Arizona Diamondbacks Notes, Quotes 2009-03-21

--RHP Brandon Webb, as expected, will start opening day, manager Bob Melvin confirmed. It will be Webb's fourth consecutive opening-day start. RHP Dan Haren will be No. 2 in the rotation, and he'll be followed by LHP Doug Davis, RHP Jon Garland and RHP Max Scherzer.

--2B Felipe Lopez (Puerto Rico) and INF Augie Ojeda (Mexico) recently returned to the Diamondbacks after playing in World Baseball Classic, and Ojeda singled in a run in his first game back March 18. Ojeda was 4-for-12 with a double and four RBIs in the Classic, but he played only three games. Upon his return, he reported that he did not feel as comfortable as usual at this point of spring training. Lopez was 4-for-18 with a homer and three RBIs in five WBC games.

--Ryan Roberts, a non-roster invitee to spring training, benefited from the early absences of Lopez and Ojeda to make a case for a roster spot as reserve infielder/outfielder. Roberts was batting .310 with a team-high five doubles and seven RBIs in a team-high 42 at-bats through March 20. He homered, doubled and drove in three runs on March 17. Roberts, 28, was signed as a minor league free agent during the winter but is fighting a numbers game on a team may carry only one extra middle infielder, Ojeda.

--RHP Max Scherzer's line in his first spring training game against Oakland on March 17 was not impressive, but the D-backs were not displeased with his start. Scherzer lasted only two-thirds of an inning before reaching his 35-pitch limit, but his fastball was clocked in the mid-90 mph range. While the A's touched him for five runs, only one was earned because of Scherzer's throwing error on a play at the plate. "He feels great," general manager Josh Byrnes said. Scherzer will miss his first turn through the rotation but should be ready the second week of April, Byrnes said.

--LHP Doug Davis took the first step toward returning from left triceps pain with 2 1/3 scoreless innings against Milwaukee on March 17. He threw 38 pitches and still is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. He is scheduled to make his first start April 8. Davis had not pitched since March 3, when he threw two scoreless innings against San Francisco before telling reporters of a nerve problem that had plagued him for the past five seasons but that he can control with medication.

--RHP Tom Gordon, an offseason free agent signee, is expected to get back on the mound this week following October elbow surgery. Gordon, 41, could join the D-backs in late April, general manager Josh Byrnes said. Gordon, expected to help stabilize the relief corps, has spent time on the disabled list in each of the past three seasons with a strained shoulder (2006), a strained rotator cuff (2007) and elbow inflammation (2008)."I now have an idea of what it is like to pitch without pain or soreness," Gordon said.

--C Miguel Montero returned to camp March 20 after returning to Venezuela following the sudden passing of his father, Angel, from a heart attack last week. Montero served as a DH in his first game back.

BY THE NUMBERS: .388 -- Combined spring training batting average of 1B Tony Clark and 1B/3B Chad Tracy through March 20.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Chad Tracy has looked good at third base this spring. Tony Clark is swinging the bat well. That will give (manager) Bob (Melvin) a lot of options." -- GM Josh Byrnes.

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Author: Fox Sports
Author's Website: http://www.foxsports.com
Added: March 21, 2009