The Diamondbacks signed left fielder Jason Kubel this offseason in an effort to increase their offensive depth while adding some punch from the left side of the plate. Kubel hit .273 with 12 home runs and 58 RBI for the Minnesota Twins in 2011. He should benefit from moving to Chase Field — a hitter-friendly […]
Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew returned to the field for his third day of on-field workouts since undergoing surgery for a broken ankle last July. Drew took ground balls on Monday and Tuesday before taking Wednesday off and returning to action today. “The healing is coming along and you know pretty excited about that because there […]
Trevor Bauer and Tyler Skaggs are two of the D-backs’ more well known prospects, a pair of pitchers many think will reach the big league level sometime this season. Neither Bauer, 21, nor Skaggs, 20, are expected to begin the season with the Diamondbacks, but that doesn’t mean they can’t learn something while they’re with […]
The Arizona Diamondbacks have a target on their back, and they know it. As the team that came out of nowhere to shock their divisional foes to win the N.L. West last season, the Diamondbacks know repeating won’t be easy. “Every organization evaluates what they did last year and they try to improve upon that, […]
For Ian Kennedy, high expectations abound following his breakout season with the Diamondbacks in 2011. Kennedy, who finished fourth in the National League Cy Young balloting after going 21-4 with a 2.88 ERA in 2011, wouldn’t have it any other way. “You always get those questions like, ‘well, are you going to try to do […]
Diamondbacks Gold Glove outfielder Gerardo Parra was back at Salt River Fields Wednesday ready to work and return to his spot in left field. The only problem is somebody is already there — newcomer Jason Kubel. Nobody would have been surprised if Parra was upset about the off-season acquisition of Kubel from the Twins. After […]
The Arizona Diamondbacks have one of the league’s better starting rotations, with Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson, Trevor Cahill, Joe Saunders and Josh Collmenter rounding out the top five. But Arizona’s stable of arms doesn’t end there, and according to an ESPN Insider story, the D-backs have the next great MLB starting rotation, with Trevor Bauer, […]
The Diamondbacks are looking to make a lot of improvements during Spring Training, and manager Kirk Gibson is glad they have the facility where they can do it all: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. “It’s certainly an advantage for the team to be able to really live in the same location year round. The […]
The positivity around the upcoming Diamondbacks season continues to reach new heights, with local and national attention, but the chance of repeating as National League West champions or going further into the playoffs is still up in the air. “I think when you look at the National League, there’s not that super power,” ESPN’s Pedro […]
The Diamondbacks will not believe they will win the NL West simply by showing up this season. Kirk Gibson won’t let them. Gibson, who said “successes can be very dangerous” Sunday, expanded on that thought Tuesday as a guest on Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf. “You read a lot of good articles about yourself […]
Kirk Gibson knows one of his team’s greatest strengths is the depth of the pitching staff from top to bottom. The Diamondbacks’ starting rotation comprised of Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson, Trevor Cahill, Joe Saunders and Josh Collmenter is arguably one of the best in Major League Baseball. The team’s decision to bring Saunders back into […]
Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew took ground balls at Salt River Fields today for the first time since having ankle surgery last July. Drew has been working out non-stop since the injury but it’s the first time he’s seen any action on the baseball field. Manager Kirk Gibson was happy to see him back out there. […]
One year ago we (the media) sat in a room at Salt River Fields and asked new manager Kirk Gibson how he was going to change the culture of the clubhouse, and we asked general manager Kevin Towers if the Diamondbacks had the talent to reach .500. This spring started out a little different. Scratch […]
It’s that time of year again when hope springs eternal for all 30 Major League Baseball teams. Pitchers and catchers reported to camp this weekend, signifying the official start to the new season. Not surprisingly, the new-look Angels have garnered the most attention in Cactus League camps, after luring the prized free agent on the […]
There’s a lot to like about the Arizona Diamondbacks as they head into the 2012 season. They followed up a 94-win season with what most think was an excellent off-season, with some “experts” even picking the team to reach the World Series. So, it should come as no surprise that manager Kirk Gibson, on the […]
We all felt like the Diamondbacks had a bright future ahead of them, with a talented young core and a stocked farm system. The national perception isn’t much different, it turns out. According to ESPN’s Future Power Rankings, which is an Insider piece, the Diamondbacks rank 8th among teams with the best chance for sustained […]
ESPN analyst Jim Bowden gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a grade of A- for the business they did in the offseason. In a piece for ESPN Insider, Bowden said the D-Backs “might have had the best offseason of any midlevel market team in terms of undervalued free- agent signings and trades.” Big acquisitions for Arizona were […]
The Arizona Diamondbacks won 94 games last season, taking the NL West title and the Brewers to five games in the NLDS. Kevin Towers was not one to rest on his laurels, though, as the team made plenty of moves over the offseason, each one designed to get the D-backs to the next level. Will […]
Looking for a first baseman seemed to be an annual event for the Diamondbacks, at least since Mark Grace retired after the 2003 season. Whether it was Lyle Overbay, Richie Sexson, Greg Colbrunn, Adam LaRoche, Juan Miranda any other of a host of players who gave it a shot, the team has struggled to find […]
The same day that Diamondbacks team president and CEO Derrick Hall joined Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf for the start of their fifth Newsmakers week, General Manager Kevin Towers followed suit. Towers candidly discussed the D-backs philosophy, the importance of employing character guys in their locker room, his proudest offseason moments, reflections from an […]
Doug and Wolf kicked off their 5th Newsmakers Week on Arizona Sports 620 by welcoming Derrick Hall, the president and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who joined the boys in studio. Coming off a surprising 2011 campaign that saw the Diamondbacks capture the National League West crown and an offseason that saw them bolster their […]
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected UCLA star Trevor Bauer with the third pick in the 2011 MLB draft, and many figured the Golden Spikes Award winner would be on the fast track to the majors. Though the righty with the funky windup finished his first pro season with Double-A Mobile, there are some who think he’ll […]
So, you think you’re a baseball nut? Trust me, you’ve got nothing on Christy McGaugh of Phoenix. McGaugh is one of 50 finalists for the 2nd edition of the MLB Fan Cave, a 15,000 square foot space in New York’s Greenwich Village which will serve as the nerve center for this experiment for the duration […]
The Arizona Diamondbacks won the NL West in 2011 with a roster made up of few stars. After all, for every Justin Upton and Miguel Montero there was a Ryan Roberts and Gerardo Parra. For every Ian Kennedy there was a Josh Collmenter. In short, the 2011 Arizona Diamondbacks did not have the look of […]
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced their 2012 promotional schedule Saturday. The season, which gets underway against the San Francisco Giants on April 6, will be spotted with more than thirty promotional days, featuring bobbleheads, tattoo sleeves, and other promotional items. One of the bobbleheads, sponsored by Arizona Sports 620 features pitcher Ian Kennedy and will be […]
The 2011 Arizona Diamondbacks were never out of a game. With more come-from-behind victories than anyone else in the majors — by a wide margin — Arizona found new ways to win on what seemed like a nightly basis. That style, while stressful, also showed something about the players that donned Sedona Red. “I think […]
Needless to say, this offseason hasn’t been a normal one for Stephen Drew. The Diamondbacks shortstop suffered a nasty broken right ankle in a loss to the Milwaukee Brewers last July 20, and ever since has been working hard to get back to playing shape. “It’s been a long offseason,” Drew told Arizona Sports 620’s […]
The Diamondbacks had FanFest Saturday, just as they did one year ago. The event, which signifies the unofficial start to the season, gives fans a chance to see the players for the first time since the previous year. Last time around, the mood was different. Last time around, the Diamondbacks were coming off a couple […]
Ryan Roberts quickly became a fan favorite last season with his clutch hitting, fiery attitude, and “Tatman” nickname. With no new acquisitions at third base, Roberts currently has a secure job at that position, but that hasn’t satisfied him. “I never want to feel established, and I never want to feel like I’ve reached my […]
Every Diamondbacks fan knows the names Upton, Young, Kennedy, Hudson and Montero and Drew. Most know the names Parra, Goldschmidt, Hill and Roberts. But what about Holmberg and Marshall? According to ESPN MLB insider Keith Law, pitchers Evan Marshall and David Holmberg are sleepers to watch for in Arizona. In an ESPN Insider piece, Law […]
