Tag: diamondbacks

Diamondbacks see attendance boost with summer pass deal

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports-Diamondbacks tickets, 640 words
  • Photo available

By JOSE ESPARZA
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — April 26th marked the worst home attendance in Arizona Diamondbacks history. The announced crowd of 12,215 filled only 25.2 percent of Chase Field, surely raising a red flag for the organization.

Enter the Diamondbacks’ “Ballpark Summer Pass,” a deal that proved hotter than Phoenix in July.

After announcing they would sell summer passes for the months of June and July for $50, the Diamondbacks sold their 4,000-ticket allotment in three-and-a-half days.

Continue reading “Diamondbacks see attendance boost with summer pass deal”

Even with Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks confident taking 1st baseman right choice

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports-Diamondbacks draft, 900 words
  • Photo available

By EDDIE POE
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — It’s a curious time for the Arizona Diamondbacks. While Day One of the Major League Baseball Draft marked a new era for the organization, eyebrows were raised.

Paul Goldschmidt has been a cornerstone in the Valley for nearly seven seasons and the face of the Diamondbacks organization during that time. He’s a four-time All-Star, has won two Gold Glove Awards and has finished second in National League MVP voting twice.

Yet with its first overall pick on Monday, Arizona selected left-handed hitting first baseman Pavin Smith from the University of Virginia. Continue reading “Even with Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks confident taking 1st baseman right choice”

Diamondbacks’ Hoover sports own farm system, focuses on cattle, sustainability

by Paola Boivin

 

  • Slug: Sports-Hoover farming, approximately 1,300 words
  • Photos available

By EDDIE POE
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — For Diamondbacks relief pitcher J.J. Hoover, signing with the team in January marked the beginning of a new chapter. Off the field, another experience has given birth and is in the early stages for the hard-throwing right-hander.

Owning a farm.

“I want to try and be as self-sustaining as possible,” he said.

Last spring, near the end of five seasons with Cincinnati, he and his wife, Megan, purchased 65 acres in Ohio.

While J.J. is on the mound helping the Diamondbacks win games, Megan is in the Midwest putting in long, grueling days to get the farm up and running. Continue reading “Diamondbacks’ Hoover sports own farm system, focuses on cattle, sustainability”

Diamondbacks benefiting from Owings’ hot start

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports-OWINGS DIAMONDBACKS, 520 words
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By KYLE WILCOX
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — After a head-first slide into home plate against the San Francisco Giants in 2014, Chris Owings was not the same.

The Arizona Diamondbacks infielder injured his left shoulder on the play and the pain lingered longer than expected. Surgery followed to repair his posterior labrum and recovery came next.

Owings, however, feels as though he never fully got his power back until now, more than 2 ½ years later.

Owings has started the 2017 season off as hot as the Arizona desert, leading the team in batting average (.309) and tied for the lead with Paul Goldschmidt in hits (60) entering Friday’s game in Miami.

Continue reading “Diamondbacks benefiting from Owings’ hot start”

Godley intervention helps Diamondbacks survive loss of Shelby Miller

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports-Diamondbacks Godley, 460 words
  • No photo

By JOSE ESPARZA
Cronkite News

PHOENIX —Just as the dawn of a promising spring for the Arizona Diamondbacks appeared, so, too, did an ominous cloud as the team learned Tommy John surgery would end the season of one of its starters.

“When you lose a player like Shelby Miller with the potential that he has, things can come crashing down on you pretty quick,” manager Torey Lovullo said.

Enter Zack Godley, a right-hand pitcher who gave the Diamondbacks another quality start, this time against the Pittsburgh Pirates, by allowing only three runs and striking out six in six innings Wednesday against Pittsburgh.   Continue reading “Godley intervention helps Diamondbacks survive loss of Shelby Miller”

Focus on catchers helped trigger Diamondbacks’ turnaround

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports-DIAMONDBACKS CATCHERS, 650 words
  • Photo available (thumbnails, captions below)

By EDDIE POE
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — When the Diamondbacks parted ways with catcher Welington Castillo in the offseason, the organization looked to be placing a new emphasis on the catcher’s position.

Coming off a season in which the pitching staff ranked last in team ERA, a different approach was seemingly inevitable following the removal of many front office executives.

That new approach is already paying dividends. Through 48 games played, the Diamondbacks own the fourth-best team ERA at 3.64, behind only the Cardinals, Astros and Dodgers.

Continue reading “Focus on catchers helped trigger Diamondbacks’ turnaround”

Diamondbacks, Suns enter new era with virtual-reality technology

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports-VIRTUAL REALITY, 1,460 words
  • Photos available

By SAMANTHA PELL
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — What is it like to catch a fly ball, run the bases, take batting practice or face a major league pitcher?

The Arizona Diamondbacks are allowing their fans to find out using innovative virtual-reality technology the team has unveiled at Chase Field.

Next door at Talking Stick Resort Arena, the Suns have introduced their season ticket holders to virtual reality with kits that were sent out in January. The team is also using the technology with some of its business partners.

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Experts: Impact of humidor at Chase Field could be significant

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports-HUMIDOR, 730 words
  • Photo available

By KACI DEMAREST
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — Chase Field is often described as a hitter’s paradise and a pitcher’s nightmare, but with the impending installation of a humidor, the Arizona Diamondbacks are looking to change that.

The Diamondbacks will become just the second team in Major League Baseball to use a humidor, a room that regulates the temperature and relative humidity of baseballs. As part of a nine-step ball-handling procedure introduced at the 2015 MLB winter meetings, baseballs must be kept at 70 degrees with 50 percent relative humidity to ensure consistency among all 30 teams.

Continue reading “Experts: Impact of humidor at Chase Field could be significant”