The Bottom Line

How would you rate the Dbacks at the quarter pole/More than satisfactory
Satisfactory
Less than satisfactory

DAILY SIX PACK

SATURDAY, MAY 18

DBACKS ROUNDUP

*CHAVEZ KEY ADDITION: Kevin Towers scored one of the best signings of last off-season with the addition of Chavez, who, on Friday, had his first four-hit game since 2006. Chavez, now playing every day against right handed pitchers, enters today hitting .337 with five homers, and his 18 runs batted in are second to only Paul Goldschmidt.

*EATON TO OUTFIELD: Adam Eaton has expanded his minor league work to playing in the outfield as his continues to rehab his spring training elbow injury. Kirk Gibson said Eaton will play around two weeks in the outfield before being activated.

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NBA COMBINE ROUNDUP

*ZELLER SHINES: Indiana's Cody Zeller showed almost shocking athleticism while delivering one of the best workouts in the history of the event. According to most, it was the best by any big man since Dwight Howard.

*BURKE DISAPPOINTING: Trey Burke disappointed many NBA executives when displaying one of the worst workouts of all the point guards. Burke remains highly thought of when the ball in his hands, but his defense, shaky at best at Michigan, is even more in question after Friday.

*JARRETT STRUGGLES: Grant Jarrett, who surprisingly left the UA after one season, tested poorly. He is considered a second-round pick but most, but has been mentioned as a late first rounder by some because of his face the basket shooting skills.

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GRAPEVINE

*SUPER BOWL 50: the NFL will announce San Francisco as the Super Bowl 50 site in 2016 on Tuesday. Miami was in the running until stadium renovations were denied by state politicians earlier this month. Houston Is a longshot.

FRIDAY, MAY 17

LOCAL ROUNDUP

*DBACKS 9, MARLINS 2: Paul Goldschmidt belted two home runs and had four hits while Eric Chavez added four hits with one homer and Trevor Cahill allowed one run in eight innings.

*HUDSON IS IMPROVING: Daniel Hudson threw four innings and 53 pitches while topping out at 93 MPH in extended spring training on Friday.

*UA 10, ASU 7: the UA scored nine runs in the first three innings off ASU ace Trevor Williams and held on to win for just the second time in its last eight games. ASU, which committed four errors dropped to 1-2 this season against the UA.

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NATIONAL ROUNDUP

*JACKSON PICKS MJ OVER BRYANT: this would be a story only if the Zen Master had sided with Kobe, the worst teammate in the history of professional sports, over Jordan, whose leadership skills are often overlooked.

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GRAPEVINE

*GRONKOWSKI FACING MORE SURGERY: Rob Gronkowski could be headed for a fourth surgery on his ailing arm, and, today comes word that his back, which cost him a season at the UA, is acting up once again and might require surgery,

*WOODSON RECEIVING TONS OF INTEREST: Charles Woodson, after weeks of being ignoted in the free agent market, has been linked with at least four teams this week (Broncos, Giants, Panthers and Raiders).

THURSDAY, MAY 16

LOCAL ROUNDUP

*DBACKS IDLE: the Dbacks are off today before beginning a six-game road trip to Miami and Denver (not exactly a geographical thought of trip).

*GORDON OFF TO IU: the ASU basketball program has lost another player to transfer with Evan Gordon announcing he has left for Indiana University.

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NATIONAL ROUNDUP

*RIVERS WILL RETURN: Celtics coach Doc Rivers eliminated some talk that he might leave coaching by announcing his intention to return for the 2013-14 season.

*CRIBBS FINDS A HOME: Josh Cribbs flunked a physical with the Cardinals earlier this off-season, but Cribbs passed with the Raiders, who signed today.

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GRAPEVINE

*SLOAN SAYS NO TO BUCKS: Jerry Sloan wants to coach again, but he has told Milwaukee he is no longer interested in its opening.

*STRASBURG'S ACTIONS IN QUESTION: Stephen Strasburg is under fire for displaying obvious disgust after unquestioned team leader, Ryan Zimmerman, had an error during Strasburg's last start.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15

LOCAL ROUNDUP

*ARIZONA 5, ATLANTA 3: Eric Chavez continues to be great addition, delivering the key hit to give a wild Ian Kennedy his first win since opening day. The Dbacks finished the home stand 4-3 and beat Tim Hudson, who entered the game 7-0 in nine career starts against Arizona.

*BLOOMQUIST CLOSER: Willie Bloomquist, who has yet to be active this season, is scheduled to play at extended spring training game on Thursday, and if all goes well, could soon begin a minor league rehab assignment, likely at Dbacks AAA affiliate Reno.

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NATIONAL ROUNDUP

*PRICE LEAVES GAME: Rays starting pitcher David Price left Wednesday's game against the Red Sox with triceps tightness in his left arm. This could explain is 1-4 record and 5.24 ERA to begin the season.

*DESPERATE DODGERS SIGN SANCHEZ: the Dodgers placed Josh Beckett on the disabled list on Wednesday and, as expected, signed Jonathan Sanchez to a minor league contract.

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GRAPEVINE

*FOLES RECEIVING SNAPS: UA alum Nick Foles and Michael Vick are splitting first team reps during the Eagles off-season workouts.

*BRONCOS MAKE BALL THE MAN: rookie running back Montee Ball, without question, will be the primary ball carrier in his rookie season.

TUESDAY, MAY 14

LOCAL ROUNDUP

*DBACKS 2, BRAVES 0: Patrick Corbin overcame control issues to move to 6-0 and Didi Gregorius drove in both runs with his first hit this season with runners in scoring position. Justin Upton was 0-2 with a pair of walks.

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NATIONAL ROUNDUP

*KING FELIX AILING: Mariners ace Felix Hernandez was forced to leave tonight's game against the Yankees with back problems.

*CHARGERS LOSE INGRAM: LB Melvin Ingram tore the ACL in his left knee on the second day of mini-camp, which will prevent him from playing during the 2013 season.

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GRAPEVINE.

*DODGERS EXPECTED TO ADD SANCHEZ: the Dodgers, with Josh Beckett likely to go on the disabled list, will sign Jonathan Sanchez, released last week by the Pirates.

*WOODSON IN DENVER: the Broncos met with free agent defensive back Charles Woodson on Tuesday.

*CRIBBS STILL AILING: Josh Cribbs, who appeared set to be a Cardinal until failing a physical in March, has failed at least two more physicals since with the Jets and Raiders red flagging his ailing knee.

MONDAY, MAY 13

LOCAL ROUNDUP

*UPTON HOMERS, GETS FOUR HITS IN CHASE RETURN: Justin Upton had four hits, including a homer to center field, and the Braves knocked Wade Miley out in the sixth inning of their 10-1 win. The Dbacks have lost three straight after beginning the home stand with two wins.

*HILL NOT CLEARED: Dbacks 2B Aaron Hill did not receive a favorable result after a CT scan came back on his broken wrist. Kirk Gibson delivered the news during his Monday pre-game media briefing..

*CARDINALS CUT HOYER: Brian Hoyer, who was making $2 million as a third string QB was released on Monday. Hoyer was re-signed before the team acquired Carson Palmer from the Raiders. The Cardinals did add ex-Purdue QB Caleb Terbush after a tryout during last week's rookie mini-camp.

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NATIONAL ROUNDUP

*ROCKIES' CUDDYER PLACED ON DL: the Dbacks next road trip, which includes a three-game series at Colorado, will, most iikely, not include Michael Cuddyer, placed on the DL this weekend. Cuddyer has been the Rockies best player this season.

*CHICAGO TO BUILD DEPAUL AN ARENA: after years of playing in a dump nowhere near its campus, DePaul's basketball program will move into a 12,000 seat in Chicago in the near future.

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GRAPEVINE

*CLIPPERS RUMORED TO BE INTERESTED IN MCMILLAN: the Clippers, who have yet to fire Vinny Del Negro, are said to be showing interest in Nate McMillan.

SUNDAY, MAY 12

LOCAL ROUNDUP

*DBACKS BEATEN IN 10: new closer Heath Bell blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning and Matt Reynolds allowed his first runs of the season in the 10th as the Dbacks finished their four-game series against the Phillies with a disappointing split. The Dbacks were previously 6-0 in extra-inning games.

*COLANGELO STAYING WITH RAPTORS: the Raptors will pick up the option of the contract of GM Bryan Colangelo, surprising many of experts who assumed he was gone.

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NATIONAL ROUNDUP

*CARDS PLACE WESTBROOK ON DL: Jake Westbrook (1.62) was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation. John Gast, yet another arm in the best organization in baseball, will start for Westbrook on Tuesday.

*BUFFS QB ARRESTED: Jordan Webb, questionable to begin the 2013 season because of injury, was arrested on assault charges on Sunday morning, along with a former CU offensive lineman.

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GRAPEVINE

*THE PRICE IS WRONG: talk that the Rangers are interested in David Price is likely inaccurate since the Rangers are getting pitchers off the disabled list in the coming weeks and because Price is struggling to the point where some are wondering if health issues are why his velocity is down.

*LATTIMORE MAY SIT: Marcus Lattimore is willing to sit out the 2013 season if, and probably, when the Niners suggest his continue to rehab his knee.

THE BOTTOM LINE

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

KEYNOTES

*DBACKS 1, MARLINS 0: Brandon McCarthy, allowed to start the ninth inning this time by Kirk Gibson, hurled a complete game shutout and Gerardo Parra's home run on the first pitch of the game held up.

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*ASU 6, UA 3: the Sun Devils scored three times in the bottom of the eight to break a 3-3 deadlock to tie the weekend at 1-1 and the season series at 2-2 heading into Sunday's finale that will determine the annual Territorial Cup between the arch rivals.

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*PACERS 106, KNICKS 99: Lance Stephenson, who won four high school championships at Madison Square Garden, scored 25 points to lead the elimination of the Knicks. Carmello Anthony finished with 39 points, but scored just four points on two of seven shooting in the fourth quarter, which began tied at 81.

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*THE YANKEES KEEP LOSING PLAYERS TO THE DISABLED LIST AND THE YANKEES KEEP WINNING: Andy Pettitte is the 12th different player on the 40-man roster to land on the disabled list, yet Joe Girardi has directed the leftovers to the third best record in baseball entering today.

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*THE BLUE JAYS SEEM TO BE BLAMING INJURIES FOR THEIR AWFUL START: that excuse doesn't fly with the Yankees in first place with all their injuries. The bottom line is the Jays were playing bad baseball before the Jose Reyes and Josh Johnson hit the disabled list, and the Jays are still playing bad baseball, including Jose Bautista picked off second base to end an inning when the count was two balls, no strikes to the hitter.

FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

KEYNOTES

*GOOD FOR VINCE YOUNG, SERIOUSLY: Young said he would return to the University of Texas and get his degree, and, on Friday, he received his degree in Youth and Community Studies.

*THE SEAHAWKS NEAR-PERFECT OFF-SEASON TAKES A HIT: pass rusher Bruce Irvin will miss the first four games of the season after violating the NFL's PED policy.

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*THE BIG 12, APPARENLTY, CAN'T HANDLE NOT BEING NUMBER ONE: first Bob Stoops, foolishly, rips the SEC, and now Oklahoma State will not allow its former starting quarterback Wes Lunt transfer to an SEC school.

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

KEYNOTES

*SPURS 94, WARRIORS 82: the Spurs hit four three-point field goals down the stretch as Tim Duncan watched from the bench as Greg Popovich went to a four guard offense with Tiago Splitter the one big man on the floor.

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*KNICKS 85, PACERS 75: the Knicks stayed alive with Carmelo Anthony scoring a game-high 28 points ... the Pacers were without George Hill, who suffered a concussion early in Game Four, when he scored 26 points and finished the game ... by the way, the Knicks were so uptight before the game that the organization canceled Mike Woodson's weekly radio appearance on WFAN.

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*JEFF VAN GUNDY IS APPROACHING DOUG COLLINS STATUS: Collins will never be topped as the best television basketball analyst ever, but Van Gundy has reached the point where everyone should hope he never gets back into coaching.

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*NOBODY IN BASEBALL IS IN A BETTER SPOT THAN TORI HUNTER: hitting second with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder third and fourth, respectively, is a hitter's dream.

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*BRIAN HOYER WAS NOT UNEMPLOYED FOR LONG: Hoyer, released by the Cardinals earlier this week, agreed to terms to a two-year deal on Thursday with the Browns.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

KEYNOTES

*HEAT 94, BULLS 91: just when you thought Dwyane Wade was a non-factor, he discovered a healthy knee flashback and made plays at both ends in the series ending victory over a depleted Bulls team that could not have played much better in Game Five.

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*GRIZZLIES 88, THUNDER 84: the Grizzlies are heading to a conference final for the first time in franchise history, winning the final four games to eliminate a Thunder team without the injured Russell Westbrook, which left it easier for the Grizzlies to guard, and wear down, Kevin Durant.

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*RIVERA SHOULD START HIS FINAL ALL-STAR GAME: there is a campaign to have Mariano Rivera start for the American League in the All-Star Game, which will be in New York, but in Queens, not the Bronx.

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*THE NUMBER OF EARLY ENROLLEES IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS RISING: college football programs affiliated with conferences that receive automatic BCS bids (and Notre Dame) have 162 players that left high school early and enrolled in college in time for spring football. Forty-three of those players enrolled in SEC schools, led by Georgia with 10.

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

KEYNOTES

*THE SPURS JUMPED OUT EARLY AND NEVER LOOKED BACK: San Antonio scored 37 points in the first quarter and ran away from the Warriors with five players scoring in double figures.

*KNICKS COACH MIKE WOODSON, FOR WHATEVER REASON, REFUSES TO MAKE OBVIOUS CHANGES: his reluctance to use three point shooters Chris Copeland and Stephen Novak, until Game Four was well in hand, was so obvious that even normally clueless play-by-play screamer Kevin Harlan wondered why they weren't in the game.

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*EVAN LONGORIA MIGHT BE THE BEST PLAYER IN BASEBALL: he plays on a team that few pay attention to, and, in a lineup with little protection, he is producing at the plate, plus he is spectacular with the glove.

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*MIGHT THE YANKEES RELEASE ICHIRO?: Curtis Granderson is expected to be activated off the disabled list today, and become the every day right fielder since Brett Gardner and Vernon Wells are entrenched in center and left. That means no spot for Ichiro, who has struggled at the plate and looked old defensively.

MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

KEYNOTES

*JUSTIN UPTON ADDRESSED THE LOCAL MEDIA THIS AFTERNOON PRIOR TO HIS FIRST GAME AGAINST HIS FORMER ORGANIZATION: Upton, as expected, answered all the questions with a politically correct slant, but his demeanor was much more relaxed than what he displayed here much of last season. Several members of the Braves traveling party indicated that Upton views himself as one of several key players, not the key player, which he perceived his role to be with the Dbacks.

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*THE BULLS TANK WAS ON EMPTY: all the injuries, and all the extra minutes for fringe players, have caught up as the Bulls led 2-0 before allowing the next 11 points and never seriously threatening the Heat in Game Four at Chicago.

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*GRIZZLIES REMAIN UNBEATEN AT HOME IN THE PLAYOFFS: the Grizzlies rallied from a 17-point deficit to win in overtime, making all the defensive plays down the stretch, and in overtime.:

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*YANKEES STARTING TO GET HEALTHY: Curtis Granderson is considered day-to-day to make his season debut for the first-place Yankees. Granderson has been been playing right field during his minor league rehab assignment, which would seem to be bad news for Ichiro Suzuki.

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*FROM THE WHAT IF CATEGORY?: from Scott Miller of CBS Sports.com, "if the A's miss the playoffs by one game, all hell is going to break loose. And, righffully so." Miller, needless to say, is making reference to Angel Hernandez and his inexplicable video review last week at Cleveland.