Final Thoughts On D-Backs Camp

If Yesterday Was an Example of the kind of performance we can expect from Dan Haren this season, then figure this kid will get 18 wins…at least. Of course, the Diamondbacks were playing the Chicago White Sox, and beating them 8-4, in the last spring tuneup in Tucson; the Oakland A’s, Haren’s former team, seemed to have the Pale Hose’s number even in 2005, Chicago’s championship season. Still, it was great to see a quality start at the end of spring training from a pitcher not known for scintillating springs. In seven innings, Haren gave up two runs on solo homers and walked only one while striking out 6. Way to go!

In other pitching news, manager Bob Melvin has named his rotation to open the season: Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Doug Davis, Micah Owings, and Edgar Gonzalez. Randy Johnson will start the season on the DL. Johnson was pain-free in a recent minor league appearance, but he was rocked for 5 runs. He’s working on endurance and offspeed pitches, and will probably make at least two minor league starts before joining the big club.

Closer-designate Brandon Lyon pitched the eighth inning yesterday, giving up an unearned run on two hits while striking out 2. He has a spring ERA of 14.09, which is about 13.00 runs higher than one would like to see from a closer. He’s attributed the lousy ERA to mechanical problems but thinks everything is coming together now. He’ll pitch today then have the weekend off to get ready for Monday’s Opener.

Alex Romero beat out Trot Nixon for the last roster spot. He has a very good spring, better than Nixon, but I still don’t understand it in light of Bob Melvin’s stated preference to have young players playing everyday in the minors rather than gathering dust on the bench in the majors. Romero was unable to learn to play first base, whereas Nixon picked it up. If one thinks about the need for a backup to Conor Jackson in the absence of Chad Tracy–and we’re not sure when he’s coming back–one wonders what help Romero will be as the fifth outfielder and occasional pinch hitter.

Robbie Hammock, a utility infielder/catcher made the team since Miguel Montero is still recovering from a broken finger.

Speaking of Conor Jackson, he had a double, a homer and 3 RBIs yesterday hitting cleanup. Good! That’s where he needs to be.

Eric Byrnes was first run driven in by Jackson as the D’Backs peppered Chicago’s starter Nick Masset yesterday. Byrnesie was on second after driving in a run of his own with a double. Later on, he reached on an error and was driven in by CoJack’s homer. EB’s batting average is a disappointing .264 this spring. Part of that, I think, is attributable to Melvin’s decision to play him every other day most of the spring, as opposed to getting him a couple of AB’s every day. But I think part of it is also attributable to pitchers already starting to make adjustments on him that he hasn’t caught up to yet.

I don’t get to see the Diamondbacks very much during spring training, but yesterday and the time before that showed me pitchers throwing him low and away, and Eric stands too far from the plate to be able to do anything with strikes in that area. C’Mon, Byrnesie, fix that or we’ll find that Bob Melvin will have Alex Romero shaking off the dust by playing left field.

That’s it for me on spring training. See you all after they start counting on Opening Day.

This is ByrnesBlogger1's third season covering the Arizona Diamondbacks through the blog Down The Left Field Line: Life, Baseball & Eric Byrnes.
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