After last night, Geoff Blum may have a new career. Third base coach.

To make an obvious statement, baseball is a game. It is a game played by a million people in numerous countries all over the world.

It’s also a very small world. What happened last night between AJ Pierzynski (of the Chicago White Sox) and Geoff Blum, who was manning third for the Dbacks, drove that point home.

We saw that earlier during spring training when former Diamondback draft pick Carlos Quentin (who was just traded to the Padres from the White Sox) faced current Diamondback and number 2 starter, Daniel Hudson (who was drafted by the White Sox and traded to the Dbacks) when the Diamondbacks played against the San Diego Padres.

We also saw it in the game that resulted in the THIRD “swarm of bees” delay in Diamondback spring training history. (As a side note, considering that the Diamondbacks franchise isn’t yet old enough to drink, that’s a pretty spectacular number of insect-related incidents. Especially considering the Dbacks are now at their second spring training facility.)

When Chris Young (also drafted by the White Sox) was chased out of the outfield, it brought to mind a time a few years ago when a former Diamondback 1st round draft pick was chased from shortstop into the outfield by a swarm of bees.

That young shortstop was named Sergio Santos, who had a career rejuvenation as a pitcher in 2009, and spent 2010 and 2011 as a reliever, saving 31 games (1 in 2010 and 30 in 2011) for the Chicago White Sox. And, who is now penciled in as the closer for the 2012 Toronto Blue Jays, where his set-up man will be Darren Oliver.

The same Darren Oliver who was the first person to be chased off the field (as a Colorado Rockie) by the swarm of bees during that same game.

Which brings us to last night.

AJ Pierzynski is a good baseball player. He’s a 14 year veteran, with a career quadruple slash line of .284/.324/.422/.746. He’s good for approximately 71 RBIs and a home run total in the “teens” most seasons. He was the second-hardest person to strike out in the AL last year (striking out only every 14.1 plate appearances). He’s caught over 1000 innings in each of the last 10 years, and made his first ever DL trip last season when he broke his hand after being drilled by a pitch during an at-bat. So, he’s also highly durable.

What he is not, however, is fast.

AJ Pierzynski runs like a catcher. He’s successfully stolen 13 bases throughout his career (he’s been caught 19 times). He’s hit 3 triples since 2005. And, it’s highly unlikely that he’s ever going to beat out a routine grounder to first, which can be illustrated by the fact that, in 2004, he grounded into the most double-plays in the National League (with the Giants). In 2011, he was 8th in the AL.

click on the image to watch the video

Last night, AJ Pierzynski did the unthinkable. He launched a 1-1 pitch from Brett Lorin just barely to the top of the CF wall, where it bounced along the wall and rolled along the grass, until it was eventually chased down in RF by Justin Upton.

In the video, you can tell by the slow jog towards first base, that AJ Pierzynski thought the ball was a typical HR ball. And, then, when it started to roll, you could see him kick it into gear. As much as he, you know, can.

He turned that 1-1 pitch into an inside-the-park homerun. Seriously.

So, why all this talk about a member of the White Sox on a Diamondbacks blog? Especially considering that AJ Pierzynski has never played for the Dbacks.

Well, that might be true, but current Diamondback Geoff Blum, who was starting at 3B last night, used to be a member of the Chicago White Sox. More specifically in 2005, when the team won the World Series, in a sweep of the Astros (which, coincidentally, was Geoff Blum’s former team).

And, even more specifically, in 2005, when Geoff Blum did something very special during game 3 to help the team win, not only the world series, but the longest world series game in MLB history:

It isn’t surprising that AJ and Geoff Blum might have a little bit of a connection left over from that time.

So, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that the news going viral this morning is that, as AJ was approaching third, Geoff Blum had something to say to him. More specifically:

“You gotta go, Tubby.”

click the photo to watch AJ talk about Blum & the HR

AJ Pierzynski found it “rather funny”. And, it is hard not to agree. Because for someone with only 17 triples in 5709 plate appearances spread over 14 years, the opportunity for an inside the park homerun isn’t something that’s probably going to come around again in the course of his career – spring training or otherwise.

Geoff Blum: 3B coach. Life coach.

Right there, Geoff Blum also summed up a number of important things about baseball.

1. Spring training games don’t count. Its highly unlikely in a game of any consequence, Geoff Blum is going to be acting as a 3B coach for the opposing team. This is really more than just something that people who are members (or fans!) of teams with losing records in March say to make themselves feel better.

2. Baseball is a game. Its supposed to be fun. The smart guys know how lucky they are to be playing this game for a living. And, it looks like Geoff Blum is one of those guys.

And, just in case your head wasn’t spinning enough, yet… In that same World Series Game 3 where Geoff Blum hit the winning home run, Jason Lane went 2-for-6 with a double, homer and two RBIs for the Astros.

The same Jason Lane that has rejuvinated his career by converting from an outfielder to a reliever while in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league organization over the last couple of seasons, and who receiving a non-roster invite to spring training with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012.

It is pretty clear by this point that this conversation could continue forever, but it has to end sometime, and this seems like as good of a place as any.

Happy Saturday, folks!

image from flickr user: paul hadsall (flickr.com/photos/paulhadsall/4854585169/)

So, a couple of weeks ago, Daniel Hudson ran his mouth a little on the subject of Justin Upton leading the National League in being hit-by-pitches last season.

In an interview with Arizona Sports KTAR 620, Daniel Hudson had the following to say, when he was asked about the number of times Justin Upton was hit last season:

“If it’s a starting pitcher, remember, he’s got to hit. “They either have to hit their spots, or expect something in return.”

This was on a Monday.

On the Tuesday, Daniel Hudson spoke to MLB.com, where he clarified what he meant by his comments. But, wasn’t willing to take them back entirely:

“The scouting report may be to throw him inside, pound him inside, but it comes to a point where you either hit your spot or you don’t, and when it becomes a problem is when you do it more than once in a game, more than once in a series. Then it becomes a problem. I said what I said and I stand by it, but like I said, it got perceived a little bit different than I actually said it.”

And, that same day, Luis Gonzalez (who knows something about playing baseball in a Diamondbacks’ uniform) took to the air and voiced his opinion on the matter:

“You know what I do now, I go in the locker room and I pull him to the side and I say ‘shut your mouth, don’t say that, and you just do it on the field because you earn more respect. Because now, if that happens in a game and he doesn’t do it, you’ve got it on tape…and fans are listening to this and they’re going ‘well why the heck would he say that if he’s not going to back it up?’”

It was interesting to note that, nowhere in either session with the media, was anyone saying that the Diamondbacks would be against the concept of retaliation.

And, interestingly, in both Hudson and Gonzalez’s speeches to the media, they indicated that plunking an opponent in retaliation had to be timed appropriately, so that when a game was on the line, opponents weren’t getting a free pass to first base.

So, when today – in the first game of a double-header, Justin Upton found himself plunked for the second time in as many days in the fourth inning when the game was knotted at 0-0, immediate retaliation wasn’t practical – even in a meaningless spring training game – seeing as wins have been so hard for the Diamondbacks to come by. But, in the top of the 7th, with the Diamondbacks down 2-0 to the Padres, there were two outs, Will Venable found himself trotting to first base after being hit by a pitch delivered by David Hernandez, a RHP out of the Dbacks’ pen.

Following the incident, warnings were issued to both sides. And, hey, if Ozzie Guillen can get himself ejected during a spring training game, a little beanball might be hard to sneak past the umpires.

It looks like Luis Gonzalez didn’t have to worry that his pitchers wouldn’t back up their words.

After the game, Hernandez spoke to MLB.com:

“For me, in the spring, I’ve been trying to get the ball in to lefties. That’s been a weakness for me. I got the ball in to the first lefty I faced. That’s something I’ve got to work on.”

That’s his story and he’s sticking to it.

“As a pitcher, you definitely have to protect your guys, but I was trying to go in and it got away and it hit him.”

No, really, He’s sticking to it:

And, just in case he needed back-up, there is at least one other person who is singing the same song:

No, that’s not highly suspicious, guys. Not at all.

As was pointed out at the official site, the Diamondbacks play the Padres 18 times during the upcoming season.

And with the 2011 NL HBP Leader Justin Upton (19) playing for the Diamondbacks and 2011 MLB (and AL) HBP Leader Carlos Quentin (23) now playing for the Padres, everyone who is planning on coming to the plate during their match-ups should likely invest in some high-quality body armor.

And, if you’re thinking about making a drinking game out of this season’s plunkings…. you’re probably going to need a very large bottle.

Play (bean)ball!

photo credit: @CharlesBrewerAZ

As you are probably aware, the practice of “rookie hazing” pops up at two major times in every baseball season. First, in spring training and then once again when the September call-ups happen. It usually involves sparkles, ruffles, pink, cartoon characters, spandex or some combination of these things.

Also, someone usually has a camera. A quick google images search of “baseball rookie hazing” will unearth countless gems that will both amuse and horrify you (seriously, go try it sometime. You’ll be scarred for life.).

And thanks to the miracle of twitter, the first round of rookie hazing in the Diamondbacks’ camp was posted on twitter for all of us to screencap see.

So, may I present “Diamondbacks’ Rookies Go To The Fare Fair Faire(?) Festival“

» Continue reading “Let’s Go To The Fair! Or: Diamondbacks’ Rookie Hazing”

So, there was a football game on Sunday. Perhaps you heard about it?

And, during the course of said football game, I’m sure that countless beers were consumed around the country.

And, at the end of this football game, twitter simultaneously exploded with reactions to the game and tweets proclaiming the official start of baseball season. One of these tweets, courtesy of Daniel Hudson, seemed innocent enough.

And, then, the (presumably) drunk and/or delusional Dodgers fan got involved. At which point, the whole thing descended into insanity.

I’m choosing to believe that there was lots of alcohol involved on the part of the instigator. It makes the whole situation make much more sense. (Also: thanks to Daniel Hudson for using the “quote retweet” option and making capturing the essence of this conversation that much easier.)

I mean, really.  There’s drugs, financial controversy, damnyouautocorrect and the whole thing ends with a conversation about avocados.

  » Continue reading “Late Night Twitter Madness. Or: DHuddy41 Versus The (Most Likely) Drunk Dodgers Fan”

When there’s nothing worth noting happening in the front office or (blessedly) off -the-field in the land of the Diamondbacks, twitter can at least be counted on to provide a source of entertainment.

There are many Dbacks on twitter, but one of the most entertaining is easily Daniel Hudson (@DHuddy41). Between endless photos and tweets and videos of his ridiculously adorable puppy,offering his opinion on the speculation of bloggers, or talking about his mancrush on Ryan Reynolds, he never fails to entertain and amuse. He’s very active and engages with his teammates and fans and just generally makes following him an amusing experience.

Take today’s fan interaction, for example.

» Continue reading “Celebrity Look Alike. Or: More Twitter Shenanigans”

Short and sweet post today, y’all. Brought to you by Chris Young being dorky and other people’s baseball fandom victories.

So, there’s this dude and through a series of random link clicking, I somehow discovered his existence at 3am last night (this morning?).

He’s got a website and a twitter account and a youtube channel and appears to possess something like an eidetic memory when it comes to the batting stance of, well, pretty much everyone in the history of major league baseball.

And, in August of this year, he had the opportunity to meet Chris Young and got Chris Young to count down his top 5 batting stances of all time.

This is just dorky enough to be totally awesome and completely endearing.

I heart baseball.

Non-Dbacks bonus! – Also of note, there’s also a CJ Wilson video, wherein CJ Wilson is actually quite charming. I don’t know why I’m continually surprised when CJ Wilson doesn’t sound  perpetually high (props to him and his partnership with drugfree.org by the way), but what can I say? Clearly, I’m a judger. Watch and enjoy!

1. So, the problem with following baseball players on twitter is that you find yourself at work during the day, randomly thinking about @DHuddy41‘s (aka: Daniel Hudson‘s) puppy.

Seriously. What twitter has done to the world is actually kind of ridiculous. Amazing, but ridiculous.

Fortunately, also thanks to the miracle of twitter, I can stop thinking about his puppy tonight. You will all be glad to know that the puppy is doing much better and home from a brief stay in the hospital.

Hopefully, he will be playing with Aquafina bottles and hiding under blankets again very soon (warning: These videos are cute puppy overload. And, Daniel Hudson seems to only be able to film videos at 90-degree angles to the rest of the world. However, the cuteness of the puppy makes up for the crick in your neck.)

2. In other twitter-related news, Chris Young joined twitter today (@CY24_7). As of right now, he posted his first tweet 9 hours ago. At his current pace, he’s going to have 523 tweets and 59,000+ followers in 7 days. It must suck to be so shy and unpopular. Especially if you’re also as untalented as he is.

Currently, he seems to be using twitter exclusively to talk to his teammates and, apparently, challenge Daniel Hudson and Barry Enright to a golf challenge against he and Justin Upton. They have dubbed this #PLAYBOYSvsPITCHERS. Oh, boys. Please never change.

3. Other things learned on twitter today include:

The DBacks front office was back in action today

Dbacks fanfest is scheduled for February 11

Mike Jacobs signed a minor league deal with the Dbacks today (and, hey, if you can’t be famous, you might as well be infamous)

 4. And, to switch into serious mode for a second:

[click on the screencap to read the article]

Mark Haley is the coach of the DBacks’ Class A Affiliate and the news has been retweeted all over my timeline today with well-wishes and notes and comments about him as a great manager, friend and person.  It’s a terrible situation and all we can do is hope and pray for twitter to bring us some good news soon.