The Arizona Diamondbacks are set to open the 2012 Spring Training schedule with two games. Half the team will be in Scottsdale facing the Giants and the other half will be at home at Salt River Fields taking on the Rockies. The eyes of the majority of the D-backs media are on the home game where rookie Trevor Bauer will get his first start in a Diamondbacks uniform.
Tyler Skaggs was scheduled to pitch first in this game with Bauer following, but Skaggs was a scratch due to shoulder soreness. No worries there though, as he was throwing to bases on game day and will pitch a bullpen session on Sunday.
"He's fine, he's fine," Kirk Gibson said.
As for Bauer, the priority is getting through the start healthy (of course) and getting him exposed to his first big league game.
"Can you just imagine what he's going through?" Gibby said. And he's not the only one excited. "Walking around today...there's some game faces today."
Bauer will likely go two innings depending on pitch count. With a split-squad schedule on opening day, some guys will play more than normal and that includes a lot of minor league players who haven't faced much live pitching.
