 in that time



got no hit tonight but did walk 2 times

one time he could have tried to hit so he could continue his streak but he want to help the team

[ducks]

dunn has gone like 52 at bats though without a homer

[JMarkJohns]

dunn has gone like 52 at bats though without a homer


It's concerning, but you know he'll catch up with one eventually. If he can get on base over 40% of the time, have the occasional double or homerun and keep from botching any outfield plays, then he'll be worth what they gave up.

His approach at the plate seems to be rubbing off. The Diamondbacks have drawn so many walks the last handful of games it's staggering.

[ducks]

B. Lyon relieved J. Rauch
- E. Gonzalez doubled to deep right center
- S. Hairston struck out swinging
- B. Giles walked
- K. Kouzmanoff singled to right, E. Gonzalez to third, B. Giles to second
- A. Gonzalez singled to center, B. Giles and E. Gonzalez scored, K. Kouzmanoff to third
- C. Headley singled to right, K. Kouzmanoff scored, A. Gonzalez to third
- T. Pena relieved B. Lyon

wow
pena

[ducks]

Last Play: N. Hundley grounded into fielder's choice, A. Gonzalez out at home, C. Headley to third, N. Hundley to second

[ducks]

L. Rodriguez flied out to deep center

[ducks]

dunn starting to heat up

[misterx91578]

dunn starting to heat up

his addition looks great dbacks are 6-2 since adding Dunn the team

[ducks]

Dunn is Diamondbacks’ Donkey Kong
By Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports
15 hours, 29 minutes ago

Buzz Up Print
Arizona Diamondbacks' Adam Dun…

AP - Aug 20, 11:17 pm EDT MLB Gallery More From Tim BrownDodger doings dash doubts Aug 20, 2008 It's Maddux Redux; veteran is back with Dodgers Aug 19, 2008
PHOENIX – The man they call Big Donkey said, sure, he still talks to Junior all the time.

At that moment, as though summoned, his cell phone shimmied like one of those old electric football players.

“This is him right here, I guarantee you,” he said. “He calls me every day. Hit a homer today.”

He held up the phone.

“See?”

Ken Griffey Jr., fellow Cincinnati Reds expat, indeed had homered for the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday afternoon.

Adam Dunn let out a big donkey laugh. Yeah, this pennant-race stuff is a kick.

“This is a side of baseball I’ve never seen,” he said. “I’ve never been here.”

Three hours later, Dunn lined a fastball over the right-field wall at Chase Field, a first-inning tracer off San Diego Padres ace Jake Peavy that scored three runs and made the Arizona Diamondbacks game again.


And so the National League West, the plainest of divisions, is not just a two-team race, but potentially a two-man race.

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Eleven days after the Dodgers relieved the Boston Red Sox of Manny Ramirez (and eight days after Ramirez put a three-game whipping on them), the Diamondbacks took the plunge with Dunn.

Like Ramirez, Dunn will be a free agent after the season.

Like Ramirez, he bats fourth in a lineup that hadn’t done much cleaning up without him.

Like Ramirez, he’s not much in the field, but, oh, what he can do with a bat.

And like the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks are an entirely different offensive team today, more like the 161-run mirage we saw in April, and now their ballpark is aflutter with homemade signs gushing, “I like mine well Dunn,” and, “Hey, Gracie, call it an Adam bomb!”

L.A.’s Manny Mania is Phoenix’s Donkey Throng.

“I love it out here,” Dunn said. “I know it’s only August whatever, but it seems like every day does matter now. And oh yeah, I’m nervous. I haven’t been nervous in a long time. I keep waiting for the nerves to go away, but they haven’t.”

By nature of his Reds upbringing, Dunn nearly made it all the way to free agency without playing for a winner. He nearly made it to freedom without ever tasting a big at-bat, without ever hitting a big home run, without ever experiencing September as anything other than one-month-to-go.

And now he has hit home runs in each of his first two home games, both Diamondbacks wins. In his first eight games of consequence, he has reached base more than half the time, forced pitches to teammates who were beginning to look like the moments were getting too big and stood in the middle of a lineup averaging nearly seven runs a game since he first pulled on the clubhouse door.

Those 32 home runs before he got here? Those 270 career home runs? Nice. Fine. Impressive.

The last two?

“That’s why we’ve got Dunn right there, I guess,” Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds said. “It’s awesome. He creates so much. It’s pretty cool to have something like that.”

They beat the Padres on Wednesday night, 8-6. They won though their 14-game winner, Dan Haren, allowed four first-inning runs. But with one out, a couple of guys got on, Dunn came up and worked Peavy for seven pitches, the last of which changed everything.

“I was hoping at 3-2 Jake wouldn’t throw me the slider right there,” Dunn said, “and he didn’t.”

Fastball, down.

“He hits homers,” Peavy said. “He changes games.”

Meanwhile in L.A., Ramirez had a lousy single in four at-bats, the Dodgers lost, and the Diamondbacks are two games up.

“When I talked to Adam, I told him, ‘Don’t try to be something you’re not,’ ” Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. “Just be Adam Dunn. And he’s been exactly that.”

Dunn saw 22 pitches in four plate appearances. He walked twice, once after an 0-2 count. He’s going to strike out – “obviously,” he said, “I strike out a lot” – but what happens around those strikeouts is going to help color a division race.

The Dodgers and Diamondbacks pitch alike. They win and lose alike. And their GMs, for one stretch drive, began to think alike. One hitter, one deep threat, one guy who can drag a club along for five or six weeks, who maybe wins a division.

Just as Ramirez has lightened the load on Matt Kemp, James Loney and Andre Ethier, Dunn is a nice place to lean for Reynolds, Chris Young and Stephen Drew.

“It just seems like it takes a lot of pressure off a lot of the guys,” Melvin said. “Nailing down the four-hole for us allows guys not to press so much.”

So out with the prospects and in with the heavy bats, the broad backs, the significant Septembers. That’s good because the first 4½ months, for the most part, weren’t so significant.

“For so long we played poorly, and nobody really gained on us,” Melvin said. “We’re lucky to be in the position we are.”

Tell Dunn about it.

“This is something,” he said, “I’ve been waiting for since I’ve been in the big leagues.”

[ducks]

J. Rauch
has sucked tonight
and dunn

[IronMexican]

You guys had a perfect chance to strangle hold us.

wasn't meant to be i guess.

[ducks]

Y. Petit is the 4 starter sorry davis

[AFBlue]

Fuckin D'bags and Fuckin Dodgers can't hold a candle to the fuckin Rays....why is it that I've posted the last 5 or 10 times in the RaysTalk thread and they get no love while the BARELY .500 Dodgers and D-Backs struggle to get wins?

Fuck the D-backs and fuck the fuckin Dodgers...that is all.

[ducks]

Fuckin D'bags and Fuckin Dodgers can't hold a candle to the fuckin Rays....why is it that I've posted the last 5 or 10 times in the RaysTalk thread and they get no love while the BARELY .500 Dodgers and D-Backs struggle to get wins?

Fuck the D-backs and fuck the fuckin Dodgers...that is all.

what have the rays done

d-backs have won a title
and gone to the playoffs


sorry the rays have no bandwagoner fans but do not take it out on the d-backs

[ducks]

dunn has blown two catches today
also bob never ever ever ever ever put lyon in the game without a save sitution he sucks major ass if he is in their

[ducks]

drew is the leadoff hitter he has been on fire lately


reynolds I think will improve alto next year
drew and jackson improved alot in year 3

also thinking upton will be alot better next year

[JMarkJohns]

How awesome is it to lose a series and still pick up a game on your closest challenger?

Jackson needs to get his shit together. Dunn is doing a fabulous job, Drew has been the player I expected him to be, Young and Ojeda have filled in nicely in the two-hole and yet he's slumping big-time. He has runners getting on in front of him, and good protection behind and he's batting sub-200 in the last five series.

[ducks]

fuck you d-backs
you can not look forward to the dodgers
show up against paddress

[IronMexican]

Both teams are sucking ass equally as bad. it's pathetic.

[JMarkJohns]

Both teams are sucking ass equally as bad. it's pathetic.

We should pool our two teams...

SP: Webb
SP: Haren
SP: Lowe
SP: Billingsly
SP: Johnson

Specialist: Chih Kuo
Relief: Qualls
Relief: Rauch or Pena
7th: Lyon
8th: Broxton
9th: Saito - when he returns

1. Furcal (SS) - if he returns
2. Drew (2B)
3. Manny (LF)
4. Dunn (1B)
5. Jackson (RF)
6. Reynolds (3B)
7. Martin (C)
8. Young (CF)

Then have Kemp, Loney, Tracy, Snyder and Ojeda for bench players...

The defense is definitely an issue, but when Webb and Lowe are pitching, a better defensive infield can be employed with Jackson getting a day off and Dunn switching to RF and Loney going to 1st.

The NL West may actually do something, no?!

:)

[IronMexican]

we'd be beast! but then the Phills and Mets would combine. and they would have NY's rotation with Phillie's bullpen

[IronMexican]

And Broxton sucks ass.

[misterx91578]

pads complete the sweep

[IronMexican]

The Dodgers top your pitiful loss with another loss to the Nat's

[misterx91578]

dodgers in town this weekend

someone has to win here don't they

[IronMexican]

yep, i wonder if we'll see great pitching, or horrible hitting.

[ducks]

upton is back
dunn also worked with someone for 30 minutes today to play first base

[IronMexican]

The race is officially down to Colorado and Arizona

[T Park]

Congrats on acquring David Eckstein.

[ducks]

thanks

I can not believe that haren and webb haveboth struggled the last 2 starts!

[IronMexican]

thanks

I can not believe that haren and webb haveboth struggled the last 2 starts!

hopefully that's a sign of good things to come.

[T Park]

The Dodgers are done, give up on that :lol

[ducks]

steve drew hit for the cycle first cycle ever in az
wow
great come back win

[ducks]

upton better be ok
if not I throw at A. Pujols and hit him
not in the head though
dirty cards

[ducks]

Arizona RF Justin Upton left the game after being hit in the head with a pickoff attempt by St. Louis pitcher Adam Thompson in the eighth. Upton stayed on the ground for several minutes before walking off under his own power. … Arizona RHP Jon Rauch was ejected by home plate umpire Dan Iassogna as Rauch walked off the mound in the middle of the sixth. …

[ducks]

Batting leadoff, Drew singled in the first, tripled in the third and homered in the fifth against St. Louis Cardinals starter Joel Pineiro. He hit a ground-rule double in the seventh against reliever Kyle McClellan (2-7) as the Chase Field crowd rose for a standing ovation.

Drew added another double in the eighth for his fifth hit, matching a career high and becoming the 12th Diamondbacks player to have five hits in a game.

Drew also became the third Diamondback to hit for the cycle in the franchise’s 11-year history. Luis Gonzalez did it on July 5, 2000, at Houston and Greg Colbrunn did it on Sept. 18, 2002, at San Diego.

[IronMexican]

:bang

[ducks]

post game ob said upton had some blood on him!

[ducks]

8 home runs also tied chase field

[misterx91578]

nice comeback win

[ducks]

when is upton coming back?

[ducks]

nice win

dunn sucked today except for last at bat

reynolds hopefully will improve like drew did in year 3

[Reggie Miller]

nice win

dunn sucked today except for last at bat

reynolds hopefully will improve like drew did in year 3

Reynolds is Adam Dunn Lite. Get used to it. I hope I'm wrong for his sake. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Arizona's staff scares the shit out of me. The offense, not so much. Dunn does own the Cubs, FWIW. On the bright side for Arizona, it's not like you gave up much for him.

EDIT: I just realized that in all fairness, I should point out that Reynolds can actually play a position. At the plate, he is Adam Dunn Lite.

[ducks]

reynolds atleast hits better when someone is on base

[Reggie Miller]

reynolds atleast hits better when someone is on base

Also, Reynolds is earning his walks. (Last time I checked, .242/.320/.480; 53 BB, 174 SO.) Obviously, no one is intentionally walking him. Dunn has a reputation for a "good eye," but I wonder. Ignoring intentional walks, it seems like pitching Dunn four balls near the outside corner is a damn sound strategy.

[ducks]

I can not believe teams pitch to manny with a guy on third and one out
you walk manny and then you have a chance for a doubleplay

99% time manny will hit a sac fly and score the run
IDIOTS

[misterx91578]

Reynolds is Adam Dunn Lite. Get used to it. I hope I'm wrong for his sake. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Arizona's staff scares the shit out of me. The offense, not so much. Dunn does own the Cubs, FWIW. On the bright side for Arizona, it's not like you gave up much for him.

EDIT: I just realized that in all fairness, I should point out that Reynolds can actually play a position. At the plate, he is Adam Dunn Lite.

Dunn is a free agent at the end of the year so he may not be here long

[ducks]

I take dunn trade bynes
trade young
put A. Romero in center
upton in right
dunn at first and dunn in right if upton gets hurt
keep tracy

[misterx91578]

if they resign Dunn Tracy is a goner because Adam he will be the first baseman
trade Bynes like the idea have Jackson play left
doubt they will trade Young

[ducks]

young do not get better or steal more YOU MOVE HIM
he has to improve his on base %

[misterx91578]

Young has played 2 full years and you are ready to give up on him?

[JMarkJohns]

I take dunn trade bynes

I can live with that. Dunn moves to left, Upton to right and Jackson to first.


trade young

Not yet. They can't sell low like they did with Quentin and Hairston last season. Young should get this, next and maybe another full season before a trade of him is even considered. He's too good defensively, has too much power potential, too much speed on the bases and is far too young to simply be brushed over.


put A. Romero in center

I like Romero a lot... as a fourth outfielder.


upton in right

Yep!


dunn at first and dunn in right if upton gets hurt

Dunn at first is a bad idea for a number of reasons. Jackson is a better 1st-baseman and Dunn has played outfield for longer than Jackson has, so the transition for each would be better if Dunn moved to leftfield and Jackson back to first.


keep tracy

Don't care one way or the other, but he's got a mid-level contract that may be needed to keep Dunn, depending on any potential Byrnes trade and just how much of his remaining 20 million the Diamondbacks will have to pay.

I'd trade Tracy for a quality second-baseman, if I can't resign Hudson (only if Byrnes is traded and Dunn is let go) or Eckstein (possibility if he proves capable).

Overall...

Give until they can't be kept...

Webb, Haren, Scherzer, Upton, Drew

Give another two years minimum...

Young, Reynolds, Jackson, Pena

Give another year...

Romero, Montero, Rauch, Qualls, Petit

Keep because...

Snyder, Johnson

Don't mind keeping if price is right...

Dunn and Eckstein or Hudson, Lyon

Don't care one or the other...

Tracy, Ojeda, Davis, Cruz, Slaten

Would definitely move if possible or let go...

Byrnes, Clark, Salazar

[ducks]

Time For Bob To Get Fired

[IronMexican]

:downspin::downspin:

[ducks]

TIME TO QUITE CHANGING THE LINEUPS ALL THE TIME
let them play
too much over managering
to much lack of confidence in your team trying to get all these players in here

synder is the only one that is taking the personal

[ducks]

:downspin::downspin:

yeah
synder hits the home run
then you can let john pitch
but if you remove him you put in the closer
idiot

[IronMexican]

yeah
synder hits the home run
then you can let john pitch
but if you remove him you put in the closer
idiot

this looks like a wrap for Arizona. it was a tough race, but LA prevails:hat

[turiaf for president]

this looks like a wrap for Arizona. it was a tough race, but LA prevails:hat

:toast

its over. Dodger bats are coming alive and playing well at the perfect time. hopefully they play like the rockies did last year and finish strong

[ducks]

I had hope tell last night

[IronMexican]

Another tough loss.

[ducks]

this one is on bob
the closer has never this year pitched more then one inning
WHY BOB

[ducks]

I am not saying players are to blame
but players that are playing first not used to

[misterx91578]

what a shame this team is

[ducks]

I put alot of it on the front office 1/2
these are kids and bringing in these 2 players did not help at all
it hurt there ego's and confidence

bob 1/4
some of it is the players though 1/4

[JMarkJohns]

http://www.old-picture.com/american-history-1900-1930s/pictures/Driving-Nail-Coffin.jpg

[ducks]

Qualls replaces Lyon as Diamondbacks closer

Qualls replaces Lyon as Diamondbacks closer

49 minutes ago

*
Buzz Up
*
Print

PHOENIX (AP)—Chad Qualls has replaced struggling Brandon Lyon as the Arizona closer as the Diamondbacks try to stay in the NL West race over the final two weeks of the season.

The right-handed Qualls (4-8, 3.11 ERA) has been the best pitcher out of an otherwise shaky bullpen of late. He has not allowed a run in 17 of his last 18 appearances and has a 1.02 ERA since the All-Star break.

“He’s picked up a lot of confidence,” manager Bob Melvin said in announcing the change before the Diamondbacks played Cincinnati on Saturday.

Lyon (2-5, 5.23) has an 11.57 ERA since the All-Star break, allowing 21 runs in 16 1-3 innings.

He gave up two runs in the ninth in a 4-3 loss at San Francisco on Wednesday. Lyon came on in relief in the ninth Friday night against Cincinnati with a 3-0 lead and gave up two runs before Qualls replaced him. With runners at first and third, Qualls struck out Jerry Hairston Jr. to preserve Brandon Webb’s 20th victory of the season.

Lyon understood the move, Melvin said.

“All he wants to do is help the team win,” the manager said. “In that respect, he took it like a pro.”

Lyon has 26 saves in 31 opportunities this season.

[ducks]

about time bob

[ducks]

dunn looks more comfortable at lf
be intersting to see what front office does this offseason with dunn
jackson did well at first


can upton play center?
young has a below average arm!

[ducks]

bob goes to pena instead and he gives up a run
bob you are an idiot
pena is not a closer

[ducks]

ownings could have official ended the dbacks hopes
and thanks to bob
he sends out pena again in the 10 and he gives up another run

[ducks]

pena is awesome in 8 not 9th IDIOT BOB

[turiaf for president]

and the monolouge continues. pena sucks anywhere. doing blame bob. theres no one is your sorry bullpen.

[Reggie Miller]

If it is any consolation, the other playoff contenders would much rather face LA than Arizona. Trust me, the Dodgers don't scare Chicago or Philadelphia one little bit. In the playoffs, people aren't going to pitch to Manny Ramirez, because there is nothing keeping them honest. Goodnight Los Angeles...

[turiaf for president]

dodgers are the hottest team in baseball since the start of this month. they are hitting their stride at the perfect time. last 15 games the era is 2.1. their bullpen era is 1.73. they may not have a dominating ace in their staff but kuroda lowe and billingsley is on fire right now. Andre Ethier is batting .490 in september and manny is still batting .400. casey blake's average is jumping up and blake dewitt is filling in nicely at 2nd base. knowing the cubs something is gonna get fucked up. trust me the last thing a team wants to face is a team hitting their stride in september. case in point, rockies of last year

[ducks]

manny will cool off
he can not stay this hot

[Reggie Miller]

dodgers are the hottest team in baseball since the start of this month. they are hitting their stride at the perfect time. last 15 games the era is 2.1. their bullpen era is 1.73. they may not have a dominating ace in their staff but kuroda lowe and billingsley is on fire right now. Andre Ethier is batting .490 in september and manny is still batting .400. casey blake's average is jumping up and blake dewitt is filling in nicely at 2nd base. knowing the cubs something is gonna get fucked up. trust me the last thing a team wants to face is a team hitting their stride in september. case in point, rockies of last year


Then, the Rockies ran up against a team who had been winning with consistency in a tougher league all year, and they had their asses served to them in their own deep-fried ears with country style gravy.

The Wild Card and other "hot" teams who have streaked into the playoffs and won all had superior talent to the 2008 Dodgers. Look at the 2003 Marlins, for crying out loud. There isn't a single sane person alive who would think that this Dodgers team would have a chance against them.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/FLA/2003.shtml

[Reggie Miller]

manny will cool off
he can not stay this hot

You're missing the real point.

HYPOTHETICAL: I am Rich Harden. Why the fuck do I pitch to him?

[ducks]

do you really think he can hit 400 all year as a dodger

[turiaf for president]

Then, the Rockies ran up against a team who had been winning with consistency in a tougher league all year, and they had their asses served to them in their own deep-fried ears with country style gravy.

The Wild Card and other "hot" teams who have streaked into the playoffs and won all had superior talent to the 2008 Dodgers. Look at the 2003 Marlins, for crying out loud. There isn't a single sane person alive who would think that this Dodgers team would have a chance against them.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/FLA/2003.shtml

right but they did make it to the world series did they not? point is the dodgers are hitting their stride at the perfect time. they have the lowest ERA in baseball and everyone knows pitching wins games in the playoffs. u can say dodgers play in the worst division and all other stuff and i cant argue with u there. BUT the dodgers are winners of 14 out of their last 16. starting pitchers are 11-1 during taht span. that shows the dodgers jump out to a lead and the bullpen holds that lead.

[turiaf for president]

manny will cool off
he can not stay this hot

youve been saying that since day one. who knows if he will stay hitting .400 but the damage is done. the dodgers brought him in to win the west and they have done just that. dont hate man. u wish the snakes made a move for manny instead of Dunn. Dunn has done a good job but hes no manny

[Reggie Miller]

youve been saying that since day one. who knows if he will stay hitting .400 but the damage is done. the dodgers brought him in to win the west and they have done just that. dont hate man. u wish the snakes made a move for manny instead of Dunn. Dunn has done a good job but hes no manny

Compared to Ramirez, Dunn is a mongoloid footnote in a MLB encyclopedia. The only comparison between them is that they are carbon-based lifeforms who play el beisbol. Manny is even a vastly superior fielder to Dunn. (Yes, Virginia. There are actually worse outfielders than Manny Ramirez.)

The problem, which no Dodger fan has addressed, is why in God's name would you expect Manny to see even one strike in the NLDS? Seriously. Who is supposedly protecting him?

[ducks]

youve been saying that since day one. who knows if he will stay hitting .400 but the damage is done. the dodgers brought him in to win the west and they have done just that. dont hate man. u wish the snakes made a move for manny instead of Dunn. Dunn has done a good job but hes no manny

actually I wished the dbacks did not make a move for anyone
they were fine without that
management wanted help and the young players lost confidence in themselves and tried to hard

and bob told everyone dunn would be hitting 4 no matter what
excuse me dunn has not earned that right

then haren and webb tried to do to much
now that they are not they are kicking ass

[ducks]

Compared to Ramirez, Dunn is a mongoloid footnote in a MLB encyclopedia. The only comparison between them is that they are carbon-based lifeforms who play el beisbol. Manny is even a vastly superior fielder to Dunn. (Yes, Virginia. There are actually worse outfielders than Manny Ramirez.)

The problem, which no Dodger fan has addressed, is why in God's name would you expect Manny to see even one strike in the NLDS? Seriously. Who is supposedly protecting him?

I have no idea why managers pitch to him when a player is on third base and no one is on second and third with one out:rolleyes:rolleyes

you would think national league pitchers and managers would learn how to pitch to manny

[turiaf for president]

Compared to Ramirez, Dunn is a mongoloid footnote in a MLB encyclopedia. The only comparison between them is that they are carbon-based lifeforms who play el beisbol. Manny is even a vastly superior fielder to Dunn. (Yes, Virginia. There are actually worse outfielders than Manny Ramirez.)

The problem, which no Dodger fan has addressed, is why in God's name would you expect Manny to see even one strike in the NLDS? Seriously. Who is supposedly protecting him?

thats the concern for me right now. ethier has excelled batting in front of manny. loney has been horrible protecting manny. i think i would bat casey blake at cleanup after manny. he has been playing great and is a pretty good fastball hitter. after walking manny im sure they wouldnt wanna put him in scoring position by walking blake so he should see alot of gas. he's been playing well so hopefully it'll continue.

i will say this tho, the dodgers team batting average since manny has gone up .20 without adding manny's numbers. i think the only ones batting under .275 in the lineup is dewitt and berroa. and they have both been hitting close well down the stretch.

dewitt is batting .302 in sept with a .421 obp. he should be amongst the favorite to win rookie of them month for the 2nd time this year.
berroa is batting .304 with a .378 obp.

maybe kent will be back by the playoffs but hes more of a gap hitter than a cleanup guy now.

[misterx91578]

Webb going for win 23

[ducks]

Arizona (80-80) moved back to .500 with 6-4 win on Friday. Chad Tracy’s two-run pinch double in the eighth inning broke a 4-4 tie.“It’s the toughest way to make a living in the game, in my opinion,” said Tracy, who’s been relegated to coming off the bench.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/preview;_ylt=AptHkt9LWKmaEVcWQwu3atMRvLYF?gid=2809 27129

upton has been impressive since he has been back
hopefully
upton, renolds, young, jackson will all improve in year three like drew did this year

[ducks]

Drew went 2-for-4, and is hitting .475 (29-for-61) in his last 14 home games.
very manny like

[Purple & Gold]

If it is any consolation, the other playoff contenders would much rather face LA than Arizona. Trust me, the Dodgers don't scare Chicago or Philadelphia one little bit. In the playoffs, people aren't going to pitch to Manny Ramirez, because there is nothing keeping them honest. Goodnight Los Angeles...

:lmao :lmao :lmao :lmao :lmao

[Purple & Gold]

Trust me...

:loser :loser :loser