Diamondbacks March 2001

VOLUME 4

u◆

NNUUM MBBEERR 22

$3.95

◆

MARCH 2001

the

12>

0

74470 85030

Boys ofWinter

EST EW N U G LEA ISIO NAL EST DIV O I T NA UGH UE L A I M L L ' S TO S L E A G C E OR BA CTU O K T T B A S E H E CA O L T S WES OF T AC K D-B NG: NL HE BES I T H PITC

4

WWW.AZDIAMONDBACKS.COM

B AT T I N G O R D E R Relief pitcher Bret Prinz, who had a 9-1 record and 26 saves — Photo by Uncle Darrin Mitch

Departments

Arms Race The

P A G E

38

12 Around the Horn 16 Home Plate

80 Souvenir Stand

94 Covering the Bases

98 On Second Thought

Features Look to Reclaim

24 Diamondbacks National League West Arms Race- Pitching Makes

38 The NL West Baseball’s Toughest Division

52 An Age-Old Question Best of the Cactus League and

60 The the All-Time Cactus League Team 68 Section 209 72 Bob Winkles

DIAMONDBACKS MARCH 2001

VOLUME 4

◆

NUMBER 2

Cover

(Clockwise from top left) Damian Miller, Luis Gonzalez, Matt Williams, Brian Anderson and Jay Bell, part of a group of players who worked out together at Bank One Ballpark throughout the off-season in preparation for the 2001 season.

— Photo by Sandra Tenuto

L E A D I N G

O F F

Matt Williams tees off at the annual WorldCom Wireless Skins Game on Tuesday of Phoenix Open week. He and his partner, Kirk Triplett of Scottsdale, represented the Heather Farr Foundation and won three skins worth $6,500.

— Photo by Sandra Tenuto

BIG YEAR FOR THE CACTUS LEAGUE c r e d i t s March 2001

A prediction: This year’s World Series winner will come from the Cactus League.

“What?” you ask. “The three-time defending world champion New York Yankees and the team they beat to win the World Series last year, the New York Mets, play in the Grapefruit League. So do the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals, both of whom made the playoffs in 2000. The last time a club that trains in Arizona won the World Series was in 1989, when the Oakland A’s swept the San Francisco Giants. So how can you say such a thing?”

Easy. I just look at the strength of several Cactus League teams, most notably the Diamondbacks, Athletics, Giants, Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies, and see big things ahead for them.

Mike Klis, who has been a beat reporter for the Rockies for nine years, the past six for the Denver Post,

BY JOEL HORN agrees with me. In a National League West preview he E D I TO R wrote for this magazine (see page 38), he said the Diamondbacks not only are the team to beat in the division, but in all of baseball. Sure, he referred to our veteran players such as Matt Williams, Jay Bell, Steve Finley and Mark Grace as “valuable fossils,” but he also said that with Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling on the mound – particularly with the new strike zone that will allow more high strikes – they’ll be able to rest their tired legs in a crossed position.

The Mariners, who have sold more season tickets for the upcoming season than at any time in their history (a history that was made by Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex “Pay-Rod” Rodriguez), may have their best team ever this year. Their starting rotation of Aaron Sele, Jamie Moyer, Freddie Garcia, John Halama, Paul Abbott, Brett Tomko and maybe Ryan Anderson is as solid as any in the game, and in the off-season they added former Yankee Jeff Nelson to a bullpen that already included Arthur Rhodes, Jose Paniagua and 2000 American League Rookie of the Year Kazu Sasaki.

They also signed 27-year-old Japanese superstar Ichiro Suzuki, who hit .387 last year for the Orix Blue Wave, and plan to play him in right field and have him bat third in the lineup. The Michael Jordan of Japan, he will provide the Mariners with a marquee name (get used to saying “Ee-Chee-Row”) and a gap-to-gap hitter who is a better fit for Safeco Field than was Rodriguez. Expect him to follow in his friend Sasaki’s footsteps and be named this season’s AL Rookie of the Year.

The Athletics, who took the Yankees to five games in the first round of the playoffs last season despite having the fourth-lowest payroll in the league, feature a lethal nucleus of 2000 AL MVP Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada and Eric Chavez, and they acquired speedy outfielder Johnny Damon from Kansas City in the off-season. The Giants lost right fielder Ellis Burks to free agency and traded third baseman Bill Mueller to the Chicago Cubs, but they re-signed Manager Dusty Baker. That, alone, makes San Francisco a contender. The White Sox, who had the AL’s best record in 2000 before being swept out of the playoffs by Seattle, moved their outfield fences in, which should help their powerful lineup led by Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordonez. And the Rockies may have improved themselves more than any other club in baseball by signing free-agent pitchers Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle. ◆ It’s going to be an interesting year.

executive

editor

Richard H. Dozer senior vice president sales and marketing

,

Scott Brubaker vice

president,sales

Blake Edwards director

of

p u b li c at i o n s

Joel Horn c o r po r at e

sales

manager

John A. Troglia jtroglia@awarena.com 602-462-6634 account

executives

Tim Emory temory@awarena.com 602-462-6635 senior

marketing

manager

Erin Smith senior

sta f f

writer

Joe Gilmartin sta f f

writer

Mike Malo contributing

writers

Steve Fall, Mike Klis, John Miller, Holly Richardson, Charlie Vascellaro team

photographers

Barry Gossage, Sandra Tenuto photographers

David Decoteau, Lee Schmid, Jim Vasaldua, Joel Zolondek design

and

l ayo u t

The Design Idea, Graphic Design & Communications– www.thedesignidea.com 480-633-7188 printing

Courier Graphics Corp.

602-437-9700 c i r c u l at i o n

services

Allen Nelson subscription.service@skies.com 1-877-HIT-1-OUT special

thanks

John Olson, David Pape, Christine Seay, Neal Walk, Susan Webner, Stan Yamamoto, Veronica Zendejas email

address

dbm@awarena.com

Diamondbacks Set to televise 142 games in 2001 The Diamondbacks will bring 142 of their 162 regular season games to their fans via television during the 2001 season.

The broadcast team of Thom Brennaman, Greg Schulte, Rod Allen and Jim Traber will call the action on both 3TV and FOX Sports Net, as well as for all 162 games on KTAR Radio (620 AM) and the Diamondbacks Radio Network.

Joe Garagiola and Jeff Munn will also be a part of the broadcasts for selected games throughout the season.

“We’re thrilled to be able to provide Diamondbacks fans throughout the state the opportunity to see 88 percent of our schedule on either over-the-air or cable television,” Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Scott Brubaker said. “We want to give our fans as much access to our games as possible, and through our television schedule for the coming season, we feel we have achieved that.”

In addition to the 75 games to be telecast by 3TV, and the 60 games to be telecast by FOX Sports Net, one game is set for ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball package, and six games are currently slated to be televised as part of FOX Network’s Game of the Baby Bear, the "son" of Jean and Vic Week series.

Mockerman of Diamondback fans in the Hispanic Apache Junction, community will be able to enjoy Ariz., wears his Diamondbacks broadcasts in Spanish loyalties on his sleeve -- er, his sash. on two new outlets. All 81 home "I think God lost the games and 13 selected road contests pattern when he was will broadcast on KSUN Radio (1400 born," Jan writes.

AM), with 25 home games set for telecast on ¡MAS!, the Spanish-language information service of Cox Communications, operated by 3TV. Miguel Quintana and Oscar Soria return as the primary announcers for the Spanish broadcasts.

Each radio broadcast is preceded by a 30-minute pregame show, and a similar 30-minute pre-game can be found prior to FOX Sports Net telecasts. In addition, 3TV will once again air the Emmy award-winning “D-Backs, Playin’ Hardball”, hosted by Brennaman, on Sunday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. throughout the season.

In addition to the regular season schedule, the

Diamondbacks plan broadcast 10 Spring Training games, beginning with the Cactus League opener Thursday, March 1, against the Colorado Rockies at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson. In addition, two spring games are currently set for telecast on FOX Sports Net, beginning with the Tuesday, March 13, game at Tucson Electric Park against the Seattle Mariners.

Wednesday, August 8 Thursday, August 9 Friday, August 10 Saturday, August 11 Sunday, August 12 Monday, August 13 Tuesday, August 14 Wednesday, August 15 Friday, August 17 Saturday, August 18 Sunday, August 19 Tuesday, August 21 Wednesday, August 22 Thursday, August 23 Friday, August 24 Saturday, August 25 Sunday, August 26 Monday, August 27 Tuesday, August 28 Wednesday, August 29 Thursday, August 30 Friday, August 31 Saturday, September 1 Sunday, September 2 Tuesday, September 4 Wednesday, September 5 Thursday, September 6 Friday, September 7 Saturday, September 8 Sunday, September 9 Monday, September 10 Tuesday, September 11 Wednesday, September 12 Thursday, September 13 Friday, September 14 Saturday, September 15 Sunday, September 16 Monday, September 17 Tuesday, September 18 Wednesday, September 19 Thursday, September 20 Friday, September 21 Saturday, September 22 Sunday, September 23 Tuesday, September 25 Wednesday, September 26 Thursday, September 27 Friday, September 28 Saturday, September 29 Sunday, September 30

at Florida Marlins (FSN) at Florida Marlins at Atlanta Braves (FSN) at Atlanta Braves (FOX) at Atlanta Braves (3TV) PITTSBURGH PIRATES (FSN) PITTSBURGH PIRATES (FSN) PITTSBURGH PIRATES (FSN) CHICAGO CUBS (3TV/¡MAS!) CHICAGO CUBS (FSN/¡MAS!) CHICAGO CUBS (3TV/¡MAS!) at Pittsburgh Pirates (FSN) at Pittsburgh Pirates (FSN) at Pittsburgh Pirates (FSN) at Philadelphia Phillies (FSN) at Philadelphia Phillies (FOX) at Philadelphia Phillies (3TV) at Philadelphia Phillies (3TV) SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (3TV) SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (FSN) SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (3TV) SAN DIEGO PADRES (FSN) SAN DIEGO PADRES SAN DIEGO PADRES (3TV/¡MAS!) at San Francisco Giants (3TV) at San Francisco Giants (FSN) at San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres (3TV) at San Diego Padres (FOX/KSUN) at San Diego Padres (3TV/KSUN) at San Diego Padres (3TV) COLORADO ROCKIES (FSN) COLORADO ROCKIES (FSN) COLORADO ROCKIES (FSN) at Milwaukee Brewers (FSN) at Milwaukee Brewers (3TV) at Milwaukee Brewers (3TV) at Colorado Rockies (3TV) at Colorado Rockies (FSN) at Colorado Rockies (3TV) at Los Angeles Dodgers (3TV) at Los Angeles Dodgers (3TV) at Los Angeles Dodgers (KSUN) at Los Angeles Dodgers (3TV/KSUN) MILWAUKEE BREWERS (3TV/¡MAS!) MILWAUKEE BREWERS (FSN) MILWAUKEE BREWERS (FSN) LOS ANGELES DODGERS (3TV/¡MAS!) LOS ANGELES DODGERS LOS ANGELES DODGERS (3TV/¡MAS!)

4:05 p.m.

10:05 a.m.

4:35 p.m.

1:05 p.m.

10:05 a.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

4:05 p.m.

4:05 p.m.

4:05 p.m.

4:05 p.m.

10:15 a.m.

10:35 a.m.

4:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

12:35 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:05 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

5:05 p.m.

4:05 p.m.

11:05 a.m.

6:05 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

12:05 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

All games are broadcast on KTAR Radio (620 AM) and the Diamondbacks Radio Network, with network pregame coverage beginning 30 minutes prior to first pitch.

All 81 home games are broadcast in Spanish on KSUN Radio (1400 AM) and the Diamondbacks Spanish Network; 13 selected road games will also be broadcast on KSUN, and are indicated by game listed in the schedule listed above.

All game times are subject to change.

Matt Williams and Randy Johnson represented the Diamondbacks in the annual WorldCom Wireless Skins Game prior to this year's Phoenix Open. Johnson was paired with Scottsdale pro Jim Carter in the Skins Game, and also played with PGA pro Nick Price in the Silver Pro-Am. Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly, meanwhile, paired with tour pro Matt Goggin to win the U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Pro-Am on Monday.

— Photo by Sandra Tenuto

2001 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS BROADCAST SCHEDULE

(Home games in caps; all times listed are first pitch times, and are all Arizona time) Tuesday, April 3 Wednesday, April 4 Thursday, April 5 Friday, April 6 Saturday, April 7 Sunday, April 8 Tuesday, April 10 Wednesday, April 11 Thursday, April 12 Friday, April 13 Saturday, April 14 Sunday, April 15 Monday, April 16 Tuesday, April 17 Wednesday, April 18 Friday, April 20 Saturday, April 21 Sunday, April 22 Monday, April 23 Wednesday, April 25 Thursday, April 26 Friday, April 27 Saturday, April 28 Sunday, April 29 Tuesday, May 1 Wednesday, May 2 Thursday, May 3 Friday, May 4 Saturday, May 5 Sunday, May 6 Monday, May 7 Tuesday, May 8 Wednesday, May 9 Friday, May 11 Saturday, May 12 Sunday, May 13 Tuesday, May 15 Wednesday, May 16 Thursday, May 17 Friday, May 18 Saturday, May 19 Sunday, May 20 Monday, May 21 Tuesday, May 22 Wednesday, May 23 Thursday, May 24 Friday, May 25 Saturday, May 26 Sunday, May 27 Monday, May 28 Tuesday, May 29 Wednesday, May 30 Friday, June 1 Saturday, June 2 Sunday, June 3

at Los Angeles Dodgers (3TV/KSUN) at Los Angeles Dodgers (FSN/KSUN) at Los Angeles Dodgers (3TV) ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (3TV/¡MAS!) ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (3TV) ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (3TV/¡MAS!) LOS ANGELES DODGERS (3TV/¡MAS!) LOS ANGELES DODGERS (FSN) LOS ANGELES DODGERS (FSN) at Colorado Rockies (3TV) at Colorado Rockies (3TV) at Colorado Rockies (3TV) at St. Louis Cardinals (3TV) at St. Louis Cardinals (3TV) at St. Louis Cardinals (FSN) COLORADO ROCKIES (3TV) COLORADO ROCKIES COLORADO ROCKIES (3TV/¡MAS!) FLORIDA MARLINS (FSN) FLORIDA MARLINS (FSN) ATLANTA BRAVES (FSN) ATLANTA BRAVES (FSN) ATLANTA BRAVES (3TV/¡MAS!) ATLANTA BRAVES (ESPN) at Montreal Expos at Montreal Expos at Montreal Expos at New York Mets (FSN) at New York Mets (3TV) at New York Mets (3TV) CINCINNATI REDS (3TV/¡MAS!) CINCINNATI REDS (FSN) CINCINNATI REDS (FSN) PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (FSN) PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (FSN) PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (3TV/¡MAS!) at Cincinnati Reds at Cincinnati Reds at Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs (3TV) at Chicago Cubs (3TV) at Chicago Cubs (3TV) SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (3TV/¡MAS!) SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (FSN) SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (FSN) at San Diego Padres at San Diego Padres (3TV) at San Diego Padres (3TV/KSUN) at San Diego Padres (3TV/KSUN) at San Francisco Giants (3TV) at San Francisco Giants (3TV) at San Francisco Giants (FSN) SAN DIEGO PADRES (FSN) SAN DIEGO PADRES (FSN) SAN DIEGO PADRES (3TV/¡MAS!)

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

12:05 p.m.

12:05 p.m.

5:10 p.m.

5:10 p.m.

5:10 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

5:05 p.m.

4:05 p.m.

4:05 p.m.

4:05 p.m.

4:10 p.m.

10:10 a.m.

10:10 a.m.

6:35 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

4:05 p.m.

4:05 p.m.

9:35 a.m.

12:20 p.m.

11:20 a.m.

11:20 a.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

2:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

1:05 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

Monday, June 4 LOS ANGELES DODGERS (3TV/¡MAS!) Tuesday, June 5 LOS ANGELES DODGERS (FSN) Wednesday, June 6 LOS ANGELES DODGERS (FSN) Thursday, June 7 LOS ANGELES DODGERS Friday, June 8 at Kansas City Royals (FSN) Saturday, June 9 at Kansas City Royals (3TV) Sunday, June 10 at Kansas City Royals Tuesday, June 12 CHICAGO CUBS (3TV/¡MAS!) Wednesday, June 13 CHICAGO CUBS (FSN) Thursday, June 14 CHICAGO CUBS Friday, June 15 DETROIT TIGERS (FSN) Saturday, June 16 DETROIT TIGERS Sunday, June 17 DETROIT TIGERS (3TV/¡MAS!) Tuesday, June 19 at Los Angeles Dodgers (3TV) Wednesday, June 20 at Los Angeles Dodgers (FSN) Thursday, June 21 at Colorado Rockies (FSN) Friday, June 22 at Colorado Rockies (3TV) Saturday, June 23 at Colorado Rockies (FOX/KSUN) Sunday, June 24 at Colorado Rockies (3TV/KSUN) Monday, June 25 HOUSTON ASTROS (FSN) Tuesday, June 26 HOUSTON ASTROS (FSN) Wednesday, June 27 HOUSTON ASTROS (FSN) Friday, June 29 COLORADO ROCKIES (3TV) Saturday, June 30 COLORADO ROCKIES (FSN) Sunday, July 1 COLORADO ROCKIES (3TV/¡MAS!) Tuesday, July 3 at Houston Astros (3TV) Wednesday, July 4 at Houston Astros (3TV) Thursday, July 5 at Houston Astros (FSN) Friday, July 6 OAKLAND ATHLETICS (FSN) Saturday, July 7 OAKLAND ATHLETICS (FSN) Sunday, July 8 OAKLAND ATHLETICS (3TV/¡MAS!) Monday, July 9 – Wednesday, July 11 – ALL STAR BREAK Thursday, July 12 at Anaheim Angels (3TV) Friday, July 13 at Anaheim Angels (3TV) Saturday, July 14 at Anaheim Angels (3TV) Sunday, July 15 at Seattle Mariners (3TV) Monday, July 16 at Seattle Mariners (3TV) Tuesday, July 17 at Seattle Mariners Wednesday, July 18 at San Diego Padres (FSN) Thursday, July 19 at San Diego Padres Friday, July 20 at San Francisco Giants (3TV) Saturday, July 21 at San Francisco Giants (FOX/KSUN) Sunday, July 22 at San Francisco Giants (3TV/KSUN) Monday, July 23 SAN DIEGO PADRES (3TV) Tuesday, July 24 SAN DIEGO PADRES (FSN) Wednesday, July 25 SAN DIEGO PADRES (FSN) Thursday, July 26 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (FSN) Friday, July 27 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (3TV) Saturday, July 28 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (3TV/¡MAS!) Sunday, July 29 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (3TV/¡MAS!) Tuesday, July 31 MONTREAL EXPOS (FSN) Wednesday, August 1 MONTREAL EXPOS (FSN) Thursday, August 2 MONTREAL EXPOS Friday, August 3 NEW YORK METS (3TV/¡MAS!) Saturday, August 4 NEW YORK METS (FOX) Sunday, August 5 NEW YORK METS (3TV/¡MAS!) Tuesday, August 7 at Florida Marlins (FSN)

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

5:05 p.m.

5:05 p.m.

5:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

1:05 p.m.

12:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

5:05 p.m.

1:05 p.m.

5:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

2:05 p.m.

7:35 p.m.

1:05 p.m.

1:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:05 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

4:05 p.m.

Promotional Schedule

On Sale Season and partial-season tickets for the 2001 Diamondbacks’ season Five different packages offer something for everyone Season and partial-season tickets for the Diamondbacks’ 2001 season went on sale on Jan. 28.

All packages include Opening Day against Mark McGwire and the St. Louis Cardinals at Bank One Ballpark on Friday, April 6.

Five different packages have been developed to give fans a variety of options: Full Season Plan—This plan features all 83 home games. Full Season Tickets are available as close to home plate as sections 112 and 132 on the lower level, 205 and 215 on the Diamond Level, and throughout the upper level. Package prices start at $456.50.

Half Season Plan—This plan offers tickets for 42 games throughout the season in the lower level and has two different options. Tickets to Opening Day are also included and the price is $672.

Weekender Plan—This plan features tickets to 28 weekend games, including Opening Day. Seats for this plan are located in the upper level and packages start at $154.

Series Plan—This plan includes tickets to one game from every opponent series, including Opening Day, for a total of 28 games. Seats for this plan are in the upper level, and prices start at $154.

DATE P R OMOTION QUANT ITY April 6 Pepsi schedule magnets 50,000 April 7 Infiniti Randy Johnson baseballs 10,000 ■

Infiniti Color the QX4 cards 10,000 ❈ April 8 76/Circle K 2001 limited edition strikeout cards 50,000

Bike to Bank One Ballpark posters - exit 15,000 April 21 MLB trading card samplers 10,000 ❈

Bank One Sabados con los Diamondbacks April 28 America West inflatable Diamondbacks plane hats 30,000 April 29 FujiFilm Fan Photo Day May 12 Arizona Diamondbacks savings books 30,000

Bank One Sabados con los Diamondbacks May 13 Mother’s Day flower seed packages 15,000 ▲

School’s Out for Summer Series—May 21-23 May 21 MLB trading card samplers 10,000 ❈ May 22 AutoZone batting gloves 10,000 ❈ May 23 Diamondbacks/Can Kicker Club hats 10,000 ❈ June 2 Gila River Casinos pool towels 30,000 ✚ June 3 T.E.P.P.’s Blow Off Tobacco Finals June 15 Miller Lite Disco Nite June 16 KTAR player magnets 30,000

Bank One Sabados con los Diamondbacks June 17 Father’s Day June 29 Arizona Republic posters 30,000 June 30 Las Vegas welcome mats 30,000 July 6 76/Circle K Randy Johnson hats 15,000 July 7 Nissan floppy hats 20,000

Bank One Sabados con los Diamondbacks July 28 3TV Luis Gonzalez bobble head dolls 15,000 July 29 Keebler trading cards 20,000 August 3 76/Circle K Randy Johnson bobble head dolls 15,000 August 4 Pepsi trading cards 30,000

Bank One Sabados con los Diamondbacks August 5 America West Airlines Catch a Ball, Catch a Flight

Back to School Series—Aug. 13-17: August 13 Cox Communications backpacks 10,000 ❈ August 14 McDonald’s school binders 10,000 ❈ August 15 Shamrock Farms Luis Gonzalez growth charts 10,000 ❈ August 17 Bank One Kids Run the Show August 18 Discount Tire Company Mark Grace bobble head dolls 30,000 September 1 Discount Tire Company Tony Womack bobble head dolls 30,000

Bank One Sabados con los Diamondbacks September 28 Bank One Matt Williams bobble head dolls 15,000 September 29 Fandemonium ▲ September 30 Fandemonium ▲

Shirts Off Our D-Backs ❈ Items for fans 15 years of age and younger ✚ Items for fans 21 years of age and older ▲ Items for mothers

Kids 15 years of age and younger can run the bases after every Sunday home game Promotional schedule subject to change

DIAMONDBACKS SIGN NEW SPANISH RADIO DEAL The Diamondbacks have announced that am/fm media outlet KSUN 1400 AM will be the exclusive carrier of the team’s Spanish radio broadcasts for the 2001 season.

KSUN will carry 94 of the Diamondbacks’ games this season, including all 81 home games, the Opening Day game against Los Angeles on April 3, and 13 road games.

“Am/fm media and KSUN provide an excellent opportunity for the Diamondbacks to reach the Hispanic fans through a well-recognized, quality radio format and a strong promotional partner,” said Diamondbacks Senior

■ The first 10,000 fans through the gates will receive vouchers to be redeemed for their baseballs following the game

◆

with am/fm media, KSUN 1400am

Vice President of Sales and Marketing Scott Brubaker.

Miguel Quintana and Oscar Soria, who began calling Spanish-language games for the Diamondbacks during the 1999 season, will continue to serve as radio play-by-play announcers.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with the Diamondbacks.

They are an exciting organization and we believe that our partnership will be very successful,” said am/fm media Chairman Alan Mishkin. am/fm media is a full service media and promotional firm located in Tempe, Ariz.

2001

S E AS O N S C H E D U LE HOME

APRIL

sun mon tue wed thu 1

2

3

4

5

AWAY

fri 6

sat

All times are Arizona time and subject to change. For information, please call 602-514-8400 or visit our website at www.azdiamondbacks.com

MAY

sun mon tue wed thu 1

7

8

9

10

CARDINALS 1:35

15

16

11

12

23

20

21

13

ROCKIES 7:05

ROCKIES 7:05

PHILLIES 1:35

27

28

20

18

19

24

25

26 BRAVES 6:35

BRAVES 7:05

BRAVES 7:05

PADRES 2:00

JUNE

fri 1

4

5

11

12

ROYALS 11:05

17

CUBS 7:05

18

19

TIGERS 1:35

24 ROCKIES 12:05

6

7

DODGERS DODGERS DODGERS DODGERS 7:05 7:05 7:05 7:05

25 ASTROS 7:05

13 CUBS 7:05

8 15 TIGERS 7:05

23 ROCKIES 1:05

26

29

30

ROCKIES 7:05

ROCKIES 7:05

28

ASTROS 7:05

AUGUST 1 EXPOS 7:05

6

METS 1:35

12 BRAVES 10:05

19

7

8

2 EXOS 1:35

9

MARLINS MARLINS MARLINS 4:05 4:05 10:05

13 PIRATES 7:05

20

CUBS 1:35

14 PIRATES 7:05

21 PIRATES 4:05

26

27

PHILLIES 10:35

PHILLIES 4:05

TIGERS 7:05

ROCKIES 6:05

sun mon tue wed thu

5

16

28 GIANTS 7:05

15

16

PIRATES 7:05

22 PIRATES 4:05

29 GIANTS 7:05

fri

3 METS 7:05

10 BRAVES 4:35

17 CUBS 7:05

23 PIRATES 4:05

30 GIANTS 7:05

sat

REDS 6:35

14

8

9

REDS 6:35

15 REDS 4:05

21 GIANTS 7:05

28 GIANTS 1:05

EXPOS 4:05

22 GIANTS 7:05

29 GIANTS 7:15

3 EXPOS 4:05

10

REDS 6:35

16 REDS 4:05

23 GIANTS 7:05

30

17 REDS 9:35

24 PADRES 2:05

4

2

ROCKIES 1:35

8

ASTROS 5:05

9 A'S 1:35

15

3 10

12

PHILLIES 7:05

PHILLIES 7:05

18

19

CUBS 12:20

25 PADRES 7:05

17

4 ASTROS 1:05

11

GIANTS 1:05

29

23 PADRES 7:05

30

GIANTS 1:35

24 PADRES 7:05

5

18 25 PADRES 7:05

fri 6

ASTROS 5:05

12 19 PADRES 2:05

26 GIANTS 7:05

18 CUBS 7:05

13 ANGELS 7:05

20 GIANTS 7:35

27 GIANTS 7:05

SEPTEMBER

ANGELS 7:05

21 GIANTS 1:05

28 GIANTS 7:05

fri

sat 1 PADRES 7:05

2

3

PADRES 1:35

9 PADRES 2:00

10 PADRES 7:05

16

PHILLIES 10:15

BREWERS ROCKIES 11:05 6:05

23

DGRS 30 1:10 DGRS 1:35

4 GIANTS 7:05

25

For tickets, please call (602) 514-8400 or toll-free (888) 777-4664

14

31

sun mon tue wed thu

PHILLIES 4:05 PADRES 7:05

A'S 7:05

EXPOS 7:05

24 31

sat

A'S 7:05

METS 1:05 BRAVES 1:05

PADRES 7:05

7

4 11

26

31

ANGELS 7:05

MARINERS MARINERS MARINERS PADRES 1:05 7:05 1:05 7:05

22

CUBS 1:20

GIANTS 7:15

ALL STAR GAME

16

METS 10:10

11

JULY

1

sat 5

METS 4:10

sun mon tue wed thu

ROYALS 5:05

22

27

21

9

ROYALS 5:05

CUBS 7:05

PADRES 7:05

DODGERS DODGERS ROCKIES 7:10 7:10 6:05 ASTROS 7:05

20

14

sat 2

PADRES 7:05

10

CUBS 11:20

27

30

sun mon tue wed thu

PADRES 1:35

7

METS 10:10

17

BRAVES 7:05

3

6

ROCKIES 12:05

ROCKIES MARLINS MARLINS MARLINS 1:35 6:35 6:35 6:35

29

14

DODGERS DODGERS DODGERS ROCKIES 6:35 6:35 6:35 6:05

ROCKIES CARDINALS CARDINALS CARDINALS 12:05 5:10 5:10 5:10

22

13

2

EXPOS 4:05

DODGERS DODGERS DODGERS CARDINALS CARDINALS 7:05 1:35 1:10 7:10 7:10

fri

17 24

5 GIANTS 7:05

6 GIANTS 12:35

7 PADRES 7:05

PADRES 1:05

11

12

13

ROCKIES 6:35

ROCKIES 6:35

ROCKIES BREWERS BREWERS 6:35 5:05 6:05

18

19

20

ROCKIES 6:05

ROCKIES DODGERS DODGERS DODGERS 12:05 7:05 7:05 7:05

25

26

27

14

8

21 28

15 22 29

BREWERS BREWERS BREWERS DODGERS DODGERS 6:35 6:35 6:35 7:05 7:05

BIG

Things Ahead B Y J O E G I L M A RT I N

Diamondbacks Look to Reclaim National League West, Advance in Postseason

H

ope, Shakespeare tells us, springs eternal in the human breast. And nowhere does it spring any higher than in the baseball breast in the spring.

It’s a glorious time of year, when even the lowest team sees better things ahead, and all glasses and contact lenses are rose colored.

The Diamondbacks are no exception to this joyous rule, and, what with being much closer to the highest than the lowest in the overall scheme of things, they understandably see big things ahead in 2001.

More specifically, what with a new manager, a new first baseman, a new right fielder and, hopefully, an old Matt Williams, Jay Bell, Tony Womack and Matt Mantei (i.e.

— the 1999 versions), they are hoping to retake the lofty heights they reached two years ago when they shattered virtually every record for a second year teams by winning 100 games and the National League West.

To retake those heights, of course, you need talent, experience, commitment and health. And the Diamondbacks learned the hard way last year that three out of four isn’t good enough. Translation: If you don’t have health, the other three won’t get you as far as just about everybody figured your experience, talent and commitment would and should take you.

With injuries either sidelining or slowing Williams, Mantei, Womack and Todd Stottlemyre, just to list the most damaging health hits, the Diamondbacks suffered a

Brian Anderson was the starting pitcher in 17 consecutive Diamondbacks victories between July 24, 1999, and May 23, 2000, tying the Yankees' Whitey Ford (1961) for the third-longest streak in the post-expansion era.

— Photo by Barry Gossage

14-game fall off from the previous season, and dropped from first to third in the West.

But that was then, and this is now. And now, and for now at least, everybody is healthy. And expectations are again high on the banks of the BOB (nee Bank One Ballpark).

And so, without further ado, let us examine the prospects position by position, starting with manager.

Bob Brenly is the good cop replacing Buck Showalter’s bad cop. Obviously, since Buck wasn’t really that “bad”, and Brenly isn’t really that “good,” this is somewhat of a stereotypical exaggeration. But nevertheless, one of the specific missions Managing General Partner Jerry Colangelo gave Brenly when he brought him down from the broadcast booth was to put some fun in the clubhouse and, by extension, the entire organization.

But although he was careful to not let it show all that often as one of the most entertaining analysts in sports broadcasting, Brenly has his serious side, too, and is just as obsessed with winning as was Buck. And generally speaking, the difference between the two is more a matter of style than substance.

You ask Brenly how different he’ll be, and he says, “That remains to be seen. I’m a believer in the book, too.

Everybody talks about the ‘book’ in baseball, and there’s a reason for that. It’s because over the course of the history of the game statistically certain things have worked and others have not. So I think you have to keep your eye on the ‘book’ at all times.

“But that being said, I played for some managers who never saw the ‘book,’ and didn’t even have a library card.

They kind of managed by the seat of their pants, and there are times when that’s the way to go. So my philosophy is to be flexible. Every manager goes in with good intentions.

But maybe because of in juries or bad luck those intentions get shot down, and when that happens you have to be flexible enough to go to Plan B or Plan C, or as far down the alphabet as necessary.”

One of the most visible differences between to the old

and new managers is that the new one will wear a jacket only when it’s cold.

But enough already about the manager. Let’s turn our attention to the players, position by position: C ATC H E R

For the better part of the team’s history, Damian Miller and Kelly Stinnett split the catching duties. But Miller, who set career bests in just about every category last year, established himself firmly as the No. 1 man the second half of last season. And Stinnett is now in Cincinnati.

Brenly’s take: “First of all, in the Diamondbacks in their short history have been blessed with as solid catching as you can find, with a rotating system of Miller and Stinnett. And we wish Kelly the best of luck in Cincinnati, except when they play us. But I saw enough of Damian last year and the year before to make me believe he can be an every day catcher in the big leagues. And hopefully, he’s stay healthy enough to catch 125 or 135 games.

“As far as backups go, that’s kind of wide open right now.

Ken Huckaby and Rod Barajas are going to have an

Jay Bell- Despite not attaining the numbers he reached in his career year in 1999, when he led the Diamondbacks with 38 home runs while setting career bests in runs (132) and RBI (112), his overall statistics for the 2000 season were still above his career average in virtually every offensive category.

— Photo by Barry Gossage

Steve Finley carried the Diamondbacks offensively for more than three months last year, collecting 27 homers and 75 RBI by July 21, before injuries played a role in the second half when he hit just eight home runs and drove in 21 runs in his last 57 games. — Photo by Sandra Tenuto

opportunity, and we’ll be keeping an eye on Melvin Rosario, too. And we’ll bring Brad Cresse into camp to take a look at him.

“We’re kind of projecting that Barajas eventually could be an everyday catcher in the big leagues, and he’s probably a little bit stronger offensively than the other guys I mentioned. Huckaby and Rosario are both strong catch and throw guys, which is what I’ve always leaned toward most in a backup. My main concern when you run your No. 2 out there is that he take care of defensive business. If he happens to hit, that’s a bonus.”

F I R ST B AS E :

The Diamondbacks started five different men last year, but that revolving door was slammed shut with the acquisition of Mark Grace, a move which also freed up Greg Colbrunn to return to his valued role as one of the game’s to right-handed pinch hitters. Also, Erubiel Durazo, who was sensational I n 1999, but injured in 2000, figures in the mix.

Brenly’s take: “With Grace on board, I don’t think I could be less concerned about any position. The guy’s the ultimate professional, and he proved it to me and everybody else in baseball over his career with the Cubs. He’s as good as they come defensively, and as good a clutch hitter as there is.

And he’s so versatile I’ve got projected lineups where he’ll hit anywhere from second to seventh.

“As for Colbrunn, the number of his at bats will go down this year, but the importance of those at bats will go way up.

There aren’t a lot of guys in baseball who can come off the bench in the eighth or ninth inning against the other team’s best reliever and come up with those big hits. And Greg is one of the best in all of baseball at it.”

S E C O N D B AS E:

Bell, period. His power and run producing numbers were down last year, but he still figures to play 150 or so games.

Brenly’s take: “I have no concerns about Jay other than keeping him healthy. I felt he did have somewhat of an off year last year, but that was partly a byproduct of some of the things that happened in the lineup around him. With the injuries to Matty and Erubiel, there just wasn’t the same constancy in the lineup we had two years ago. I don’t see anything physically that should prevent him from coming back and having a big year this year.”

In 2000, Luis Gonzalez set a club record with 80 extra-base hits and became the first Diamondback to drive in 100 runs in consecutive seasons.

— Photo by Barry Gossage

S H O RT ST O P :

Womack’s numbers, especially stolen bases, were down last year. But he did lead the league in triples with a club record 14. And despite a variety of little publicized injuries, definitely proved he could play shortstop.

Brenly’s take: “I think fans are going to be pleasantly surprised with Tony this year. I don’t think people realized how badly he was hurt last year because even at 75 per cent, Tony is still faster than just about anybody else in the game of baseball.

And he says he feels great now.”

T H I R D B AS E:

The home of The Captain. The absence of the real Matt Williams’ bat virtually all year left a huge hole that went unfilled. But with his foot and back woes apparently behind him, he seems ready to reprise the 1999 season, when he .303 and drove in 142 runs. Defensively, he still has few peers.

winning. As for his not missing a game, as a former player I respect the living daylights out of that. But as a manager, I’m going to try to give him a day off early so that that doesn’t even become a temptation this year.”

C E N T E R F I E LD :

It doesn’t get much better than Steve Finley. With the possible exception of Atlanta’s Andruw Jones, there’s nobody better than this perennial Gold Glover. And with 27 home runs and 75 runs batted in three weeks into July he was on his way to a sensational year with the bat when injuries slowed him down, although he still finished with 35 dingers and 96 RBI. R I G H T F I E LD : Todd Stottlemyre opened the 2000 season by going 8-3 through 11 starts before departing a May 29 start at home against the Cardinals with a right elbow injury and being placed on the disabled list to rest what was determined as tendonitis. He returned to work on June 15, but made just three starts before being shelved again with the elbow injury. — Photo by Sandra Tenuto

Brenly’s take: “Here’s another guy the only concern you have with is health. You now you’re going to get a maximum effort out of him every night. But last year that just wasn’t enough to overcome the injuries.”

I N F I E LD B AC K U PS :

Nine different players started last year, but although he struggled mightily much of last year. Reggie Sanders has proven speed and power, and is expected to stop the spinning of this revolving door.

Brenly’s take: “We brought Reggie in with the idea he’d definitely be the everyday right fielder, and I have no reason to believe he can’t handle it. Even in a down year last year he stole 21 bases. One of the things we wanted to address in the off season was team speed, and he makes us faster in the outfield and faster on the bases. And depending on who we face, he’s another guy who might bat anywhere from second

Hanley Frias, Craig Counsell and Danny Klassen provide versatile mix and match options.

Brenly’s take: “There may be competition for jobs here, too, although Frias would certainly have an inside track based on his record with the organization. And Klassen figures to get the nod at third whenever we rest Matty. Still, by the end of Spring Training we could face some big decisions on backup infielders.

L E F T F I E LD:

Luis Gonzalez, period, case closed. Some thought his .336 mark in 199 was something of a one-season fluke, but he proved last year it was legitimate as he hit .311 and didn’t miss a game.

Brenly’s take: “I think every manager in baseball would like to have 25 Luis Gonzalezes. You’d not only win, but have a good time

Matt Williams suffered a devastating injury in the final Spring Training game in Tucson on March 28, fouling a ball off his right foot vs. Seattle, breaking the second metatarsal, and was on the disabled list from March 29-May 23. He then played five games with the Double-A El Paso Diablos, but that, too, proved troublesome.

While playing for the Diablos, he suffered a right quadriceps strain that led to another stint on the 15-day D.L. (June 25-July 13).

— Photo by Barry Gossage

Damian Miller had his busiest season ever as a major leaguer last year, establishing single-season bests in games played (100), at bats (324), runs (43), hits (89) and doubles (24). He made 91 starts behind the plate before his season came to a screeching halt when he sprained his right foot on Sept. 21 in San Francisco.

— Photo by Barry Gossage

to seventh. As for Danny Bautista, with the kind of year he had last year he quite honestly deserves a chance to play more often. But right now I see him as a very valuable fourth outfielder who can fill in at all three positions.”

P I T C H I N G:

Simply put, the backbone of the team, so let’s go directly to Brenly’s take:

“You don’t want to jinx anybody, but just looking at what they’ve done in the past I’d say our pitching matches up with anybody’s. Our rotation will be the same as last year’s, with a slight rearranging. Randy Johnson’s going to lead it off, followed by Curt Schilling, and then Brian Anderson, Todd Stottlemyre and Armando Reynoso. I like the idea of putting a soft throwing left hander between two hard throwing right handers.

Armando could be a third starter on just about any other team, and to have him in the five spot shows just how strong our pitching is.

“As for the bullpen, we anticipate Matt Mantei being fully healthy. I talked to him about the possibility of maybe going two innings for a save at times, and he seemed really excited about that. He’s always had the potential, but I think you’re going to see him really blossom this year.

Bobby Welch, our pitching coach, has been very busy watching films on him, and has spotted a few very correctable mechanical things that hopefully will get him more consistently in the strike zone.

“As for B.K. (Byung-Hyun Kim), he was sensational for a while last year, and we think he’s going to be sensational again this year. You talk to other managers and coaches about him, and the word that keeps coming up is ‘unhittable.’

Everybody says the guy’s unhittable.

As for the setup guys, for me Greg Swindell is equally as effective against right and left handers, and we’re looking for a big bounce back year from Russ Springer. We’re bringing Roger Craig in specifically on a split finger fastball, which I think can be a great pitch for him. And Mike Morgan may pitch for another 10 years. ◆

Tony Womack led the league in triples last year with a club record 14, breaking David Dellucci's previous team standard of 12 set in 1998. He was bothered throughout the latter months of the season by a left knee injury that required surgery on Sept. 24, bringing his year to an abrupt end. He still managed to establish career highs in RBI (57), home runs (7) and triples.

— Photo by Sandra Tenuto

Tucson Cactus League Games in

Tucson Electric Park to Showcases 30 Cactus League Games

2001 Cactus League schedule at Tucson Electric Park DATE

PLAYING FIELD

TIME

Friday, March 2

Chicago White Sox at Arizona Diamondbacks

1:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 3

Arizona Diamondbacks at Chicago White Sox

1:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 4

Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago White Sox

1:05 p.m.

Colorado Rockies at Chicago White Sox

7:05 p.m.

Monday, March 5

Milwaukee at Arizona Diamondbacks

1:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 6

Anaheim Angels at Chicago White Sox

1:05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 7 Colorado Rockies at Chicago White Sox

1:05 p.m.

Thursday, March 8

Arizona Diamondbacks at Chicago White Sox

1:05 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks

7:05 p.m.

Friday, March 9

Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox

1:05 p.m.

Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks

7:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 10

San Francisco Giants at Chicago White Sox

1:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 11

Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks

1:05 p.m.

Monday, March 12

Oakland Athletics at Arizona Diamondbacks

1:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 13

Seattle Mariners at Arizona Diamondbacks

1:05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 14 Seattle Mariners at Chicago White Sox

1:05 p.m.

Thursday, March 15

Anaheim Angels at Arizona Diamondbacks

1:05 p.m.

Friday, March 16

Chicago White Sox at Arizona Diamondbacks

1:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 17

Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks

1:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 18

Anaheim Angels at Chicago White Sox

1:05 p.m.

Monday, March 19

Chicago White Sox at Arizona Diamondbacks

1:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 20

San Diego Padres at Chicago White Sox

1:05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 21 Seattle Mariners at Arizona Diamondbacks

1:05 p.m.

Thursday, March 22

Oakland Athletics at Chicago White Sox

1:05 p.m.

Friday, March 23

Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox

1:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 24

San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks

1:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 25

San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks

1:05 p.m.

Monday, March 26

No Game

Tuesday, March 27

Arizona Diamondbacks at Chicago White Sox

1:05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 28 San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks

12:05 p.m.

Thursday, March 29

12:05 p.m.

Colorado Rockies at Chicago White Sox

GONZO STAYS PUT Diamondbacks Exercise Contract Option On Gonzalez, Announce Non-Roster Invitees

The Diamondbacks have exercised their contract option on outfielder Luis Gonzalez, keeping Gonzalez in a Diamondbacks uniform through the 2003 season.

Gonzalez, 33, established career bests in doubles (47), home runs (31) and RBI (114) during the 2000 season, while becoming the first player in Diamondbacks history to play and start in all 162 games in a season. Over two

the Arizona chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America, and was selected to play on the MLB All-Star Tour of Japan in November.

Also announced on Jan. 9 were the Diamondbacks’ 11 non-roster invitees to the club’s Spring Training workouts in Tucson. The group includes right-handed pitchers Tony Chavez, Dave Revenig, Rob Ellis, Kennie Steenstra, Shayne Bennett and Bobby Witt, lefthanded pitchers Troy Brohawn and Chris Capuano, outfielder Chip Sell and catchers Melvin Rosario and Brad Cresse.

Cresse, the Diamondbacks’ fifthround selection in last June’s First Year Player Draft, spent time last summer with both the Class A High Desert Mavericks and Class AA El Paso Diablos, hitting a combined average of .311, with 18 home runs and 66 RBI. Cresse came to the Diamondbacks after helping

the only Diamondback in club history to have driven in 100 or more runs in consecutive seasons.

Louisiana State to the NCAA baseball championship at the College World Series. He was also one of six Diamondback players assigned to the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League.

Luis Gonzalez enjoyed his second straight solid season in a Diamondbacks Witt, 36, is a veteran of over 13 uniform in 2000, establishing career bests in doubles (47), home runs (31) and RBI (114), while also becoming the only D-Back in franchise history to major league seasons, having pitched appear in and start all 162 games.

— Photo by Lee Schmid. on six different teams, most recently seasons with the Diamondbacks, Gonzalez owns a batting with the Cleveland Indians in 2000. The majority of his average of .323, with a total of 57 home runs and 225 RBI, major league career has been spent with the Texas Rangers, and is the only Diamondback in club history to have driven where he ranks second on their all-time list in wins (104) and strikeouts (1,405). Witt has appeared in 416 major in 100 or more runs in consecutive seasons.

A veteran of more than 10 years in the Major Leagues, league games, with a career won-loss record of 138-156, a ◆ Gonzalez was selected co-Player-of-the-Year last year by 4.84 ERA, and 1,924 strikeouts.

The

Pitching Makes NL West Baseball's Toughest Division

BY M I K E K L I S

Randy Johnson has won back-to-back Cy Young Awards. Can he make it three in a row in 2001? — Photo by Barry Gossage

Curt Schilling — Photo Courtesy Arizona Diamondbacks

I

t may be wild in the National League West this year, but shootouts should be scarce.

If pitching wins championships and money buys pitching, then this has to be baseball's toughest division.

Seven pitchers have contracts with average salaries of at least $9.9 million—The Los Angeles Dodgers' Kevin Brown ($15 million), Darren Dreifort ($11 million) and Chan Ho Park ($9.9 million); the Colorado Rockies' Mike Hampton ($15.475 million) and Denny Neagle ($10.3 million) and the Diamondbacks' Randy Johnson ($13 million) and Curt Schilling ($11 million).

Then there are the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres, who have the National League's best closers in Robb Nen and Trevor Hoffman, respectively. ''There's no question this is the toughest division in baseball,'' said Rockies manager Buddy Bell. ''And with this unbalanced schedule, I think we're going to have to shoot for winning the division title if we want to make the playoffs. It's going to be tough for the wild card to come out of this division because you're going to have a lot of good teams beating each other up.''

Unlike recent years, when teams played 12 or 13 games a season against each divisional opponent, baseball set it up this year so each NL West team plays 19 games against each other. What this means is the fourth-place team in the West could be one of the six or seven best in the league, even if all that intradivisional competition doesn't leave the kind of record to prove it.

Entering spring, four teams—the Giants, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Rockies—all believe they have what it takes to win the 2001 NL West title. And the fifth team, the San Diego Padres, may eventually wind up with a rotation of Adam Eaton, the right-handed Bobby Jones, Woody

Williams, Sterling Hitchcock and Matt Clement with Hoffman taking care of the ninth.

This division is loaded with arms. The Giants are the defending champs, a distinction they earn largely because of pitching depth. Not only did they have Livan Hernandez and Shawn Estes at the front of their rotation, but Kirk Rueter and Russ Ortiz could outmatch anyone in the No. 3 and No. 4 slots. And Mark Gardner or Joe Nathan were better than the average No. 5 starters.

San Francisco won't be the only NL West team going four or five deep in its rotation this year. How about the Dodgers' foursome of Brown, Park, Dreifort and Andy Ashby? You know a staff is deep if Ashby is the No. 4 starter.

The Diamondbacks will run out Johnson, Schilling, Brian Anderson and Todd Stottlemyre with Armando Reynoso at No. 5. The Rockies suddenly have Hampton, Neagle, Pedro Astacio, Brian Bohanon and Ron Villone.

Not that all this pitching means there is going to be a shutout every night. The division boasts baseball's best overall hitter in Colorado's Todd Helton, two of the best average hitters in San Diego's Tony Gwynn and Arizona's Mark Grace, the league's defending Most Valuable Player in San Francisco's Jeff Kent and some of the top power hitters in the Dodgers' Gary Sheffield, the Giants' Barry Bonds, Arizona's Matt Williams and the Rockies' Larry Walker.

The team to beat in the year 2001? The Diamondbacks.

And not only are the D-Backs the team to beat in the NL West, but in all of baseball.

Can they be beat? Sure, because like the New York Yankees, the Diamondbacks' key players—Williams (35),

Robb Nen — Photo Courtesy Giants

Kevin Brown — Photo Courtesy LA Dodgers

Jay Bell (35), Steve Finley (36) and the newly acquired Grace (36)—will play at an age that doesn't hold up well to a 162-game schedule.

Valuable fossils, however, can be preserved on those days Johnson and Schilling pitch. Even when the strike zone was the size of a standard microwave, these guys were strikeout pitchers. Give Johnson and Schilling the high strike—where it’s impossible for hitters to catch up to their best fastballs—and those tired legs playing behind them can rest in a crossed position.

While Johnson is the two-time defending Cy Young Award winner, Schilling is the key. His velocity dropped considerably last year as he battled to regain arm strength following shoulder surgery. Now that he's more than a full year removed from that delicate procedure, his fastball should climb back to the 94-96 mph range. If it does, the Diamondbacks should emerge from the toughest division in baseball, the NL West, and outmatch any team during a short series in the post-season.

Here's a brief look at each NL West team as it headed into Spring Training:

Arizona Diamondbacks: The wild card with this team may be its new manager, Bob Brenly. He replaced Buck Showalter, who played a lead role in leading the D-Backs to a divisional championship in just their second year of major-league existence. When a deadline trade produced Schilling but not a return to the playoffs last year, Showalter's oppressive leadership was no longer tolerated.

Brenly will help create a more relaxed atmosphere, but the question remains: Can he manage? With all those veterans in the everyday lineup and rotation, the answer may be: What difference does it make?

Once again, two-thirds of the outfield is as good as it gets with Luis Gonzalez in left and Finley in center. Reggie Sanders will be the everyday right fielder.

The strength of the infield depends on the return to health by third baseman Matt Williams, whose value to this team is undisputable. He hit .303 with 35 home runs and 142 RBIs while helping the D-Backs reach the playoffs in 1999; .275 with 12 homers and 47 RBIs last year, when his team slipped to third in the division. If he doesn't have a typical Williams' year, Arizona will be in trouble.

Arizona also needs shortstop Tony Womack, perhaps baseball's most underrated leadoff hitter, to play more.

Second baseman Bell is still a productive player and the off-season trade that brought Grace also gave the D-Backs a much needed consistent hitter in the lineup and a Gold Glove-caliber glove that should especially help Womack and Bell.

It may have been the bullpen, not his overbearing behavior, that cost Showalter his job last year. Matt Mantei must overcome his injury-riddled season of 2000 and return to his closer form of 1999. This team has simply blown too many late-inning leads in its first three years.

Colorado Rockies: In adding not one, but two top-shelf starting pitchers in Hampton and Neagle, the Rockies improved themselves this winter more than any other club.

Where Colorado can match up with any team is with its rotation and starting lineup. Hampton, Astacio, Neagle, Bohanon and Ron Villone, the leading candidate for the No. 5 starting spot, combined to go 64-48 last year.

Compare that to the 50-67 record the Rockies' rotation brought into their inevitably disastrous 1999 season.

The infield is led by first baseman Helton, who led all major-league hitters last year. Third baseman Cirillo is a consistent .325-type hitter. Shortstop Neifi Perez won the league's Gold Glove award last year and batted .287.

Second basemen Todd Walker and Terry Shumpert combined for 16 homers and 76 RBIs last year— impressive production considering Mike Lansing started at their

position through the first four months.

Brent Mayne and Ben Petrick give the Rockies a near ideal blend of experience and youth at catcher.

In the outfield, the Rockies lost the productive Jeffrey Hammonds, but replaced him with veterans Ron Gant and Todd Hollandsworth, who figure to bring greater durability and power to the left field position. The biggest question mark may be in center, where leadoff batter Juan Pierre has just 51 games of big-league experience.

And then there is the right fielder. Larry Walker was often lauded as the best all-around player in the game from 1997-99, when he won the NL's Most Valuable Player award, two batting titles and three Gold Gloves.

Last year, he felt something go in his elbow while making a throw in the season's 16th game.

Trevor Hoffman — Photo Courtesy San Diego Padres

Mike Hampton (left) and Denny Neagle (right) — Photos Courtesy Colorado Rockies

San Francisco Giants: It just wouldn't be a NL West preview if the Giants weren't picked to finish down in the standings. Once again, they had what many viewed as an unproductive winter with right fielder Ellis Burks leaving for free agency and third baseman Bill Mueller going to the Cubs in a trade for reliever Tim Worrell.

In fact, the Giants' most significant off-season move was re-signing manager Dusty Baker—no small transaction.

Baker is widely praised for getting the most of out of a team that never appears strong on paper as it enters Spring Training, but is usually on top, or near it, by regularseason's end.

Then again, the Giants earned the right to mostly stand pat because they are the defending champs. Pitching brought them to the playoffs last year. Besides their solid rotation, the Giants had a bullpen that was terrific at protecting leads. Nen was so effective as a closer he finished third in the Cy Young voting and Felix Rodriguez may have been the league's best right-handed setup man.

Also overlooked is Pacific Bell Park, which may provide the Giants with the best home-field advantage in baseball.

If not the best, it's advantage is at least as great as the antiPac Bell: Colorado's Coors Field.

Given the pitcher-friendly atmosphere at Pac Bell, the offensive seasons compiled by Kent and Bonds last year were even more remarkable. This year, perhaps the primary concern initially will be how newly acquired veterans Shawon Dunston and Eric Davis replace Burks.

Los Angeles Dodgers: After adding Kevin Brown prior to 1999, Shawn Green before 2000 and Ashby this year, the Dodgers need to get some results. Manager Davey Johnson took the fall after last season. With the unproven Jim Tracy now in charge, another disappointing season

might put general manager Kevin Malone's job in jeopardy.

As usual, the Dodgers have good pitching but their defense, particularly up the middle, is a question mark. If Ramon Martinez, once a Dodger ace and now known as Pedro's big brother, can claim the fifth spot in the rotation, Los Angeles will have a chance every night. The bullpen is unheralded but effective despite not having a bona fide lefty. Jeff Shaw is a proven closer and he is set up by the hard-throwing Matt Herges, Antonio Osuna, Mike Fetters and Terry Adams.

After letting Todd Hundley leave for free agency, the Dodgers' catching tandem of Paul LoDuca and Chad Kreuter is an upgrade defensively if not the threat at the plate. The corner outfield spots are in great shape with Sheffield and Green, and look for the expensive center field tandem of Tom Goodwin and Devon White to have surprising years as they respond to a fair dose of criticism.

Though the infield is not considered a strength, third baseman Adrian Beltre may be ready for a big year. The Dodgers thought enough of Alex Cora at shortstop to not pursue free-agent Alex Rodriguez last winter. Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek and first baseman Eric Karros are offensive players.

Karros and Green had disappointing seasons in 2000. A return to 1999 form might be the difference between another decent, also-ran finish and a playoff berth.

San Diego Padres: Though GM Kevin Towers and manager Bruce Bochy do a good job of keeping this team competitive on a limited budget, the organization still seems to lose more good players than it gains.

Gone from last year are second baseman Bret Boone, and pitchers Donne Wall and Brian Boehringer, though the team did get good value back with the acquisitions of pitchers Jones and Scott Karl. To help solidify its troublesome shortstop position, the Padres brought in Santiago Perez, Alex Arias and Rule V pick Denaldo Mendez.

If Hitchcock returns earlier than expected, the rotation will keep the Padres in games. And if it's close at the end, the Padres can finish it off as well as anyone with 6-foot-8 setup man Tom Davie and All-Star closer Hoffman.

Ryan Klesko (.283-26 homers, 92 RBIs) and Phil Nevin (.303-31 homers, 107 RBIs) could be even more productive this year if Gwynn is healthy enough to play 120 games. â—† Mike Klis is in his ninth season as a Colorado Rockies' beat writer, fourth with the Denver Post. He is married to Becky Marston and they have three children: Brittney, Kaitlyn and Blake and reside in Golden, Colo.

MANTEI SIGNS Diamondbacks And Mantei Agree On Four-Year Contract

The Diamondbacks announced on Jan. 17 that they had reached a four-year agreement with reliever Matt Mantei. The fourth year of the contract is a player’s option and, in accordance with team policy, terms were not disclosed.

Mantei, 27, has converted 39 of 45 save opportunities (87 percent) since joining the Diamondbacks on July 9, 1999, in a trade with the Florida Marlins. He was 17-for20 in save situations during the 2000 season, a year that started slowly due to a pair of visits to the disabled list. He recorded just two saves in his first 19 appearances, but made good on 15 of his last 16 attempts, including 12 in a row from July 6-Sept. 12. He finished the year allowing only five earned runs over his last 28.2 innings, a 1.57 ERA. He was hampered by an ankle injury in Spring Training that led to tendinitis in his right shoulder, forcing

— Photo by Sandra Tenuto

him on the shelf to open the year and a return to the disabled list on May 5-20.

Arizona’s second half success in the championship season of 1999 coincided with the arrival of Mantei, who recorded 22 saves in 25 attempts and fanned 49 men in 29.0 innings after joining the Diamondbacks. ◆

SPRING TRAINING TICKET ROGER CRAIG TO ASSIST IN SPRING TRAINING The Diamondbacks announced on Jan. 10 that Roger Craig would be in uniform and serve as a special assistant — Photo courtesy of San to manager Bob Brenly and his Francisco Giants coaching staff when Spring Training began in Tucson. Craig, a southern California resident, managed several members of Arizona’s current field staff including Brenly, bench coach Bob Melvin and third base coach Chris Speier.

“I’ve said from the beginning that I don’t have all of the answers and would lean on a lot of people for their expertise in various areas,” Brenly said. “In Roger Craig we have the opportunity to tap one of the great baseball minds and a man who I learned an immense amount from during my playing days. He will be a welcome addition to our staff in Tucson.”

Craig had a pair of stints as a manager in the National League, calling the shots for San Diego in 1978-79, then taking over the reigns in San Francisco with 18 games left

in September 1985, and remaining with the Giants through 1992. The ’85 club finished with a 62-100 record, but under his first full season as manager in 1986 they went 83-79. The following season was his first of two Western Division crowns, posting a 90-72 ledger. His 1989 club also went 92-70 and won the National League title before falling in four straight to the Oakland A’s in the World Series that was interrupted by an earthquake.

Craig’s professional baseball career began as a minor league pitcher in 1950 and featured major league stops with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (1955-61), New York Mets (1962-63), St. Louis Cardinals (1964), Cincinnati Reds (1965) and Philadelphia Phillies (1966). He went 2-2 in seven World Series appearances with the Dodgers and Cardinals. Once his playing career ended he worked as a Dodger scout for a season before getting his first managerial assignment with Albuquerque in 1968. He has also served on the coaching staffs in San Diego, Houston and Detroit during his career. ◆

An

Age-Old

Question Y

than 150 games in each of the last three years. Bell played 149 contests

a season ago, and topped 150 in the previous four campaigns. Grace

missed some games last year, but played in 161 in 1999 and 158 in 1998.

Even if some regulars do miss time with injuries, there are capable younger players ready to step in. Erubiel Durazo, Greg Colbrunn, David Dellucci, Craig Counsell and Danny Bautista have all made valuable contributions before, and they can do so again if needed.

Manager Bob Brenly already has a plan to use the members of his bench.

"I've told them (the regulars) I plan to give everybody at least semi-regular days off," Brenly told The Arizona Republic.

Finley, Gonzo, Bell and Johnson have all seemed to get better with age. All were good ballplayers in their 20s. But they really turned it on in their later years.

If that trend continues, and the rest of the

Age isn't such a big deal if the players are talented enough. team comes through, the Diamondbacks should be back on top this season.

Age does have its negative aspects. However, age also brings with it experience. That can be very important, especially come playoff time.

Just ask the Yankees.

â—†

— Photo by Sandra Tenuto

B Y S T E V E FA L L

— Photo by Sandra Tenuto

es, the Diamondbacks are old. They are also very talented.

Can the talent make up for their age? Have other teams their age experienced success?

Actually, there are numerous examples of teams with older rosters excelling. And we don't have to go back far at all to find them.

No team has had more success in the past five years than the New York Yankees. They are certainly not a youthful bunch.

The Yankees' 2000 world championship team included just two regular position players under 30 (Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada).

The pitching staff was even older. The Yankees had 11 pitchers work 50 or more innings in 2000. Andy Pettitte and Ramiro Mendoza were the only two hurlers among this group younger than 30. Roger Clemens (37) and David Cone (37) filled rotation spots. Furthermore, although he was listed as 30 years old, Orlando Hernandez is rumored to be far older.

The age obviously didn't hold the Yankees back. Their regular season record (87-74) was just two and a half games better than the Diamondbacks' 85-77 mark. However, they turned it on in the postseason to win their fourth World Series in five years.

Last year's Atlanta Braves also had several players much older than 30. Although they stumbled in the postseason by losing to the Cards in a three-game Division Series, the Braves

— Photo by Sandra Tenuto

postseason rolled around, their infield featured three 40-year-olds. First base was shared by 42-year-old Pete Rose and 41-year-old Tony Perez. Second baseman Joe Morgan also turned 40 that season. Third baseman Mike Schmidt celebrated his 34th birthday just before the playoffs.

Of course, age isn't such a big deal if the players are talented enough. Schmidt, Morgan, and Perez all made the Hall of Fame. And, of course, Rose would be there also if he weren't banned from baseball. Morgan, Perez and Rose were all well past their primes that season.

However, Schmidt remained at his best.

He smashed a league-leading 40 homers and drove in 109 runs.

The pitching staff wasn't exactly youthful either. Steve Carlton (38),

The Diamondbacks have the wheels where they need them the most—in the up-the-middle defensive positions. another future Hall of Famer, and John Denny (30) anchored the rotation. The bullpen included 40-year-old Ron Reed and 38-year-old Tug McGraw.

The Phillies won the NL East by a comfortable six-game margin with a 90-72 record. After eliminating the Dodgers 3-games-to-1 in the NLCS, they lost to the Orioles in a five-game World Series.

The 1996-97 Orioles made it to the ALCS in successive seasons with a very old roster. The 1997 team had six players

— Photo by Sandra Tenuto

34 or older – Cal Ripken Jr., Harold

put together an impressive 95-67 regular season. Greg Maddux

Baines, Eric Davis, Jimmy Key, Randy Myer and Jesse

and Tom Glavine, both 34 last season, headed up the rotation.

Orosco.

The roster also included a ton of players 35 or older such as

The 2001 Diamondbacks infield will feature three players

Andres Galarraga, Walt Weiss, Wally Joyner, Bobby Bonilla,

35 or older—Matt Williams (35), Jay Bell (35) and Mark

B.J. Surhoff, Keith Lockhart and John Burkett.

Grace (36). Shortstop Tony Womack is the youngster of the

In the past 20 years or so, there have been several other teams that experienced tremendous success with older rosters.

Take the 1983 Phillies, for example. They were so old that they were nicknamed "The Wheeze Kids". By the time the

group at 31.

The projected outfield regulars are all at least 33. Free agent acquisition Reggie Sanders (33) joins 36-year-old Steve Finley and 33-year-old Luis Gonzalez.

The starting rotation also has its share of age with Randy

Johnson (37), Todd Stottlemyre (turns 36 in May), Armando

well. It also enables you to beat out infield hits and take extra

Reynoso (turns 35 in May) and Curt Schilling (34).

bases. However, speed has it's biggest impact on defense.

While the bullpen is headed up by the youthful 1-2 punch

The Diamondbacks have the wheels where they need them

of Matt Mantei (27) and Byung-Hyun Kim (22), they have

the most—in the up-the-middle defensive positions. Finley won his fourth Gold Glove Award last

Finley, Gonzo, Bell and Johnson have all seemed to get better with age. All were good ballplayers in their 20s.

But they really turned it on in their later years.

season for his brilliance in center field.

Shortstop Womack has incredible speed and quickness. Bell lacks the range he had while playing shortstop in his younger days, but he can still make the plays at second.

some veteran company in Greg Swindell (36) and Mike Morgan (41).

The team does have some age at the corners. However, Williams and Grace own four Gold Gloves apiece.

How might age negatively impact a team? One way is a lack

Since defense shouldn't be a concern, where else could the

of speed. Older players normally don't run as fast as younger

age be a factor? Older players also tend to get hurt more often.

players. Will this hamper the D-Backs' ability to steal bases?

The Diamondbacks stayed injury-free, for the most part, in

Last year, they ranked eighth in the National League with 97 stolen bases. Nearly half that total (45) belonged to

their march to the NL West Division title in 1999. Last year was a different story.

Womack, who's still in his prime. The addition of Sanders can

Although both Stottlemyre and Williams missed extensive

only help in this area. Reggie stole 21 bases in just 103 games

time last season, the majority of the team's veterans have shown

with the Braves last year. He's had 36 steals twice in his career.

impressive durability in recent seasons.

Despite their age, the Diamondbacks' stolen base total should climb in 2001.

Team speed is important in other aspects of baserunning as

No pitcher in the majors has started more games (70) than Johnson in the past two seasons. Swindell has appeared in at least 60 games four years in a row. Finley has played more

Best Cactus The of the

League

and the All-Time Cactus League Team

E

B Y C H A R L I E VAS C E L LA R O T R A D I N G C A R D S C O U RT E S Y O F T H E TO P P S C O .

denote years in Cactus League, followed by career statistics).

RHP- Juan Marichal (1960-1973): 243-142, 2.89 ERA, 2,303 SO, 20+ win seasons four years in a row and six out of seven from 1963-1969.

LHP- Randy Johnson (1990-2000): Three-time Cy Young Award winner won back to back in 1999-2000, has 3,040 career strikeouts, 28 shutouts and 76 complete games.

RP- Rollie Fingers (1968-1985): 114-118, 2.90 ERA, 341 saves, 1981 MVP, 1981 Cy Young Award, 1974 World Series MVP. Catcher- Bob Boone (1982-1988): 2,225 games caught (second all-time) four-time All-Star.

First Base- Willie McCovey (1959-1980): 521 home runs, 1,555 RBI, 1969 MVP, 2045 games at 1B. Second Base- Ryne Sandberg (1982-1994, '96-97) NL All-Star 10 straight years, NL MVP 1984, 2,386 career hits, 282 home runs.

Third Base- Matty Williams (1987-1996, '98-present): 346 home runs (300 in the 90s), 1,097 RBI, four-time Gold Glove Winner, four-time Silver Slugger Award winner.

Shortstop- Ernie Banks (1994-present): Has hit more than 40 home runs in each of the last three seasons, youngest member of 40/40 (steals/HRs) club, has compiled more than 900 hits in the last five seasons.

Left Field- Barry Bonds (1993-present): First player with 400 home runs and 400 steals, also will be first 500/500, (has 494 HRs and 471 steals), three-time MVP—has garnered

MVP votes in every year of the '90s, 2,157 hits, 1,405 RBI. Center Field- Willie Mays (1952, '54-1972): 660 home runs, .302 career batting average, 24 All-Star Game appearances, 3,283 hits, 338 stolen bases.

Right Field- Tony Gwynn (1982-present): Eight-time batting champion, hit over .300 for 17 straight seasons (1982-1999), 15-time All-Star, became 22nd member of 3,000 hit club in 1999, lifetime .338 batting average, the best hitter of his era, also owns five Gold Gloves.

Designated Hitter- Edgar Martinez (1987-present): Lifetime .320 hitter is American League's answer to Tony Gwynn, hit .356 in 1995 and has not dipped below .320 for a season since, hit career-high 37 home runs with a career high 145 RBI in 2000. â—†

ntering their fourth season, the Diamondbacks are a relatively young team. Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays they're still the newest addition to the Major Leagues, and along with the Chicago White Sox the newest addition to Arizona's Cactus League spring circuit.

Despite the team's newcomer status, some of the game's brightest stars have already dotted the team's roster and merit consideration when compiling an all-time Cactus League team.

The inaugural Diamondbacks made big news when they traded for perennial All-Star third baseman Matty Williams just after the Expansion Draft and became immediate contenders with the acquisition of now three-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson in 1999.

Arizona has been a major league Spring Training destination since 1947, when Bill Veeck and Horace Stoneham, owners of the Cleveland Indians and New York Giants, made a cooperative agreement to hold their spring camps in Phoenix and Tucson and engage in Spring Training exhibition games. In the years to follow, more major league teams saw advantages in conducting their spring camps Arizona, and the Cactus League grew steadily in size to its current 10 teams. Along the way, fans of the spring season league were privileged to watch some of baseball's most distinguished players, many of whom are now Hall of Famers.

In that first year of 1947, both the Indians and the Giants were what used to be referred to as "first division" teams (meaning they could be found among the top half of the standings in the eight-team American and National Leagues of the time). The Giants were managed by future Hall of Famer Mel Ott and and the Indians by another in Lou Boudreau. Both team’s rosters contained future Cooperstown inductees.

Johnny Mize, the original "Big Cat," played first base for the Giants and led the National League with 51 home runs and 138 RBI during the 1947 season. The Giants played their spring exhibition games that year at old Phoenix Municipal Stadium near the corner of Central and Mohave, not far from the current location of Bank One Ballpark.

The great Bob Feller led the Indians and the American

League with 20 wins, 299 innings pitched and 196 strikeouts in 1947.

With the addition of former Negro League stars Lary Doby and Satchel Paige, in 1948 the Indians would go on to win the World Series. From 1947-1992, the Indians played their home spring exhibition games at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson.

Propelled by second baseman Bobby Thomson's "shot heard round the world," the Giants reached the World Series in 1951. Monte Irvin, another former Negro League star and future Hall of Famer, was in his second full season with the club and rookie Willie Mays was just beginning his stellar major league career. Leo Durocher had taken over at skipper in 1949. All three would certainly be included on a "Best of the Cactus League" list. However, in 1951 the N.Y. Giants h a d swapped Spring Training sites with their crosstown American League rivals, holding their pre-season camp in St. Petersburg, Fla. Not so ironically the Yankees later defeated the Giants four games to two in the 1951 Series.

The Yankees team that spent its one and only spring in Arizona in 1951 resembled on All-Star team all by itself, boasting four future Hall of Famers on its roster, including 1951 MVP catcher Yogi Berra and shortstop Phil Rizzuto. It was during the spring of '51 that the great "Yankee Clipper" Joe DiMaggio announced that the upcoming season would be his last, while heir apparent rookie Mickey Mantle was waiting in the wings. Yankees owner Del Webb, who had land development interests (including Sun City) in the area, had

proposed the Spring Training swap to Giants owner Horace Stoneham in order to show off his championship team to his Arizona acquaintances.

In 1952 the Giants returned home to Arizona, where they have spent every spring season since, adding such all time stars to their roster as Hoyt Wilhelm (195256 in the Cactus League), Red Schoendienst (1957), Orlando Cepeda (1958-65), Willie McCovey (1959-73, 77-80), Juan Marichal (1960-73), Gaylord Perry (1962-71), Duke Snider (1964) and Barry Bonds (1993-present).

The Indians were Cactus League mainstays until moving their spring operation to Florida in 1993. Their great pitching staffs of the late '40s and early '50s included Bob Lemon (1947-58), Early Wynn (1949-57), Hal Newhouser (1954-55) and Hoyt Wilhelm (1958). Other Hall of Famers who trained in Arizona for Cleveland include: Ralph Kiner (1956); Gaylord Perry (1972-75); player/ manager Frank Robinson (1975-76), who made history with Cleveland as the Major League's first African American manager; and Steve Carlton (1987). Albert

Belle, who certainly appears headed towards Cooperstown, broke in with Cleveland in 1989 and remained with the Tribe through 1996.

The Chicago Cubs joined the ranks of Arizona spring trainees in 1952 and have continued to hold their spring camp in Arizona ever since, with the exception of 1966 when the team ventured to Catalina Island off the California coast. With the Cleveland Indians departure in 1993, the Cubs’ Arizona spring stint is second in length only to the Giants. "Mr. Cub," shortstop Ernie Banks, joined the Chicago team in 1953 and spent 19 consecutive springs in Arizona, first at Rendezvous Park in Mesa and later at Scottsdale Stadium. Hall of Fame outfielder Billy Williams also was a Cactus League regular from 1959-1974. Other Coopesrtown Alums who spent springs in Arizona with the Cubs include Ralph Kiner (1955), Monte Irvin (1956), Richie Ashburn (1960-61), Lou Brock (1961-64) and Fergie Jenkins (1967-73). Mark Grace, now with the Diamondbacks (1988-present), and Sammy Sosa (1992-present) have spent springs during the last decade at Ho Ho Kam Parks old and new. Ryne Sandberg, most likely a future Hall of Famer (1982-1994, 1996-97), spent 15 seasons with the Cubs beginning in 1982.

For 25 years (1969-1993), Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma was spring home to the San Diego Padres until the team relocated to Peoria Stadium with the Seattle Mariners in 1994. Perhaps the greatest Padre of them all, and one of the best pure hitters in the history of the game, Tony Gwynn has spent his entire career with the San Diego club beginning in 1982. Other Padres with Cooperstown credentials include: Gaylord Perry (1978-79), Rollie Fingers (1981-1985), Willie McCovey (1974-76), Rich "Goose" Gossage (1984-87) and Rickey Henderson (1996-97).

While the Padres stay in Yuma may have been lengthy, it was not the first by a major league team. The Baltimore Orioles (previously the St. Louis Browns) used Municipal Park, a former horse track, during the team's inaugural season of 1954. At the time, the addition of the Orioles brought the total number of teams training in Arizona to four, and the circuit was officially drubbed "The Cactus League." The Orioles did not train in Arizona in 1955, but returned for the spring of 1956 at brand new Scottsdale Stadium, where they remained through 1958 in time for

rookie Brooks Robinson to make his debut. The Orioles left again in 1959 and were replaced by the Boston Red Sox in Scottsdale, where Ted Williams spent his last two springs (1959-1960) and Carl Yastrzemski played his first four (1961-1964).

Like a bullet, the Houston Colt .45s shot through town fast, spending two spring seasons (1962-63) at Geronimo Park in Apache Junction. Joe Morgan was a 19-year-old rookie when he made his debut with the team in 1963.

Since 1969, the Oakland A's have bounced around the Cactus League calling four different stadiums home: Rendezvous Park (1969-76), Ho Ho Kam Park (1977-78), Scottsdale Stadium (1979-1984) and Phoenix Municipal Stadium (1984-present). The A's teams that won three straight World Series from 1972-1974 featured three Hall of Famers who provided the nucleus of a team that trained in Mesa during its dynasty days. Rollie Fingers (196876), Jim Hunter (1968-74) and Reggie Jackson (1969-75, '87) all won three World Series rings with the A's. Billy Williams (1975-76) and Rickey Henderson (1979-84, '90-92, '94-95) also trained with the A's in Arizona as well, as did Hall of Famers Mark McGwire (1986-97) and Dennis Eckersley (19871995).

Fingers, who's one of three Hall of Famers to play with three

different Cactus League teams (along with Wilhelm and Henderson; Perry played with four) also was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers (1981-85), who have held Spring Training in Arizona since 1970. The Brewers played their spring exhibition games at Diablo Stadium in Tempe (197072), Sun City Stadium (1973-85), Compadre Stadium (1986-97) and Maryvale Stadium. Robin Yount, a career Brewer, racked up 3,142 hits from 1974-93 along with Paul Molitor, who collected most of his 3,319 hits with the Brew Crew (1978-92). Home run king Hammerin' Hank Aaron began his career as a Milwaukee Brave and closed it out with two seasons as a Brewer, spending his final two springs in Sun City (1975-76).

Like most expansion teams, it took the Seattle Mariners some time to develop since the team's humble beginning in 1977. The Mariners set up their first spring camp at Tempe Diablo Stadium, where they remained until moving to Peoria in 1994. Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry was a Mariner near the end of his career (1982-83), earning his 300th victory with Seattle in 1982. By the mid '90s the Mariners had actually become consistent contenders with the addition of such since departed future Hall of Famers as Ken Griffey Jr. (1989-99) and Randy Johnson (1989-98). Edgar Martinez (1987-present) also seems headed toward the Hall as well, as does Alex Rodriguez (1994-2000).

The Colorado Rockies replaced the Cleveland Indians in the Cactus League in 1993, keeping major league spring baseball in Tucson. Although the team has not really been around long enough to have had too many established Hall of Famers on its roster, a couple have enjoyed Hall of Fame type seasons with the team: Larry Walker (1995-present) captured the NL MVP award in 1997, after hitting .366 with 49 home runs and 130 RBI and followed it up with a .363 average in 1998.

Andres Galarraga had five very productive seasons in Colorado (1993-97).

Although the California/ Anaheim Angels have been a part of the Cactus League since 1961, the team did not have a home ballpark in Arizona until moving into Tempe Diablo Stadium in 1993. Frank Robinson

was with the Angels in the twilight of his career (1973-74), as were Reggie Jackson (1982-86) and Eddie Murray (1997). Rickey Henderson also spent one year with the Angels (1997). Hall of Famers Rod Carew (1979-85) and Nolan Ryan (1972-1979) also played for the Angels. Catcher Bob Boone, though probably not a Hall of Famer, (although one could make an argument based on his 2,225 games behind the plate, second only to Carlton Fisk's 2,226) just may be the best catcher in Cactus League history.

The Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox joined the ranks of the Cactus League in 1998, entering into a partnership at Tucson Electric Park. The "Big Hurt", Frank Thomas (1998-present), probably is the most prolific hitter to play for the White Sox during the team's brief Arizona tenure thus far and was paired with Albert Belle during the 1998 season.

The All Time Cactus League Team Like The Sporting News, "All-Century Team" named in 1999, the All-Time Cactus League team is subject to the same past vs. present debate. With the understanding that any such assembly is arbitrary at best, the criteria for being named to this team includes at least a two-consecutive-year presence in the Cactus League, ruling out the one-year aberration of the 1951 N.Y. Yankees. Nominees to the team should be either

already enshrined in baseball's Hall of Fame or undoubtedly headed that way, unless there is no such candidate at a specific position. A player also should have spent the dominant part of his career at the position to which he is named, and the most productive years of such players career should be years when his team held Spring Training in the Cactus League. With all that in mind, here goes: (parentheses

2001

LANCASTER JETHAWKS SEASON SCHEDULE HOME

AWAY

APRIL

sun mon tue wed thu 1

2

3

4

5

fri 6

SJ 7:15

8

9 SJ 2:00

15

16

@SB 2:05

22

10

@HD 7:05

@HD 7:05

17

HD 7:15

23

@HD 7:05

18

HD 7:15

24

VIS 2:00

29

11

12 19

25

@LE 7:05

13 @SB 7:05

20

HD 7:15

26

@LE 7:05

1

14

27 @SJ 7:00

6

VIS 7:15

28

13 20 LE 2:00

@SJ 5:00

27

30

sun mon tue wed thu

fri 1

sat

4

10 @SB 5:05

17

5 SB 7:15

11 @SB 7:05

18

RC 2:00

24 @SB 5:05

25

@RC 7:15 7:15

6 SB 7:15

12 @VIS 7:05

19

ALLSTAR GAME @LAN

26

@RC 7:15 7:15

7 SB 7:15

13

14

@VIS 7:05

20

8 SB 7:15

15

21

RC 7:15

22

@SB 7:05

27

@RC 7:15 7:15

28

@SB 7:05

29

LE 7:15

1

2

@MOD 7:05

6

12 RC 5:00

19

7 VIS 7:15

13 @LE 7:05

20 @MUD

26 @SJ

27 @HD 7:05

28

8 VIS 7:15

14 @LE 7:05

21 @MUD

28 @HD 7:05

@MOD 7:05

9 VIS 7:15

15 @LE 7:05

22 @MUD

29 @HD 7:05

RC 7:15

16 @LE 7:05

23 @SJ 7:00

30 HD 7:15

RC 7:15

23 @SB 7:05

30 HD 7:15

fri

sat

3@RC

4@RC

10

11

7:15 7:15

RC 7:15

17 SJ 7:15

24 @SJ 7:00

31 SB 7:15

7:15 7:15

RC 7:15

BAK 7:15

22 @RC 7:15

29

10

@MOD 11:05AM

16

@MOD 7:05

17

23 @RC 7:15

30

11 @MUD

18

HD 5:00

MUD 7:15

9

MUD 7:15

10 LE 7:15

15

16

@HD 5:05

22 @BAK 7:30

29

4

24 @RC 7:15

17

BAK 7:15

23 @BAK 7:30

30

LE 5:00

11

LE 7:15

18

24

BAK 7:15

25

@MUD

19

25 @BAK 7:30

LE 7:15

26 @BAK 7:30

RC 7:15

fri 6

@VIS 7:05

12

LE 7:15

BAK 7:15

12

31

5

@MUD 6:09

MUD 7:15

LE 7:15

RC 7:15

3

sat 5

MUD 7:15

@BAK 7:30

LE 2:00

2

8

HD 7:15

AUGUST

@RC 6:15

@RC 7:15

@SB 7:05

16

15

4

MUD 7:15

sun mon tue wed thu

@LE 7:05

9

@SB 7:05

RC 7:15

sun mon tue wed thu

5

21

9

@MOD 7:05

BAK 7:15

3

MOD 1:00

fri

JULY

1

2 @LE 7:05

@LE 6:05

14

BAK 2:00

JUNE

8 HD 7:15

MUD 2:00

MOD 1:10

3

7 HD 7:15

@SB 7:05

21

2

MOD 7:15

SJ 7:15

VIS 7:15

@LE 7:05

MAY

sun mon tue wed thu

7 SJ 7:15

@HD 7:05

HD 7:15

sat

For information, please call 661-726-5400. www.jethawks.com

@VIS 7:05

13 @HD 7:05

19 MOD 7:15

26

@BAK 7:30

20 MOD 7:15

27

SB 7:15

sat 7 @VIS 7:05

14 @HD 7:05

21 MOD 7:15

28

SB 7:15

LE 7:15

31 @MOD 7:05

SEPTEMBER

sun mon tue wed thu

fri

sat 1 SB 7:15

2

3 SB 5:00

4

5

6

7

8

SB 5:00

18 SJ 7:15

25 @SJ 5:00

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE DIRECTORY

BAKERSFIELD BLAZE BAK HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS HD LAKE ELSINORE STORM LE MODESTO ATHLETICS MOD MUDVILLE NINE MUD

RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES SAN BERNARDINO STAMPEDE SAN JOSE GIANTS VISALIA OAKS

RC SB SJ VIS

2001

TUCSON

SIDEWINDERS SEASON SCHEDULE HOME

APRIL

sun mon tue wed thu 1

2

3

4

5

AWAY

fri 6

sat

Start times adjusted to Mountain Standard Time.

For information, please call 520-434-1021. www.tucsonsidewinders.com

MAY

sun mon tue wed thu 1

7

8

10

11

12

TACOMA 7:00PM

TACOMA 7:00PM

TACOMA 7:00PM

15

17

18

19

IOWA 11:05AM

22

9 16 IOWA 10:05AM

OMAHA 6:05PM

23

24

OMAHA 11:05AM

25

OMAHA 6:05PM

26

13 IOWA 5:05PM

20 OMAHA 6:05PM

27

14 IOWA 5:05PM

21 EDMONTON 7:30PM

28

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

13 FRESNO 7:00PM

20

14 FRESNO 7:00PM

21

15 FRESNO 7:00PM

22

16 REDS 4:05

23

17

18

7:00PM

24

7:00PM

25

29

27 FRESNO 6:05PM

JUNE

sun mon tue wed thu

fri 1

IOWA 7:00PM

10

4 IOWA 7:30PM

11

5 OMAHA 7:30PM

12

6

7

OMAHA 7:30PM

13

OMAHA 7:30PM

14

sat 2

IOWA 7:00PM

3

8

IOWA 7:30PM

9

OMAHA OKLAHOMA 7:00PM 5:05PM

15

16

OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA WHITE SOX MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS

12:05PM

17

5:05PM

18

7:00PM

5:05PM

19

7:05

20

6:05PM

21

6:05PM

22

5:05PM

23

7:05PM

28

7:05PM

29

7:05PM

30

7:05PM

FRESNO 7:05PM

fri

sat

31

FRESNO SACRAMENTO SACRAMENTO SACRAMENTO 1:05PM 6:35PM 6:35PM 12:05PM

JULY

2

3

4

5

6

7

NASHVILLE NASHVILLE NASHVILLE SACRAMENTO SACRAMENTO SACRAMENTO SACRAMENTO

7:00PM

8

7:30PM

9

7:30PM

10

6:35PM

11

SACRAMENTO ALL STAR

ALL STAR ALL STAR BREAK BREAK

15

17

6:35PM

FRESNO 6:15PM

22

BREAK

16

18

7:05PM

12 FRESNO 7:15PM

19

7:05PM

13 FRESNO 7:15PM

20

7:30PM

24

7:30PM

25

7:30PM

26

7:00PM

29

30

31

LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS

28

29

30

SALT LAKE SALT LAKE MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS NASHVILLE 1:00PM 6:00PM 7:30PM 7:30PM 7:30PM 7:00PM 7:30PM

AUGUST

sun mon tue wed thu 1 EXPOS 7:05

5

6

7

8

2

7:00PM

12 FRESNO 7:00PM

19

13

6:05PM

14

5:15PM

TACOMA 1:35PM

15

20

21

6:45PM

27

6:45PM

28

22 PIRATES 4:05

29

7:30PM

9 11:35AM

16

7:30PM

7:30PM

6:05PM

6:05PM

6:05PM

7:00PM

10 FRESNO 7:00PM

sun mon tue wed thu

fri

17

FRESNO 7:30PM

18

2

3

4

NASHVILLE NASHVILLE GIANTS 4:00PM 5:00PM 7:05

9 PADRES 2:00

10 PADRES 7:05

24

25

16

TACOMA 7:05PM

TACOMA 7:05PM

BREWERS ROCKIES 11:05 6:05

30

31

7:30PM

7:30PM

sat NASHVILLE 4:00PM

TACOMA 7:05PM

TACOMA 5:00PM

LAS VEGAS

1

7:30PM

11

7:30PM

28

7:30PM

SEPTEMBER

23

SACRAMENTO SACRAMENTO SACRAMENTO SACRAMENTO

7:30PM

7:30PM

6:05PM

4

FRESNO LAS VEGAS LAS VEGAS LAS VEGAS LAS VEGAS PORTLAND 7:30PM 7:30PM 7:30PM 7:30PM 7:00PM 7:15PM

PORTLAND PORTLAND PORTLAND

26

6:05PM

sat

7:30PM

SALT LAKE SALT LAKE SALT LAKE

SALT LAKE CO SPRINGS CO SPRINGS CO SPRINGS CO SPRINGS

6:05PM

fri

3

7:00PM

21

27

7:30PM

24

27

FRESNO 7:15PM

23

NEW ORLEANS NEW ORLEANS NEW ORLEANS NEW ORLEANS

26

14

OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA

OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA

7:00PM

7:05PM

NEW ORLEANS NEW ORLEANS NEW ORLEANS NEW ORLEANS

MEMPHIS CO SPRINGS CO SPRINGS CO SPRINGS CO SPRINGS SALT LAKE SALT LAKE 1:05PM 7:30PM 7:30PM 7:30PM 7:30PM 6:00PM 6:00PM

25

7:30PM

26

7:05PM

sun mon tue wed thu 1

19

SACRAMENTO SACRAMENTO SACRAMENTO

SACRAMENTO LAS VEGAS LAS VEGAS LAS VEGAS LAS VEGAS FRESNO

30

12

CALGARY CALGARY LAS VEGAS LAS VEGAS LAS VEGAS LAS VEGAS FRESNO 12:35PM 6:05PM 7:05PM 7:05PM 7:05PM 7:05PM 7:30PM

EDMONTON EDMONTON EDMONTON MARLINS CALGARY CALGARY CALGARY 7:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM 6:35 7:00PM 7:00PM 7:30PM CALGARY EDMONTON 7:00PM 6:05PM

sat

EDMONTON EDMONTON EDMONTON CALGARY CALGARY 6:05PM 6:05PM 6:05PM 6:05PM 12:35PM

DODGERS DODGERS PORTLAND PORTLAND PORTLAND 1:10 7:10 7:00PM 7:00PM 7:30PM PORTLAND TACOMA 2:00PM 7:00PM

2

fri

23

DGRS 30 1:10 DGRS 1:35

17 24

5 GIANTS 7:05

6 GIANTS 12:35

7 PADRES 7:05

PADRES 1:05

11

12

13

ROCKIES 6:35

ROCKIES 6:35

ROCKIES BREWERS BREWERS 6:35 5:05 6:05

18

19

20

ROCKIES 6:05

ROCKIES DODGERS DODGERS DODGERS 12:05 7:05 7:05 7:05

25

26

27

14

8

21 28

15 22 29

BREWERS BREWERS BREWERS DODGERS DODGERS 6:35 6:35 6:35 7:05 7:05

Bike to BOB

Family Fun Ride and Jay Bell Poster Giveaway - Sunday, April 8 As part of Maricopa County’s Clean Air Campaign, the Diamondbacks’ Jay Bell went to bat for cycling. Jay Bell will be featured in a poster that will be distributed during the April 8 Diamondbacks vs. St. Louis Cardinals game. Riders of the fourth annual Bike to BOB ride will enjoy an energizing continental breakfast at Park Central Mall in Phoenix. Then take a leisurely three-mile ride down Central Avenue to the Bank One Ballpark. The $10 registration fee includes breakfast, reserved seat game ticket, T-shirt, giveaways, and reserved bike parking at the Ballpark. Helmets are required. For more information, or to register for the Bike to BOB ride, please call (602) 262-7433. ◆

¡BEISBÓL! PASIÓN DEL VALLE

◆

Inaugural Celebration

Beisból is a sport played and pursued with passion throughout the world, especially in the Americas. Currently, 157 players representing nine different Latin American countries play in the American major leagues. Baseball is a great source of pride and identity for many Latin American nations. The sport has also been used as an instrument of diplomacy between nations, providing an opportunity for social change by bringing together sometimes conflictive groups who share one thing in common: a love of baseball.

Valle del Sol, Inc. a long-time champion for Latinos, believes in the power that sport, especially baseball, has to unite people. On April 22, Valle del Sol, the Diamondbacks and the City of Phoenix Parks, Recreation and Library Department come together to present a cultural baseball celebration to the Phoenix community. The event, ¡Beisból! Pasión del Valle, is a fundraiser, that will pay tribute to Latino present and past players and a celebration of the multi-national communities these players represent. ¡Beisból! Pasión del Valle, hosted by the City of Phoenix Parks, Recreation and Library Department at Maryvale Baseball Park, will feature Diamondbacks players, a modified game consisting of corporate and community leaders and Major League Baseball Alumni, a baseball clinic for kids, cultural food and entertainment.

Valle del Sol is an agency providing counseling and other needed services to children and teens in the Phoenix metropolitan area. It hopes to stress the importance of recreation as an essential element in the positive physical and emotional development of all kids.

Valle del Sol and the Diamondbacks share the belief that through sports and recreation, they can communicate and teach much needed values such as discipline and tenacity, and instill a healthy self-esteem in the Valley's young people.

They wish to impress upon kids that teamwork and individual talent, necessary ingredients to any winning team, can be carried over into their personal and professional lives. A passion for baseball and the values inherent in all sport, cross all cultures, ages, nationalities and backgrounds.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Valle del Sol's youth programs and Arizona Diamondbacks Charities. Please contact Leslie Inzunza at Valle del Sol (602-258-6797 ext.131) or Verónica Zendejas, Arizona Diamondbacks Community Relations, (602-462-6571) for sponsorship opportunities and event information. ◆

RAISING THE STRIKE ZONE — AND THE FLAG?

A little theme music, if you please, Maestro. The William Tell Overture would be appropriate.

And now, return with us to those golden days of yesteryear, when the old letter-high fastball preserved law and order on the batting range and fought the good fight for truth, justice and the American way. Hi Ho Pitchers, Away!!!!!

Once a staple in legend and lore, the . . . Maestro, that’s enough. Thank you very much. The old letter-high fastball went the way of the dinosaur and two-hour game a long time ago. But, with games getting longer and longer, home runs getting cheaper and cheaper, and pitchers getting more and more paranoid, Major League Baseball will try to bring it back this season.

And it is using a very radical approach to achieve that goal. (Pause to pull tongue out of cheek).

"At the meetings in Dallas, they voted to start calling the strike zone the way it’s written in the rule book," said Diamondbacks’ manager Bob Brenly.

Gasp!

"The rule book says it’s the midline between the top of the shoulders and the belt," explained Brenly, "which puts it just about letter high. But in the last few years, umpires very rarely called a waist-high strike.

Now they’re going to be calling one that’s 9 or 10 inches higher, which puts it right about the B Y J O E G I LM A RT I N letters."

Even as Alan Greenspan strives to control inflation by regulating interest rates, sports battle it by trying to regulate scoring, the idea being to keep the delicate scales between offense and defense from tipping too far in either direction.

Thus, a few years back when touchdowns seemed to be going the way of the letter-high fastball, the National Football League loosened the rules on offensive holding and tightened the rules on defensive holding, and scoring went back up.

In baseball, the standard methods of regulating scoring have always been raising/lowering the mound or the strike zone. And, as often happens with Greenspan and the economy, there have been instances of over correction.

Times when a measure designed to help pitchers lowered collective batting averages dangerously close to the dreaded Mendoza Line and, conversely, a measure designed to help hitters turned all but the most premier pitchers into batting

practice fodder.

Changes in mound height are precise and easy to implement, but the strike zone is something else again.

Because no matter what the rulebook says, the strike zone has always been what each umpire says it is. And that can be anywhere from bigger than a breadbox to smaller than a slice of bread.

Indeed, one of the ironies in baseball, which is far and away the most precise and best balanced of all sports, is that the strike zone is such a glaring exception. The distance between the bases, for instances, is a marvel of engineering perfection. Eighty-nine feet would have been unfair to the infielder, 91 unfair to the batter/runner.

Ninety is perfect! Likewise, 60 feet, 5 inches from mound to plate would have been unfair to the hitter, 60 feet, 7 inches unfair to the hitter. Sixty feet, 6 inches is perfect!

But the strike zone is about as precise and perfect as blocking/charging calls in basketball.

Brenly is convinced MLB is serious about going back to the rulebook in this matter. But Luis Gonzalez isn’t so sure it will happen.

"This is a lot like asking a guy who’s been driving to work the same way for 15 or 20 years to all of a sudden change his route," said the Diamondbacks’ hard-hitting left fielder.

"And I think a lot of the veteran umpires may go back to what they feel comfortable with. And that just might be the old strike zone."

But assuming the umpires DO raise the strike zone, what impact will it have?

"It will help guys who can thrown them past major league hitters," said Brenly. "And it will kill guys who THINK they can throw fastballs past major league hitters.

On our staff in particular, it will help guys like Curt Schilling, Todd Stottlemyre and Russ Springer, guys who have a little giddyup on a four-seam fastball. And it will hurt sinker ball pitchers." (Presumably, Randy Johnson will continue to operate in a "zone" all his own).

"I don’t know if it will cut down on scoring," said Gonzo.

“But hopefully it will cut down on long counts and bases on balls. And it may increase strikeouts. Also, while I hate to say this, it may cause a lot more ejections in games because hitters aren’t used to that call. But I think overall, because of the power pitchers we have, it may benefit our team more than some others.

There you have the bottom line. Raising the strike zone may help the Diamondbacks raise a championship flag over Bank One Ballpark. ◆

Section

209 I t’s winter in Arizona, and I’m trying not to complain.

While the rest of the country is shivering and slipping and sliding and bundling up against subzero temperatures, I am basking in southwest sunshine. On a bad day, the temperature hovers around 60. Yet, I am restless. This is a hard part of the year for me; halfway between the last baseball game of the season and the promise of spring training.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved baseball.

My dad took me to my first games, at legendary Wrigley Field in Chicago. We would go only once or twice a year, but each game was an event. Mom rarely went with us, but she would fix us tuna sandwiches and add some fruit (she thought that ballpark food was bad for us). In the mid-fifties, when I was growing up, Dad would always be able to buy field box seats right at the box office the day of

the game. We would sit in about row 5 or 6, right behind the Cubs dugout, and enjoy our day together. After a couple bites of tuna sandwich, Dad would call over the hot dog vendor, followed by the ice cream vendor, and always the Cracker Jack vendor. He did not share Mom’s qualms about ballpark food. "It isn’t a ballgame without a hot dog," he’d say. From this vantage point, we witnessed Ernie Banks’s 500th home run disappear over the ivy, and cheered Milt Pappas’s no-hitter. Players and events are etched in my mind. Ron Santo and Andre Dawson and Ryne Sandberg. Rick "Groceries" Ruschell and Fergie Jenkins. The 1969 Collapse. (I have hated the Mets ever since.) Lou Brock before he became a Cardinal and Greg Maddox before be became a Brave. This was Chicago baseball. These are the memories of a childhood.

In those days we went to the park to enjoy baseball, the game. It was before salaries soared. It was before free agents and labor strikes. We didn’t go to see prima donna stars; we came to see a ball game. I still feel that way today. When the Diamondbacks franchise was awarded to my adopted new home in Phoenix, it was a cause for great celebration. I devoured every news item about the team, eagerly anticipating baseball in the desert.

Seat selection day was akin to a trip to the best toy store in

the world. I was so excited as we made the trek downtown, surveyed the mockup of the stadium and chose our seats.

Section 209, Row 6, seats 7, 8, 9, 10. Diamond Infinity Level. Parking privileges in the adjacent garage. Arizona Baseball Club restaurant privileges. Private walkway to the stadium. Pretty fancy stuff, and a dream come true. I love our seats. Our view from the second level between home plate and first base allows us to see each play develop in its entirety. The line of sight is excellent. The "play within a play" becomes more apparent.

From these seats we treated my Dad to a couple of baseball games before he passed away. What a thrill it was for me to be able to take him to a game! Even though he was on a restricted diet, we always indulged in a hot dog.

"It’s not a baseball game without a hot dog, Dad!" Section 209 has its regulars: Dan and Tina, who sit in front of us. Armando, the psychiatrist, who high-fives us after each remarkable play. The lovely couple in the first row, she with the hat covered with pins and the scorepad on which she records every game. Steve and little daughter Hayley, who remind me of another father and daughter of two generations ago. And Joe and Audrie Garagiola, who have the seats right next to ours. What a joy it has been getting to know them. Joe is forever

entertaining the entire section with his wit and baseball knowledge. Audrie is ever-charming and gracious.

During one game, a youngster, urged on by his father, asked Joe for his autograph. Not really knowing who he was, but told by his father Joe was someone famous, the child turned and asked with reverence, "Did you play with Babe Ruth?" The look on Joe’s face was worth the price of admission.

There have been many thrilling baseball moments in this sparkling new park, of course. Who could ever forget opening night, or the magical second season. But my biggest baseball thrill ever came the night of the first playoff game in 1999. There I was, standing next to Joe and Audrie, he with his arm around her shoulders, tears in his eyes, as the Western Division Championship flag was unfurled. Joe, Jr., Diamondbacks General Manager, stood beside him. The pride on Joe, Sr.’s face that extraordinary night was that of a father for his son, and it was awe-inspiring. This was baseball in its purest form, and this was a snapshot of America. Section 209 has given me the best of the best. And I know there is more to come.

Mark Grace, from my beloved Cubs, will be playing first base for my Diamondbacks this year. It just doesn't get any better. Is it spring yet? ◆

Welcome

home

Winks!

A

rizona State University named the baseball field at Packard Stadium Bobby Winkles’ Field on March 3 in a ceremony in Tempe. This was to honor ASU’s first varsity baseball coach, Bobby Winkles, the man who put ASU baseball on the national map.

Coach Winkles developed the baseball program that not only created winning records, but a program that became the example for what college athletics is meant to do— develop character. When character and talent are present, winning is a natural byproduct.

Win and win big his teams did. From 1959 until 1971 when Coach Winkles left ASU to become the manager of Gene Autry’s Los Angeles Angels of the American League, his ASU teams won three national titles. Year in and out, ASU was a major force in college baseball. His teams won 564 games with a winning percentage of .750, against the best teams. Coach Winkles was finally elected into the College Coach’s Hall of Fame in 1997.

This is an extraordinary honor, for election to the College Hall of Fame does not depend on a winning record alone. A Hall of Fame Coach is judged to a larger part on the impact he’s had on his players, their life on and off the field, and the impact he’s had on the college, the community, and the sport. The Hall of Fame takes into account the total man.

Coach Winkles developed great players—many went on to play professionally, some to the Major Leagues, and with Reggie Jackson, all the way to Cooperstown. But not only did Coach Winkles bring out their talent, more importantly, he taught them how to play the game of baseball and, therefore, the game of life.

He had the gift to inspire young men to develop will— that spirit in an athlete that makes the player go all out. To dare. To risk it all in the contest. An ASU player did not play it safe; he played to win. But he was taught to win

like a champion—fierce but fair. A player under Winkles had respect for an opponent.

How did he teach? Like all great coaches, by his own example. Coach Winkles’ example was characterized by fearless optimism, hard work, loyalty and sacrifice. His example was also expressed with a fine sense of humor.

Anyone who has heard him tell a story can attest to that.

He balanced the seriousness of purpose with the light touch. As he reminded his players, with a voice accented from Swifton, Ark., baseball is a game, and a game is to play. After all, isn’t it true that since the days of Abner Doubleday all the way through Casey Stengel, to Bob Brenly and Jerry Colangelo, each contest of baseball begins with the ritual shout of the umpire to “Play Ball!”?

No umpire uses the adjective trudge or grind. Grimness was not the Winkles’ way. Win or lose, baseball at ASU under Winkles was fun.

To play at ASU under Winkles was also a grand and unforgettable experience. Those like myself, who were there in the early ‘60s, sensed we were part of something greater than merely being the first Sun Devils who consistently knocked off the Wildcats, or the first team to put the wood to the illustrious giants of the Big 10. We sensed that we, the players, along with this young coach of 28, fresh from the Chicago White Sox, with his beloved wife Ellie, were making history. We were establishing a tradition—a standard of excellence. The Winkles standard was one which other players and coaches would try to meet, and surpass. One of the things we dreaded was the rigorous running that was required at the end of every practice. I had come to ASU fresh from the Marines, so the idea of “the only easy day was yesterday,” I accepted— more or less.

Our history making, however, had a humble start.

Saturday morning was the day we, the players, and our coach, took up rakes and shovels, and with the help of an old bulldozer called a tug, created a ball diamond. The

The Winkles standard was one which other players and coaches would try to meet, and surpass. field we built was located next to Goodwin Stadium, the ASU football stadium of the Dan Devine era, which had finally become the jock dorm, infamous Haigler Hall. We laid out a ball field, sowed grass, made an infield of clay from the Salt River, built a pitching mound, a batter’s box, even erected bleachers. We built the new field and it was a good one. Watching over our efforts was a stone plaque

riveted high up on the old football stadium wall. The inscription read: “The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eaton.” It was a quote from the British hero, Lord Wellington. The spirit of the quote fit well with both the young coach, and the legendary athletic director, Clyde Smith. For Winkles and Smith both believed the goal was to become a good man first, rather than just a good first baseman. Both men approached sports as a calling to a high purpose. This attitude rubbed off onto us.

National titles, winning records, glory to team, glory to individual players, to school and to the coach, followed with abundance. This was the most admired college program in the country. What stood as the guiding principal behind the great accomplishments was told to me by coach Winkles one time, when I asked him what was his fundamental approach to competition and good coaching. He answered, “I try to bring out the natural healthy pride in each young man. And if a player has pride in himself, the winning takes care of itself.” That says much.

A teacher is usually assessed by the effect he’s had on his students—a coach by his players—what they become, how they serve the community, and what they in turn pass on to others. Winkles’ players have not just gone on to distinguish themselves in baseball—as players, coaches, instructors, big league scouts, general managers, broadcasters, but they have generally distinguished themselves in all other areas of American society— especially as teachers.

Although Coach Winkles left the Valley to a life in the big leagues, first with the Angels, then the White Sox, the Oakland A’s and, finally, the Montreal Expos, his influence in our town has been ever present. If you could go back in time to a game, to a warm spring afternoon at the old field, you’d see mostly students (some watching only until the cafeteria opened at the student union at 5 o’clock),

plenty of professors, many major league scouts (with stop watches and notebooks) savoring the abundance of baseball talent before them, and the many people who lived in Tempe, who wanted to see great young athletes perform with spirit. But, if there were a 1,000 or so (and there usually were), more than half were there not just as Sun Devil fans. They were Bobby Winkles’ fans! They liked this young coach as a man, and what he stood for.

Coach Bobby Winkles has been a force for good in our community, and in the lives of people, wherever he has been present. Welcome back home, Coach Winkles. ◆ John Miller was a starting pitcher for ASU 1960 through 1962, after which he became a scout for the Houston Astros.

BASEBALL FIELD AT PACKARD STADIUM TO BEAR BOBBY WINKLES NAME Bobby Winkles Field unveiled March 3 in special weekend honoring ASU baseball's first coach.

A baseball field is the cornerstone and foundation on which a program is developed and maintained, and where tradition starts.

Arizona State University's first varsity head baseball coach, Bobby Winkles (1959-1971), founded and helped build the tradition and legacy that ASU plays under today. To honor Winkles storied career and his exhaustive effort to put Arizona State baseball on the map, Packard Stadium's baseball field was renamed Bobby Winkles Field at a March 3 ceremony when the current Sun Devils took on defending national champion LSU. A ceremony honoring Winkles was held prior to the game and featured several of his former players, coaches and friends.

Winkles will join the likes of former coaches Ned Wulk (basketball) and Frank Kush (football), both of whom had the venues on which they coached named after them.

"This is a great honor for both me and my family, and it is going to be just a wonderful and memorable weekend," Winkles said from his home in La Quinta, Calif. prior to the ceremony. "I really have to share this will all of my former players, though, because they were the ones that made this honor possible. They did a lot of

running and really played hard for me everyday. To see those players again on this special weekend is one of the best things that has ever happened to me, and it truly will be memorable. I also have to give thanks to the head coaches who followed me, Jim Brock and Pat Murphy, for carrying on that tradition at ASU and keeping me part of the program."

Winkles was ASU's first varsity baseball coach and maintained an impressive 524173 record during his 13 years of coaching for the Sun Devils. A three-time NCAA Coach of the Year, Winkles took the ASU program from scratch and built it into one of the premier powerhouses in all of college baseball. Only six years into the program's history, Winkles led his 1964 Sun Devil squad into Omaha and ended up placing sixth. Only one year later the Sun Devils reached the pinnacle of college baseball, finishing with a 41-11 record and the school's first national championship.

Winkles led ASU back to the College World Series and reigned as NCAA champions in 1967 and 1969. In all Winkles won three national championships over the span of five years.

"This is a wonderful event that I am proud that I can be apart of and to see such a great man get honored is

outstanding," said Guthrie Packard, whose father William Packard is the namesake of ASU's baseball stadium.

"The criteria for the naming of fields and stadiums at ASU, such as Ned Wulk Court and Frank Kush Field, is a direct relation to those great men building the foundation of their respective programs. Bobby Winkles poured the foundation and built the tradition that Arizona State baseball plays on today."

Producing such top talents as Rick Monday, Sal Bando, Sterling Slaughter, Reggie Jackson, Larry Gura and Gary Gentry during his coaching career, the ceremony to honor Winkles and his legacy at Arizona State was a special occasion.

"Our baseball field at Packard Stadium is the foundation of our program and on it carries the lasting legacy of great teams, great player and great coaches," said current ASU head baseball coach Murphy.

"Bobby Winkles built the foundation of this Sun Devil baseball program and started the great tradition that we play under ever day. It is an honor and a very deserving award for us to name the field after the father of ASU baseball. Bobby Winkles is a great man, a great supporter of our current team and a great friend."

ALL-STAR BASEBALL 2002 Diamondbacks Manager Bob Brenly will provide color commentary for Acclaim Sports' All-Star Baseball 2002 video game, which will be available this spring for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.

He thus becomes the first active manager to provide color commentary for a baseball video game console title. Joining Brenly in the All-Star Baseball 2002 announcer booth will be his former FOX Sports and Diamondbacks play-by-play partner, Thom Brennaman.

"We are pleased to be the first baseball title to offer color commentary by a current major league manager," said Michael Jerchower, director of licensing for Acclaim Sports. “Bob’s broadcast style and managerial insight will greatly enhance the presentation and authenticity of our product.”

Brenly said, “I am thrilled to join the Acclaim Sports team and help make All-Star Baseball 2002 the premier PlayStation2 baseball title for this spring."

All-Star Baseball 2002 is officially licensed by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. The game is endorsed by Derek Jeter, the four-time world champion and only player in baseball history to be named Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game and World Series in the same year.

All-Star Baseball 2002 will feature a realistic physicsbased engine and stunning graphics. Acclaim Sports will once again provide gamers with its winning combination of heavy simulation style baseball and fun and intuitive gameplay, via the 128-bit power of the PlayStation2.

For more information about All-Star Baseball 2002, please visit Acclaim Sports’ Web site at www.acclaim.com.