Notes: Snyder seeing results of work
03/04/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Chris Snyder knew what needed to be done.
After struggling to a .202 batting average in 2005, the Diamondbacks catcher wasted little time getting to work. He reported to Chase Field at the end of October and worked on shortening his swing.
"My swing was very long last year and I was very pull-happy," he said. "I thought I couldn't get around on 90-plus-[mph] fastballs so I was jumping out, trying to pull everything, and that just created bad habits and bad form, and that just put me in a bad spiral. All offseason, that's all I worked on was trying to square balls up and hit balls on a line the other way."
The results this spring have been noticeable, with Snyder drilling balls to all fields this spring.
With the offseason acquisition of catcher Johnny Estrada, Snyder figures to get most of his time behind the plate against lefties, against whom he had success last year.
"He was committed in the offseason to come back with this swing," hitting coach Mike Aldrete said. "And to his credit, he put the time in and he looks great right now."
Ouch: Shortstop Stephen Drew was scratched from the D-Backs' game against the Mexican national team Saturday night after he injured his left shoulder Friday while diving into third base trying unsuccessfully to stretch a double into a triple.
"I went hard in and it kind of felt like an in-and-out thing," Drew said. "It's a contusion, they said, a bruise in there. I'm just going to take it day-by-day and hopefully be ready to rock, so who knows?"
Drew was examined by team physician Michael Lee, who said there is no reason to be overly concerned.
El Duque: Orlando Hernandez started Saturday and looked impressive against his former White Sox teammates.
"It was no big deal," Hernandez said of facing his former mates. "Chicago is in the past. I'm feeling good, I'm very happy."
Hernandez allowed just one hit -- an opposite-field single by Paul Konerko -- in his two innings of work. Last year, he was 9-9 with a 5.12 ERA in 24 games (22 starts) for the White Sox.
"For the first game out there, throwing 26 pitches in two innings to me was outstanding," manager Bob Melvin said. "He's the type of guy that usually takes a little time to get into form. The closer to the season you get, the better he usually gets, but he threw the ball really well today and was aggressive."
Back: Infielder Damion Easley was back in the lineup Saturday, two days after suffering a mild concussion in a collision at first base. Easley was scratched from Friday's game.
Caution: Melvin said that outfielder Carlos Quentin had a bit of a sore elbow Thursday, so Melvin decided not to play him. He was back in action Friday.
"He could have played," Melvin said, adding that the team was just being cautious given the fact that Quentin had Tommy John surgery after he was drafted in 2003.
Sunday: The Diamondbacks take on the White Sox for the fourth straight day Sunday at 1:05 p.m. MT with Dustin Nippert getting the starting nod for Arizona against Jose Contreras.
Randy Choate, Brian Bruney, Doug Slaten and Casey Daigle are also expected to pitch for the Diamondbacks.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Chris Snyder knew what needed to be done.
After struggling to a .202 batting average in 2005, the Diamondbacks catcher wasted little time getting to work. He reported to Chase Field at the end of October and worked on shortening his swing.
"My swing was very long last year and I was very pull-happy," he said. "I thought I couldn't get around on 90-plus-[mph] fastballs so I was jumping out, trying to pull everything, and that just created bad habits and bad form, and that just put me in a bad spiral. All offseason, that's all I worked on was trying to square balls up and hit balls on a line the other way."
The results this spring have been noticeable, with Snyder drilling balls to all fields this spring.
With the offseason acquisition of catcher Johnny Estrada, Snyder figures to get most of his time behind the plate against lefties, against whom he had success last year.
"He was committed in the offseason to come back with this swing," hitting coach Mike Aldrete said. "And to his credit, he put the time in and he looks great right now."
Ouch: Shortstop Stephen Drew was scratched from the D-Backs' game against the Mexican national team Saturday night after he injured his left shoulder Friday while diving into third base trying unsuccessfully to stretch a double into a triple.
"I went hard in and it kind of felt like an in-and-out thing," Drew said. "It's a contusion, they said, a bruise in there. I'm just going to take it day-by-day and hopefully be ready to rock, so who knows?"
Drew was examined by team physician Michael Lee, who said there is no reason to be overly concerned.
El Duque: Orlando Hernandez started Saturday and looked impressive against his former White Sox teammates.
"It was no big deal," Hernandez said of facing his former mates. "Chicago is in the past. I'm feeling good, I'm very happy."
Hernandez allowed just one hit -- an opposite-field single by Paul Konerko -- in his two innings of work. Last year, he was 9-9 with a 5.12 ERA in 24 games (22 starts) for the White Sox.
"For the first game out there, throwing 26 pitches in two innings to me was outstanding," manager Bob Melvin said. "He's the type of guy that usually takes a little time to get into form. The closer to the season you get, the better he usually gets, but he threw the ball really well today and was aggressive."
Back: Infielder Damion Easley was back in the lineup Saturday, two days after suffering a mild concussion in a collision at first base. Easley was scratched from Friday's game.
Caution: Melvin said that outfielder Carlos Quentin had a bit of a sore elbow Thursday, so Melvin decided not to play him. He was back in action Friday.
"He could have played," Melvin said, adding that the team was just being cautious given the fact that Quentin had Tommy John surgery after he was drafted in 2003.
Sunday: The Diamondbacks take on the White Sox for the fourth straight day Sunday at 1:05 p.m. MT with Dustin Nippert getting the starting nod for Arizona against Jose Contreras.
Randy Choate, Brian Bruney, Doug Slaten and Casey Daigle are also expected to pitch for the Diamondbacks.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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