Series Preview
Showing Results 6 - 10 of 12
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Series Preview: Diamondbacks v. Cubs
* PREVIEW: ARI v. CHC - It has been painful to follow the Arizona Diamondbacks (7-11), a club beset so far by injuries and offensive ineptitude. The Chicago Cubs (9-8) are nursing some hurts of their own. As they limp into a three-game set at Chase Field, one club will soon feel the soothing balm of victory, the other will wince as salt is poured in their wounds.
* WHAT NEXT? - Remember the good times ... like, three days ago? Brandon Webb was progressing in his rehab. Stephen Drew was back from a hamstring injury that had cost him three games. Fresh off a series-clinching victory over the Colorado Rockies, the Snakes looked ready at last to rattle off some wins. Alas, the Diamondbacks' season took another turn for the worse over the weekend.
News broke on Friday that Webb had suffered a set-back in his rehab; we have since learned he will be out for at least six more weeks. Meanwhile, Drew lasted just two starts before his bad hammy flared up again, this time landing him on...
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Series Preview: Diamondbacks v. Giants
* PREVIEW: ARI @ SF - A rather unusual April schedule for the Arizona Diamondbacks (6-9) continues this weekend when they play hosts to the San Francisco Giants (6-8). The opening month is heavy with division rivals and home dates, so the Snakes' record to date is cause for concern. However, there is still time to get back over .500 if Arizona can maintain the winning formula that helped secure a series victory over Colorado to start the week. The Giants come in on a roll, too. They swept a two-game set from the Padres between a pair of off-days in what must have been a very relaxing week.
* I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO - When last we saw these Giants, they demonstrated the outstanding starting pitching that is the strength of their team. Arizona had no answer for Jonathan Sanchez, Tim Lincecum or Randy Johnson, the San Francisco starters who held the Diamondbacks scoreless in last weekend's series. The Giants' bullpen gave up two runs on a double by Chris B. Young that...
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Series Preview: Diamondbacks v. Rockies
* PREVIEW: ARI v. COL - We remember when last the Arizona Diamondbacks (4-8) met the Colorado Rockies (4-7). The season was young and full of possibility. Brandon Webb was anchoring the pitching staff. The Diamondbacks were ready to embark on a three-series home-stand, part of an April schedule featuring eighteen games at home and only four on the road.
Surely the Diamondbacks would build an insurmountable lead and cruise to an NL West title!
Can it really have been two weeks ago? How time flies when you're having "fun."
Arizona has had little fun -- nor much offense -- since winning a 9-8 shootout with the Rockies on Opening Day. We don't mean to overreact to a crummy fortnight, but the Diamondbacks' futility at the plate and general discombobulation has spoiled the golden opportunity presented by their early season schedule.
Rather than dwell upon who’s to blame for the stumbling start, we’ll gather ourselves and break down Arizona’s second shot at their division from...
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Series Preview: Diamondbacks @ Giants
* PREVIEW: ARI @ SF - There are just two teams in the National League off to a poorer start than the Diamondbacks (3-6). The first is the dysfunctional Washington Nationals (1-7) franchise; the other is the San Francisco Giants (2-7). The Snakes will have wait until May to sink their fangs into the Nats, but as Arizona embarks on its first road trip of the season, the NL West-rival Giants look like a feast of kangaroo rats.
The Diamondbacks just completed a three-series home-stand that ought to have been a springboard into contention, but was more akin to a backyard trampoline accident. San Francisco fared even worse over their first nine games. After winning a home set with the Brewers, they were swept on a six-game trip through San Diego and Los Angeles. Thanks to the Giants, the Diamondbacks are not the doormats of the division.
How brutal has San Francisco been? For a sample, consider the probable starting pitchers for this weekend.
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Series Preview: Diamondbacks v. Cardinals
* PREVIEW: ARI v. STL - The Diamondbacks (2-4) have had a disappointing start to the season, dropping back-to-back series with division rivals Colorado and Los Angeles. Arizona will have to improve its home-cooking to prevent falling further off the pace with the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals (5-2) coming to town for a three-game series.
Notwithstanding their fine record (compiled against the lowly Pirates and Astros), the Cardinals do have some questions of their own, primarily on the pitching staff. Against the Snakes, St. Louis is slated to throw a so-so trio of starters: converted reliever Todd Wellemeyer, Tommy John-returnee Chris Carpenter, and the unimpressive Joel Pineiro. Only Carpenter has ever been the type to strike fear into the hearts of opposing batters; it will take more than a win over the lowly Pirates to persuade us he's back. Wellemeyer and Pineiro are the sort of classic cast-offs with which pitching coach Dave Duncan likes to work.
Duncan asks his...
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