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foulpole
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:21 am Post subject: 8/28 Padres @ D-Backs |
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I'll take Webby ( 13-5, 2.99 ) over Williams ( 7-4, 3.60 ). |
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TAP
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:32 am Post subject: |
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Today's AZ Republic wrote: |
Despite battling emotions from learning of a close friend and former college teammate's death Sunday in the Kentucky plane crash that claimed 49 lives, Brandon Webb intends to make his scheduled start tonight against the San Diego Padres.
Manager Bob Melvin consoled the pitcher and discussed if Webb would prefer skipping the start, but the Diamondbacks ace plans to pitch and then probably will depart to Kentucky on a bereavement leave.
Jon Hooker, 27, who pitched at the University of Kentucky from 1998-2001, was among the victims of the commuter flight that crashed during takeoff at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Ky. Hooker had just gotten married on Saturday night to Scarlett Parsley, and the two were en route to Atlanta.
Diamondbacks utility player Andy Green, on an injury rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Tucson and also a teammate of Hooker's while at Kentucky, has asked the organization for a leave of absence and also was planning on flying to Kentucky.
Webb did not wish to discuss the accident Sunday, telling a reporter he would talk after tonight's game. |
This could easily prove a negative distraction for Webb tonight, or it may help keep him from overthrowing thus making his sinker more effective.
Our best thoughts are with you, Brandon.
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matt
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:40 am Post subject: |
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Tara wishes Webb well and hopes he doesn't slip
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shoewizard
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:35 am Post subject: |
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More on the tragedy from Bickley
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Just a sad day all around
Webb plans to make scheduled start tonight despite tragic death of close friend on Sunday
Dan Bickley
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 28, 2006 12:00 AM
A moment of silence preceded the biggest game of the season.
By then, Brandon Webb had endured plenty of quiet moments.
Ugh, what a sickening Sunday it must've been for the Diamondbacks ace. As his team tried to salvage a series against the first-place Dodgers, Webb was trying to digest the news that one of his best friends, former Kentucky pitcher Jon Hooker, was killed in a plane crash that claimed the lives of 49 people in Lexington, Ky. advertisement
Neither team nor player fared very well.
"He's taking it pretty hard," the Diamondbacks' Luis Gonzalez said. "It's tough. The only thing we can do is console him, to let him know we're there for him if he needs us."
It's actually the other way around. Tonight, Webb will be there for his teammates when they need him the most. As scheduled, he will take the ball to start another key series, this one against the Padres.
Yet in what feels like a must-win game, Webb will carry both the fading hopes of his team and a heart that must feel like a bowling ball.
Tragedies never go down easy, but what makes this one seem even more gut wrenching are the details, how the former college teammate of both Webb and infielder Andy Green, had just gotten married Saturday evening. According to news reports, Hooker's bride arrived at the wedding in a horse-drawn carriage. The scene must've been something out of Cinderella.
Then, as the couple embarked on their honeymoon, the plane went down.
"Webby's one of our main guys, and to lose a close friend like that," Gonzalez said. "Same with Andy Green. It's tough. What can you say? What can you do?"
In a season that has been framed by disruptions and distractions - be it Ken Kendrick's comments about steroids whispers and Gonzalez, or Jason Grimsley's comments to federal investigators - consider this the latest test of fortitude for the sliding Diamondbacks. And in the context of a pennant race, the last thing this team needs is a distracted ace, for there aren't many of them hanging about the locker room.
With this sudden pall hanging over Chase Field, the team trotted out their big-game acquisition, Livan Hernandez, to beat the Dodgers on Sunday. The former World Series MVP was making his fourth start since arriving in Arizona and was very good in his previous start against the Giants. This was the game when the Diamondbacks needed a signature performance, a reason to believe Hernandez could be an impact pitcher in September, when playoff berths are won and lost.
Unfortunately, while Hernandez hasn't lost his appetite for innings, he may no longer be capable of mastering the big moments like he once did. After alternately dodging trouble and befuddling the Dodgers with an array of breaking balls, Hernandez was touched for three runs in the fifth, and two more in the sixth. Just like that, Hernandez was gone, and the Diamondbacks offense just couldn't get squared up against rookie Chad Billingsley, who was making his 14th big-league start.
"It's all my fault today," Hernandez said.
And now, the opportunities to lift this team over the top are running short.
"I never put my head down," Hernandez said. "When you put your head down, you're not professional."
But, clearly, this team is running out of time. And with a precious chance to gain ground on the Dodgers, the home team pulled out all the stops. The Arizona State cheerleaders were on hand. Why, even the Maytag repairman tossed out the first pitch. Alas, if he can fix broken hearts and broken baseball teams, he might want to stick around one more day.
Reach Bickley at or (602) 444-8253.
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dirtygary
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:39 am Post subject: |
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Ususally under circumstances like these, the guy is either lights out or totally off. We'll see how Webb responds.
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Bob A
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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Webb is too good of a pitcher to pitch like he has the last three or four starts (unless he's still hurt). Here's hoping he gets his act together tonight. |
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shoewizard
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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dirtygary wrote: |
Ususally under circumstances like these, the guy is either lights out or totally off. We'll see how Webb responds. |
My guess is it will be off. The combination of Webb's makeup, as well as confidence issues lately due to his bout with elbow soreness makes me think it is a tall order to expect him to be effective. Hope my gut is wrong on this one.
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dirtygary
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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I'm with ya on that. If it was just an off stretch he was going through it'd be one thing, but there's health, mechanical, and mental issues all occurring at the same time. If we're out of it by his next start, maybe it should be his last, and tell him to go home and get healthy for next season.
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qudjy1
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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Pretty sickening about that crash - they think they tried to take off on a short runway... theres a map of the crash site on cnn.. pretty f'ed up if you ask me... |
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TAP
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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On a lighter note, last month for the first time in 6 years I got a traffic ticket that I couldn't talk my way out of (yes, cops are real people and will usually cut you a break if you treat them like real people too). Soooo, for the next two nights I'll be attending traffic safety school to keep the insurance rates low instead of following the DBacks game. I'll have to catch up on the details here later.
foulpole, keep in mind that should you lose this one for Webby, you'll be 0-3 and will officially replace Hank as the game-day thread's bad luck charm. |
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EvilJuan
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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Is It Next Season Yet? |
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DBACKSHEELSPANTHS
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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EvilJuan wrote: |
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HAHAHHEHESHHSHHEHSHHSHHAAHAHA LOL
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GO DBACKS!
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shoewizard
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
Brandon Webb - SP, Arizona Diamondbacks Aug. 27, 2:41 p.m.
Webb's mechanics have been off slightly since he missed 11 days with tightness near his elbow. When Webb's arm comes back during his delivery his hand needs to be more in line with second base, but recently it has been pointing more toward first base. That causes his sinker to flatten rather than have its normal hard bite. (Steve Gilbert/MLB.com)
Fantasy Source Spin: This might explain why Webb hasn't been his normal dominant self in recent outings. Unless he gets this corrected, don't expect ace-like performances from him. |
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dirtygary
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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That was the diagnosis from a week and a half ago, or so, right?
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shoewizard
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know when Gilbert might have first written that....it showed up in my e mail in box today along with my other "fantasy updates"....it's dated today. |
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TAP
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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shoewizard wrote: |
It showed up in my e mail in box today along with my other "fantasy updates". |
Does your wife know about this?
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Hank
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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TAP wrote: |
On a lighter note, last month for the first time in 6 years I got a traffic ticket that I couldn't talk my way out of (yes, cops are real people and will usually cut you a break if you treat them like real people too). Soooo, for the next two nights I'll be attending traffic safety school to keep the insurance rates low instead of following the DBacks game. I'll have to catch up on the details here later.
foulpole, keep in mind that should you lose this one for Webby, you'll be 0-3 and will officially replace Hank as the game-day thread's bad luck charm. |
Dang, it sounds like I may need to start some gameday threads to save poor foulpole.
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foulpole
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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Tonight's line up vs. Williams.
season stats vs. RHP.
C. Counsell ss .278 /.329 /.391
O. Hudson 2b .283 /.341 /.457
L. Gonzalez lf .294 /.382 /.489
E. Byrnes cf .241 /.295 /.431
J. Estrada c .313 /.341 /.478
C. Jackson 1b .277 /.358 /.422
C. Tracy 3b .300 /.365 /.475
C. Quentin rf .268 /.344 /.536
B. Webb p .158 /.179 /.184 |
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EvilJuan
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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The career records of Counsell and Gonzalez against Woody Williams make me wonder why the heck they are starters in this game. Counsell came in batting 5 for 41; Gonzalez, 7 for 51 (8 for 52 after a two-out single).
Webb had a good first inning; but a lead-off double and two walks have loaded the bases with no one out in the top of the second...
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moviegeekjn
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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EvilJuan wrote: |
The career records of Counsell and Gonzalez against Woody Williams make me wonder why the heck they are starters in this game. Counsell came in batting 5 for 41; Gonzalez, 7 for 51 (8 for 52 after a two-out single).
( |
T-ball rules. Assuage the clubhouse egos, and make sure the pv's don't have hissy fits over insufficient p.t.
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EvilJuan
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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Nice play by Hudson and Estrada to get the guy at the plate.
Williams is the third out -- coulda been worse...
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EvilJuan
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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CoJack with a lead-off single to left!
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EvilJuan
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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Tracy with a fluke play and a head-first dive and there are two on!
CoJack goes to 3rd on Q's sacrifice fly.
Webb batting with 1 out...
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EvilJuan
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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Webb doubles to deep left center and we lead 2-1!!!
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EvilJuan
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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Grace gives props to CoJack for his fielding; and then takes it away by criticizing his toss to Webb to get the out, rather than "taking it himself and stepping on the bag."
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