--Diamondbacks 2001 World Series hero Luis Gonzalez was given a nice ovation when he was introduced to the crowd attending the Colorado game Wednesday. Gonzalez, who left the team after the 2006 season, sat between D-backs CEO Derrick Hall and managing partner Ken Kendrick. Gonzalez, who hopes to play somewhere this season, has 596 career doubles, 15th in major league history and five behind Barry Bonds.
--The D-backs drew only 18,227 for a Wednesday afternoon game against Colorado, threatening the franchise home low of 18,030, set against San Diego on May 17, 2006, also a Wednesday. --When 2B Felipe Lopez and 1B Tony Clark each homered from both sides of the plate in the Diamondbacks' opener Monday, they were the first teammates to accomplish that feat since C Jorge Posada and OF Bernie Williams did it for the Yankees on April 23, 2000.
--KPNX-TV sportscaster Bruce Cooper, the father of Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, threw out the ceremonial first pitch on opening day at Chase Field. 1B Tony Clark caught the ball, a strike, and hugged Cooper and his wife at the plate. Marquis Cooper and two others were lost at sea Feb. 28 when their boat capsized during a storm off the Gulf Coast of Florida.
BY THE NUMBERS: 11-23 -- The D-backs' record in exhibition games, the worst in franchise history. They were 12-18-1 last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I look forward to the challenge." -- Arizona shortstop Stephen Drew, who will bat third in the order against right-handers this season and second against lefties after leading off most of 2008.
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