Team news
[Dbacks.com] D-backs confident in rotation depth as they await results of Kelly’s MRI – “One of the huge benefits of doing this, not only having a talent the caliber of Zac, but also it builds out another really good starting pitcher in our rotation,” general manager Mike Hazen said. “I don’t know how many starting pitchers we used last year. I’m assuming we’re gonna use the same amount of starting pitchers this year.” Last year, the Diamondbacks also appeared to have a surplus of starters with Corbin Burnes, Gallen, Kelly, Pfaadt, Rodriguez, Nelson and Jordan Montgomery, but by the end of camp Montgomery was out due to Tommy John surgery, and a month into the season Burnes went down with the same injury.
[AZ Central] Ryan Thompson OK after being hit by batted ball – Thompson was throwing a live batting practice session to Diamondbacks prospect Kristian Robinson when Robinson hit a sharp comebacker to the mound. The ball struck Thompson in the right shoulder/upper back area, and Thompson immediately fell in pain. The small crowd watching gasped and groaned as Thompson went down. But the veteran reliever was able to stand up and walk around near the pitcher’s mound. Moments later resumed his session, to cheers and applause from the small crowd gathered to watch. Thompson said he was OK and gave a thumbs up after completing his session.
[SI] D-backs’ Outfield Sparks Impressive Rally Despite Loss to Angels – Thomas and Waldschmidt, in particular, are facing an important spring. Waldschmidt, Arizona’s No. 1 prospect, is looking to prove his worth, with a non-zero chance to crack the major league roster before playing an inning in Triple-A.Thomas, meanwhile, is making some adjustments to his mechanics in the hopes of cutting down on his swing-and-miss. Both players made successful cases on Sunday. Thomas began the comeback by lacing a 109 MPH double, plating two runs. Waldschmidt followed up with a 99 MPH double of his own. It was then Barrosa, who is not known for his power, who flipped the score in favor of Arizona with a two-run homer to right field.
[Arizona Sports] Torey Lovullo: Ryan Waldschmidt is a ‘very talented player,’ will determine his own future – The Diamondbacks top outfield prospect worked his way up to Double-A Amarillo in his first two seasons. Lovullo said his focus and maturity are what will drive his career.“ He was part of the reason why I was late, actually,” Lovullo said as he joined Bickley & Marotta. “(Waldschmidt) was the one I was meeting with at 7:30 a.m. this morning and he was getting very conversational. Once again, coming into my office as a young guy, looking me square in my eyes. I’m not gonna stop that. I want to continue to get to know him and see what makes him tick and he was very comfortable.”
And, elsewhere…
[MLB.com] This might be the most Spring Training triple play we’ve ever seen – Emergency sirens at Scottsdale Stadium blared in the top of the first inning on Sunday after a person started smoking in a bathroom, triggering an announcement that instructed fans to evacuate the building. The fire alarm was eventually turned off after several minutes, but the inning only got wilder from there.A distracted Ray allowed the first three batters he faced to reach base, but he ended up catching a huge break after the Giants turned a wacky triple play on a base hit to get him out of the inning unscathed.
[ [OC Register] Angels owner Arte Moreno: TV ordeal ‘hasn’t been easy’ – “We’ll be on TV,” he said. “But put it this way, it hasn’t been easy.” A year after Moreno said he expected the Angels to lose $50 million in 2025, their payroll for 2026 is at least $50 million less than it was a season ago. As cord-cutters have hurt the business model for television networks, they have been unable to pay sports teams the rights fees they negotiated years ago. “We took a (revenue) cut going from Fox to Main Street, and they’re going to go down again,” Moreno said. “A lot of teams have gone to MLB and I haven’t done it yet. I’m not telling you I won’t do it. We’re still working on it.”
USA wins men’s hockey gold for first time since Miracle on Ice – If I didn’t mention this, Justin would, I’m sure, be storming up the I-10 to remind me! But it was quite the game, regulation time ending locked at 1-1. That was largely thanks to American keeper Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 41 Canadian shots. Then, less than three minutes into overtime, Jack Hughes scored the walkoff winner, to give the USA their first gold there in 46 years. It capped off a record-breaking performance by the team, and I’ve enjoyed watching the events. Except for curling, which now sucks again. 😉 Roll on 2030, and the next Winter Games, in the French Alps!
Bambi: The Reckoning (2025)
Rating: C+
Dir: Dan Allen
Star: Roxanne McKee, Tom Mulheron, Nicola Wright, Samira Mighty
On the plus side, this does at least go in a somewhat different direction from the usual public domain horror adaptation. It’s not just a case of, “X, but X is a serial killer,” where X equals Mickey Mouse, Popeye, or whatever. However, what’s left is barely recognizable as a version of Felix Salten’s Bambi. It takes the name: everything else is closer to eco-horror from the seventies, like Prophecy, with pollution turning wildlife against the humans responsible. Though as Chris noted, this is likely nearest to a low-rent copy of Death of a Unicorn. On that basis, and watched as a B-movie, it’s decent enough. Likely better than I expected, truth be told.