│ Optimizing the Diamondbacks Lineup: vs. LHP Gonzo honored to join Latino Baseball Hall of Fame By Joseph Jacquez / Venom Strikes By Josh Rawitch / Arizona Diamondbacks http://venomstrikes.com/2015/02/08/optimizing- http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/108697656/d-backs- diamondbacks-lineup-vs-lhp/ luiz-gonzalez-honored-to-join-latino-baseball-hall-of-fame Luis Gonzalez Enters the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame D-backs done dealing for now, likely out on Shields By Thomas Lynch / Venom Strikes By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://venomstrikes.com/2015/02/07/luis-gonzalez-enters- http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/108553930/arizona- arizona-sports-hall-fame/ diamondbacks-indicate-they-dont-plan-to-make-more-deals- before-spring-training Diamondbacks RHP Touki Toussaint Hires Agent By Joseph Jacquez / Venom Strikes D-backs celebrate first graduates of Dominican academy http://venomstrikes.com/2015/02/06/diamondbacks-rhp- By Josh Rawitch / Arizona Diamondbacks touki-toussaint-hires-agent/ http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/108558196/arizona- diamondbacks-celebrate-graduation-at-academy-in-dominican- Diamondbacks Preparing for Arbitration Hearings with republic Trumbo, and Reed By Joseph Jacquez / Venom Strikes Diamondbacks to have crowded rotation competition http://venomstrikes.com/2015/02/06/diamondbacks- By Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic preparing-arbitration-hearings-trumbo-reed/ http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2 015/02/07/diamondbacks-to-have-crowded-rotation- 13 Days Until Diamondbacks Pitchers & Catchers Report competition/23049247/ By Tristan Leohard / TruSchooSports.com http://www.truschoolsports.com/2015/02/13-days-until- Diamondbacks new vision: 'Every waking hour' diamondbacks-pitchers-catchers-report/ By Fox Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/video/diamondbacks-new- MLB All-Stars Corbin, Bautista, Martin Highlight Chipola vision-every-waking-hour-020615?vid=390992451827 Alumni Weekend By Greg Brzozowski / wjhg.com Diamondbacks seeking big-headed performers http://www.wjhg.com/sports/headlines/MLB-All-Stars- By Arizona Republic Corbin-Bautista-Martin-Highlight-Chipola-Alumni-Weekend- http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/12- 291187951.html news/2015/02/06/12news-legends-gracie-johnson-gonzo- williams-dbacks-race/23010243/ WCCS retires Simmons’ jersey By Daniel Evans / Selma Times-Journal Science of baseball is big hit with middle-school students http://www.selmatimesjournal.com/2015/02/08/wccs-retires- By Caitlin Schmidt / Tucson.com simmons-jersey/ http://tucson.com/news/science-of-baseball-is-big-hit-with- middle-school-students/article_e5d5daf9-72e6-54a9-a5be- ea725c9318b3.html The Diamondbacks graduated some prospects this morning. Literally. By Craig Calcaterra / NBC Sports Reynolds armed with ‘clean bill of health’ http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/06/the- By Kevin Druley / Kane County Chronicle diamondbacks-graduated-some-prospects-this-morning-literally/ http://www.kcchronicle.com/2015/02/06/reynolds-armed- with-clean-bill-of-health/aj6hekb/ Ranking the teams: 30 through 25 By David Schoenfield / ESPN.com http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/54964/ranking -the-teams-30-through-25-2 1 │ February 9, 2015 • sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews February 9, 2015 • MLB.com http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions 2 │ from Felipe Alou, Ozzie Virgil, Cookie Rojas, Vic Davalillo and Moises Alou to current contemporaries Carlos Beltran, Johnny Gonzo honored to join Latino Baseball Hall of Fame Cueto, Nelson Cruz and Ubaldo Jimenez. MLB Commissioner By Josh Rawitch / Arizona Diamondbacks Rob Manfred was also in attendance. http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/108697656/d-backs- luiz-gonzalez-honored-to-join-latino-baseball-hall-of-fame The next generation of baseball talent did not seem very far away, either. Gonzalez took great joy in bringing his son, Jacob, LA ROMANA, Dominican Republic -- Three generations of to the D-backs academy in Boca Chica on Saturday where the Latin American baseball came together Saturday night at the highly-touted sophomore at Chaparral High School had the fifth annual induction ceremony for the Latino Baseball Hall of opportunity to work out alongside several prospects on the same Fame, but the star-studded event took on a special relevance for morning his father was inducted into the Hall of Fame. the D-backs' organization, as Luis Gonzalez was inducted in front of family and friends alongside five Latino luminaries. "I had no idea of the magnitude of this," said Gonzalez, who is one of just 19 players in MLB history with 2,500 hits, 500 Gonzalez, a Cuban-American, joined Roberto Kelly (Panama), doubles, 350 homers and 1,000 RBIs. "To look out in the crowd Carlos Delgado (Puerto Rico), Ozzie Guillen (Venezuela), and see my wife and kids and so many people from the D-backs Nomar Garciaparra (Mexico) and Pedro Martinez (Dominican down here in the Dominican Republic was something I'll always Republic) on a night that none will soon forget. remember." "It's a proud moment, not only for the simple fact of being D-backs done dealing for now, likely out on Shields Hispanic, but for my parents and grandparents, to go in By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com representing a country where they were born," said Gonzalez. http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/108553930/arizona- "You try to play a game to earn the respect of your teammates diamondbacks-indicate-they-dont-plan-to-make-more-deals- and friends and fans, but when you receive an honor like this, it's before-spring-training pretty overwhelming and humbling." PHOENIX -- With 13 days left until pitchers and catchers If respect was what Gonzalez sought as a player, it was evident report to Salt River Fields, it appears all is quiet on the trade and he had earned it with his play on the field and the way he carried free agent front for the D-backs. himself off of it during a 19-year big league career. "We're quiet in our house right now," general manager Dave "Luis is the definition of the ultimate professional," Garciaparra Stewart said. "We've taken the position that we're weeks away told the crowd during his acceptance speech. "He was the best from Spring Training, and now we're just going to see what we teammate and I'm proud to enter the Hall of Fame with him." have. If we need to make adjustments, we'll make adjustments after we see what we have. Right now, we're where we are with Gonzalez, who currently serves as a Special Assistant to D-backs the players that we have. I think if you talk to our staff as a president and CEO Derrick Hall, said that he was particularly whole we are very, very positive and optimistic that what we're moved by the fact that he had both of his families there -- his going to put on the field is going to be good." wife, Christine and triplets Alyssa, Jacob and Megan as well as a dozen representatives of the D-backs. That means that for now the catching corps will remain 40-man roster members Tuffy Gosewisch and Oscar Hernandez along "Gonzo is one of the greatest figures in the history of our with six non-roster invitees to camp in Gerald Laird, Blake Lalli, organization," Hall told the audience as he introduced the Peter O'Brien, Jordan Pacheco, Matt Pagnozzi and Mark newest Hall of Famer. "He's a fan favorite. He played for six Thomas. teams, but really put the Diamondbacks on the map. If there was a Hall of Fame for humanitarianism, Gonzo would be in it. If It also indicates the D-backs will not be jumping back into the there was a Hall of Fame for best teammates, Gonzo would be mix for free agent right-hander James Shields. in it. He is one of the finest individuals to ever wear a Major League Baseball uniform and now he will have his legacy Salt River Fields has been busy since the start of the new year enshrined forever." with players working out informally. The group included Yasmany Tomas, Paul Goldschmidt, Aaron Hill, A.J. Pollock, Even the night's co-host, former big league manager Manny Chris Owings, Trevor Cahill, Daniel Hudson, David Hernandez Acta, praised his former Minor League roommate, as did and Rubby De La Rosa. Dominican native son Martinez, who pointed out Gonzalez's success against him in the big leagues. The left-handed batter hit "There have been a ton of guys out there working and getting .388 with seven extra-base hits and just seven strikeouts in 57 ready for Spring Training, which in itself is encouraging to me," plate appearances against Martinez, who is headed to Stewart said. "I'm excited and ready to get it started." Cooperstown this summer alongside another D-backs legend, Randy Johnson. D-backs celebrate first graduates of Dominican academy By Josh Rawitch / Arizona Diamondbacks But Gonzalez's brief acceptance speech focused more on those http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/108558196/arizona- who came before him, helping open the doors to Latino players diamondbacks-celebrate-graduation-at-academy-in-dominican- and teaching the younger generation how to play the game with republic passion and respect. The dais was filled with baseball legends 3 │ BOCA CHICA, Dominican Republic -- In a scene that mirrored But nothing could take away from the day's pomp and those taking place each year at Horizon or Chaparral High circumstance. For Hall, the ceremony was the culmination of a School in Scottsdale, Ariz., some of the area's top young baseball promise he made several years ago to Dominican Republic players donned black gowns and tossed their caps into the air on president Danilo Medina. Hall reiterated that commitment to the graduation day.