SB Nation Arizona - D-backs Fall To Pirates With No Chris Young Or Justin Upton

Gerardo Parra's Arm Still Not Highly Regarded By MLB Players

2012-08-09T20:00:15Z

Over the past few seasons, we have witnessed Gerardo Parra and his throwing arm. We saw him get 12 outfield assists in 2011, a team record. We saw him win a Gold Glove in 2011. Now we see no one run on him. It is just a silly thing to do -- Parra throws them out.

Even still, Parra is not recognized by his peers as having one of the most dangerous arms in the game.

Sports Illustrated conducted a player poll that asked over 300 major leaguers who had the most dangerous arm in the game. Parra didn't even make the list.

Jeff Francoeur was the one mentioned most, followed by Ichiro Suzuki, Rick Ankiel (who isn't even on a team in the majors), Carlos Gonzalez and Nelson Cruz.

How did Parra get overlooked?

It must be a classic case of market size and reputation. Parra doesn't play everyday and he plays in Phoenix, which is not the biggest, most glamorous market by any means. Just like Miguel Montero is overlooked for his work of throwing out runners, Parra also is overlooked for his arm.

And that is okay.

That just means that some unsuspecting runners won't realize that he has a cannon for a left arm and might actually try to take an extra base. HAHAHAHAHA!

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Your Acromioclavicular Ligament And You (and Chris Young)

2012-04-19T18:21:10Z

AZ SnakePit looks at the medical implications of Young's shoulder injury, explaining what the heck the acromioclavicular ligament is, and what the prognosis is for his recovery.

Read full story here!

Chris Young Diagnosed With Small Tear Of AC Joint Ligament; Upton Update

2012-04-18T23:28:40Z

The results of Chris Young's MRI on his injured right shoulder along with the doctor's report convinced the Arizona Diamondbacks to ignore the player's pleas and place him on the Disabled List. Young reported feeling better today and looked like he might escape with just a few missed days until the team was advised that rest was the best option to prevent further damage.

"It's certainly disappointing," General manager Kevin Towers said. "One of the hottest bats in the National League and to lose him for at least the next couple of weeks will be difficult but we've got to deal with it."

The injury was described by Towers as a deep acromioclavicular joint contusion with a small tear in the ligament.

"It's a long season and I would rather have two or three weeks versus four or five months if he was to make it worse by coming back too soon," Towers said, stressing that timetable is very preliminary at this point.

Young initially fought the news but relented once he understood that this was something that could get worse without rest and treatment.

"It's a little awkward for me. I'm not to happy about it. It just happened. A freak accident. I just have to stay mentally strong and be here and (give) support for the rest of the team," Young said.

Towers said that Justin Upton is still day-to-day with his thumb injury. He had some fluid drained and will hopefully improve over the next few days.

"I'd rather have a healthy Justin Upton than somebody who's trying to play through something where he has discomfort at 50 percent."

Young said this was his first time on the DL as a major leaguer.

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Arizona Diamondbacks Lack Punch With No Upton Or Young, Fall To Pirates 2-1

2012-04-18T22:32:50Z

Daniel Hudson, fresh off a horrible outing in his last start, had a shutout going until he gave up a game-tying solo home run to Pedro Alvarez in the seventh inning. He did his job, but against the Pirates bullpen that's proving to be highly potent and without a couple of big bats in the order, the Arizona Diamondbacks simply couldn't generate enough offense to pick up their starting pitcher.

The loss to the Pirates represents Arizona's second-straight series loss and their first two-game losing streak of the season.

The D-backs once again took an early lead and for the 10th time in 12 games put up a run in the first inning. This time it was a lead-off triple from Willie Bloomquist and an RBI single from Jason Kubel to record the Snakes' first strike.

With Chris Young and Justin Upton both on the shelf, the D-backs couldn't get any kind of rally going and lacked the long ball.

Arizona squandered a great opportunity in the sixth after Aaron Hill started the inning with a triple. Kubel struck out and after the Pirates intentionally walked Miguel Montero, Ryan Roberts grounded into a double play. Roberts also had an error on the day that he'd rather forget.

Hudson's game ended in the eighth inning after he gave up a couple of two-out hits. His line was an impressive six hits, two runs, three walks and five strikeouts over seven and two-thirds innings. Unfortunately, David Hernandez couldn't close out the eighth thanks to a Texas Leaguer from Neil Walker that landed between three Arizona fielders and gave the Bucs the lead.

"I had better command today of all my pitches. The ball felt better coming out of my hand. Tough loss," Hudson said.

Never a team to say die, Miguel Montero started the ninth with a single and was promptly replaced by Justin Upton who's sore thumb doesn't prevent him from running fast. Roberts completed his 0-4 outing with a strikeout which brought up Lyle Overbay who once again got the start in place of Paul Goldschmidt. Overbay lined to short and A.J. Pollock finished his first major league game with a ground out to close out the series.

The D-backs stay home for a series against the Atlanta Braves starting Thursday. Josh Collmenter will look for his first solid start of the season.

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Chris Young To Disabled List With Shoulder Injury

2012-04-18T19:01:42Z

As expected, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Chris Young was sent to the 15-day disabled list to recover from a shoulder injury suffered when he crashed in to the wall after making an amazing catch during Tuesday's game. The D-backs had already activated A.J. Pollock to take Young's place in the outfield and with this move will also call-up infielder Cody Ranson who will replace Geoff Blum (side strain).

Young's injury is officially listed as a "right shoulder contusion".

Young had started the season on fire from the plate. He was batting .410 (16-for-39) with 4 doubles, 5 home runs and 13 RBI in 11 games with the D-backs this season. He ranks among the NL leaders in slugging percentage (2nd, .897), home runs (2nd), total bases (2nd, 35), on-base percentage (T-2nd, .500) and RBI (T-3rd). Young's 13 RBI in the club's first 10 games was the fourth-highest total all-time, trailing Luis Gonzalez (16 in 2001), his own 2010 total (15) and Mark Reynolds (14 in 2008).

Chris Young Injury Update; Diamondbacks Lineup Missing Two Stars

2012-04-18T17:46:01Z

Arizona Diamondbacks streaking star Chris Young was "in the tube" getting an MRI on his injured shoulder when manager Kirk Gibson addressed the media about two hours before Wednesday's day game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Young was forced to leave Tuesday night's game after making a spectacular catch and slamming his shoulder into the wall.

"We're hoping there's nothing structural and it will be quicker rather than longer...We're hoping it's just what they call and AC joint -- the joint on top of your shoulder -- sprain," Gibby said.

We should have word if Young will go on the disabled list right before first pitch on Wednesday.

Centerfielder A.J. Pollock, 24, was already activated from Triple-A Reno to replace infielder Geoff Blum (side strain) on the 25-man roster. Pollock will get his first major league start in this game. If Young goes to the DL, infielder Cody Ranson, already in town with the team, will be activated.

Pollock got word right before his minor league game yesterday and was on a 6:30 a.m. flight this morning.

At first, Pollock thought it was a joke when his manager told him, "after that, when I realized it was true I started getting some adrenaline going and I was pretty pumped."

The D-backs will also play without Justin Upton who will miss another game due to a sore thumb. He's not expected to go to the DL immediately. The team is hoping a few days rest will help. J-Up is available to run or play defense but isn't likely to be used as a pinch-hitter.

Pollock stayed with the big league team all the way through spring training and he's hitting .340 in Reno so far this season.

"He's a pretty complete player. He's a good outfielder. Throws the ball well. Runs the bases well. He's very smart. He swung the bat pretty well. He's been playing well in Triple-A (Reno)," Gibson said.

With Pollock in center, Gerardo Parra will play left with Jason Kubel moving over to right field where he played about 50 games last year. Gibson has a sense that Kubel is more comfortable in right.

Gibby's Mom

Gibson said he spoke with his 81-year-old mother about the injuries to Young and Upton and was told, "well, you're just going to have to deal with it and they're going to have to carry a little extra baggage."

Gibby added his own words of wisdom: "It's one of those deals. You've got to move on, you've got to find a way. You can't be discouraged by it. This is what we signed up for. Things happen along the way and you stand up to that challenge."

Starting Lineup:

Willie Bloomquist (SS)
Aaron Hill (2B)
Jason Kubel (RF)
Miguel Montero (C)
Ryan Roberts (3B)
Lyle Overbay (1B)
A.J. Pollock (CF)
Gerardo Parra (LF)
Daniel Hudson (RHP)

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John McDonald Hits HR, But Only Wants To Talk About Teammate

2012-04-18T16:00:46Z

If there is one thing you can tell by watching the Arizona Diamondbacks or following the people that cover the team, you will see right away just how much of a team this group of players is. Despite individual accomplishments, everyone defers to their teammates and how they helped out.

There is perhaps no better example of this concept of team than what happened after the Tuesday night loss the Arizona Diamondbacks suffered to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

It was a game in which Chris Young made a dazzling catch but hurt himself, having to leave the game.

Shortstop John McDonald, who was not expecting to play, came up big and hit a game-tying homer late in the game. It was his first homer as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks and his first as well since May 2011.

However, when asked about it after the game he would only say this:

"I just think that everyone was disappointed I was even in the ballgame. With what Chris (Young) has already done this season I think of the disappointment of losing him. It's tough for a lot of us right now. I think everyone is anxious to see how he feels in the morning. Any results that anyone gets when they get in the ballgame after one of your teammates goes down is very small in comparison to the outcome of the game or the outcome of a loss."

He didn't even want to go near his individual success when he had a teammate that was hurt.

It seemed almost noble to speak like that. He hit a homerun to tie the game but felt bad that he was even in there.

Surely he was excited and if we gave him a couple of days, maybe he would look back with a little more enjoyment. But since the team lost and a teammate, at least for the game, that's all he wanted to talk about.

It is this sort of talk that embodies the whole organization. You hear time after time players praising other players for their work, but when it comes to themselves, they are simply happy to have been able to be there for their teammates.

I have seen it on several occasions this young season, but perhaps no better example than McDonald on Tuesday.

This is what makes this team so special. Not only is there production, but the players play for one another. That is a motivation that really cannot be quantified.

And in baseball, the sport of quantifying everything, it is something that will continue to remain a mystery.

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Arizona Diamondbacks Injury And Roster Update: Blum To DL, Upton, Young Day-To-Day, Pollock To Majors

2012-04-18T12:01:26Z

On Tuesday, the deep Arizona Diamondbacks roster began to test that depth. Three players became unavailable because of injury. One player will go to the disabled list and two others will be unavailable at least for a game or two.

The first was Justin Upton. He was left out of the lineup because of his lingering thumb injury. Then Chris Young went down on an amazing catch in the outfield and had to leave the game.

After the game on Tuesday, manager Kirk Gibson addressed the injuries.

With regards to Young, he said that Young would have an MRI on the shoulder on Wednesday, but noted that Young "got crushed" out there by the wall and that Young "was very sore." He is listed as day-to-day. He will not play on Wednesday.

Upton had an MRI done on his thumb in the afternoon. "It shows nothing," said Gibson about what they found. "He's got kind of a bone bruise in there, but he jammed his thumb."

He had some fluid drained from the joint, and Gibson described him day-to-day as he did Young, but said that

The third injury that happened was during batting practice, when infielder Geoff Blum "pulled a side muscle," as Gibson described. Unfortunately, Blum will go on the disabled list and the team will call up AAA outfielder A.J. Pollock to replace him on the roster.

Whether Pollock plays right away is yet to be seen. If not, expect to see an outfield of Willie Bloomquist in left, Gerardo Parra in center and Jason Kubel in right.

Arizona will play on Wednesday, a day game starting at 12:40 PM, with a short bench as neither Upton nor Young will be available, leaving only Pollock, Lyle Overbay and Henry Blanco as the only bats off the bench.

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