As developmental camp comes to a close, Coyotes prospects weigh in on the benefits.
Courtesy: FOX Sports Arizona
Monthly Archives: July 2016
So you think you know Goldy?
On Paul Goldschmidt Bobble Head Day, we quiz the D-backs to see how much they know about America’s first baseman.
Courtesy: FOX Sports Arizona
Gosselin’s going for the cheesesteak
Diamondbacks infielder Phil Gosselin is looking forward to 5 days in Philadelphia, near his childhood home.
Courtesy: FOX Sports Arizona
College World Series will forever stick with Gosselin, Ziegler
Phil Gosselin and Brad Ziegler reflect on their trips to the College World Series with Virginia and Missouri State, respectively.
Courtesy: FOX Sports Arizona
What’s a Chanticleer, D-backs?
As Arizona squares off against Coastal Carolina in the College World Series, we ask the Diamondbacks players if they know what a Chanticleer (Coastal Carolina’s mascot) is?
Courtesy: FOX Sports Arizona
When were the current D-backs drafted?
From Rickie Weeks to Brad Ziegler, we count down when the current D-backs were drafted.
Courtesy: FOX Sports Arizona
Arizona enters 2016 with revamped defense, competition at QB
Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez knows the talent in the Pac-12 is improving. He also knows his team is going to have to step things up in 2016 if they want to be competitive.
“It’s more talented than probably any time in the Pac-12’s history,” Rodriguez told reporters at Pac-12 Media Day in Los Angeles. “I don’t think there’s anybody, any coach, I may be the first coach speaking that won’t tell you that the Pac-12 is more talented now than it’s ever been in its history, and that’s what makes it more difficult to defend.”
The Wildcats, 7-6 a year ago, enter the 2016 predicted to finish fourth in the South standings in a vote of 33 media members who cover Pac-12 football. Stanford was chosen the favorite to win the 2016 Pac-12 Conference football title.
The biggest question mark for Arizona is its defense. Rodriguez revamped his defensive coaching staff during the off-season after his squad allowed at least 30 points in nine of the final 10 games in 2015. Rodriguez brought in Marcel Yates from Boise State to lead the charge in the defensive overhaul.
“I hired Marcel Yates who scheme-wise was really good, but more than anything I liked his personality, I liked the personality of the defense, and I know what we’re going to do,” Rodriguez said.
While the defense is still trying to figure things out, Rodriguez said he has seen “renewed enthusiasm” as a result of the change.
“As the head coach, I’m responsible for all phases of the team, and so I looked at myself and say, ‘geez, I’ve got to do a better job of making sure we’re getting better defensively,’ ” Rodriguez said. “There’s going to be some growing pains, but the future of our defense is going to be really good.”
Offensively, things are more stable but not without questions. Quarterback Anu Solomon had an up-and-down sophomore season in 2015 after battling some injuries. The coaching staff will take a serious look at sophomore Brandon Dawkins, who had a solid performance last season against Arizona State, completing 16 of 30 attempts for 301 yards and two touchdowns.
“I think we’re in a good situation where we have two guys competing for the starting job,” Rodriguez said. “We treat the quarterback position pretty much like the rest of them. Just compete and play the best guy at the time.”
Solomon threw for 20 touchdowns and five interceptions last season and ran the ball into the endzone three times. A nagging hamstring injury plagued his season, but with Solomon in control, Arizona finished third in the Pac-12 in yards per game last season.
“The next step for Anu is simply to be more consistent,” Rodriguez said. “Certainly health is an issue with that, but there are so many more things that we can do in our offense if the quarterback can handle it mentally, and he can handle a lot mentally, and we’re going to put more on him.”
“Athletically, they’re both pretty similar. They’re pretty close. I hope both of them prove that we can win with them and we’ll play both of them throughout the year.”
Courtesy: FOX Sports Arizona
McClintock grad, former MLS pro, finds new passion in coaching
By Kody Acevedo – Originally appeared in Wrangler News June 18 – July 2, 2016
Andrew Weber is adjusting to the cards he’s been dealt. In that process, he’s developed a negative into a huge positive.
The former Major League Soccer player is in the middle of his prime as a professional goal keeper, but a herniated disk in his back has forced him off the field and unable to play the game he loves.
“It’s hard,” Weber said as he watches the latest COPA America soccer game on TV. “It’s hard to watch because I want to compete.”
Weber, a McClintock High School graduate, is still partially recovering from his injury, but, in the meantime, he’s fostering another passion: coaching.
In fact, he’s weighing whether to give up playing altogether and continue to pass on his knowledge to the younger generation.
“It’s nice to be your own boss,” Weber said. “I’ve always wanted to continue my education in goal keeping, too.”
To say Weber is a student of the game is an understatement. During his entire career, which extends from his youth club team, the ‘Tempe Pros,’ to being a member of the Portland Timbers last season, Weber has continuously studied the sport that has been at the center of his life.
“I love having the pressure on my shoulders. It develops character. Being a goalie is all about momentum.”
“I’ve always really been passionate about coaching, but this is the first year I’ve really
gotten into it,”
Weber said. It’s a passion that was engraved into him during his club soccer days in Arizona thanks, in part, to his former coach, Dr. Jeffrey Wilson.
“He was my biggest influence,” Weber said.
“I only hope I can influence as many kids as he did.”
Dr. Wilson was part of Weber’s life since he was about 10 years old. During that time, not only did he help Weber discover his passion but guided him through a difficult period at home. When he was 13, Weber’s parents divorced.
“He was somebody I could confide in,” Weber said.
That influence has stuck with him throughout his career, beginning at the University of New Mexico,
to stops professionally with D.C. United, the San Jose Earthquakes, the Seattle Sounders FC and the Portland Timbers.
With all that under his belt, Weber still felt motivated enough to return to his roots in Tempe and begin his coaching career.
“This has always been home,” Weber said. “This state gave me an opportunity to play.”
Weber said he returned to help give back to the community that helped launched his career. Besides the support of those closest to him, his experiences here gave him the foundations to success, he said.
In school, he played multiple sports, including football. He didn’t focus solely on goal keeping until he was 16.
From then on, no other position mattered. He even turned down a football scholarship to focus on his soccer career.
Weber said watching other goalies make unbelievable plays inspired him to never lose sight of someday being in their shoes and performing at the professional level.
“I love having that pressure on my shoulders,” Weber said. “It develops character. Being a goalie is all about momentum.”
That’s the attitude he presents to the young players he teaches. Right now, Weber currently works with kids ages 9-18.
“I care for [my students]. I want what’s best for them. There’s joys of playing, but there’s joys of coaching as well,” Weber said.
His business is private and only spreading through word-of-mouth, but he’s in the planning stages of developing a website and expanding outside of Arizona.
For the time being, Weber is enjoying the path laid out in front of him.
“I learn as much as I can. I love what the game has given me and what it continues to give me. I’m ready to start giving back.”
For information on lessons, Weber can be reached by email: Netkingselite@gmail.com
Courtesy: Wrangler News
Grad’s inspiration paves road to West Point future
By Kody Acevedo – Originally appeared in Wrangler News
It’s a crazy world we live in nowadays. With so much unrest in many different parts of the globe, there are a number of ways people can respond to it.
But there probably aren’t many people who look at the issues we face like Liam Stills. Stills, who graduated from Corona del Sol High School on May 19, said the turmoil overseas and in the US inspires him to change to world.
He’s on the right path to do just that. Stills decided in high school he wanted a career in the military. He worked hard too, becoming a well-rounded student who played four years of baseball, served on the student council and was involved in National Honor Society, among other clubs.
His efforts landed him on one of the most prestigious starting platforms the military offers: an appointment to the Class of 2020 at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
The U. S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal, liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America’s first college of engineering and continues today as one of our nation’s premier leader-development institutions, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” Still said upon learning of his acceptance into West Point. “I was almost a little bit overwhelmed. It was a little emotional because there was so much hard work that I had to put into it and it finally paid off.”
It was a journey that began about midway through high school when, according to his father Tom, Stills’ brought home information packets from the Air Force. It was at that moment that the family realized this was the path their son was about to embark on, even forgoing an opportunity to play college baseball for a career in the military.
“This is a path that he’s chosen and it’s a path that we all understand,” Tom said. “As parents, we’re proud for what he’s done and his accomplishments, but we are just proud as Americans more than anything.”
Like most parents, the Stills are supportive of whatever their son decides to do in life. Despite the uncertainty of America’s military actions in the future, the Stills know there’s no holding their son back. It’s obvious that the idea of their son going to West Point is still settling in on their minds.
“This is what he wants to do. We aren’t going to tell him no. It’s a whole different level than sending your kid to college, I can tell you that,” Tom said.
It’s a level that requires a rigorous application process that Stills battled for most of the year leading up to this point. On top of the number of essays and recommendations he had to gather, the most challenging part for Stills was receiving a nomination from either Senator Jeff Flake, John McCain or Congresswomen Kyrsten Sinema who represents Arizona’s 9th Congressional District in the House of Representatives.
After going through a separate application process and another round of the waiting game, Stills finally received a nomination from Sinema, almost guaranteeing his spot at West Point.
“I was relieved for sure,” Stills said. “That was the main thing I was worried about because that’s one of the hardest things to get and you need a nomination to get an appointment, so when I got that I knew I had a very real chance of getting into the academy after that.”
Just days after his high school graduation, Stills’ path is pretty well carved out. He’s hoping to leave West Point not only with the military experience he craves, but with a degree in either business management or economics as well.
“I’m both excited and nervous,” Stills said. “It’s going to be hard, but it’s going to be good for me.”
Stills also hopes that those his age looking for a possible future career will consider one in the armed services.
“I think it’s a great opportunity and it can set you up for life,” Stills said. “I want to make the world a better place and protect my country.”
And that’s what it means to be an American.
Courtesy: Wrangler News
D-backs tap into farm system to support Lamb’s All-Star candidacy
By Kody Acevedo FOX Sports Arizona
Jul 6, 2016 at 7:59p ET
PHOENIX — The Diamondbacks are trying to get Jake Lamb to the All-Star game really baaa-dly.
A real-life lamb stopped by the D-backs’ clubhouse to show his support for Lamb in the Final Vote to the 2016 All-Star game.
Lamb, who leads the National League in slugging percentage, is one of five players involved in the Final Vote, along with San Francisco first baseman Brandon Belt, Colorado shortstop Trevor Story, Pittsburgh outfielder Starling Marte and Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun. Fans can vote at mlb.com until 1 p.m. (Arizona time) on Friday.
“It’ll be in (San Francisco) on Friday. I’m not sure what their Lamb situation is, but we’ll get it under control,” Lamb joked, referring to the D-backs upcoming road trip.
Hey @MLBNetwork, @ArchieBradley7 would like a word with you. #VoteLamb pic.twitter.com/AIyPH01r8o
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 6, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Even normally low-key All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt got in on the hijinks.
“It’s funny for the rest of us to have fun with Jake, he’s being a good sport and going along with it,” Goldschmidt said.
Asked to describe his interaction with the lamb, which was out on loan from a local petting zoo, Goldschmidt said: “Really, really soft wool. It’s kind of funny. He seemed pretty calm.”
Lamb, too, was having fun with the moment.
“I know how much Goldy loves the attention and everything, so I know he’s bummed out,” Lamb said. “I think I love the attention just as much as Goldy, so this is really fun.”
Goldschmidt is pulling out all the stops this week to help get Lamb elected. He even joined Twitter, something he vows will last only until Friday.
“It’s just for a short amount of time trying to get the fans to vote for Jake,” Goldschmidt said. “I’ll try to do it to the best of my ability, which is pretty terrible. It is going to be short-lived. Once this weekend is over, I’m going back to my normal self.”
Lamb is more at home on social media than his teammate, but he’s thankful that he’s making the effort.
“Hopefully he’s here (on Twitter) to stay,” Lamb said. “I’ve got everyone texting me and reaching out on social media. Yeah it’s really cool, especially the support back home, and obviously there’s a bunch of support here in Arizona, and I really appreciate that.”
Courtesy: FOX Sports Arizona
kodyacevedo.wordpress.com 