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http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/cactus/article s/20140312diamondbacks-mark-grace-may-join-big-league- D-backs' competition has roots in AFL staff.html Gregorius, Owings were on opposite ends of adventurous 2012 championship game Addison Reed and the ’s job; pitching notes; & other By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com stuff http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article/ari/arizona By Nick Piecoro / azcentral sports -diamondbacks-shortstop-competition-has-roots-in-fall- http://archive.azcentral.com/insiders/nickpiecoro/2014/03/12 league?ymd=20140312&content_id=69181242&vkey=news_ari /addison-reed-and-the-closers-job-pitching-notes-other-stuff/

Miley cruises against Rockies A Trip Around the Bases: The Play at Second Base D-backs lefty goes five ; Hill, Montero each go deep By Chenea Schacher / Special for azcentral sports By Thomas Harding / MLB.com http://www.azcentral.com/videos/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/ http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article/ari/diamo 2014/03/13/6361127/ ndbacks-wade-miley-cruises-against- rockies?ymd=20140313&content_id=69196186&vkey=news_ari Diamondbacks had childhood heroes too By Korey Kaczur / Special for azcentral sports Didi, Pennington lead D-backs' offensive charge http://www.azcentral.com/videos/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/ Middle each deliver three hits; Marte adds homer 2014/03/13/6361137/ off Greinke By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com D-backs Fantasy Camp http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article/ari/didi- By Jodie Jackson / FOX Sports Arizona gregorius-cliff-pennington-lead-offense-for-arizona- http://msn.foxsports.com/arizona/video/d-backs-fantasy- diamondbacks?ymd=20140312&content_id=69135656&vkey=n camp-031214 ews_ari Early-riser Blanco having a strong spring Cahill still sore, but on schedule By Jack Magruder / FOX Sports Arizona By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://msn.foxsports.com/arizona/story/early-riser-blanco- http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=2 having-a-strong-spring-031214 0140312&content_id=69197354¬ebook_id=69197490&vke y=notebook_ari&c_id=ari D-backs game report: Wednesday, March 12 By Jack Magruder / FOX Sports Arizona Parra se prepara para el 2014 http://msn.foxsports.com/arizona/story/diamondbacks-game- MLB.com report-wednesday-march-12-031214 http://m.mlb.com/video/v31505505/parra-se-prepara-para-la- nueva-temporada-con-arizona Heavy, sweaty, itchy: Why won't use protective caps Prado mas comodo en Arizona By Rob Neyer / FOX Sports MLB.com http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/not-using-their-heads- http://m.mlb.com/video/v31505743/martin-prado-se-siente- will-pitchers-actually-use-headgear-meant-to-protect-them- mas-comodo-en-arizona 031214

Delgado lucha por un puesto The Pulse: Archie Bradley is ready for the big leagues MLB.com By Arizona Sports http://m.mlb.com/video/v31505539/delgado-lucha-por-un- http://arizonasports.com/42/1712939/The-Pulse-Archie- puesto-en-la-rotacion-de-arizona Bradley-is-ready-for-the-big-leagues

DBacks Derrick Hall Joins Tim & Willy in Studio Pennington and Gregorius lead D-Backs' spring rout of Tim & Willy radio show / Skyview Networks Dodgers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44XD0Ww9Qx8 By Sal Musto / Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1712937/Pennington-and- Diamondbacks’ Mark Grace may join big-league staff Gregorius-lead-DBacks-spring-rout-of-Dodgers By Nick Piecoro / azcentral sports MLB columnist: D-backs want to win now 1

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By Evan Triantafilidis / Arizona Sports Greinke allows 3 runs in first start since injury http://arizonasports.com/42/1712902/MLB-columnist- By Associated Press / ESPN.com Dbacks-want-to-win-now http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=340312119

D-backs GM: Shortstop position still up for grabs Rowland-Smith eyeing Australia By Evan Triantafilidis / Arizona Sports By Jim Caple / ESPN.com http://arizonasports.com/42/1712780/Dbacks-GM-Shortstop- http://espn.go.com/blog/spring- position-still-up-for-grabs training/post/_/id/1942/rowland-smith-eyeing-australia

A little from would mean a lot for the D- Tulowitzki bruises calf, Dbacks' top Rockies 6-4 backs By Mike Cranston (Associated Press) / YAHOO! Sports By Doug Franz / Arizona Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tulowitzki-bruises-calf-dbacks- http://arizonasports.com/42/1712779/A-little-from-Trevor- top-052116833--mlb.html Cahill-would-mean-a-lot-for-the-Dbacks Why MLB's new home-plate collision rule is anything but Could injuries force Archie Bradley into the starting easy rotation? By Tim Brown / YAHOO! Sports By Adam Green / Arizona Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-mlb-s-new-home-plate- http://arizonasports.com/42/1712720/Could-injuries-force- collision-rule-is-anything-but-easy-225101119.html Archie-Bradley-into-the-starting-rotation 2014 over/unders: D-backs' Trevor Cahill leaves early with knee injury vs. By Dayn Perry / CBS Sports Cleveland http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on- By Vince Marotta / Arizona Sports baseball/24479579/overunders-arizona-diamondbacks http://arizonasports.com/42/1712707/Dbacks-Trevor-Cahill- leaves-early-with-knee-injury-vs-Cleveland 2014 Diamondbacks preview: Likes, dislikes By Dayn Perry / CBS Sports Jamie Westbrook adjusting well to pro ball life http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on- By Jared Cohen / Arizona Sports 360 baseball/24479577/diamondbacks-preview-likes-dislikes http://www.sports360az.com/2014/03/jamie-westbrook- adjusting-well-pro-ball-life/ 2014 team preview: Arizona Diamondbacks By Mike Axisa / CBS Sports Arizona Diamondbacks' Tony Campana hopes to parlay http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on- speed into job baseball/24479541/team-preview-arizona-diamondbacks By Bob McManaman / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2 The Mets could solve their shortstop problem via a trade 014/03/13/arizona-diamondbacks-tony-campana-hopes-to- with the Diamondbacks parlay-speed-into-job/6359171/ By Craig Calcaterra / NBC Sports http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/13/the-mets-could- bruises calf, D-backs top Rockies 6-4 solve-their-shortstop-problem-via-a-trade-with-the- By Associated Press / ABC15.com diamondbacks/related/ http://www.abc15.com/sports/sports-blogs-local/troy- tulowitzki-bruises-calf-dbacks-top-rockies-6-4 Zack Greinke throws two innings versus Diamondbacks in return to Cactus League action Mark Trumbo hoping to show he's more than a power By Drew Silva / NBC Sports hitter for Arizona Diamondbacks http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/12/zack-greinke- By Zach Buchanan / azcentral sports throws-two-innings-versus-diamondbacks-in-return-to-cactus- http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2 league-action/ 014/03/12/mark-trumbo-hoping-to-show-hes-more-than-a- power-hitter-for-arizona-diamondbacks/6353989/ MLB Execs: Padres top list of 2014 sleeper teams By Ben Nicholson-Smith / SportsNet D-Backs contribute uniforms for Scottsdale Little Leagues http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/mlb-execs-padres-top- By Jourdan Rodrigue / Special for azcentral sports list-of-2014-sleeper-teams/ http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2014 0311d-backs-contribute-uniformsfor-scottsdale-little- MLB: Arizona 6, Colorado 4 leagues.html went 3-for-4 with a solo homer while added two- shot in the Arizona Diamondbacks' 6-4 win over the Colorado Reed should win closer job Rockies. By AJ Mass / ESPN.com By SportsNetwork.com / UPI.com http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/mlb/rumors/post/_/id/1359 http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2014/03/13/MLB- 0/reed-win-closer-job Arizona-6-Colorado-4/6721394687844/

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The Bounce-Back Candidates March 13, 2014 • MLB.com By Jonathan Bernhardt / Sports on Earth http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_index. http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/69147688/baseball- jsp bounce-back-candidates-melky-cabrera-miguel-montero-bj- upton-nick-markakis March 13, 2014 • Sports.yahoo.com Two-sport stars: 'Way more money in baseball' http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews By Gabe Lacques / USA Today Sports http://www.app.com/usatoday/article/6307523&usatref=sport smod March 13, 2014 • MLB.com http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions Dodgers' Greinke returns to mound, with mixed results By Pedro Moura / OC Register http://www.ocregister.com/articles/right-605427-kemp- greinke.html

Spring training: Diamondbacks 9, Dodgers 2 By Dylan Hernandez / LA Times http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp- dodgers-diamondbacks- 20140313,0,6762828.story#axzz2vrP2ns3W

Cactus League Is The Cheapest And Most Convenient Spring Training Option For Baseball Fans By Jesse Lawrence / Forbes http://www.forbes.com/sites/jesselawrence/2014/03/12/cactu s-league-is-the-cheaper-and-most-convenient-spring-training- option-for-baseball-fans/

Sydney preparing to host MLB opener By CCTV http://english.cntv.cn/program/sportsscene/20140313/101327. shtml

Diamondbacks | back in action By KFFL http://www.kffl.com/gnews.php?id=896130-diamondbacks- cody-ross-back-in-action

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"It was actually kind of fun," Gregorius said. "Well, I'm not going to lie -- at the time that play happened no one knew the D-backs' shortstop competition has roots in AFL rule, at least I didn't. Then when they told us about the rule, we Gregorius, Owings were on opposite ends of adventurous were right, so that was good." 2012 championship game By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com To this day, Owings maintains the umpires made the incorrect http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article/ari/arizona call. -diamondbacks-shortstop-competition-has-roots-in-fall- league?ymd=20140312&content_id=69181242&vkey=news_ari "I went and looked a replay later and he didn't leave [third] early so I don't know what happened there," Owings said. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The competition for the D-backs' starting shortstop job between Didi Gregorius and Gregorius, then in the Reds' system, .284 that fall and caught will likely go right down to the wire. the eye of Arizona general Kevin Towers, who wound up completing a three-team trade for him a month after the Fall The pair are both likely to be on the roster when the team opens League ended. the regular season in Sydney with two games against the Dodgers on March 22-23 in the Opening Series. "I enjoyed playing in the Fall League and being around the guys," Gregorius said. "Everybody was comfortable with each When the D-backs re-open the season March 31 against the other. It was amazing being there with the guys. It was great to Giants, though, it still appears as though only one of them will face all the good pitching because it makes you get better, too." make the team with Cliff Pennington serving as the backup. The Peoria team that Gregorius played on was a tight-knit This is not time these two have competed against each bunch, especially considering how the team was comprised of other, though. players from different organizations.

The previous time they were on different teams, but things were "We talked about everything," Gregorius said. "We didn't really just as nip-and-tuck then. know each other. I mean, we had played against each other during the season, but we didn't talk much. Then we got Back in the fall of 2012, Gregorius was playing for the Peoria together in the Fall League for like two days and it was like we Javelinas while Owings starred for the Salt River Rafters in the had always been together. We talked a lot and everyone was . helping each other out."

Those were the two best teams in the AFL that year and the pair Owings, now the second-ranked prospect in the D-backs' of young were on opposite sides in a championship system, hit .275 and showcased his skills for Williams, who in game like no other the league had ever seen -- one decided in turn passed along positive reports to manager Kirk Gibson. part on a protested call. In 2013, Owings would go on to win the "It was a really, really good game," Owings said. "Everyone was Most Valuable Player Award and his strong performance at amped up and into it. It was a cool atmosphere, it was on MLB -A Reno earned him a September callup, which in turn set Network." him up to battle for the starting big league job this spring.

The contested play came in the bottom of the seventh "It was great to face even better competition than in the regular when Owings lifted a fly ball to right where it was caught. Brian season," Owings said of the Fall League. "And I got a lot of Goodwin tagged up from third and scored what would have playing time, so I think that did help me out a lot for the next been the tying run. year."

However, Mike Zunino stepped on home plate in an Miley cruises against Rockies attempt to appeal the play and the home-plate umpire ruled that D-backs lefty goes five innings; Hill, Montero each go deep Goodwin was safe. By Thomas Harding / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article/ari/diamo Then the Javelinas appealed at third base that Goodwin had left ndbacks-wade-miley-cruises-against- early, and it was ruled that he had, so Goodwin was out and the rockies?ymd=20140313&content_id=69196186&vkey=news_ari Rafters still trailed, 4-3. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Brandon Drury's two-run double in the Rafters manager Matt Williams, who at the time was the D- eighth inning lifted the D-backs to their second win on backs' third-base , protested the call based on the fact that Wednesday, 6-4, over the Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking the defensive team should not be able to appeal the same play at Stick. multiple bases. It was a split-squad day for both clubs. Earlier Wednesday, the After the game, the protest was denied when it was learned that Rockies defeated the Reds, 3-2, and the D-backs beat the a team is allowed to appeal a play at multiple bases. Dodgers, 9-2, in Glendale.

Drury's double, off Raul Fernandez, broke a 4-4 tie. 4

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against Team Australia in an exhibition game March 21 in Miguel Montero's homer to right-center off Wilton Lopez in the Sydney. sixth inning gave the D-backs a 4-1 lead. The Rockies' Paul Janish answered in the bottom of the seventh with his first Didi, Pennington lead D-backs' offensive charge homer of the spring, a solo shot off right-handed relief prospect Middle infielders each deliver three hits; Marte adds homer Jimmie Sherfy. The Rockies tied it with two more runs against off Greinke Sherfy. Corey Dickerson singled and later scored on a wild , By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com and added an RBI . http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article/ari/didi- gregorius-cliff-pennington-lead-offense-for-arizona- The biggest news of the night just might be a false alarm. D- diamondbacks?ymd=20140312&content_id=69135656&vkey=n backs starter hit Rockies star shortstop Troy ews_ari Tulowitzki on the lower left leg with a pitch in the fourth inning. The Rockies announced that Tulowitzki had a left calf GLENDALE, Ariz. -- A split squad of D-backs roughed up contusion, X-rays were negative, and his availability is day to day. Dodgers pitchers Zack Greinke and Zach Lee in a 9-2 win Injuries to Tulowitzki -- a right groin issue that required surgery Wednesday. in 2012 and a broken rib last season -- played a big part in the club finishing last in the West the last two Andy Marte homered off Greinke in a three-run second inning. seasons. Arizona scored four runs in the fifth inning, two on a bases- loaded single by Shelley Duncan. "I was just trying to get it in," Miley said of his wayward pitch. "I was trying to go in in his first at-bat, and he crushes it. I wanted Cliff Pennington went 3-for-3 with two RBIs to make sure I got it in, and I cut it off a little bit." for Arizona and Didi Gregorius, competing for Arizona's starting shortstop job, went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Miley, who has a spot secured in the D-backs' starting rotation, struck out five and held the Rockies to one run and four hits in Greinke, making his first start since suffering a mild right calf five innings. strain Feb. 27, allowed six hits in two innings with two .. "It felt good. I'm making progress," Miley said. "I feel like it's easier to get up and down five times, and that's kind of what Arizona starter Michael Lee allowed two runs in three innings. you're looking for." followed Lee with three scoreless innings.

Aaron Hill gave the D-backs a 1-0 lead with a homer in the third The Dodgers scored twice in the first inning on a double by inning off Rockies lefty starter Pedro Hernandez, who gave up Hanley Ramirez, a walk by Adrian Gonzalez and a two-run three hits but no further run damage in his three innings. double by Andre Ethier.

Hernandez, 24, is in camp under a Minor League contract after Arizona's second-inning rally started with Marte's homer, appearing in 14 games, including 10 starts, with the Twins last followed by singles from Duncan and . Lee moved season. He also made one appearance with the White Sox in the runners over with a fake bunt groundout. Duncan scored on 2012. Hernandez entered the night with no runs and six hits in Tony Campana's single and Blanco on Pennington's . four innings over three Cactus League appearances. Up next: The D-backs will send Archie Bradley to the mound "I was surprised when Jimmy [Wright, the Rockies' pitching against the Mariners on Thursday afternoon at Salt River Fields coach] told me I was going to start in the second game in a game that can be heard on an exclusive webcast at 1:10 p.m. [Wednesday]," Hernandez said. "I was excited. Working down in MST. This will be Bradley's final start before he gets the ball the zone is what I need. It was a pretty good lineup with against Team Australia in an exhibition game March 21 in Diamondbacks." Sydney.

In fact, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson played many of his Cahill still sore, but on schedule starters because he wanted them to get the extra work with the By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com regular-season start in Australia coming up March 22-23 against http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=2 the Dodgers. 0140312&content_id=69197354¬ebook_id=69197490&vke y=notebook_ari&c_id=ari The D-backs scored once in the fourth off Tommy Kahnle, on a single from Chris Owings. It was Owings' answer in his SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When D-backs Trevor Cahill competition for the starting shortstop job with Didi Gregorius, woke up Wednesday morning, the first thing he did was assess who went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI against the Dodgers how his right knee felt. earlier in the day. "I got up, and I was like, 'Not bad,'" Cahill said. Up next: The D-backs will send Archie Bradley to the mound against the Mariners on Thursday afternoon at Salt River Fields During Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Indians, Cahill in a game that can be heard on an exclusive webcast at 1:10 p.m. was late getting over to cover first base, and while reaching for MST. This will be Bradley's final start before he gets the ball the bag with his right leg, he jammed his knee. He immediately fell to the ground, and his teammates feared the worst. 5

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have to figure that exact component out, though, what the After a few minutes, though, Cahill was able to walk off the makeup is." field. The team would like to keep at least one other reliever capable "When it happened, I was like, 'Oh, it's something structural and of pitching multiple innings, such as Randall Delgado. there goes the season,'" Cahill said. "But after I lay there for a second, I was like, 'All right.' • Wade Miley felt good about his start against the Rockies in which he allowed one run on four hits over five innings. "It wasn't anything structural, so if anything it will just be a little sore, nothing serious." "I'm making progress," Miley said. "I feel like it's easier to get up and down five times, and that's kind of what you're looking for." Cahill played catch Wednesday, but whether he throws his scheduled between-start bullpen session Thursday is up in the Parra se prepara para el 2014 air. MLB.com http://m.mlb.com/video/v31505505/parra-se-prepara-para-la- "We'll see how he comes in tomorrow," D-backs manager Kirk nueva-temporada-con-arizona Gibson said on Wednesday. (Spanish interview with : VIDEO EMBEDDED) As of right now, Cahill is still scheduled to start Sunday against the Brewers and again one week later in the second game of the Prado mas comodo en Arizona Opening Series with the Dodgers in Sydney, Australia. MLB.com http://m.mlb.com/video/v31505743/martin-prado-se-siente- Gibson said the team would have time right up until it leaves mas-comodo-en-arizona Sunday night for Australia to decide whether Cahill will start against the Dodgers. (Spanish interview with Martin Prado: VIDEO EMBEDDED)

Perez will be ready for Opening Series Delgado lucha por un puesto MLB.com SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Newly signed left-hander Oliver Perez http://m.mlb.com/video/v31505539/delgado-lucha-por-un- should be ready to pitch if needed on March 22, when the D- puesto-en-la-rotacion-de-arizona backs open the regular season against the Dodgers in Sydney, Australia. (Spanish interview with Randall Delgado: VIDEO EMBEDDED) Perez, who was signed by the D-backs on Monday, threw in a simulated game Tuesday and will make his Cactus League debut DBacks Derrick Hall Joins Tim & Willy in Studio Thursday against the Mariners. Tim & Willy radio show / Skyview Networks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44XD0Ww9Qx8 Perez will also throw an inning on Saturday, as well as in a simulated game in Sydney next week. (VIDEO EMBEDDED)

"I expect he'll be fine," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. Derrick discusses the Opening Series in Australia.

As a reliever who will be used at least initially for very short Diamondbacks’ Mark Grace may join big-league staff stints, it should not take Perez a long time to get his arm ready. By Nick Piecoro / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/cactus/article Worth noting s/20140312diamondbacks-mark-grace-may-join-big-league- staff.html • Shortstop Cliff Pennington was originally scheduled to be a backup in Thursday night's game against the Rockies, but he There are two scenarios involving Mark Grace this spring, and asked manager Kirk Gibson if he could start in the day game the way he sees it, he can't lose either way. against the Dodgers instead. One possibility: Spring training ends, the Diamondbacks relocate Pennington wound up going 3-for-3 and was a away downtown and he sticks around at Salt River Fields, working from hitting for the cycle. with younger players and preparing for his second year as a minor league coach. "He's a gamer," Gibson said. "He wanted to play." And then there's this scenario: Grace gets the call to the big • The D-backs are hoping to reduce the workload of right- leagues once more, in the summer he turns 50, this time as a hander Josh Collmenter, who threw 92 innings in relief last year. member of manager Kirk Gibson's coaching staff.

"We hope to have a bullpen where he doesn't have to shoulder It could happen. the load as much," Gibson said. "Pitch a little differently. We

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Though his official position is hitting coach for the short-season Hillsboro Hops, Grace has spent the entirety of spring training Addison Reed and the closer’s job; pitching notes; & other in big-league camp acting as the de facto No. 2 hitting coach stuff behind Turner Ward. By Nick Piecoro / azcentral sports http://archive.azcentral.com/insiders/nickpiecoro/2014/03/12 Where Grace goes will come down to what happens with catcher /addison-reed-and-the-closers-job-pitching-notes-other-stuff/ Henry Blanco. In camp on a minor-league deal, Blanco is trying to win the backup catcher's job. If he doesn't make the team, he Right-hander Addison Reed said Wednesday he hadn’t heard has been told he'll be added to the coaching staff. If he makes anything from the coaching staff about the closer’s competition. the team, it could open the door for Grace. Having given up just one run in five innings, Reed has pretty much stated his case, but he said he didn’t intend to coast to the After helping the Diamondbacks win the 2001 as a finish line in his final three outings before Australia. player, Grace spent 81/2 seasons as the team's television color analyst before being arrested and charged with two DUIs in a “I’m still going to go out there and try to prove to them that I 15-month span. can throw the ninth inning, that I want the ninth inning and make the decision as hard as possible,” Reed said. “That’s my Grace still sounds embarrassed by what happened and thankful goal, to make their decision hard.” not only to the Diamondbacks organization for giving him another opportunity, this time as a coach, but also to the people It sort of seems like Reed has made the decision easy. around him. His driving privileges still revoked — as they will be for up to 10 more months — he's a burden on his friends. Reed was the odds-on favorite to begin with, having been one of the club’s key acquisitions in the off-season and coming off a 40- “I can promise you,” Grace said, “it ain't happening again.” season with the White Sox. He’s done nothing this spring to indicate he can’t do the job well once again. But the weird part is, the DUIs might have led him to a better place. He enjoyed broadcasting, but nothing like coaching. His top competition, right-hander J.J. Putz, has been less impressive, giving up three runs on six hits and four walks in five “There's something about wearing that uniform that's very innings. As manager Kirk Gibson said has pointed out, Putz has special to a player and a former player,” he said. “The adrenaline a history of flipping a switch once the regular season starts, of rush, living vicariously through your hitters and pitchers. The suddenly returning to his old self, and perhaps that same thing competitive juices certainly flow where they didn't in the will happen this year, too. broadcast booth.” But if the club was evaluating based on spring training Long talked about as a future manager, Grace is finally taking the performance, which was the plan going into camp, it’s hard to steps that might get him there. see them not going with Reed.

“I truly believe that everything happens for a reason,” *** Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall said. “It's unfortunate that he experienced what he did. But it's allowed him to shift gears and Some pitching notes: go down a path that may very well lead to him being a manager.” *Gibson said the Diamondbacks are still proceeding as if right- Grace doesn't seem to want to think about the possibility. He hander Trevor Cahill will start Game 2 in Australia. They’re also pointed out managers are trending younger. He said no one has planning for him to make his final Cactus League start on ever called him about a manager's job and he's not sure anyone Sunday vs. Milwaukee. ever will. Cahill hyperextended his knee in Tuesday afternoon’s game “Managing right now is the furthest thing from my mind,” he against the . said. “Right now, I'm just doing the best I can to help Turner out.” “We’ll see how he comes in tomorrow,” Gibson said. “I don’t know if he’s going to throw a bullpen tomorrow. He may take an Ward says he and Grace are getting along well. Players say extra day. We’ll see. Nobody really knows. It could have been Grace's knowledge from a 16-year big league career carries way worse. That’s kind of where we’re at right now.” immense valuable. And Hall believes the quick-witted Grace would add a personality component that's missing on the The obvious candidates to replace Cahill would be left-hander coaching staff. Wade Miley and right-hander Brandon McCarthy, although Gibson said that “anyone” would be in play, other than right- “He's somebody who's important to our organization,” Hall hander Bronson Arroyo. said. “I like having former players around in uniform. I think they add to our history, add to our fan experience. They add to *Left-hander Oliver Perez threw in a sim game on Tuesday, the necessity of teaching and interacting with our younger Gibson said, and is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut players. He fits all of those categories perfectly. Mark Grace, you on Thursday. After that, he’ll pitch once more in the Cactus can tell, he has a great relationship with our fans, a tremendous League, then throw in another sim game in Australia – either on relationship with our players. He's doing a great job.” 7

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Wednesday or Thursday – and should be ready to go for the Dodgers series. "It keeps me in shape and gives me a lot of energy, and that's what we need at this age. I feel good probably better than I “If something’s not right, he won’t go,” Gibson said. “But if he’s when I was here" in 2011-12. "I have to work out a little bit right, he will go. I expect he will be fine.” harder. It's nice to feel good at this age."

*Gibson did not have an update on Arroyo, which doesn’t seem Blanco is 42. But the number that best defines him is 40.49. like good news in regard to his chances of being able to avoid Blanco has thrown out 40.49 percent of the base runners who the disabled list to open the season. have attempted to steal on him in a major league career that began in 1997. He is the active leading major league leader, one *** one-hundredth of a point ahead of St. Louis' Yadier Molina. Blanco was at it again last Friday, when he threw out Oakland Here’s an 8-bit version of the True Detective theme. speedster Billy Burns, who had 74 stolen bases at two minor league levels last season. *** Tuffy Gosewisch and Blake Lalli are the other in camp Guess the Wes Anderson film by looking at props. vying for the spot behind Montero, which Blanco occupied in 2011 and for four months in 2012 until he suffered a torn *** ligament in his left thumb that August. The D-backs will take three catchers to Australia, manager Kirk Gibson said, but A.A. Dowd revisits David Gordon Green’s George Washington. almost certainly will carry just two during the regular season.

*** "We like our depth there," Gibson said.

This is Are You With Me Now by Cate Le Bon. Blanco does not see it as a competition per se.

A Trip Around the Bases: The Double Play at Second Base "We have to go out and play our game and then it is going to be By Chenea Schacher / Special for azcentral sports their decision," said Blanco, who had a single plus in twplus at- http://www.azcentral.com/videos/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/ bats in a 9-2 win to the at Camelback 2014/03/13/6361127/ Ranch on Wednesday afternoon.

(Aaron Hill and Didi Gregorius break down the double play: "All we can do is go there and do the best we can and show VIDEO EMBEDDED) them that we can still play this game."

Diamondbacks had childhood heroes too If clubhouse positioning means anything, Blanco might be By Korey Kaczur / Special for azcentral sports slightly ahead. Blanco and Montero have lockers on either side http://www.azcentral.com/videos/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/ of top prospect Archie Bradley, and Blanco's clubhouse presence 2014/03/13/6361137/ has long been considered a long suit.

(D-backs players talk about their childhood heroes: VIDEO "We've chatted a couple of times," Blanco said. "Trying to make EMBEDDED) him understand what it takes to stay here in the big leagues. It is a game of adjustments. He's going to be real good. He has the D-backs Fantasy Camp talent, and I think he has the guts to pitch up here." By Jodie Jackson / FOX Sports Arizona http://msn.foxsports.com/arizona/video/d-backs-fantasy- Blanco hit .250 with eight home runs behind Montero when the camp-031214 D-backs won the NL West in 2011, but he has not been above .200 in his two seasons since. (Package on D-Backs Fantasy Camp: VIDEO EMBEDDED) "It feels pretty good right now," he said. Early-riser Blanco having a strong spring By Jack Magruder / FOX Sports Arizona Putz trying something new http://msn.foxsports.com/arizona/story/early-riser-blanco- having-a-strong-spring-031214 Closer candidate J.J. Putz has used his five spring training outings to tinker with his delivery in an attempt to keep his SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- It is 5 a.m. and Henry Blanco has lower in the strike zone, the better to keep hitters off his beaten dawn in order to beat himself up once again. Blanco is pet split-finger pitch. one of several Diamondbacks who participates in an insane, hour-long workout at Salt River Fields just about every morning. "He's been great about it. He's been open," D-backs pitching To Blanco, it is as necessary as the blocking drills or swings he coach Mike Harkey said. "He's tried some things that worked, takes in the batting cage. and he's tried some things that don't work. Which is the whole process." "I think it is keeping me in baseball," said Blanco, one of the top candidates to back up catcher Miguel Montero this season. 8

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The numbers not been great -- he has given up six hits and four had their way with Dodgers starter Zack Greinke, who gave up walks in five innings -- but no one is giving them much six hits and three runs in his two innings. credence. Putz had a career-high 45 saves in his first spring with the D-backs, when he gave up four runs and four only outs in Hitting notes: Andy Marte hit a homer off Greinke leading off major league games, doing most of his work on the back fields. the second inning, his first spring home run. Marte, a non-roster invitee, is hitting .316 in 12 games. ... Tony "You can look at the history of spring trainings over the years. Campana stole second base in the second and sixth innings, Those numbers can be really misleading," Gibson said. "With making him 5-for-5 in attempts this spring. ... Matt J.J., I look at the experience that he has had in the past. We went Tuiasosopo was robbed of a single on a lunging catch by through this last year a bit. I'm not concerned about that." Dodgers' second baseman Dee Gordon in the third inning. Tuiasosopo is 3-for-31 with six RBIs this spring. Putz pitched a scoreless seventh inning Tuesday, getting three groundouts. Trainers made a quick trip to the mound, but Pitching notes: Minor league Rule 5 draftee Michael Lee gaD- Gibson said it just was a blister. backs 6, Rockies 4

"It's just something they wanted me to try to work on, so we are Game recap: Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is expected to trying to work on it," Putz said of his delivery tweak. miss a couple of days Arizona starter Wade Miley hit him with a fastball with two outs in the fourth. He limped to first before "It's just a matter of getting the timing right. A lot of that leaving the game. X-rays were negative, but it was a scary happens once the regular season starts, when the energy level is moment for the Rockies, who have seen their three-time All-Star just faster. Things usually seem to find a way to work themselves suffer numerous injuries. out. I've had some of the best years of my career having some of the worst spring trainings. The only thing I really worry about is Hitting notes: Aaron Hill had three hits, including a solo homer how I feel, and I feel great. Once the lights come on and it's the off Rockies starter Pedro Hernandez. ... Miguel Montero had a real deal, you throw all the mechanical issues you are trying to two-run homer for Arizona and Paul Janish hit a solo shot for work through ... you throw those away and you just hope that Colorado. the work you put in is going to take over, and it always has." Pitching notes: Miley went five innings, allowing one run on four Cahill injury not serious hits, including Michael McKenry's RBI double. He struck out five. ... Miley likes the extended work he's been getting with When Trevor Cahill suffered a jammed right knee covering first Arizona on a fast track to open the season March 22 in Australia. base Tuesday, he admitted he feared the worst. But after a good "I think you get more out of it going four or five innings rather night's rest, his knee injury does not appear serious. He played than two," Miley said. "I feel great." catch Wednesday morning and was able to push off his right leg without excessive discomfort. Short hops: Archie Bradley is to make his third spring start Thursday, going against Seattle, while Brandon McCarthy will "I don't have the best knees, so when it happened ... it was one pitch in a minor league game against San Francisco's Class AAA of those things, my whole season flashed before my eyes," Cahill Fresno team. The D-backs want to expose Bradley, as much as said. "But after I lay there for a second, I knew it was nothing possible, to the major league atmosphere, as part of his learning structural. I'll just be a little sore." process. Bradley has not given up a run and has nine strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings. McCarthy is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in a team-high Cahill, who is scheduled to start the D-backs' second game in 14 innings in his first three starts. ... Greinke pitched for the first Australia against the Los Angeles Dodgers, played catch time since being removed from his first start Feb. 27 with a right Wednesday and reported no problems, just a little soreness. He calf strain. Greinke, who caused a stir when he said there was " is expected to throw a bullpen session Thursday. no excitement" about playing the D-backs in a two-game series in Australia, was scratched from that trip shortly after his injury. "We're optimistic about it. We'll have a better idea tomorrow," Left-handers Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu are to start for Gibson said. the Dodgers against Patrick Corbin and Trevor Cahill. ... Oliver Perez is scheduled to make his D-backs debut against Seattle on D-backs game report: Wednesday, March 12 Thursday. ... Dodgers center fielder played in a camp By Jack Magruder / FOX Sports Arizona game Wednesday, playing center for the first time this spring http://msn.foxsports.com/arizona/story/diamondbacks-game- after undergoing left ankle surgery last fall. Kemp is expected to report-wednesday-march-12-031214 open the season on the disabled list. ... Bronson Arroyo (back) played catch on Wednesday. Diamondbacks 9, Dodgers 2 End quote: "We're not changing anything at this point. We think Game recap: Cliff Pennington had three hits and was a home he should be OK." D-backs manager Kirk Gibson, on Trevor run short of the cycle when the D-backs handled the Los Cahill's availability to make his start on Sunday. Angeles Dodgers in their last meeting before they open the regular season in Sydney, Australia, with a two-game series Thursday's game: Diamondbacks (9-7-3) vs. Seattle (12-4), Salt March 22-23. Pennington drove in two runs, one with a sacrifice River Fields, 1:10 pm. fly. Didi Gregorius had three singles and an RBI as the D-backs

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Probable pitchers: Archie Bradley (2-0, 0.00) vs. Erasmo Those numbers throw up a red flag. Aren’t pitchers usually going Ramirez (2-0, 1.04). to catch or deflect or evade the average line drives? I wonder how fast the line drives that struck McCarthy and Happ traveled. Heavy, sweaty, itchy: Why pitchers won't use protective Faster than 83 miles an hour, I’ll wager. caps By Rob Neyer / FOX Sports Which isn’t to say the new headgear wouldn’t provide some http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/not-using-their-heads- protection against faster liners. It just seems that 83’s merely a will-pitchers-actually-use-headgear-meant-to-protect-them- good start, considering how many of the most dangerous drives 031214 must be faster.

PHOENIX -- This was supposed to be the year. Still, some protection is better than none. Which brings us to the second step, and the reason you’re probably not going to see pitchers were finally supposed to be anybody wearing one of these things this season: Pitchers hate blessed with some protection – aside from merely their very the thing, as Tyler Kepner wrote in the Times: human reflexes, of course – when a line drive came screaming at their heads, traveling faster than 100 miles an hour. The sort of In an effort to protect pitchers from line drives, Major League line drive that nearly ended Brandon McCarthy’s career a couple Baseball approved a padded-cap design Tuesday for optional use of years ago, and has threatened the careers – and yes, lives – of this season. But a pitcher whose injury helped accelerate the many dozens or hundreds of other professional pitchers over the effort, Brandon McCarthy of the Arizona Diamondbacks, years. Last year, J.A. Happ suffered a grievous injury, too. deflated much of the excitement by declaring he would not use it. Because McCarthy’s injury was so traumatic, and because he’s among the most articulate, intelligent and publicly outgoing McCarthy, who needed emergency surgery after he was struck in players in the majors, he became the poster boy for the the head by a liner while pitching for Oakland in 2012, worked invention and prospective adoption of protective headgear for on the product with M.L.B. and isoBlox, the cap’s manufacturer. pitchers. But he told ESPN that even though baseball had approved its use, he thought the cap was too big, too hot and too itchy for When I spoke to McCarthy a year ago in spring training, he was him to wear. already involved with that effort, and he seemed optimistic that something was coming soon. And when Brandon McCarthy’s “Hopefully, in a couple of years, they can come up with optimistic, I’m optimistic. something that everyone wears and that you don’t notice it being on your head while you’re out there,” McCarthy said, adding Before any pitcher wears protecting headgear in an actual game, later, “But right now, it’s just not there.” though, two things have to happen: Pitcher Brett Anderson of the posted a photo 1. Major League Baseball must officially approve gear. of the cap on his account, with the message “I’ll pass on the Super Mario Brothers inspired padded hat.” 2. Actual pitchers must actually embrace and wear gear. It’s easy to focus on the look of the thing, but this isn’t really Six weeks ago, the first of those actually happened: about that. As Kepner notes, “The padding in the isoBlox cap more than doubles the weight of the cap. The company said a On Tuesday morning, MLB informed its 30 teams that it has typical cap weighed three to four ounces, and the insert added an approved such a product for the first time, after consultation extra seven ounces.” with the players' association, according to Dan Halem, MLB executive vice president for labor relations. But that vastly understates the weight difference. If a typical cap weighs three-and-a-half ounces and the insert adds an extra "We're excited to have a product that meets our safety criteria," seven ounces, the padding triples the weight. Maybe ten-and-a- Halem told "Outside the Lines," adding that baseball will half ounces doesn’t seem like a lot. It is. continue its efforts to come up with more options. "MLB is committed to working with manufacturers to develop products Monday night in Scottsdale, McCarthy reached deep into his that offer maximum protection to our players, and we're not locker and pulled out a Diamondbacks cap fitted with the foam stopping at all." inserts. After running my fingers all around the padding, I asked him if I could try it on and yes, it felt strange. Halem and MLB senior counsel for labor relations Patrick Houlihan said the threshold for approval was that the cap had to Granted, no stranger than batting helmets must have felt to provide protection, at 83 miles per hour, below the National players in the 1950s when those were introduced. But there’s a Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment big difference: A batter actually wants to keep his head still, standard severity index of 1,200. Severity indexes higher than while a pitcher can’t keep his head still. Yes, there will be custom 1,200 are considered high-risk for skull fractures and traumatic fittings for major-league pitchers who want them, but I’m not brain injuries. An MLB-commissioned study determined that 83 sure the caps will be practical in the amateur ranks.* mph was the average speed of a line drive when it reaches the area of the pitching mound. (Note: I didn’t get a photo of McCarthy’s cap, but you can get an idea of what it looks like here. And yes, isoBlox is selling less 10

│ sophisticated, lighter inserts for (presumably younger, amateur) http://arizonasports.com/42/1712937/Pennington-and- pitchers, for a cool $59.95 … which brings up another question, Gregorius-lead-DBacks-spring-rout-of-Dodgers though. In a world where it’s already incredibly expensive for kids and teenagers to play baseball, who’s going to pay for all GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Wednesday was a perfect afternoon for these new inserts? Are we happy to continue the trend toward baseball at Camelback Ranch in Glendale -- the Cactus League nobody being able to play youth baseball except the rich and the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers. foreign? Ah, but that’s an issue for another day.) It was also a perfect time for D-backs' infielders Didi Gregorius and Cliff Pennington to break out of their spring jitters. The new protective headgear for major leaguers isn’t just blocky and heavy -- it’s also, as McCarthy pointed out, warm. Just The duo -- who combined for nine hits in 49 at-bats to start the remember how sweaty you’ve seen pitchers on television (or Cactus League -- inflicted serious damage to Zack Greinke and how sweaty you became, if you ever pitched). Now triple the rest of the Dodgers' pitching staff, going 6-for-7 and knocking in weight of your cap, and imagine throwing 30 pitches in the fifth three runs in the D-backs' 9-2 win. inning of a game in Texas in August against the best hitters in the world. McCarthy told me that when he tested the new Pennington finished 3-for-3, a home run short of the cycle, and headgear over the winter, he was dripping with sweat after just boosted his chances of making the team's roster. seven or eight minutes. He finds himself in a three-man battle for playing time at shortstop with Gregorius and developing prospect Chris Again, it’s easy to focus on the look of the thing, and the look is Owings. an impediment to adoption. But I think if the thing actually worked -- if it offered significant protection and didn’t keep the With Opening Day 10 days away, these final warm-up games are pitcher from pitching well -- that one pitcher would wear it, and certainly a serious matter for players like Pennington who is then others would wear it. But as McCarthy told ESPN.com, trying to make the trip to Australia. In 96 games last season for “it’s just not there yet.” Arizona, Pennington batted .242 with 18 RBIs.

If McCarthy won’t wear it, probably nobody will because being Gregorius laced a trio of singles along with an RBI and a stolen protected while doing your job is irrelevant if you can’t actually base. do your job. His stolen base didn't come without a bit of preseason drama, as It’ll get there, eventually. But it won’t be easy, and it might not the umpires utilized instant replay to confirm that he beat be fast. Hanley Ramirez's tag at second base.

The Pulse: Archie Bradley is ready for the big leagues Starting third baseman Andy Marte delivered the biggest blast of By Arizona Sports the game, smashing a solo home run off Los Angeles starter http://arizonasports.com/42/1712939/The-Pulse-Archie- Zack Greinke over the left field bullpen to start the D-Backs' Bradley-is-ready-for-the-big-leagues three-run second inning.

Every day, we at ArizonaSports.com ask our readers a question. Marte is in the process of trying to revive his career after It's the Sanderson Ford Poll Question of the Day, and it can be displaying immense promise as a teenager when he was signed at found midway down the right side of our home page. 16 by the . Now at the age of 30, he hasn't had an On Tuesday, we asked what the Diamondbacks should do with MLB at-bat since 2010 with the Indians. However, he is off to a top prospect Archie Bradley. solid start in the Cactus League batting .316 with a home run and three RBI in 12 games. The power he has to offer may help A total of 594 votes were submitted, and the majority if you him get that next opportunity in hitter-friendly Chase Field. think they should make him part of the starting rotation on Opening Day. The Diamondbacks were playing with their split-squad "B" team today, and most of their reserves handily outplayed the Dodgers That option received 387 votes, good enough for 65 percent. starters. The next closest total went to keeping him in the minor leagues to postpone his free agency, which earned 171 votes. Arizona starter Michael Lee erased a bumpy first inning where he allowed two runs by retiring seven of the final eight batters he Only 36 votes went to the idea that Bradley is not ready for the faced over three innings of work. Cesar Carrillo, who hasn't big leagues. pitched in the majors since '09, pitched three innings of scoreless relief. The right-hander has had two Cactus League starts, tossing 6.1 innings if baseball. He's struck out nine hitters and MLB columnist: D-backs want to win now walked four. By Evan Triantafilidis / Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1712902/MLB-columnist- (POLL EMBEDDED) Dbacks-want-to-win-now

Pennington and Gregorius lead D-Backs' spring rout of The Arizona Diamondbacks have made off season moves that Dodgers have "immediate success" written all over them. By Sal Musto / Arizona Sports 11

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Highlighting the new acquisitions for the D-backs are starting "I think we're all ready," Towers told Doug and Wolf on pitcher Bronson Arroyo, closer Addison Reed and former All- Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. "We've been here over a month Star Mark Trumbo. Acquiring for these players leaves no doubt training and we've played almost 20 games already. We can't wait that the D-backs are playing to win. for Sunday to get started and Patrick Corbin and Clayton Kershaw should be a great matchup in game one." "Long-term, I don't know that the moves they made are all that great," MLB Columnist for Yahoo Sports Jeff Passan told The The D-backs announced earlier this month that Patrick Corbin Dan Bickley Show with Vince Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 and Trevor Cahill will take the mound against the Los Angeles FM. Dodgers in the two-game set.

"The fact is the Diamondbacks want to win and they want to But while the starting pitchers have already been named, the win now. They needed a closer and they got that in Addison starting shortstop position is still up for grabs. Reed and they felt like they needed another power bat and they got that in Mark Trumbo. I don't think these deals are things The battle between Didi Gregorius and Chris Owings has been that we are going to look back on and say, ‘oh they just got brewing all spring, but as of now, Towers and the team do not ripped off,' but they are definitely calculated risks that they were know who will win the job. taking with 2014 and 2015 in mind." "We still got some time," Towers said. "We will probably bring The D-backs don't have to win the competitive NL West to both to Australia. make the playoffs, but a Wild Card position will be easier to grab, according to Passan. He says that while the American "They'll both be active there and both of them have played very, League has serious depth in playoff-contending teams, the very well. You can't go wrong either way. That's probably going National League doesn't. to be a decision that we're going to make right before we open up against the ." "When you have two Wild Cards and you have a league like the National League that is wide open as it is, for example, the Towers has previously intimated that the runner-up in the Atlanta Braves losing Kris Medlen likely to Tommy John Surgery competition will be sent to the minor leagues. and maybe losing Brandon Beachy on top of that and having to scramble and sign , it goes to show you that the Owings has batted .250 this spring with three runs scored, lack of depth relative to the ," Passan said. compared to Gregorius' .167 average with three RBI.

"That depth is not apparent in the National League. With the Gregorius has played in just 111 career games, 103 of them playoff race that wide open, you can understand why the coming with the D-backs last season. Last year, the 24-year-old Diamondbacks feel like this is an opportunity for them. I never batted .252 with seven home runs and 28 RBI. hold it against the team for going out and trying to win if they do it in a reasonable fashion, and I think the Diamondbacks have Owings, 22, earned a callup to the D-backs on Sept. 1, after done that." batting .330 in AAA Reno.

The D-backs reached out and got what they needed, however, The D-backs have until Saturday morning to set the roster that the health of the team is still in question. With pitchers Trevor the team will bring to Australia, and Towers said besides carrying Cahill and Arroyo suffering from their own spring training more relief pitchers than usual, the it will look pretty normal. injuries and Cody Ross recovering from hip surgery, the team cannot afford to have a player land on the disabled list anytime "It's not going to be much different than using your rosters soon. composed of somewhere between 12 pitchers and 13 position players," Towers said. "This one is going to be either 11 pitchers "I think it always comes down to injuries. If the Diamondbacks and 14 position players, or 10 pitchers and 15 position players." pitching stays healthy, I think they are going to be a contender and at least be in the wildcard race. I can't see a scenario where A little from Trevor Cahill would mean a lot for the D- they finish in last place in the division." backs By Doug Franz / Arizona Sports D-backs GM: Shortstop position still up for grabs http://arizonasports.com/42/1712779/A-little-from-Trevor- By Evan Triantafilidis / Arizona Sports Cahill-would-mean-a-lot-for-the-Dbacks http://arizonasports.com/42/1712780/Dbacks-GM-Shortstop- position-still-up-for-grabs ARIZONA: Patrick Corbin, Wade Miley, Bronson Arroyo, Brandon McCarthy, Trevor Cahill (Archie Bradley). Ten days away from the Arizona Diamondbacks opening their L.A.: Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hun-Jin Ryu, , 2014 season in Australia, the team is making the final decisions . on the roster it will bring to Sydney. The D-backs started their spring training a week early, giving SAN FRANCISCO: , , Tim them extra time to prepare for the two-game series scheduled to Lincecum, , . be played March 22-23 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

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Each team has a major question mark in their rotation. The This is a season where every game is vital to the D-backs problem for Arizona is their major question mark is above a because the Giants and Dodgers have better players. The only player that still has proven nothing. way for Arizona to make the playoffs is to "grind" out wins where the chemistry beats the calculator. There are too many Although Greinke is an issue now, he'll be fine. Kershaw is a question marks in the 2014 rotation to expect them to pick up stud. Ryu might be the best #3 in baseball. Haren should be Cahill's slack. solid returning to Southern California. The wild card is between the ears of Josh Beckett. If we're talking about Carson Palmer's arm the majority of August, it's because Cahill's arm wasn't able to do the job from San Francisco hasn't been given nearly enough credit for the April through July. Tim Hudson signing. There's no way Cain goes 8-10 when he actually had a WHiP lower than his career average, still struck Could injuries force Archie Bradley into the starting out 3X as many as he walked and his average against only went rotation? up a point above his average. Even if Bumgarner comes back to By Adam Green / Arizona Sports Earth a little, he's not the question for the Giants. There's one http://arizonasports.com/42/1712720/Could-injuries-force- question: Lincecum's fast ball. Where did it go and will it return? Archie-Bradley-into-the-starting-rotation

Unfortunately for Arizona, there is no margin for . There's The Arizona Diamondbacks went into spring training with a legitimate question for every starter. Can Corbin really handle enough depth to where they could, in theory, leave top prospect the pressure of being the "" at his age? Has Miley reached is Archie Bradley in the minor leagues for a little while longer. ceiling or is there more? Is McCarthy the below-average pitcher That depth is now being tested. we've seen the bulk of his career or is his excellent spring a sign of what's to come? Does Arroyo's back issue really just fade Bronson Arroyo is out with a back issue and may not be ready to away for a pitcher with a great health record or have the odds start the regular season, and Trevor Cahill, who was penciled in caught up to him? None of these questions equal the big one. as one of the starting pitchers against the Dodgers in Australia, injured his knee attempting to cover first base in a game Tuesday Can Trevor Cahill be counted on to produce? afternoon.

Tell me how Trevor Cahill pitches this year and I'll tell you if the That's two of the team's five projected starters currently battling Diamondbacks compete for the playoffs. The Diamondbacks injuries, and while the severity of the issues and the length of won't compete for the playoffs if Cahill is an anchor on the staff. time they may be out is unknown, the D-backs have to prepare for all possibilities. Cahill has five years of experience. After five years, you know if a guy is a piece to a championship, irrelevant of his young age "With Cahill we'll probably know a little more today," D-backs (26). Last year he had a 0.7 WAR. That means he barely helps his GM Kevin Towers told Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 team win one more game per year than anyone you can just grab FM Wednesday morning. "It looked a lot more serious, I think, and throw into the spot. when he did it, but he walked off the field OK and the trainers said they're going to reevaluate it today." He's had one outstanding year in his career. The other four years are enough of a sample size that it's fair to claim the great year Towers said it appears to be more of a jammed knee than was an anomaly. Without 2010, Cahill is 43-49 with a 1.39 WHiP anything else, adding he hopes Cahill will be able to make his and a 4.13 ERA. Last year he had fewer wins, more losses, fewer next spring start which is scheduled for Sunday. strikeouts, more walks, a higher WHiP and a higher ERA than the player Arizona gave up in the trade. is also "And then Bronson, he had a little bit of a setback with his back, younger, under the A's control for three years and this will be his but history proves this guy very rarely ever misses a start," he first year making over $500,000 while Cahill has $19.7 million said. "If he's not, we've got Archie Bradley that's throwing the coming to him from Arizona over the next two years. ball very, very well right now."

This is not a blog attacking Cahill the individual. I don't know Bradley has appeared in two spring games for the D-backs, the man personally. I do know there's been quite a few times throwing 6.1 winnings of shutout baseball. He's allowed three over the last two years the Diamondbacks needed him to step up hits and walked four while striking out nine. and hold down the fort. The majority of those times he hasn't come through. The 21-year-old is the team's top prospect and one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball, and it appears he may be Cahill was brought in after the Diamondbacks made the ready to pitch in the big leagues. And from the sound of it, playoffs. The expectation was a playoff team needed more injuries may open the door. experience to get to the World Series and Parker was more of a "future guy." Arizona hasn't made the playoffs since and the "I don't want to make that decision right yet," Towers said when starting rotation has been a major reason why. No, it's not all asked if Bradley would take Arroyo's spot in the rotation if the Cahill's fault. There's plenty of blame to lay around a lot of veteran is unable to go. "All I know is he hasn't done anything to people. However, a strong choice starts with Cahill. hurt his chances to be on this club.

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"We'll just have to monitor the health of everybody else. He's been built up pretty good right now." Jamie Westbrook adjusting well to pro ball life By Jared Cohen / Arizona Sports 360 Towers added that the team could also turn to Randall Delgado http://www.sports360az.com/2014/03/jamie-westbrook- or even Josh Collmenter, as each has proven they can start at the adjusting-well-pro-ball-life/ Major League level. (VIDEO EMBEDDED) "We're just going to take it day-by-day, I hate to look too far into the future to say what we're going to do," he said. "There's still Not even a year ago, Jamie Westbrook walked across the stage at three or four games left here, and then Australia, and then a few Basha High School as a high school graduate. Fast forward to more games before we open the season vs. San Francisco." today, he participating in his first spring training as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. D-backs' Trevor Cahill leaves early with knee injury vs. Cleveland Westbrook is already living the adult life at the ripe old age of 18. By Vince Marotta / Arizona Sports Dealing with rush our traffic driving home from work, living http://arizonasports.com/42/1712707/Dbacks-Trevor-Cahill- away from home in a hotel room. All has been an adjustment, leaves-early-with-knee-injury-vs-Cleveland but all worth chasing something he has chased his whole life.

The last two Cactus League starts haven't gone very well for “It’s fun to come to the field everyday and chase your dream,” Arizona Diamondbacks' right-hander Trevor Cahill. Westbrook said after a minor league game at Salt River Fields at March 6 against Oakland, Cahill allowed six runs on eight hits in Talking Stick. “I’ve grown up a lot in a couple months. It’s three innings of work during an 8-8 tie. After the game, manager weird. I almost graduated a year ago so it’s been crazy to see how Kirk Gibson said Cahill was 'unable to execute' and didn't follow far I’ve come since the draft and I’m just happy to be playing the game plan. ball.”

Tuesday, Cahill was touched up for five runs on nine hits in 4.2 Though Westbrook is new to the Diamondbacks organization innings of work in a 7-1 loss to Cleveland. To make matters after being selected in the fifth round, 150th overall in this past worse, the 26-year-old had to leave the game with a knee injury Major League Baseball Draft. But he is familiar with the in the fifth inning. organization maybe more so than most whom are new to the organization. He played with the Diamondbacks scout team for "Just a little hyperextended, I think," Cahill told Burns and two years in high school so he knew his way around the facilities Gambo Tuesday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. "It felt like a really and how it felt to wear the uniform. But that doesn’t make bad cramp, but it went away so I was glad it was nothing wearing that pro uniform any less exciting for him. serious." “Im from here so it was comfortable putting the jersey on,” The injury was suffered when Cahill covered first base on a Westbrook explained. “But it still an honor to be a ground ball to . The pitcher was a touch late Diamondback.” off the mound and had to extend to beat Indians' second baseman Jason Kipnis to the bag. He stayed down on the field One of the biggest adjustments for any player making the jump for a few moments before walking off under his own power. He to the pro ranks is going from a metal bat to a wood one. In the was replaced by reliever David Hernandez. year 2014, there are many leagues available for amateurs to play with wood bats but it’s not for everyone. Westbrook did have "First of all, if he would have covered the bag on time, we that opportunity before turning pro but still acknowledges how wouldn't be talking about this right now," manager Kirk Gibson big an adjustment it is. And his biggest reason might make you joked with Burns and Gambo later on Tuesday. "He got kind of laugh. a late break over there. I think it just kind of surprised him, to be honest with you. “Another thing is paying for your own bats when you break them,” he joked. “You care a little more because a metal bat isn’t "He kind of took a funny step; he half-went for the bag and I going to break. So that’s one funny thing you have to get used don't think he got the bag." to.”

Gibson said Cahill was nearing his pitch limit for the day and While competing at the minor league level, Westbrook also has would have been taken out anyway. The manager also said that the opportunity to interact and play with big league level ball preliminary exams didn't show any structural damage. Further players who come down to get extra at-bats and rehab injuries. exams will take place Wednesday. Two of which, and Cody Ross, were present playing with Westbrook in games this week. "It was scary because I've had knee problems in the past," Cahill said. "I'm just glad it went away." “When those guys come in they want to get their work in so you just want to stay out of their way, “ Westbrook mentioned. “But Cahill is scheduled to pitch the Diamondbacks' second game of for the most part they are all really cool, they are all the regular season against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Australia approachable. It’s where you want to be.” March 22. He's 6-0 with a 2.01 ERA in 10 career starts against the Dodgers. 14

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Right now, Westbrook is in the locker room with the High-A Wherever he starts the season, Campana said he's just happy to level Visalia Rawhide. As players get sent down from the pro be a part of the Diamondbacks organization. He said he's ranks, there is a trickle down effect for the rest of the levels soaking up as much knowledge as he can from the coaching staff below so as of now, there is no way of knowing where and is glad to be reunited with new first base coach Dave Westbrook will play his first full pro season. He prefers not McKay, whom he had in Chicago during his time with the Cubs. knowing because he says it keeps him motivated and hungry and doesn’t set him up to be let down if he doesn’t make a certain "I know how he is and he knows how I am and it's always nice team. to have that on your side," Campana said.

In fact his goals for the upcoming season are the same no matter Cahill update where he winds up. Right-hander Trevor Cahill, who jammed his right knee while “I just want to keep having fun,” he said. “It’s still the game I’ve covering first base on an awkward play Tuesday, played catch on loved since I was little and I don’t want to get to stressful. I just Wednesday, and manager Kirk Gibson said the pitcher was want to go out, perform and compete like I know how and that’s feeling better. about it. Stay healthy and just chase my dream.” "It went decent and he's optimistic about it," Gibson said. "I Arizona Diamondbacks' Tony Campana hopes to parlay think his next bullpen day might be (today), so we'll have a better speed into job idea." By Bob McManaman / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2 If Cahill is able to throw as scheduled on Thursday, then it's an 014/03/13/arizona-diamondbacks-tony-campana-hopes-to- even bigger sigh of relief. parlay-speed-into-job/6359171/ "Yeah, I think it kind of startled me. At first, it maybe alarmed He's a spitfire sparkplug with a pretty good glove who can get on me, scared me," Gibson said. "We're not changing anything at base and steal bags about as easy as a purse snatcher in a room this point. We think he should be OK but again, we'll know a lot full of blind grannies. more (Thursday)."

But that isn't enough to guarantee center fielder Tony Campana Ross plays a spot on the Diamondbacks' 25-man Opening Day roster. The is already crowded. Besides starters A.J. Pollock, Ross participated in a minor-league camp game on Wednesday, Gerardo Parra and Mark Trumbo, there's Cody Ross, newcomer hitting but not playing the field as he continued to make his way Matt Tuiasosopo, and the versatile Martin Prado, who played 30 back from a dislocated right hip suffered in a game against the games in left field last season. Mets on Aug. 11.

Campana, whose 89.9 stolen-base percentage since 2011 is the "He's running harder and harder," Gibson said. "Today on some best in the majors — better than even the Angels' of his hits, he told me he ran out of the box about 80 percent (87.8) — thought his chances would improve when Arizona and then build it up. What he has to do is get to where he's traded center fielder Adam Eaton to the White Sox this winter. comfortable with just busting it right out of the box. He's getting there." "Yeah, I thought about that," he said Wednesday before the Diamondbacks' split-squad game against the Dodgers at Living in the now Camelback Ranch. "You've got to show up and play, though. I think there's always a spot to win; it's just about going out and Shortstop Didi Gregorius, competing for the starting spot with winning it. There's going to be competition every year. They're Chris Owings, said he can't use last season's experience with the going to bring in people to make the team better, and it's up to Diamondbacks as any sort of mental edge. you to go out there and compete hard and try to win a job." He started 100 games at short in 2013 as a rookie and among Campana, who stole two bases Wednesday, hit .293 and stole 32 National League first-year players ranked first in walks (37), fifth bases last season in 102 games at Triple-A Reno. He made the in runs scored (47) and sixth in on-base percentage (.332). most of his chances during his 29 appearances with the Diamondbacks, often making things happen in an inning or two "For me, last year is last year," said Gregorius, who had three here and there. hits and a stolen base Wednesday against the Dodgers. "You've got to come in with a new mindset and not even think about "Everybody wants to be up for the whole year," Campana said, what happened last year. That's over. I'm just looking forward to "but being a guy with a (minor-league) option left, I know that if this year and the years to come." I go down (to Reno) and come back, there's something I can do to help the team win. Gregorius said the only thing that matters to him is that he stays devoted to working hard every day on every aspect of his game – "I can steal a base, play good defense, get a spot start every once even his defense, which has never been a problem. in a while. I can be a guy who gets on base for the guys in the middle of the order." "I still have to work on my defense. Nobody's perfect," he said.

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Short hops The Diamondbacks will be happy if he produces like that, even if it means stomaching Trumbo's career .250 average and .299 • Right-hander Brandon McCarthy is scheduled to pitch in a on-base percentage. They'll live with a high number of strikeouts minor league game against Triple-A San Francisco on Thursday if Trumbo parks the ball in the stands with regularity. at Salt River Fields on Field 3. But Trumbo won't be happy. He doesn't want to be just a home- • Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was absent from run hitter. He wants to be a complete hitter. Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks because of a death in the family. Bench coach Tim Wallach served as manager. "There's a place where I could probably continue going at what I've done for a decent career," Trumbo said. "But I think Troy Tulowitzki bruises calf, D-backs top Rockies 6-4 ultimately it's my responsibility to maximize my output and do as By Associated Press / ABC15.com much as I can to help the team I'm with. I think as a complete http://www.abc15.com/sports/sports-blogs-local/troy- hitter with a few tweaks here and there, I'll have a lot more to tulowitzki-bruises-calf-dbacks-top-rockies-6-4 offer than I have in the past."

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki Raw power hobbled off with a bruised left calf after being hit by a pitch in the Rockies' 6-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Everyone seems to have a favorite story of the first time they Wednesday night. saw Trumbo take batting practice.

The three-time All-Star fell to the ground and clutched his leg For Diamondbacks catcher Bobby Wilson, the memory is of a after being hit by Arizona starter Wade Miley's fastball with two sound — the metallic reverberation of Trumbo smashing balls outs in the fourth in the matchup of split squads. He limped to into the aluminum batter's eye at during first base before leaving the game. a spring training when both were with the Angels.

X-rays were negative and the Rockies say he'll be listed as day to "You could just hear 'boiiinngg' throughout the whole ballpark," day. Wilson said. "You'd kind of look over like, 'Who's hitting over there?' Sure enough, it was Trumbo. One after the other, it was Miley went five innings, allowing one run on four hits, including 'boiiinngg, boiiinngg.' It kind of turned everybody's heads." Michael McKenry's RBI double. He struck out five. Center fielder A.J. Pollock has a more recent recollection. One Aaron Hill had three hits, including a solo homer off Rockies day in early February before position players reported, Pollock starter Pedro Hernandez. was shagging balls in the outfield while Trumbo took BP.

Miguel Montero added a two-run homer. Paul Janish hit a solo As Trumbo launched a bomb, Pollock admired the trajectory shot for Colorado. before hearing a crunch in the players' parking lot beyond the outfield. He chuckled to himself at the unfortunate surprise Mark Trumbo hoping to show he's more than a power some poor teammate would find at day's end. hitter for Arizona Diamondbacks By Zach Buchanan / azcentral sports Then Pollock realized the ball had bounced once and hit his http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2 brand new Jeep Wrangler, parked at a supposedly safe distance. 014/03/12/mark-trumbo-hoping-to-show-hes-more-than-a- The last time he feared for his car's safety like that was when power-hitter-for-arizona-diamondbacks/6353989/ Wily Mo Pena was in camp in 2011.

Mark Trumbo and home runs have long been associated with "I guess some guys, you just don't park there," Pollock said. "If each other. (Trumbo) hits it now, I'm done. I'm on the farthest side ever. We don't hit BP on that field (anymore) though, so I should be At best he can remember, the new Diamondbacks slugger hit his OK." first homer when he was 6. He was almost always bigger than his peers — at 6-4, 235 pounds, he still is — and early on his swing That power has turned heads in more than just batting practice. imparted a lot of backspin on the baseball, allowing it to carry As a rookie in 2011, Trumbo hit 29 homers, knocked in 87 runs farther. and finished second to Tampa Bay pitcher in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. He followed up His power-hitting prowess is why the Diamondbacks sacrificed that campaign with his best as a pro, batting .268/.317/.491 with two of their top young players, center fielder Adam Eaton and 32 homers and earning an All-Star Game nod. pitcher , to acquire the 28-year-old Trumbo from the this off-season. His home runs and RBI went up again last season to career highs of 34 and 100, respectively, but Trumbo regressed in other Only four players hit more home runs in the past three seasons ways. His average dipped to .234 and his on-base percentage was than Trumbo's 95. In a hitter-friendly park such as Chase Field, only .294. He drew a career-best 54 walks, but also struck out it's not difficult to see Trumbo hitting 40. 184 times, fourth-most in the AL.

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With three seasons in the tank, it's tempting to say that's just The Arizona Diamondbacks, with the help of former pitcher who Trumbo will be as a pro, a high-risk, high-reward type of Brandon Webb, helped kick off the Cal Ripken Little League’s hitter. But Trumbo doesn't want that reputation. Opening Day and new look on March 8.

"I really would not want to get pigeon-holed as home-run-only The fields at Thompson Peak Park were filled with young hitter," Trumbo said. "At times I'm sure that's kind of what players sporting miniature, authentic Diamondbacks jerseys as a comes up. I think I have a lot more to offer." result of the team’s new Give Back Jersey Program.

Becoming more complete Launched last month, the program has provided high-quality uniforms and caps to more than 22,000 youth baseball and Looking at Trumbo's stature and stat lines, it might seem easy to softball players and their coaches throughout Arizona with the have him pegged. He's a big, strong guy who swings hard, end of help of a $500,000 donation from the Arizona Diamondbacks story. That would be wrong. Foundation.The program provided uniforms for 1,578 players in the Cal Ripkin league. "He's a much more cerebral hitter than people give him credit for," Angels GM Jerry Dipoto said. "He's incredibly intelligent. Three other Scottsdale-area leagues also joined the program this A very smart guy. I think the general consensus would be that if year, including McCormick Ranch Little League (575 players), you strike out a lot, you must not be a smart hitter. But Mark Old Scottsdale Youth Baseball (185 players) and South actually is." Scottsdale Little League (165 players) for a total participation of more than 2,500 Little Leaguers in the Scottsdale community. Trumbo is the analytical sort, and he has a good idea of why his percentages took a dip in 2013. Some of it was a power-hitter's Webb, who spent seven successful years with the Diamondbacks mind-set, swinging for extra bases a little too often. The main from 2003 to 2009 and whose son plays in the Cal Ripken culprit, he thinks, was a failure to shorten his swing with two League, threw out the first pitch last week. strikes. “The D-Backs made a huge contribution to this league and all His first two seasons, Trumbo batted .189 in two-strike counts, over the state,” Webb said. “To be able to represent the D- above the major-league average of .179 in that span. Last season, Backs in this capacity and to personally throw out the first pitch Trumbo's average with two strikes dropped to .138. is all pretty neat.”

"I can't really pinpoint why I was doing it, but I was kind of a guy who was called on to hit for power and part of the mindset Reed should win closer job of hitting for power is trying to go up there and do some By AJ Mass / ESPN.com damage," Trumbo said. "If you never cut your swing down, http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/mlb/rumors/post/_/id/1359 you're going to swing and miss a lot and you're going to make a 0/reed-win-closer-job lot of outs. It wears on you." While nothing has been officially decided upon, there doesn't To address that, Trumbo came into camp with the seem to be much of a competition in terms of who will start the Diamondbacks wanting to make a big adjustment. He had season as the closer for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Addison always used a big leg kick when batting, and he thinks by Reed appears to ready to hit the ground running with his new eliminating it he'll improve his averages. team as the go-to guy in the ninth inning.

It's working well so far. In 26 plate appearances entering As Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic writes, "Reed was the Wednesday, Trumbo is hitting .292 with two doubles and a odds-on favorite to begin with, having been one of the club's key home run. His on-base percentage is at .346. acquisitions in the off-season and coming off a 40-save season with the . He's done nothing this spring to As for the home runs and the RBIs? Trumbo thinks those will indicate he can't do the job well once again." still be there, even if they don't reach the upper deck with regularity. They just have to go over the fence to count. "His top competition, right-hander J.J. Putz, has been less impressive, giving up three runs on six hits and four walks in five "That (old) swing, it was a power-first approach," Trumbo said. innings. As manager Kirk Gibson has pointed out, Putz has a "I think this is more of a complete package. I know with the history of flipping a switch once the regular season starts, of swing I have now I'm 100 percent positive I will hit for a higher suddenly returning to his old self, and perhaps that same thing average. I anticipate the home runs being similar." will happen this year, too."

D-Backs contribute uniforms for Scottsdale Little Leagues However, "perhaps" is not likely to be enough for Gibson to By Jourdan Rodrigue / Special for azcentral sports base his decision on, and unless Reed suffers some sort of http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2014 unmanageable stiffness on the long plane ride to Australia to 0311d-backs-contribute-uniformsfor-scottsdale-little- start the season, he's the obvious closer choice right now. leagues.html Greinke allows 3 runs in first start since injury By Associated Press / ESPN.com http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=340312119 17

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"I come back from surgery and now this," he said. If Beckett is GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Zack Greinke allowed three runs and six the No. 5 starter, he wouldn't pitch until mid-April. "We've got hits over two innings Wednesday in his first start since straining time to get it right," he said. his right calf nearly two weeks ago, and the Los Angeles Dodgers lost 9-2 to an Arizona Diamondbacks split squad. FIRST CHALLENGE

Greinke was injured just four pitches into his first spring training The Dodgers made their first challenge this spring under the start on Feb. 27. The right-hander said Wednesday that he would new instant-replay rules. The call was overturned. not to Australia for the Dodgers season-opening series March 22 and 23 against Arizona at Sydney Cricket Ground -- a trip he In the fifth inning, Arizona shortstop Didi Gregorius stole initially said he did not want to make -- to continue his rehab his second. Ramirez, the Dodgers shortstop, pointed to Gregorius calf and build arm strength. and said he had taken his foot off the base in a slide. John Pratt, the Dodgers major league video coordinator this spring, was in Andy Marte hit a solo shot off Greinke in the second. the television truck, reviewing tape of the play. Acting manager Tim Wallach said information was relayed to him from the "I was disappointed in how the location was in the second Dodgers dugout, which was in contact with Pratt, via walkie- inning," Greinke said. talkie.

But he said his calf is improving. "It was clear that it was worth challenging," said Wallach, who says in regular-season it will be his job to relay the information "It's feeling better every day, so that's a positive," said Greinke, to Mattingly. "It's probably one we'd do every time." 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA as the Dodgers' No. 2 starter last season. "My two main goals are getting healthy and trying to get ready. KEMP IN THE FIELD Right now, I'm neither one of those quite yet. But I'm closer on the calf than I am with the actual pitching." Matt Kemp, who is coming off micro-fracture surgery on his left ankle, played center field in minor league game Wednesday for Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was not with the team because the first time this spring. of a death in his family. Mattingly is expected to return on Friday. "I'm excited to be back on the field, just playing," he said. "That's the process. We're taking our time." STARTING TIMES Rowland-Smith eyeing Australia Diamondbacks: Michael Lee gave up two hits in the first inning, By Jim Caple / ESPN.com both doubles, first to Hanley Ramirez and then Andre Ethier. http://espn.go.com/blog/spring- But he said was happy to get out of the inning with a of training/post/_/id/1942/rowland-smith-eyeing-australia Chone Figgins. He then worked two scoreless innings. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Ryan Rowland-Smith occasionally hears Dodgers: Greinke threw 39 pitches, 26 strikes. The calf, he said, teammates in the Arizona Diamondbacks clubhouse talking has not healed as quickly as anticipated. about how to deal with the possible jet lag from their upcoming trip to Australia. "I thought I'd be fine that day, like 100 percent in a day or two," he said. "It just hasn't gotten better. It's a 10 percent pace from "And I'm like, 'Hey, I'm sitting right here! I've only done it about what I was expecting. You know it's there. If I did more than 40 times, back and forth. Just ask me,'" Rowland-Smith said. I'm ready to do, I'd be right back where I started." "But I get all sorts of questions. And I like talking about Australia, if you can't tell." TRAINER'S ROOM Indeed he does. Rowland-Smith was born in Sydney and grew Diamondbacks: Trevor Cahill is day to day after jamming his up in Australia, so he knows what he's talking about when he knee Tuesday against Cleveland. It wasn't known whether he dispenses the travel tips. would make his scheduled start March 23 in the second game-of a season opening series against the Dodgers in Australia. "When I came into camp, I was nervous whether the guys would be happy about the games there or worried about how it might Dodgers: Right-hander Josh Beckett, who is competing to mess up their schedule," he said. "But everyone has been very reclaim a spot in the starting rotation, also is expected to stay in positive. They understand why the games are being played in Arizona while the Dodgers are in Sydney. Beckett's next spring Australia. I don't know how the Dodgers feel about it, but the start Friday against the Cubs in Mesa, Ariz. is questionable guys in this clubhouse are excited." because of a sprained thumb. He said he injured the thumb 10 days ago, accidentally in a closing clubhouse door. Beckett, who The Diamondbacks will leave for Australia on Sunday. After was rocked for five runs against Seattle Saturday, had a rib and playing a two-game series against the Dodgers at the Sydney muscle tissue removed July 10 in surgery to alleviate pressure on Cricket Ground (a night game followed by a matinee, which in a nerve. Eastern Time will both fall on March 22, at 4 a.m. and 10 p.m.), they will return to Arizona to play a few more spring training

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│ games and then will resume the regular season March 31 when When asked if he thought Miley may have intentionally been they host the San Francisco Giants. throwing at Tulowitzki after Arizona slugger Mark Trumbo was hit in the top of the fourth, Weiss said, ''I don't know.'' Rowland-Smith is excited about Major League Baseball's first trip to Australia -- receiving many, many requests for tickets Miley went five innings, allowing one run on four hits, including from family and friends, plus people he hasn't heard from in Michael McKenry's RBI double. He struck out five. years -- but mostly he's excited about, and focused on, the possibility of making the Diamondbacks team and getting back Aaron Hill had three hits, including a solo homer off Rockies to the majors for the first time in four seasons. A non-roster starter Pedro Hernandez. invitee, the 31-year-old left-hander has yet to allow an in four games this spring. Miguel Montero had a two-run homer for Arizona and Paul Janish hit a solo shot for Colorado. One of the Mariners' better relievers from 2007 to 2009, Rowland-Smith had a disastrous 2010 season, going 1-10 with a HITTING TIME 6.75 ERA. Seattle let him go after the season, and he has been changing teams and fighting it out in the minors ever since. Miley said an inside fastball to Tulowitzki got away from him.

"It was just a downhill spiral," he said. "I couldn't control it. I ''I tried to go in on his first at-bat and left it out over the plate didn't have the tool kit to deal with it, and I just let it get to me. I and he crushes it,'' Miley said of the shortstop's lineout to center was lost. I was off the grid for a good year and a half as far as in the second. ''I got away with it. I just made sure I got it in and baseball was concerned, and I just had to claw my way back. it just kind of cut off a little bit.''

"The last couple years, I've been working with guys who help Trumbo had been hit by Tommy Kahnle in the top of the with the mechanics, but more importantly, psychologically fourth. McKenry was later hit by Jimmie Sherfy. dealing with it. It's long overdue. But the last couple years have made me so much better. I'm so much better a pitcher than I When Colorado's Raul Hernandez threw behind Montero in the was when I was doing well with the Mariners." eighth, plate umpire Doug Eddings warned both dugouts.

Rowland-Smith credits Tom House, the former pitcher and ''You never want your guys to get hit,'' Weiss said, ''but stuff pitching coach. House has a Ph.D. in sports psychology, and the happens.'' Los Angeles clinic he runs includes both mechanical and psychological drills. STARTING TIME

"He just turned it around for me," Rowland-Smith said. "He Diamondbacks: Miley likes the extended work he's been getting flipped the switch. If I didn't run into him, I probably wouldn't with Arizona on a fast track to open the season March 22 in be sitting here right now." Australia.

Tulowitzki bruises calf, Dbacks' top Rockies 6-4 ''I think you get more out of it going four or five innings rather By Mike Cranston (Associated Press) / YAHOO! Sports than two,'' Miley said. ''I feel great.'' http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tulowitzki-bruises-calf-dbacks- top-052116833--mlb.html Rockies: Hernandez, a non-roster invitee who made 12 starts for Minnesota last season, allowed a run on three hits in three SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Colorado shortstop Troy innings. He was helped by two stellar defensive plays by Tulowitzki is expected to miss a couple of days with a bruised Tulowitzki. left calf after being hit by a pitch in the Rockies' 6-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night. TRAINER'S ROOM

Tulowitzki fell to the ground and clutched his leg after Arizona Diamondbacks: Right-hander Trevor Cahill, who left Tuesday's starter Wade Miley hit him with a fastball with two outs in the game with what the team calls a jammed knee, received fourth. He limped to first before leaving the game. treatment Wednesday and later played catch without difficulty. . Cody Ross, out since August with a dislocated right X-rays were negative, but it was a scary moment for the Rockies, hip, went 3 for 6 with two doubles in a minor league game who have seen their three-time All-Star suffer numerous injuries. Wednesday. Ross, who did not play in the field, is next scheduled to play in a game Sunday. ''It hit him on the outside of the leg, so it didn't hit the bone or anything,'' Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. ''He won't be in OUTFIELD COMPETITION there (Thursday), but I don't think it will be long.'' While veteran Drew Stubbs went 2 for 3 and remains the Miley said he was trying to work Tulowitzki inside and it cut too favorite for Colorado's open center field job, Brandon Barnes is far. impressing.

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Barnes is hitting .346 (9 for 26) and has shown good range running down balls in the outfield, a must at spacious Coors "I was thinking about the rule instead of catching the ball," Field. Montero said. "I was thinking about if I was in the right position or not. I gotta get that outta my head." ''One of the reasons I think they brought me in here is I can go get the ball,'' Barnes said. Should he have been closer to the plate? What happens when the ball carries into the runner? Does he just let it go? In the The right-handed hitter said it was ''definitely a surprise'' when bottom of the ninth in September, is the rule still more Houston included him in the deal for center fielder Dexter important than the play? The win? What will the runner do? Fowler after he hit .240 in 136 games last year. What should the catcher do?

''I became a man there,'' Barnes said of his eight-year stint in the "I don't think the rule's changed that much, to be honest with Astros organization. ''But at the same time, I was excited to get you," Montero's manager Kirk Gibson said. "But the intent of out of there and come to an organization that prides themselves what they're trying to do has. Basically, it was written for Buster on winning.'' Posey. That play is illegal."

Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson are also in the crowded You can still find yourself a healthy debate over that play, outfield mix. however. Either Posey played a difficult hop into a terrible position and was fair game. Or Scott Cousins targeted a Why MLB's new home-plate collision rule is anything but defenseless man. At best, it's murky. Either way, Posey missed easy the better part of 2011 and three years later we have a rule that By Tim Brown / YAHOO! Sports in some first references carries his name but few see as cut or http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-mlb-s-new-home-plate- dry. collision-rule-is-anything-but-easy-225101119.html On the very same afternoon, in another ballpark east of Phoenix, SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – They call it Rule 7.13 or the Posey Rule, the Angels' Mike Trout roared around third base and Dodgers and it is the recent amendment to the book every capable catcher A.J. Ellis had thought this over and decided he'd keep manager and umpire knows by heart, and it is that fresh playing these plays the way he'd always played them, so he stood legislation that carried Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel with his left foot nudged up against the plate. The throw arrived Montero up the first-base line and away from home plate, the from left-center field and drew Ellis across Trout's line, so he'd area he is designated to protect. perhaps been in violation of Rule 7.13 momentarily, and then cleared it, and then lunged to tag out a sliding Trout. The play The rule says a catcher may block the plate if he is in possession was reviewed. Discussion between Angels manager Mike of the baseball. It says a runner may not alter his course to the Scioscia and the umpires revolved around safe or out, and plate in order to demolish the catcher. In either case, leading around when Ellis had been where, and Dodgers manager Don with a shoulder or a forearm or, say, a poleax is forbidden. The Mattingly joined them, because between the replay and Rule 7.13 gray areas of this – real-world absolutes such as "block the and who could challenge what, this was all new. plate," "possession of the baseball" and "alter his course" – are reviewable by umpires through instant replay. They are not "I know what Mike's interpretation was," Mattingly said later. challengeable by managers, however. "That wasn't our interpretation. … It's just been a little confusing." This is where a fine idea with good intentions gets choppy. That is, in the implementation. In the enforcement. In the clarity. Major League Baseball and the players' union are leaning heavily on the word "experimental," which means the rule could be On this particular afternoon, Montero was preparing himself for modified or even stricken after a year. Meantime, that leaves the sort of play he'd executed thousands of times before. An catchers and baserunners to tend to the rule in an environment opposing baserunner – in this case Oakland's Yoenis Cespedes, a that in few ways feels like real baseball at real game speed, and man of considerable size and speed – had been at second base. umpires with one more assignment, and managers one more There'd been a hard line drive into right field. Gerardo Parra, an thing to measure. Long-term, the rule will prevent injuries and outfielder with an arm strong and precise, had gathered the ball save careers. Short-term, it will promote many semi-private on a bounce and in one motion flung it back toward home plate. conversations at and around home plate. Cespedes rounded third. Montero waited, both eyes on the ball, Cespedes in his peripheral vision. It's March and nobody – or "We've told our guys to slide," Indians manager Terry Francona hardly anybody – blocks the plate in March. Nobody arrives said Wednesday. "Takes away any of the ambiguity. The game's head-high. Yet, still, there is a game to be played, and a run to be going real fast. None faster than that play." scored or denied, and Cespedes was running hard and Montero had a job to do. As to whether the rule ought to be subject to a manager's challenge, Francona said, "You're getting into a lot of gray area So, along came the ball, and in came Cespedes, and Montero there. Being an umpire is hard enough. reached out and felt the thud and pivoted and swept to his left, only to discover his mitt was a good three feet short of the plate, "To a person, everybody wants this to go correctly. Everybody and then the ball rolled away anyway, and Cespedes slid in for a hopes the spirit of the rule works." run, and the whole thing was just so soft and unsure. 20

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It's a smart rule. It'll also ask a man running at full speed to make down what we like and don't like about the Arizona a decision on finesse or force, and another man to measure the Diamondbacks, who are coming off back-to-back .500 seasons. arrivals of ball and baserunner, and a third man to break it down by inch and intent, all for the greater good. LIKES

"I'm going to try to get it out of my head and play it as normal as Paul Goldschmidt's growth against RHPs: Goldschmidt in 2013 I used to," Indians catcher Matt Treanor said. "Only time will authored an MVP-caliber season, and in large part it was because tell." he handled same-side pitching exceptionally well. In 2012, for instance, he batted .257/.326/.412 in 386 plate appearances 2014 over/unders: Arizona Diamondbacks against right-handers. Last season, however, those numbers By Dayn Perry / CBS Sports ballooned to .300/.406/.534 in 540 plate appearances. A more http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on- disciplined overall approach and improved pitch-recognition baseball/24479579/overunders-arizona-diamondbacks skills suggest that these gains are sustaintable.

Time for another round of team over/unders. What's this, you Bullpen depth: There's a long and useful list of names found ask? Here's the explanation: within the Arizona bullpen: Addison Reed, J.J. Putz, Brad Ziegler, Oliver Perez, David Hernandez and some quality long As part of our preview of the 2014 season to come, let's roll out men in Josh Collmenter and Randall Delgado. GM Kevin a few "over/unders" for each team. That is, we'll assign a Towers has long had a knack for putting bullpens together, and number to 10 different categories that, in their own way, will the 2014 D-backs will be no exception. predict one facet of the season ahead. In turn, you, the loyal commenter, will let us know whether you take the "over" or DISLIKES "under" for each category. Stated another way, will the actual figure be higher or lower than the one we've presented? The Mark Trumbo trade: Trumbo has oodles of right-handed Remember, we're talking 2014 season and 2014 season only. power, and he'll enjoy hitting in Chase Field. However, he'll be playing the field almost every day, and he's badly stretched as a Today's club is the Arizona Diamondbacks, who finished a glove-wearing outfielder. That's going to sap his overall value. distant second in the NL West last season. Now to the betting Trumbo's on-base skills also leave much to be desired, and lines ... there's the very costly return package that the D-backs had to part with in order to land him. ------Brandon McCarthy's health history: When healthy, McCarthy is a Wins: 84.5 very good . However, health has unfortunately eluded him for much of his career. He's logged a qualifying Place in NL West: 2.5 number of innings only once, and he's been on the DL nine times. Overall, McCarthy has lost more than 500 games to injury. Paul Goldschmidt's home runs: 35.5 That history is impossible to ignore.

Mark Trumbo's home runs: 37.5 Catching depth: What happens if Miguel Montero, like last season, is able to play just 116 games? Right now, the fallback is Brandon McCarthy's : 144 42-year-old Henry Blanco, he of the career 67 OPS+. In the high minors is collection of retreads. This is a hole that needs to be Bronson Arroyo's home runs allowed: 31.5 addressed before the Diamondbacks get too deep into the regular season. Archie Bradley's starts at MLB level: 12.5 2014 team preview: Arizona Diamondbacks Martin Prado's OPS: .770 By Mike Axisa / CBS Sports http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on- Patrick Corbin's ERA: 3.65 baseball/24479541/team-preview-arizona-diamondbacks

Bench-clearing incidents with Dodgers: 0.5 The Diamondbacks have talked the talk more than they've walked the walk the last few years. The organization has been 2014 Diamondbacks preview: Likes, dislikes talking about getting tougher -- GM Kevin Towers went so far By Dayn Perry / CBS Sports as to advocate intentional beanings -- and they've taken http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on- numerous shots at the rival Dodgers, including some from baseball/24479577/diamondbacks-preview-likes-dislikes manager Kirk Gibson. All of that talk has come with back-to- back 81-81 seasons, the very definition of mediocrity. Will More Diamondbacks: Team preview | Over/unders Arizona be any better in 2014 after a busy offseason? Let's look.

As part of our preview series, Eye on Baseball will be picking Probable lineup and choosing some "likes" and "dislikes" for all 30 MLB teams heading into the 2014 season. For this installment, we'll run 1. RF Gerardo Parra 2. 2B Aaron Hill 21

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3. 1B Paul Goldschmidt "Corbin's sensational sophomore season could easily be 4. C Miguel Montero forgotten by some owners, as he limped to the finish line with a 5. LF Mark Trumbo terrible seven-start stretch. Through his first 25 starts, Corbin 6. 3B Martin Prado got swings- and-misses on 11 percent of his pitches (per 7. CF A.J. Pollock Baseball-Reference.com) and walked just 42 batters in 172 1/3 8. SS Didi Gregorius innings, contributing to a 2.45 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. Over the final five weeks, Corbin's whiffs dried up, and while he had Bench - C Henry Blanco, 1B/3B Eric Chavez, IF Cliff previously benefitted from a generous .261 BABIP, his luck Pennington, OF Tony Campana, OF Matt Tuiasosopo more than evened out by allowing a .387 batting average on balls in play. Maybe fatigue set in, as Corbin did lose some velocity Cody Ross will miss the first few weeks of the season as he over those late-season starts, but regardless of the reason, he works his way back from last year's gruesome hip dislocation. showed over a large portion of the season that he can be trusted When he returns, he'll presumably take over in right field with as a must-start in virtually all formats. Though he may have left a Parra moving over to center. Montero had a poor year in 2013 bad impression by ending with a slump, it's still reasonable to (83 OPS+) and if that continues, he could find himself hitting expect Corbin to repeat as a top 30 starting pitcher in 2014." - Al lower in the order in a hurry. Trumbo's huge power should get a Melchior (Full D-Backs fantasy preview) boost with the move into the hitter friendlier park, but does he have the plate discipline to take full advantage? How much value Biggest strength will he give back with his defense? Oh, and Chris Owings could Right-handed power, which is getting harder and harder to find very easily wind up starting at short over Gregorius rather than these days. Goldschmidt swatted 36 home runs last season. opening the year in Triple-A. Trumbo has hit the fifth most homers in baseball over the last three years (95), and a healthy Aaron Hill is capable of 20+ Probable rotation home runs as well. The D-Backs could use a big left-handed bat to balance things out -- Montero returning to his 2011-12 form 1. LHP Patrick Corbin (122 OPS+) would work -- but their righties sure do offer a lot 2. RHP Trevor Cahill of thump. 3. LHP Wade Miley 4. RHP Brandon McCarthy Biggest weakness 5. RHP Bronson Arroyo Rotation depth, especially with Arroyo's back already acting up. He was signed to be the innings eater too, something he's done Corbin and Cahill are slated to get the ball in the team's very well over the last decade. McCarthy has been on the DL at upcoming season-opening series against the Dodgers in least once every year since 2007, mostly with shoulder problems. Australia, though Cahill jammed his knee on Tuesday and is day- Delgado is a nice sixth starter to have lying around, but with to-day. Arroyo is dealing with a back issue and may not be ready Tyler Skaggs gone in the Trumbo trade, there's not much after in time for the start of the season, in which case Randall him at all. Not unless they're ready to throw top prospect Archie Delgado figures to step into the rotation. Bradley into the fire even though he could use some more minor league seasoning to iron out his strike-throwing ability. Arizona Probable bullpen has used no fewer than nine starting pitchers in each of the last five years and there's little reason to think 2014 will be different. Closer - RHP Addison Reed No club makes it through a 162-game season with only five or Setup men - RHP David Hernandez, RHP Brad Ziegler six starters these days. Middle men - RHP J.J. Putz, LHP Oliver Perez, Long men - RHP Josh Collmenter, RHP Randall Delgado Outlook By trading youngsters (for Reed), Adam Eaton Delgado is out of options, meaning he can't go to Triple-A and Skaggs (both for Trumbo), the D-Backs have made it clear without first clearing waivers, and there's no chance a 24-year- they view themselves as a win now team. The Arroyo signing old with his pedigree slips through waivers unclaimed. If he is and last-minute Oliver Perez signing speak to that as well. The needed in the rotation, right-hander Will Harris figures to get the NL West is a tough division with the Dodgers at the top and roster spot over lefty Joe Thatcher. Putz is a spring trade both the Padres and Giants likely to be better, so contending will candidate. not be easy.

Under-the-radar offseason transaction I think the D-Backs are better than the .500 team they've been Re-signing Chavez to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million. He the last two years but not nearly good enough to challenge the drew interest from several other clubs but opted to stay close to Dodgers for the division crown. They should be good enough to home in Arizona. The now 36-year-old Chavez is far from the made a nice run a wild-card spot, but ultimately I think there are player he was with the Athletics way back when, but he's a too many good teams in the league for Arizona to land one. I quality bench player who hit .281/.332/.478 (120 OPS+) last could honestly see the D-Backs finishing anywhere from second year and .281/.341/.488 (123 OPS+) over the last two seasons. through fourth in the NL West; the race figures to be pretty He can fill in at first and third and also DH during interleague tight. games. Chavez has become an excellent role player following his injuries. The Mets could solve their shortstop problem via a trade with the Diamondbacks Underappreciated in Fantasy: Patrick Corbin By Craig Calcaterra / NBC Sports 22

│ http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/13/the-mets-could- The Cleveland Indians, and solve-their-shortstop-problem-via-a-trade-with-the- have all reached the playoffs following surprise seasons within diamondbacks/related/ the last couple of years. Before that, the and Colorado Rockies pulled it off. The Mets shortstop situation is still in flux. Or a mess. Or a tire fire. Or is being overly-focused upon because nothing else is So what team will be next? going on. Take your pick. Just know that it’s what everyone who goes to Port St. Lucie is talking about. To find out, Sportsnet polled a dozen MLB executives including general managers, assistant GMs and scouts. Those polled listed The latest being John Harper of the Daily News. Who, after a variety of teams in both leagues, but one team was mentioned noting that Ruben Tejada has been struggling at short this more often than any other. Watch out, the spring, reports on one possibility at ’s disposal: could be this year’s breakout team.

Meanwhile, a source affiliated with another ballclub, who has Here’s Sportsnet’s complete guide to 2014 sleeper teams: past ties to GM Sandy Alderson, said the Mets are continuing to monitor the Diamondbacks’ shortstop competition, and “could NL West Sleepers jump in” to try to make a trade for either Didi Gregorius or Chris Owings before spring training ends. San Diego Padres

That would cost the Mets a catching and a pitching prospect, The Padres weren’t a particularly good team last year, when they Harper says. Which seems high to me when is went 76-86. They didn’t have a particularly splashy off-season, literally sitting around waiting for his phone to ring. either. But executives say they could be really good in 2014 — potentially winning as many as 90 games with a shot at a Wild Zack Greinke throws two innings versus Diamondbacks in Card berth. return to Cactus League action By Drew Silva / NBC Sports Why the optimism? San Diego’s rotation of , http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/12/zack-greinke- Josh Johnson, Ian Kennedy, Tyson Ross and Eric Stults has a throws-two-innings-versus-diamondbacks-in-return-to-cactus- chance to be really effective. They have a potentially strong league-action/ bullpen, especially after adding Joaquin Benoit. As for their lineup, Chase Headley and may be the only star Dodgers starter Zack Greinke was on a Cactus League mound contributors, but the likes of Yasmani Grandal, Yonder Alonso Wednesday in Glendale, Arizona for the first time since straining and Jedd Gyorko could help San Diego score enough to his left calf in late February and the return went smoothly contend. enough. There are no guarantees here, especially in a competitive division Greinke allowed three earned runs on six hits in just two innings led by the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers. But the Padres against a Diamondbacks split-squad, but his calf survived the have the pieces in place to contend if they get enough breaks outing and he can now begin to work on building his pitch count over the course of the next six months. up to where it needs to be for the opening of the 2014 regular season. San Francisco Giants

Greinke has already been ruled out of the Dodgers’ two-game The Giants will contend if their starting pitching improves in series against the Diamondbacks in Australia (March 22-23), but 2014. After adding Tim Hudson to a rotation including Madison he should be able to start their first game back in the United Bumgarner, Matt Cain and , the Giants should States on March 30 in San Diego. have the arms to improve considerably upon an 86-loss season.

“Everybody had to get ready faster for Australia,” Greinke told Arizona Diamondbacks MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick on Wednesday. “I have to get ready for the American games. I’ve just got to get ready as fast as I can The Diamondbacks gave up a lot of talent over the winter, but without a setback.” they added Mark Trumbo, Addison Reed and Bronson Arroyo. One exec describes them as ‘stacked’ and expects them to stay in The 30-year-old right-hander posted an excellent 2.63 ERA and contention all year. Another expects the work of GM Kevin 1.11 WHIP in 177 2/3 innings last season. Towers will push the team over the .500 mark after back-to-back 81-81 seasons. MLB Execs: Padres top list of 2014 sleeper teams By Ben Nicholson-Smith / SportsNet Post-Hype Sleepers http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/mlb-execs-padres-top- list-of-2014-sleeper-teams/ Los Angeles Angels

It may as well be an annual baseball tradition. Each year an MLB The Angels signed two winters ago and landed team or two emerges as a contender after being written off as a last year, so they’re no strangers to pre-season likely loser months earlier. hype. So far it hasn’t amounted to a playoff berth, but the Angels should score a ton of runs in 2014. They have questions 23

│ at the back of their rotation with , Hector MLB: Arizona 6, Colorado 4 Santiago and Tyler Skaggs all projected to start. Even so, Aaron Hill went 3-for-4 with a solo homer while Miguel executives expect this this group to improve on last year’s 78-84 Montero added two-run shot in the Arizona mark. Diamondbacks' 6-4 spring training win over the Colorado Rockies. By SportsNetwork.com / UPI.com http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2014/03/13/MLB- Between injuries and poor performances, the Blue Jays had an Arizona-6-Colorado-4/6721394687844/ unexpectedly poor season last year after being tabbed as World Series favourites. Yet some executives say there’s reason to Scottsdale, Ariz. -- Aaron Hill went 3-for-4 with a solo homer anticipate some positive regression with players such as Melky while Miguel Montero added two-run shot in the Arizona Cabrera and Brandon Morrow capable of bouncing back. Diamondbacks' 6-4 spring training win over the Colorado Rockies. 2013 Winners Brandon Drury drove in two runs for Arizona, which saw starter Wade Miley toss five innings of one-run ball.

The Royals won 86 games last year, so they aren’t a traditional Miley scattered four hits and a walk while fanning five, while his sleeper team. But they upgraded over the winter, adding counterpart, Pedro Hernandez, also gave up just one run on Norichika Aoki, and Jason Vargas. Executives three hits over three frames. expect those additions will improve Kansas City’s lineup and reinforce a pitching staff that allowed the fewest runs in the Paul Janish went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, and Michael American League last year. In the eyes of one scout, they’re the McKenry and Drew Stubbs knocked in the other Colorado runs. best team in the AL Central, the included. The Bounce-Back Candidates By Jonathan Bernhardt / Sports on Earth http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/69147688/baseball- Execs expect the Nationals to improve upon last year’s 86-win bounce-back-candidates-melky-cabrera-miguel-montero-bj- showing in a big way. They’re viewed as a serious post-season upton-nick-markakis threat after adding right-hander Doug Fister and bolstering their bench. A 95-win season is not out of reach in Washington, Picking comeback players or rebound stories in the preseason is which will benefit from a relatively beatable schedule. tricky business. They're called "surprises" for a reason. Generally speaking, though, one bad year doesn't doom a career; players Deep Sleepers who have performed well in the past and suffer a lapse in performance tend to bounce back, all else being equal. Frequently all else is not equal, though, as injuries, age, a change in a player's skillset or any combination of the three can turn one The Mets have their sights set on 90 games. It’s ambitious, but bad year into the beginning of a decline. Here, we'll look at four one high-ranking executive says this team could surprise us. position players who had disappointing 2013s and why they They have lots of young pitching, with more on the way soon, could bounce back in the upcoming season -- or why which could allow this team to contend in 2014 if everything disappointment might be their new normal. breaks right. It also helps that MLB executives don’t view the and as serious threats. Miguel Montero, C, Diamondbacks

Colorado Rockies In a lot of ways, picking bounce-back candidates should be easier than picking breakout candidates, right? You just glance at The Rockies could surprise some people if they keep their the player's stats for the last couple of years before his downturn position players healthy, since pitching prospects Eddie Butler last season, and if they're good, he's likely to come back strong, and Jon Gray could make an impact later in the year. and if they're not, maybe the year before last year -- the good year that's giving him something to bounce back to -- is the Honourable Mentions aberration. Miguel Montero would be the poster boy for this kind of analysis. Going into last season, Montero had put up No one expects the Miami Marlins and to post four consecutive years of above-average to excellent hitting for anything close to a winning record in 2014, but some believe the Diamondbacks out of the catcher spot, hitting they aren’t going to lose 100 games again, either. Executives also .283/.361/.457 (116 OPS+) in 1,927 plate appearances. Last pointed to the and Milwaukee Brewers as year, his age 29 season, he hit a mere .230/.318/.344 (83 OPS+) teams poised to surprise. The Orioles and Indians aren’t sleepers in 475 PA, his fewest in a year since playing only 85 games in anymore, but both clubs have managers capable of getting lots 2010. As Montero is only 30 years old and is a proven, known out of their rosters in Buck Showalter and Terry Francona, quantity, he should be a top pick to bounce back, right? respectively. Well, yes and no. Like most players who show up on lists like

these, Montero's woes in 2013 can be blamed at least partially on injuries. Not only did Montero hurt his left hand repeatedly (the 24

│ last of which coming after the end of the season in October, position making more than $13 million a year. Then the when he had to get surgery on his index finger to deal with an conversation can start about everything else. infection), but he had lower-back problems all season long, culminating with a trip to the disabled list for almost all of The contract didn't look like a good deal for the Braves by the August when it finally became untenable to continue letting him time the ink dried, but even the direst predictions about Upton's play through it. His various injuries sapped his ability to hit both future pegged him as being unremarkable and unreliable for a for average and power, though he was still able to get on base a couple years and then declining harshly just as the last two big non-disastrous amount thanks to his eye. And Montero's been years of the contract came due. They didn't peg him to be a working a big-league slate of games since he was 23; while most .184/.268/.289 hitter who was so actively detrimental to the players aren't going to decline until their mid-30s or so, that nifty team in all aspects of his game that by the end of the season the bell-curve progression isn't a one-size-fits-all career projection Braves had moved starting rightfielder back into model, especially for players at positions with high risk of center and played Evan Gattis and in the corners, collision like catcher and second base. Still, if his body parking B.J. Upton squarely on the bench. cooperates, it's hard to pick against his track record. Given the choice between Upton and , the Braves Nick Markakis, RF, Orioles clearly chose poorly (though the right answer was to give neither man $75 million, the four years, $48 million Bourn got from the Some players' track records are just weird. Take Nick Markakis, Indians was far more reasonable), but the bed has been made another 30-year-old who's been in the league since he was 22 and Atlanta needs to figure out how best to lay in it. Upton is and is coming off the worst full season of his career. Markakis another guy who has been the league almost a decade despite has never slugged over .500 or (before last year) below .400 in a being only 28. Outside of his outstanding 2007 -- in which he hit single season, but look at what he did within that range between .300/.386/.508 in 548 PA, a performance his reputation has 2006 and 2012: .448, .485, .491, .453, .436, .406, .471. In each of coasted on for years -- he's never been a great hitter and these seasons, he had an above-league-average bat (though how especially has never hit well for average, but he was a slightly much above league-average varied with how well he was better than league-average bat (.255/.336/.422. 105 OPS+) over slugging) while maintaining a batting average that was usually 4,063 plate appearances during his time in Tampa Bay. It's within a couple points of .295, but the difference in profile possible that Upton could just be done. It does happen between a guy hitting near .300 and slugging almost .500 and a sometimes even without injury, like someone somewhere just guy hitting near .300 and barely slugging .400 is substantial. Last flipped a switch and suddenly a player can't put good wood on a year, Markakis put up the worst season of his career: 700 plate fastball anymore, but it's not very common. It's certainly more appearances of .271/.329/.356 hitting. If he was hurt, it was likely he'll fight his way back to usefulness than it is that, say, nothing significant enough to take him out of the lineup or cause will reverse his catastrophic three-year decline. His him to miss playing time. Nevertheless, a player who had never most likely bounce back, however, is one that takes him from had an OPS under .750 for a season played 160 games and below replacement level to a modest bit above it -- that is to say, batted .685. There was no way that the Orioles were going to one that once again justifies him being on the team, but not one bench him; Markakis is in the backloaded final years of the six- that justifies paying him the money he's being paid. So it goes. year, $66 million extension Baltimore inked him to after his red- hot 2008, an extension he's only really lived up to thanks to Two-sport stars: 'Way more money in baseball' contract inflation over the last three or four seasons. By Gabe Lacques / USA Today Sports http://www.app.com/usatoday/article/6307523&usatref=sport Markakis has shown up to camp for Baltimore with all the usual smod "best shape of his life" trappings (lot of arm workouts this past offseason, it seems) but it's hard to know how that will translate SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- As the clock ticked down toward the on the field in regular season games. Though it's worth noting biggest decision of his life, Archie Bradley found it difficult to that in spring training games against MLB quality pitchers he's suppress his emotions. looked very impressive so far, he had fewer than 20 plate appearances going into Tuesday, a smaller than meaningless Just days after his 19th birthday, Bradley was in what seemed a sample regardless of the fact he was hitting .625. More no-lose situation: Sign a major league contract worth $5 million importantly, if Markakis does bounce back, who will he bounce with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who selected him seventh back to? The guy who hit .298/.363/.471 in an injury-shortened overall in the 2011 draft. Or accept a scholarship to play 2012, or the one who hit .284/.351/.406 the year before that? quarterback at Oklahoma, where just three years earlier It's a bit late for him to make good on the promise of 2008, but quarterback Sam Bradford added the school's fifth Heisman he should still be able to get back to the .800-.820 OPS level of Trophy to the program's garish display in the Switzer Center. production, and the good news is that Markakis won't be expected to carry the offense in Baltimore like in years past -- he "You play quarterback at OU, you're a legend," says Bradley, just needs to contribute to a machine mostly powered by Chris who starred in both sports at Oklahoma's Broken Arrow High. Davis, Adam Jones and Nelson Cruz. "You're remembered forever. People thought because of the money, I was going to be baseball automatically. But I was really B.J. Upton, CF, Braves passionate about playing football in college."

The expectations for B.J. Upton are a bit more modest. First, he But pragmatism trumped passion. Bradley accepted the needs to not be a below-replacement level player at a premium Diamondbacks' offer just moments before the Aug. 15 signing

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│ deadline, largely, he says, because of "how much faster your guard at UCLA, a $1.25 million signing bonus to start the climb body wears down in football." through the Tampa Bay DevilRays farm system and a scholarship to run the option at Nebraska. Three years later, the move looks wise - and not only because Bradley is the game's top pitching prospect and likely to crack Crawford, now 32, was a teenager in Houston when Tommie Arizona's rotation. Frazier won a national championship at Nebraska, and he would have been in line to follow a Heisman-winning quarterback, Eric Reaching the NFL is a challenge unto itself, and once there life Crouch. can be much more arduous than in Major League Baseball. Tuesday marked the beginning of the NFL's free agency period, The regret, however, doesn't last long. a process largely populated by aging veterans signing non- guaranteed contracts. It's a stark contrast to baseball's so-called "Right now," he says with a laugh, "I'm looking like the smartest hot stove season, where stars in their prime switch teams and guy ever." score eight- and nine-figure paydays. Crawford's entering the fourth year of a seven-year, $142 million Furthermore, greater knowledge has emerged in recent years contract, a guaranteed deal that will bring his career earnings to about the health effects of an NFL career - including the specter $189 million. Assuming he fulfills the terms of his contract, he of a massive lawsuit brought by former players claiming the will see every dime of it. league didn't protect them. Bradley says his excruciating decision then would be an easy one today. Crawford is an excellent player - a four-time All-Star - yet he may also be just the third-best outfielder on his own team. By "Without a doubt," he says. "Now, with the research about how comparison, Green Bay Packers quarterback and former NFL concussion-prone the game is, and the long-term effects it's MVP Aaron Rodgers' five-year, $110 million contract signed in having on people, if I'd had that information, it would have April 2013 guarantees him $62.5 million. changed my decision even more toward baseball." "I don't even really understand all that stuff," Crawford said of The immense popularity of football - and its almost-intoxicating the NFL's contract structure. "All I know is, what we sign and competitive lure - means dozens of multi-sport stars will still get paid for, that's what we get paid. You sign for $100 million, choose the gridiron over the diamond. But as several young stars and you only get ($60 million)? That doesn't make sense to me." told USA TODAY Sports, baseball's delayed gratification still has considerable appeal. Three years ago, Crawford - then with the - did his best to convince a young player to choose baseball. The Red "You've got guys who are knocking people's heads off," says Sox spent an eighth-round draft pick on Senquez Golson, and Billy Hamilton, the 23-year-old speedster bidding to become the offered him a seven-figure bonus to buy him out of a ' leadoff hitter. "You look back and watch that commitment to play football at Ole Miss. Crawford, on behalf of and you're like, 'Man, I made the right decision to play baseball,' Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, called Golson to pitch when you watch those guys hit." him on baseball.

Hamilton turned down a scholarship to play wide receiver and Though negotiations endured until the August deadline, Golson return kicks at Mississippi State, and in his third pro season set a opted for football. baseball record with 155 stolen bases. That speed may or may not not have translated into an NFL career. "I couldn't believe with the amount of money being offered to him, he turned it down," says Crawford, "even though he knows But Hamilton, who stands 6 feet and weighs 160 pounds, says what the consequences of football are. But then, his response even playing four seasons in the Southeastern Conference could was it wasn't cool to his friends he didn't want to play (football). have taken a toll. Baseball was the boring or nerdy thing to do. And football was the cool thing to do." "No telling," he says. "I'd probably be beat up, in the ice tub every day, getting home, being lazy every day, trying to do things That October, Golson earned some degree of Internet infamy to keep my body right." when Alabama running back Trent Richardson broke a 76-yard touchdown run against the Rebels, the coup de grace a juke that That's a message major league players and executives have tried caused Golson to crumble to the ground untouched. to impart - often in vain. "A few months after he didn't sign with us, we saw him on *** SportsCenter, for all the wrong reasons," says Epstein, now the president of baseball operations. 'Cool factor' Baseball's "cool factor" got a big boost this spring when Super Carl Crawford still wonders what he could have done on the Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson - a former minor football field. league - made a one-day cameo in camp. And Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jameis Winston of His athletic options as he emerged from Houston's Jefferson Florida State faced the in a Grapefruit Davis High School were staggering: A scholarship to play point 26

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League game; he's an outfielder and reliever for the Seminoles he's just two years shy of free agency, where he figures to be the baseball team. third-best option on the market behind lefty and Washington Nationals right-hander Jordan Like Wilson, Winston's brightest future may be on the gridiron, Zimmermann. but Epstein's fight for the best athletes may get easier. "You need to go by your heart and what you love the most," he The average major league salary has ballooned to $3.39 million, says, "where that love will carry you to work harder and carry while an NFL player earns $1.9 million, with an average career of you through the tough times that professional sports throw your 3-6 years, depending on whether the players' association or way." league is doing the calculation. The son of a union man who worked for a power company, "Look, there's way more money in baseball," says Epstein. "We Samardzija also doesn't take his union's role lightly. have to do a better job as an industry in promulgating that fact. Sometimes, it's worth waiting to get that kind of money." "We have great health care," he says. "We take care of our former players." *** That thought didn't cross Bradley's mind three years ago, when Football still beckons the lure of Oklahoma football beckoned. Now, he's been in a major league clubhouse, has heard the pitch of his union and has In regard to which career is more sustainable, Epstein doesn't' a big league job at his fingertips. have to say a word. "Now that I'm hopefully close to getting there - and the goal is In recent years, several retired NFL players committed suicide to stick there a while - you appreciate the union, what the players and were diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy did before us to make this happen," he says. "Obviously, (CTE), a brain disease that has been linked to repeated head guaranteed money is never a bad thing." trauma. More than 4,500 former players are suing the NFL, claiming it did not adequately protect them from the effects of Dodgers' Greinke returns to mound, with mixed results blows to the head. Talks are ongoing after a judge rejected a By Pedro Moura / OC Register tentative settlement of $765 million. And the league has http://www.ocregister.com/articles/right-605427-kemp- emphasized safety and changing the culture of the game, greinke.html installing new rules and increasing penalties for hits to the head. GLENDALE, Ariz. – Zack Greinke bluntly assessed his spring With all that at hand, several players who gave the game up still start Wednesday, his first since he strained his right calf four wouldn't hesitate to play - or have their children play. pitches into his first start Feb. 27.

As a redshirt freshman at Clemson, Kyle Parker threw 20 Health-wise, he was happy. Pitching-wise, not so much. touchdown passes, led the Tigers to nine wins, an Atlantic Coast Conference championship game appearance and a Music City “My two main goals are getting ready to pitch and staying Bowl appearance, and he also starred on the baseball team. healthy, and right now I’m neither one of those quite yet, but closer on the calf than pitching good,” Greinke, 30, said. In 2010, the Colorado Rockies drafted Parker 26th overall and gave him a $1.4 million signing bonus to play baseball - but he The right-hander still felt discomfort in his calf, which has insisted on playing one more season of Clemson football. improved “at about 10 percent of the pace” he was expecting since the initial injury. "It is definitely a relief to show up to work and not have to worry about getting tackled," he says. "But information that's out “I know it’s there, and I know if I did something more than it’s and the technology they have, they'll have the concussion part of ready to do, it’d be right back to where it started,” Greinke said. it under control. We'd be doing a disservice to kids to totally not “Maybe I can do something complete, but I have to slowly, let them play sports because of the perception of concussions. gradually build up to that.” Right now, everyone's pretty educated on the matter." He threw 39 pitches over two innings, allowing three runs to a Chicago Cubs ace Jeff Samardzija also didn't worry about health reserve-filled Arizona Diamondbacks lineup, followed by a ramifications. After catching 78 passes for 1,017 yards in his simulated 14-pitch inning in the bullpen. senior year at Notre Dame, Samardzija was a possible first round selection in the NFL draft. Greinke likely needs two more starts before a regular-season debut, but those will have to come in minor-league games, since The Cubs struck preemptively, guaranteeing him $10 million to the Dodgers depart for Australia on Sunday and his next turn give up football. Samardzija says his decision was purely based comes up Monday. on his athletic ceiling - that he'd only scratched the surface of his potential as a pitcher. Ideally, Greinke said, he will be able to pitch in the Dodgers’ American season-opening series in San Diego, potentially April Wise move. Though Samardzija has a career 29-35 record, he 1. finished fourth in the National League with 214 strikeouts. And 27

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“But there’s still a ways to go,” he said. stealing it in the fifth inning. However, the original safe call stood. KEMP PLAYS THE FIELD UP NEXT: Cincinnati at 1 p.m. at Camelback Ranch. On the air: Matt Kemp pronounced himself on schedule at the plate despite TV: SportsNet LA. going 0 for 6 in another intrasquad appearance. But after playing his first two innings of 2014 in center field and fielding two Cactus League Is The Cheapest And Most Convenient routine balls, he said he's still got work to do defensively. Spring Training Option For Baseball Fans By Jesse Lawrence / Forbes “I feel a little weird, still, being out there, but I'm having a lot of http://www.forbes.com/sites/jesselawrence/2014/03/12/cactu fun,” Kemp said. “I'm excited to be back on the field just s-league-is-the-cheaper-and-most-convenient-spring-training- playing. It's a process. … I actually feel really good at the plate. option-for-baseball-fans/ I'm not looking for results. I just go for feeling.” When you think of spring training, Florida is the first location Kemp's words were measured. He didn't hint much at what was that comes to mind for many. ForNortheasterners, it’s the coming next, deferring questions on his timetable to trainer Stan anchor for Spring break plans and a 2-3 hour flight. The Phillies Conte, but continued to say he needs more time. were the first major league teams to use Florida as training destination, starting in 1889. 1913, however, marked the first “I just want it to feel good,” Kemp said. “My legs feel a little year with multiple teams making the trip, with Cubs playing in heavy and tired at times, but that comes back with getting back Tampa, and the Indians playing in Pensacola. Two years later, in shape. You can lift as many weights as you want, but nothing the Grapefruit league officially started. Over the years, other compares to being back on the baseball field.” destinations have included Hot Springs Arkansas (Cardinals) and New Orleans (Yankees), and even Havana, (Brooklyn Kemp will not travel to Australia but could play in San Diego. Dodgers). Over the years, all but six of the major league teams have gone to spring training in Florida but more recently NOTES Arizona’s Cactus league has attracted more and more teams. With the Dodgers, Indians and Reds move to Arizona in 2009- Wednesday’s game was a practice instant-replay game, and acting 10, the Cactus League now has as many teams as does Florida’s manager Tim Wallach challenged a fifth-inning stolen base. The Grapefruit league. call was upheld. John Pratt, the Dodgers’ video coordinator, watched the play live and relayed via walkie-talkie that the play As of 2011, all Cactus League teams play within a 25-mile radius was worth challenging. … of downtown Phoenix. That has been the case after three teams moved north from Tucson and another three have migrated Right-hander Josh Beckett’s status for his scheduled Friday start from Florida. The result is model that baseball executives love is in doubt because of a sprained right thumb. given the efficiencies in travel and scouting. It has also become more and more of a go-to destination for a fans looking to get Spring training: Diamondbacks 9, Dodgers 2 their fix of spring baseball. The result is a baseball fans paradise By Dylan Hernandez / LA Times where you can see half of major league baseball play for the cost http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp- of a Red Sox ticket for one regular season game. For a Cubs fans dodgers-diamondbacks- who wanted to make sure they didn’t miss any split-squad action 20140313,0,6762828.story#axzz2vrP2ns3W this weekend, they could get Royals tickets for their 4:05 game against the Cubs, stay for a few innings and then pick up some Diamondbacks 9, Dodgers 2 Cubs tickets for their game against the Mets. That would still leave plenty of time for Red Sox tickets to their 7:05 game AT THE PLATE: Andre Ethier doubled in two runs in the first against the Phillies, Yankees tickets for their 9:05 game against inning. He was two for three, raising his spring average to .357. the Marlins and White Sox tickets for the last few innings of Adrian Gonzalez was one for two and drew his fifth walk of the their 10:05 game against the Dodgers. Even for the the heartiest exhibition season. Gonzalez is batting .333 and has an on-base of baseball fans, that’s an itinerary that’s hard to top. In Florida, percentage of .448. Yasiel Puig collected an infield hit, which was teams are much more spread out with as far as 155 miles to go only his fifth hit of the spring. Puig is batting .172. Puig isn't the between parks. For a fan looking to put together a spring only key player who isn't hitting this spring. A.J. Ellis is batting training weekend, in Florida you have to pick a spot and commit .083, Carl Crawford .136, Dee Gordon .172 and Hanley Ramirez to seeing 3-4 teams play. In Arizona, you can wake up, and plan .222. your day based on the best pitching match-ups. In addition, Arizona provide a much nicer setting with five mountains– ON THE MOUND: Top prospect Zach Lee gave up four runs Camelback Mountain, the McDowell Mountains, Four Peaks, (three earned) and three hits in 22/3 innings. and Red Mountain, and the Superstition Mountains—serving as a pitched a perfect inning apiece, with Jansen potential backdrop. striking out the side. In addition to catching the game, as of 2011, baseball fans can EXTRA BASES: The Dodgers challenged a play for the first also do some gambling after a Diamondbacks or Rockies game. time under baseball's expanded replay system, as Ramirez argued In 2011, both opened at a new facility called Salt River Fields at that shortstop Didi Gregorius stepped off second base after Talking Stick, which was the first spring training facility to be built on Native American land. Diamondback tickets go for as 28

│ little $29 to experience the the facility, which cost $100 million to build. Reviews have been ecstatically positive and there’s The process is well underway to transform the Sydney Cricket agreement that the facility has set a new bar for spring training Ground into a Major League Baseball diamond and even though facilities. Over the last 20 years, $500 million has been invested the two teams will have a long flight, followed by a tight in new facilities in Arizona, and in addition to the fans, the city turnaround to get back to the US. and teams are reaping major benefits. Last year, the Cactus League generated $300 million of economic benefit for the Both clubs say they’re looking forward to the unique event. And greater Phoenix area, according to the Arizona Republic. They the promoters in Australia seem to be relieved that almost a also had a record-setting year of attendance, with over 1.7 decade of endeavouring to make this game possible.is on the million people seeing a Cactus League game. That compares to verge of paying off. just over 1.6 million fans for the Grapefruit League. The best part of fans looking to do an Arizona baseball crawl is that the "It’s taken eight years of hard work with a lot of people, a lot of Cactus league is $6 cheaper on average than the Grapefruit investment both financially and emotionally. The SCG Trust and league. Below is a list of each team across the two leagues ranked New South Wales government, and obviously Major League from most to least expensive: Baseball and Australian Baseball, have been fantastic. We are inside two weeks of a moment in history -- so we are looking Grapefruit League AVG Asking forward to it." Sydney promoter Jason Moore said. Red Sox $79 Braves $63 "To go somewhere like Australia, which is a long way away, and Yankees $58 to take their opening series game -- that’s really unheard of. So I Twins $52 think they are going to be very excited and very anxious to see Phillies $52 the results." Former MLB Catcher said. Astros $51 Cardinals $50 Diamondbacks | Cody Ross back in action Rays $50 By KFFL Orioles $49 http://www.kffl.com/gnews.php?id=896130-diamondbacks- Tigers $48 cody-ross-back-in-action Mets $44 Pirates $40 Arizona Diamondbacks OF Cody Ross (hip) played in his first Marlins $40 intrasquad spring game Wednesday, March 12, going 3-for-6 Blue Jays $40 with two doubles. Fantasy Tip: Ross' power began to disappear Nationals $37 before his ugly hip injury last season. He won't be full speed by Average $50 the time the regular season starts, either, and it could take him half the season to be back to 100 percent. Platoon duty against Cactus League AVG Asking lefties is probably where he's headed, meaning he doesn't Rangers $60 warrant much consideration unless you're in an NL-only league. Giants $59 Cubs $58 White Sox $48 Angels $46 Dodgers $46 MOBILE BAYBEARS Mariners $43 Royals $43 Rockies $42 Dbacks $41 Indians $38 A’s $37 Reds $35 Padres $34 Brewers $27 Average $44

Sydney preparing to host MLB opener By CCTV http://english.cntv.cn/program/sportsscene/20140313/101327. shtml March 13, 2014 • sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews One of the world's most famous cricket ovals will be temporarily switching sports when Major League Baseball opens its regular March 13, 2014 season in Sydney on March 22nd. The Los Angeles Dodgers and  Manny Ramirez: the drug suspensions were “the best Arizona Diamondbacks will make the 17-hour flight Down thing happened to me” 12:30 pm EDT (NBC Sports) Under with MLB's highest paid pitcher Clayton Kershaw.getting  Doug Fister felt tightness in his elbow after throwing the start for LA. 12:20 pm EDT (NBC Sports) 29

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 Cubs: Javier Baez and Mike Olt show off impressive  Tulowitzki hit by pitch, suffers bruised calf 12:05 am power 11:54 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) EDT (The Associated Press)  Must-Click Link: a neerrrrrrrd in the clubhouse 11:45 March 12, 2014 am EDT (NBC Sports)  Ichiro relegated to 5th wheel with Yankees 11:50 pm  Phillies' SS Rollins benched for 3rd straight game 11:22 EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic) am EDT (The Associated Press)  Hector Sanchez is a work of art at first base 11:13 pm  Rodriguez makes good impression with Showalter EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area) 11:20 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)  Cubs send down Bryant, Almora and Soler among  Blue Jays may turn to Drew Hutchison after missing spring cuts 11:03 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) out on Ervin Santana 11:19 am EDT (NBC Sports)  Mets pitching coach dropped ethnic slur in clubhouse  Keith Olbermann REALLY hates that is 10:39 pm EDT (NBC Sports) coaching the Giants for a week 11:03 am EDT (NBC  Greinke allows 3 runs in first start since injury 10:30 pm Sports) EDT (The Associated Press)  Jeff Keppinger still having problems with shoulder  Rays focus on manufacturing runs 10:22 pm EDT (The after surgery 10:47 am EDT (NBC Sports) SportsXchange)  Sox make first round of spring roster cuts 10:35 am  Lincecum solid into the fifth for Giants in win 9:54 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England) EDT (The Associated Press)  Stephen Drew regrets not taking the qualifying offer  still dealing with back discomfort 9:45 from the Red Sox 10:32 am EDT (NBC Sports) pm EDT (NBC Sports)  Rollins awaits Sandberg's explanation on benching  Perez, Moustakas shine in Royals win over A's 9:45 pm 10:23 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia) EDT (The Associated Press)  Josh Beckett got his thumb caught in a door 10:15 am  Santana homers for Indians in 12-7 win over Padres EDT (NBC Sports) 9:26 pm EDT (The Associated Press)  Brewers' Braun signs endorsement deal 9:50 am EDT  Without added depth, Jays forced to rush Stroman 9:11 (The Associated Press) pm EDT (The SportsXchange)  Jon Niese bristles at the media reporting Dan  Ryan asks for patience as he joins Astros 8:59 pm EDT Warthen’s racial slur — and I sorta understand why (The Associated Press) 9:49 am EDT (NBC Sports)  Braves sign RHP Ervin Santana to bolster rotation 8:58  Purke, Taylor among latest round of Nats cuts 9:34 am pm EDT (The Associated Press) EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)  McCann strives to learn Yankees' pitchers 8:54 pm  Has Jimmy Rollins been benched in Philly? 9:14 am EDT (The SportsXchange) EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)  Anderson goes 5, Rockies hold off Reds 3-2 8:43 pm  Wakeup Call: Meet the new boss, Jimmy 9:05 am EDT EDT (The Associated Press) (Comcast SportsNet New England)  Zack Greinke throws two innings versus  Jimmy Rollins on Ryne Sandberg: “Everyone is allowed Diamondbacks in return to Cactus League action 8:41 to have their opinion. That doesn’t make it right.” 9:00 pm EDT (NBC Sports) am EDT (NBC Sports)  Angels' split-squad routs Garza, Brewers 8:37 pm EDT  Norris, Gausman try to stop Yankees 8:50 am EDT (The Associated Press) (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)  Orioles turn one eye toward 2015 and beyond 8:34 pm  The Mariners commercials are out and, as usual, they’re EDT (The SportsXchange) great 8:41 am EDT (NBC Sports)  White Sox: Paulino needs to better command waste  ST Daily: The Ervin Has Landed 8:06 am EDT pitches 8:24 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) (Rotoworld)  Angels split-squad routs Rangers 12-1 8:22 pm EDT  The Mets could solve their shortstop problem via a (The Associated Press) trade with the Diamondbacks 7:52 am EDT (NBC  Home run odds: A's place two, Giants nil 8:11 pm EDT Sports) (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)  Baseball-Yoshinori Sato: the man behind the Japanese  Keppinger's tight shoulder could land him on DL 7:54 arms race 6:00 am EDT (Reuters) pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)  Mariners top Cubs 8-7 in 10 innings 2:51 am EDT (The  San Francisco mint to produce 1st curved coin 7:53 pm Associated Press) EDT (The Associated Press)  Tulowitzki bruises calf, Dbacks' top Rockies 6-4 1:56  Team Report - ATLANTA BRAVES 7:52 pm EDT am EDT (The Associated Press) (The SportsXchange)  Day 27: White Sox Daily Digest 1:32 am EDT (Comcast  Team Report - TAMPA BAY RAYS 7:52 pm EDT (The SportsNet Chicago) SportsXchange)  Watch: Sandberg 'trying to get a point across' 12:14 am  Team Report - NEW YORK YANKEES 7:52 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia) EDT (The SportsXchange)  The hidden inspiration for Tim Lincecum's mustache,  Team Report - TORONTO BLUE JAYS 7:52 pm EDT etc 12:11 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area) (The SportsXchange)

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 Team Report - HOUSTON ASTROS 7:52 pm EDT TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION (The SportsXchange)  Team Report - BALTIMORE ORIOLES 7:52 pm EDT (The SportsXchange)

Boston Red Sox Alex Wilson Sent to Minors  Ryne Sandberg sounds frustrated with Jimmy Rollins 7:38 pm EDT (NBC Sports)  Castro hits 2-run homer, RBI double to lead Astros 7:24 pm EDT (The Associated Press) Wednesday, March 12, 2014  Boggs is upbeat about progress with White Sox 7:02 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)  Why MLB's new home-plate collision rule is anything TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION but easy 6:51 pm EDT (Yahoo Sports)  Kuroda gives up 6 runs, Yankees tie Tigers 7-7 6:44 pm EDT (The Associated Press) Signed as Free Agent, (

Atlanta Braves Ervin Santana  How Giants starter Tim Lincecum reinvented himself 2014)(one-year contract) 6:43 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)  Jorge De La Rosa named Rockies’ Opening Day starter

6:42 pm EDT (NBC Sports) Chicago Cubs Logan Watkins Sent to Minors  Team Report - BOSTON RED SOX 6:29 pm EDT (The SportsXchange)  Wood continues to impress in Braves' win 6:29 pm Chicago White Charlie EDT (The Associated Press) Sent to Minors Sox Leesman  Wong HRs for 2nd straight day; Cards beat Mets 6-4 6:19 pm EDT (The Associated Press)  Marco Scutaro can't pledge he'll be ready by Opening Cleveland Day 6:12 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area) Jose Ramirez Sent to Minors Indians  Alvarerz, Ishikawa homer, Pirates beat Twins 6:01 pm EDT (The Associated Press)  Red Sox: Sizemore-Bradley battle front and center 6:00 Houston Astros Released pm EDT (The SportsXchange)  Smart money on Hanley Ramirez, in prop bets 5:55 pm EDT (NBC Sports) Milwaukee Johnny  Encarnacion homers in Blue Jays' loss 5:48 pm EDT Sent to Minors

Brewers Hellweg (The Associated Press)  Is Sandberg sending Jimmy Rollins a message? 5:46 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia) Milwaukee Livan  Jimenez hit for four runs in 6-5 Orioles loss 5:39 pm Retired EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic) Brewers Hernandez  is hitting the church circuit 5:35 pm EDT (NBC Sports) Milwaukee Jose De La  Phillies rough up Jimenez in 6-5 win over Orioles 5:19 Outrighted to Minors pm EDT (The Associated Press) Brewers Torre  Gattis homers as Braves top Marlins 3-1 5:18 pm EDT (The Associated Press) San Francisco  Rockies lefty De La Rosa to start opening day 5:09 pm Mike Kickham Sent to Minors EDT (The Associated Press) Giants

March 13, 2014 • MLB.com Texas Rangers Wilmer Font Sent to Minors http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

Last updated: Thu, March 13, 2014, 11:29 EST Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Thursday, March 13, 2014 TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

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Henry Los Angeles Signed to a Minor League

Cincinnati Reds Released Joe Martinez

Rodriguez Angels Contract

Cincinnati Reds Donald Lutz Sent to Minors Los Angeles

Matt Magill Sent to Minors

Dodgers

David

Cincinnati Reds Sent to Minors

Holmberg Milwaukee

Jimmy Nelson Sent to Minors

Brewers

Philadelphia Called Up from Minors, - Not to

Michael Stutes

Phillies Report Minnesota Twins Brooks Raley Sent to Minors

Philadelphia New York Mets Wilfredo Tovar Sent to Minors

Michael Stutes Outrighted to Minors

Phillies

New York Mets Josh Edgin Sent to Minors

Seattle Mariners Jesus Sucre Sent to Minors

Oakland

Shane Peterson Sent to Minors

Seattle Mariners Carlos Triunfel Sent to Minors Athletics

Bobby St. Louis

Seattle Mariners Sent to Minors Rafael Ortega Sent to Minors

LaFromboise Cardinals

Monday, March 10, 2014 Sunday, March 9, 2014

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Arizona Signed as Free Agent, ( 2014- Arizona

Oliver Perez Alfredo Marte Sent to Minors

Diamondbacks 2015)(two-year contract) Diamondbacks

Traded From, Chi. White Sox Arizona Eury De La

Atlanta Braves Zach Stewart Sent to Minors

(for cash considerations) Diamondbacks Rosa

Houston Astros David Martinez Sent to Minors Arizona

Zeke Spruill Sent to Minors

Diamondbacks

Houston Astros Max Stassi Sent to Minors

Houston Astros Paul Clemens Sent to Minors

Kansas City

Chris Dwyer Sent to Minors

Royals Saturday, March 8, 2014

Los Angeles TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Michael Roth Sent to Minors

Angels

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Los Angeles Alex Acquired Off Waivers From,

Robert Carson Outrighted to Minors San Diego Padres

Angels Castellanos Texas

Los Angeles Toronto Blue Signed to a Minor League

John Hester Outrighted to Minors Radhames Liz

Angels Jays Contract

Philadelphia Thursday, March 6, 2014

Luis Garcia Sent to Minors

Phillies

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION Philadelphia

Michael Stutes Sent to Minors

Phillies Signed as Free Agent, (

Texas Rangers Joe Saunders 2014)(one-year contract) San Francisco Signed to a Minor League

Darren Ford

Giants Contract Alex

Texas Rangers Designated for Assignment Castellanos St. Louis Signed, ( 2014-2019; Opt

Matt Carpenter

Cardinals 2020)(six-year extension) Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Tampa Bay Rays Alex Colome Sent to Minors TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Tampa Bay Rays Sent to Minors Los Angeles Signed to a Minor League Ryan Sadowski

Dodgers Contract Toronto Blue

Mickey Storey Sent to Minors

Jays

New York Mets Retired

Toronto Blue

Liam Hendriks Sent to Minors Jays Toronto Blue

Luis Perez Sent to Minors

Jays

Friday, March 7, 2014 Tuesday, March 4, 2014

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Baltimore Orioles Mike Belfiore Sent to Minors Arizona

Charles Brewer Sent to Minors

Diamondbacks Signed to a Minor League

Detroit Tigers Contract Arizona

Alex Sanabia Sent to Minors

Diamondbacks Placed on 60-Day DL, (Left

San Diego Padres elbow surgery - out for season) Signed to a Minor League

Baltimore Orioles Contract

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Cleveland

David Cooper Outrighted to Minors

Indians

Los Angeles

Stephen Fife Sent to Minors

Dodgers

Los Angeles

Nick Buss Sent to Minors

Dodgers

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