Obama Shmomama… Opening Day Was Today
Sports fans come in a variety of shades and though the football type is often the most simplistic, I find that I can still enjoy the complex stratagem of the sport in spite of its stereotypically male crowds. Basketball, however, has never granted me the appropriate amount of mental stimulation to compensate for the brutish crowds and thug players. Consequently, the weeks spanning the Super Bowl and Opening Day of Baseball tend to be the longest weeks of the year and I find that I tend to engage in inane mental activities in order to occupy my time as an accute case of sport induced cabin fever sets in. But today the sun broke through its cover and winter is officially over with the regular Baseball season under way.
The D-backs led off their season with the Cincinnati Reds and left Arizona fans with alot of hope for the rest of the year. Brandon Webb claimed six strikeouts on 90 pitchers and Chris Young and Eric Byrnes supported his work with a couple of homeruns to give the D-backs a 4-2 win. The outing was everything the team could have hoped for and we only hope that the rest of the year shapes up in the same way.
The Arizona Diamondbacks enter this year with a much more solid lineup than the ‘07 team that defied all odds and won the NL West championship (a feat that Dodgers and Padres fans wont soon forget). The D-backs dealt some heavy minor league talent for Oakland A’s starting pitcher Dan Haren; a first spot pitcher on most teams, he will follow Brandon Webb in the pitching order. Even with Randy Johnson still in recovery, the D-backs still boast one of the strongest pitching lineup in the MLB, but this is the NL West and this year the Dodgers and Padres will proudly hold to the same claim. Number three pitcher Doug Davis announced he has thyroid cancer but will still pitch on Friday and begin treatments after that.
Of course Micah Owings will be my main attraction because of his developing pitching talent and excellent hitting ability, but my main interest this season is watching Connor Jackson in his full time starting role as the D-backs first baseman. Long criticized for his lackluster fielding ability and moderate hitting talent, Jackson is constantly considered the weak link to an otherwise consistent batting lineup. His hitting is too inconsistent to justify his horrible fielding, but the front office has really been optimistic about Jackson during spring training and attribute his increased workouts in the off-season as fueling his potential redemption this year. My favorite ESPN article about him:
“During the offseason, he cut Dr. Pepper from his diet. He…took his preparation seriously,… improving his diet by drinking less soda and eating more chicken and vegetables and taking supplements — ‘The good ones,’ he said. ” Link
The D-backs still lack any fear in their batting lineup. They havent ever really had a dominant cleanup batter that gave pitchers something to worry about, but what they lack in big bats they make up in consistent hitting 1-8 (and sometimes 9 if Owings is pitching).
They also traded away their dominant closer Jose Valverde but many (and I would be one) dont think that is such big a loss. Sure Valverde posted huge numbers last year and led the League in saves but just the year before he was dropped to the minors for a few weeks to get his head straight and every time he picked up the ball you felt he was a couple bad pitches away from letting the whole thing collapse around him. The D-backs instead promoted Brandon Lyons to the closer position after a good setup year last year and they have a few relatively good closing options should Lyons prove ineffective.
All in all, the D-backs have an improved team this year but the NL West is arguably the most competitive league in the Majors (Im sure we will hear something about the Dodgers strengths soon) and likely going to claim the wildcard as well, which means the D-backs are going to have to do something other than just hope they can squeek by.
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Comments
I always mean to write a good sports article but then i would have to add averages and stats to justify my statements and I just think ‘whats the point.’
Yo this post f***ing sucks cuz you is 2 much of a loser to write about the Dodgers - they the best… shout out to Whittier! Silverlake! Echo Park! where you at homies? can’t wait to see you in the left field bleachers sos I can spill me beer all over you and kick some white-boy preppie A***. Just wait till I get my house-arrest ankle bracelet off and I will teach you the meaning of blue respect! Viva Nomar!!! Viva Los Dodgers!!! Chinga Parole Officers!!!!
Wow Travioso, there is a lot of pent up frustration in your voice. Possibly a result from anal rapings in juvie? Or because your mom wouldnt let you use her car for your drive by?
both…. cracker - I bet you are some lawyer or doctor or sumthing…. better not let me catch you at the Jack in the Box in Silverlake….
maybe I gonna change my name to LA Travioso - get it… L-A. I figure to be commenting alot this season. Especially after Tai-Pan starts going to a few games… need fresh material - Did I tell you I have my last name tattooed across my neck in Olde English (and my last 3 wives have mine on theirs)?
Welcome to the site Travioso, hope you can keep your self out of jail long enough to see the better part of the season.
I have one question though that I always wonder when I have the displeasure of watching a game at that zoo, you call Dodger stadium… while you guys are spilling beer and flashing gang signs, do you actually know anything about baseball? Could you spot a seeing eye single or a 6-4-3 double play? Or does you knowledge of baseball stop at homeruns and the name Nomar?
Hooray for opening day!
Dodgers and D-Backs go head to head next Mon-Weds. Exciting!