As you loyal baseball fans might have gathered by now, we are not covering the game-to-game Spring Training season of the Arizona Diamondbacks. In part because there's just too many games (but in larger part because only a small number of people are actually reading about the team. We will continue to get out to one or two games in person to keep up with the pulse of the team and by all means we will jump on anything that actually happens (outside the game results). For a much more daily and in-depth look at the team, bookmark AZ Snakepit.
In the meantime, here's a quick update on the team.
AZ Snakepit asks if it is time to worry about the 8-19 team:
Diamondbacks Spring Training: Is It *Now* Time For Concern? - AZ Snakepit
With less than two weeks now left before Opening Day, and Arizona in clear possession, by two games, of the worst spring-training record in the majors, it seems time to revisit the numbers, see where the D-backs stand in the rankings there, and whether people's opinions have changed
Speaking of more games, it's not an illusion:
Diamondbacks 4/3, Oakland 2/Cleveland 5: Arizona Working Hard - AZ Snakepit
It's certainly the case that we'll be playing more games. That's 27 to date, with ten to go, excluding the games against the Mexican teams - 15% more than the 32 we played in 2010. Putting my tin-foil hat on, I will claim, with absolutely no evidence, this was done to ensure attendance records were set at Salt River Fields in its opening year.
On the position-battle front, Enright's stock is surging while the Fight for First Base is turning...fun (?)
Enright spinning towards rotation spot | dbacks.com: News
"No question about it," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said when asked if Enright was putting together a strong case to win a spot. In five starts this spring he has yet to allow more than two runs in a game, the only D-backs starter that can say that.Brandon Allen playing to be D-backs' first option | dbacks.com: News
Allen hasn't done a bad job on the field this spring either. Coming into Sunday's game, he was hitting .341 with five doubles, one homer and nine RBIs while battling Juan Miranda and Russell Branyan for playing time.
On the injury news channel, J.J. Putz hurt his back, Drew is back, and J-Up tripped on a random ball rolling around in right field.
Putz still sidelined; Drew returns to lineup | dbacks.com: News
The D-backs are still not sure when closer J.J. Putz will be able to return from the back stiffness that shut him down Friday, but the team did get a boost when shortstop Stephen Drew returned to the lineup on Sunday against the A's and third baseman Geoff Blum should be back in the next few days.Arizona Diamondbacks' Justin Upton OK after hurting knee
With injuries popping up seemingly every week, the last thing the Diamondbacks wanted to see Sunday was star right fielder Justin Upton hurting his knee. But that's what happened in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics.Upton ran toward foul territory to track down a ball hit by Eric Sogard when he slipped and jammed his right knee. Relax. It doesn't appear to be serious. Just for precaution, though, Upton left the game immediately.