The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – Arizona Diamondbacks – INSIDE PITCH
The Diamondbacks were stunned by the severity of the suspensions handed down Friday as a result of their brawl with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.
Right-hander Ian Kennedy (10 games) and infielder Eric Hinske (five) were given the most severe discipline, Kennedy for “intentionally throwing” at the head area of Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke. Both D-backs remain active while they appeal.
“Ten games, I think they are trying to set an example,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy, who started the D-backs’ 4-1 loss to San Diego on Sunday, has ample evidence to support a lighter sentence. Cleveland right-hander Carlos Carrasco received an eight-game suspension in April that was recently reduced to seven for a second violation of intentionally throwing at a hitter. Philadelphia left-hander Cole Hamels was given a five-game suspension after he admitted to intentionally hitting Washington rookie Bryce Harper in 2012.
“We’ve done our homework,” Kennedy’s agent, Scott Boras, told FOXSportsArizona.com.
The severity still puzzles Kennedy, who hit Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puig in the nose in the last of the sixth inning Tuesday and was ejected after hitting Greinke in the front shoulder in the seventh, after both benches had been warned. Greinke hit the D-backs’ Miguel Montero in the middle of the back in top of the seventh.
“I don’t know if there was emotion behind it. I’ve never been known to do it before. I’ve never been suspended before. It just doesn’t line up to what is in the past, what has been present before,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy’s suspension is the longest in the majors since Kansas City’s Runelvys Hernandez served 10 games after hitting three Tigers batters, including one in the head, starting a brawl on July 17, 2005.
“Everybody knows that in order to have success in the big leagues, or anywhere, you have to pitch in-out. I throw inside. You are not going to go in there and try to hit anybody. Sometimes it happens. We’re not perfect as pitchers,” Kennedy said.
“There are a lot of things being attacked about my character, saying I’m a head-hunter. I really don’t appreciate that. Those are people’s opinions. People in my clubhouse, my family, my friends, have shown a lot of support for me. That’s what matters.”
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MLB Team Report – Arizona Diamondbacks – NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 37-32
STREAK: Lost three
PAST 10 GAMES: 3-7
NEXT: Marlins (Jacob Turner, 1-0, 1.80) at Diamondbacks (Patrick Corbin, 9-0, 2.28)
PLAYER NOTES:
–INF Paul Goldschmidt has been battling a slump, but manager Kirk Gibson isn’t worried. Goldschmidt is in a 4-for-39 funk, going 0-for-10 in the series against the Padres. “You look at the huge impact hits that he’s had for us and we won a lot of those games,” Gibson said. “The thing about ‘Goldie’ is he has a great approach. He’s had good at-bats. He’s not superman. But he’s one guy who has a really good approach.”
–RHP Patrick Corbin received a no-decision in his past two outings, the latest coming June 12 against the Dodgers. A win by Corbin would set a club record for wins to start the season. Corbin won his major league debut against the Marlins on April 30, when he allowed three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and three walks in 5 2/3 innings.
–2B Aaron Hill went 1-for-4 with an RBI in his first rehab start with Triple-A Reno on Saturday night. Hill, who is on the disabled list after suffering a broken left hand in April, will play again Sunday. After an off-day Monday, he will resume play Tuesday and Wednesday. There is no timetable for his return to the Diamondbacks.
–3B Eric Chavez is a couple of weeks away at best, manager Kirk Gibson said Sunday. Chavez has been on the disabled list since May 31 with a strained right oblique. “He’ll take some balls off the tee (Monday),” Gibson said.
–RHP Brandon McCarthy will resume light throwing activities on Monday. McCarthy has been on the disabled list since June 1 with shoulder inflammation in his right shoulder. Manager Kirk Gibson said McCarthy’s shoulder “feels good.”
–RHP Ian Kennedy had a strong outing Sunday, but didn’t figure in the decision. Kennedy, who drove in the team’s only run in the 4-1 loss to San Diego, allowed a run on four hits with six strikeouts and a walk in six innings.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We got outplayed in every aspect of the game. We scored six runs in three games. That’s pretty sad. We have to redeem ourselves. They put a lot of pressure on us and we couldn’t overcome it.” — Manager Kirk Gibson, after losing to the Padres 4-1 Sunday.
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MLB Team Report – Arizona Diamondbacks – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–2B Aaron Hill (fractured left hand) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 15. Hill went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in his first rehab game for Class AAA Reno on June 15 and is to remain with the Aces at least through June 19.
–RHP Daniel Hudson (Tommy John surgery in July 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 20. He began a rehab assignment June 4 with Double-A Mobile, but he left after two innings due to elbow stiffness. He re-tore the UCL in his right elbow June 10 and will need a second Tommy John procedure before he can return, setting him back at least another 12 months.
–CF Adam Eaton (torn left elbow ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. An MRI revealed a slight tear in his ulnar collateral ligament. He began a rehab assignment as the designated hitter for Triple-A Reno on May 3, then moved to Class A Visalia on May 11. He returned to Reno on May 20. He played in the outfield for the first time at Visalia on May 17 but felt pain in his elbow that was ruled to be just an irritation with no structural damage, according to the team. An MRI exam showed fluid on his elbow, and Eaton received a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews that surgery was not necessary. He appeared in 16 minor league games before being shut down. A second opinion by specialist Dr. James Andrews confirmed the D-backs’ diagnosis that he will not require surgery. Eaton has been hitting in intrasquad games and has been throwing lightly from 75 feet. He began a new throwing program June 10.
–LHP Matt Reynolds (left elbow strain) went on the 15-day disabled list June 10. An MRI exam revealed a slight tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, and Reynolds was shut down until late July. A second opinion from specialist Dr. James Andrews confirmed the D-backs’ diagnosis that no surgery is required, but he is expected to miss two-to-three months.
–RHP Brandon McCarthy (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 31. An MRI exam on June 3 revealed a recurrence of McCarthy’s perennial stress fracture of his right scapula. McCarthy is expected to play catch on flat ground the week of June 17 and remains on track to return in early July. Unrelated to his elbow, McCarthy suffered a seizure on June 3 related to being hit in the head on a line drive last September. He was taken to a local hospital and put on anti-seizure medication before being cleared to resume his rehabilitation.
–3B Eric Chavez (strained right oblique) went on the 15-day disabled list May 31 after injuring his rib cage muscle fouling off a pitch. He has begun rehab work and could be back by the All-Star break.
–RHP J.J. Putz (right elbow strain) went on the 15-day disabled list May 8. He was diagnosed with a strained ulnar collateral ligament, but he is not expected to need surgery. He threw bullpen sessions June 8 and June 11, and is expected to throw again June 17 or June 18 before possibly beginning a rehab assignment at the end of the week.
ROTATION:
RHP Ian Kennedy
RHP Trevor Cahill
LHP Wade Miley
LHP Patrick Corbin
BULLPEN:
RHP Heath Bell (closer)
RHP David Hernandez
RHP Brad Ziegler
LHP Tony Sipp
RHP Josh Collmenter
RHP Will Harris
LHP Joe Paterson
RHP Charles Brewer
CATCHERS:
Miguel Montero
Wil Nieves
INFIELDERS:
1B Paul Goldschmidt
2B Martin Prado
SS Didi Gregorius
3B Willie Bloomquist
INF Cliff Pennington
UT Josh Wilson
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Jason Kubel
CF Gerardo Parra
RF Cody Ross
OF A.J. Pollock
OF Eric Hinske
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