Arizona Diamondbacks Notes, Quotes 2009-03-29

--OF Eric Byrnes had seven hits in his first 16 spring at-bats, with two doubles and only one strikeout, after finally getting back on the field March 20. Byrnes seemed to pass his biggest test in recovering from hamstring issues by attempting two stolen bases -- one successful, one not. He also appeared to have no adverse effects from sprinting after two long balls hit over his head in center field.

--SS Stephen Drew left the March 21 game with an abdominal strain and missed a week, although the team was idle one of those days. Drew received an ultrasound treatment from team physician Michael Lee on March 26 and was cleared to play. He took batting and infield practice March 27 but had not returned to a game. He does not have a spring home run after hitting .291 with 21 homers and 67 RBIs last year.

--2B Felipe Lopez has seen his stolen-base total decline from 44 in 2006 to 24 in 2007 to eight in 2008, but he plans to be more active on the bases this season with help from bench coach Kirk Gibson, who believes in an aggressive style. Lopez, who will hit leadoff, stole his first two bases of the spring March 26 against the White Sox.

--LHP Doug Davis made his third spring start March 24 against San Francisco and went 2 2/3 innings, reporting no pain from a sore left triceps that caused him to miss his two previous turns. Davis had pitched only 8 1/3 innings this spring, but after throwing 56 pitches against the Giants and with more spring starts remaining, he believes he will be ready for his first scheduled regular-season start on April 8.

--RHP Brandon Webb made his last start of the spring March 26 against the White Sox, giving up one earned run on five hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked one. He last scheduled spring start would have been March 31 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he will pitch in a minor league game instead so as to avoid a second start against the division rival.

BY THE NUMBERS: 0 -- Home runs by SS Stephen Drew, LF/1B Conor Jackson, 1B/3B Chad Tracy and OF Justin Upton entering the final week of spring training.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "That was my best outing in like four years in spring training." --- RHP Brandon Webb, who gave up one earned run to the White Sox in six innings March 26. Webb entered the game with an 8.18 Cactus League ERA after posting an 8.50 ERA last spring.

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Author: Fox Sports
Author's Website: http://www.foxsports.com
Added: March 29, 2009