3/13/05 - DBacks (Halsey) @ Brewers (Santos), 2:00 CT, TMJ

[DHonks]

It was a really sloppy game, but I take some solace in the fact that most of the sloppiness was turned in by backups or fringe players. Some of the 'prospects' looked good at the plate - Hardy, Weeks, Hart, Nelson all did well.

 

Couldn't have said it better, so I'll just add to it. About the sloppiness, I think I counted at least 7 balls on the warning track or at the wall that should have been caught but wound up as hits or errors. There were also another few that nearly got to the wall but were caught. One mistake was Hall trying to backhand a routine grounder to show off his arm. All he had to do was slide infront and sidearm to first. Another miscue was Magruder dropping yet another ball (he's terrible) when he got to the wall. We thought it was caught (maybe 20 feet from us, and were wondering why the runner was still advancing). Nelson and Krynzel met at the wall in leftcenter, but for some reason Krynzel yielded and Nelson saw it clank off his glove a step infront of the wall. David should always call off Nelson.

Now for the positives...this is the first time I've seen Hart and Nelson actually drive the ball, both looked good. Hart has outstanding range, and went from 1st to 3rd awefully quickly on one. Krynzel killed the ball a few times...triple, poor bunt but he would have beat it even without the collision he's so fast. Smoked it his first time up but it was right to the 1b who was holding a runner on. Hardy looked great again at the plate. Jenkins looks more comfortable. Branyan absolutely laced his hits. Heck, even Moeller made contact. Also, some more good hit and runs. One was when Hardy slapped it through the 2b hole vacated when Hart ran, however, big mistake making the 3rd out at 2nd when it would have been 2nd and 3rd, 2 outs. Weeks stole second easily.

 

Nelson butchered a long fly ball, but it seemed like everyone was having trouble. The sun is brutal at Maryvale - especially in right field in the late innings - and there was a pretty good wind blowing out as well.

 

Actually, it's leftfield where the sun is bad. Hart misplayed one which caused Clark to make a pseudo-diving catch early on. Someone (Hardy?) was robbed when Cruz jr made a basket catch over his head on the warning track in rightcenter.

 

Krynzel has a really good arm for a centerfielder.

 

not sure if I noted this above, but his defense is everthing advertised and more. He's capable of catches like that highlight reel HR-theft last year EACH game. His arm is legit, almost threw out several guys.

 

The third string catcher that was hit in the face rode past us on the golf cart and had a bump the size of a tennis ball on his cheek.

 

Mosquera, the guy who impressed me with his bat speed, athleticism, and running speed earlier in camp.

 

The Diamondbacks are in trouble this year.

 

I won't say that yet. We saw what, 2 of their starting position players? 3 if you count Kata. Nice to see Corey Meyer his the jack...he's supposedly a great guy. Terrero on the other hand is notorious as being hated by his teammates. How many fights did he initiate in AAA last year? Too many! I love the story of him starting one by rounding the bases after hitting a homer, and kneeling at the plate and kissing it. Boy his teammates didn't want to bail him out in that brawl. Their lineup isn't bad on paper. Well, Clayton-Counsell worry me. But Tracy, Green, Cruz, Gonzo, Glaus, and the offensive minded rookie catchers should supply some punch--assuming Green, Gonzo, and Glaus are healthy. Kata and Cintron need to play quite a bit. It's also possible Tracy could play some second with Green at first if Terrero continues developing. Also, I should note that I don't think any pitcher in the game is likely to make the Dbacks staff.

 

DHonks, I took a stroll around the fifth inning but didn't see you. Will you be there tomorrow?

 

The 5th may be when I was at the concession stand...they had polishes and stadium sauce!!! And no pepsi products!!! I was basically about 50 feet fair in the RF corner, just about 15 feet behind the wall. Sorry, won't be there tomorrow. Got other stuff to do.

 

One other note....I finally figure out who Krynzel's new-and-improved stance reminds me of....not Vina as I previously speculated...but it looks like a clone of Scotty Po. Wide base, bent nicely at the waist (aka, butt out), in a bit of a crouch. Looks much more like a linedrive stance than his previous stance which screamed of David Hulse.

 

Finally, one note on Kiesch giving up a few runs. I think he was up in the bullpen for over an hour. He'd sit down, then get up, then just play catch for a bit. Also, Castro was working on some mechanics with him.

[colbyjack]

I too disagree that it was a bad loss. Before Pratt entered the game, the Brewers were in control, and even when Pratt got knocked around the offense still fought back.

 

I was particularly encouraged by the performances of Corey Hart & Brad Nelson. It was nice to hear them finally producing.

 

And I don't buy that we should have knocked them around more since they were fielding a split squad. Brad Halsey & Edgar Gonzalez, two of their more talented, young pitchers, were the two guys we knocked around the most today.