AZDBacks2001

4/4/2001 - The #DBacks (2-0) debuted their away grey jerseys w/black sleeves, & behind @gehrig38's dominant start (7inn., 4H, 2R, 1ER, 1BB, 12np, 116np) & @Luisgonzo20's 2nd & 3rd HRs (3-5, 3R, 2RBI) Arizona crushed the Dodgers 7-2 in Los Angeles (0-2). Womack: 3-5, 1 2B, 1RBI.

4/3/2001 - In Bob Brenly's managerial debut, the Arizona #Dbacks rode a @Luisgonzo20 7th inn. HR (1-5, 2RBI) & a dominant Randy Johnson (7inn., 4H, 2ER, 4BB, 10K, 132np) to defeat the Dodgers in LA 3-2 on #OpeningDay before 22,927. @Luisgonzo20: 1-5, 1HR. Mantei: Save: 1H, 13np.

4/2/2001 - ESPN used a computer to simulate the 2001 regular season, simming the year 50x coming up with regular season standings, along with the chances of winning both the division as well as a wild card spot. To read more, click here: espn.com/mlb/2001/0326/…

4/2/2001 - With the 2001 #OpeningDay set for the next day, when the first "play ball" is announced, the Arizona #DBacks were set to have the second-oldest starting lineup in MLB-history (with the return of @ReggieSanders who would miss the first five games with a hamstring inj.)

4/2/2001 - With the 2001 MLB regular season beginning the next day, four Arizona Republic sports writers predicted both the Division standings as well as the playoff outcomes. @azc_obert - do you remember this? 😎

4/2/2001 - With the #DBacks off for the day prior to #OpeningDay the next day, I wanted to share the #MLB odds to win the 2001 World Series. Arizona shared 10/1 odds with the Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics. The three-time defending champion Yankees were best at 2/1.

4/1/2001 - The Arizona #DBacks (20-13-2 only OAK won more: 22) concluded Spring Training w/a third straight loss to the Anaheim Angels at BOB, this time 6-5 despite Armando Reynoso's 6inn., 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 4K. M. Batista: 1/3 inn., 2H, 3ER, 2BB, 1K. @Luisgonzo20: 2-4, 1HR, 2RBI.

3/31/2001 - In their 2nd to last tuneup before the start of the reg. seas., the #DBacks (20-12-2) dropped a 2nd straight to the Angels, 5-0, despite a solid start from B. Anderson (5inn., 6H, 1ER, 1BB, 3K). AZ put Reggie Sanders on the 15-day DL and traded C Melvin Rosario to KC.

3/30/2001 - @gehrig38 threw his final tuneup of Spring Training, going 7inn. (4H, 2HR, 2ER, 8K, 2BB), in a 7-6 #DBacks loss to the Anaheim Angels at BOB. Tony Womack: sprained right ankle in the 2nd inn, although x-rays were negative. Schilling also had an RBI GR2B into the pool.

3/29/2001 - On the same day the #DBacks announced they would give away bobbleheads for the 1st time, AZ finished the Cactus League 19-10-2 after a 5-4 loss to the Dodgers at Cashman Field in LV. Angel Pena: walkoff 1B. SP Witt: 5inn., 4H, 1ER, 2BB, 4K. Gordon/Moeller: 1HR each.

3/28/2001 - After trading fan-fav. INF Hanley Frias to Minn. for C Chad Moeller & waiving J. Jacome, the #DBacks (19-10-2) rode a 5th inn. D. Batista GS HR to a 9-8 win over SF in Tucson. Still vying for the 5th spot, M. Batista: 4.1inn., 11H, 7ER, 4BB, 2K. Grace: 2-2, 1HR, 2RBI.

3/27/2001 - After a 12-5 win over the White Sox, (9R in the 3rd inn. - Durazo: 2-5, GSHR, 5RBI; F. Thomas: 3HR, 3RBI) the #DBacks (18-10-2) shockingly re-assigned Durazo to AAA (.321, T.L. 6HR, 13RBI). AZ also set their #OpeningDay roster w/only 5 RP's for the 1x in franch.-hist.

3/26/2001 - After CO scored 2x in the bott. of the 8th, Danny Bautista (2-5) hit a 2-run HR w/2out in the 9th to give the #DBacks (17-10-2) an 8-7 lead and ultimate victory over the Rockies in Tucson. Anderson: 6inn., 9H, 5ER, 0BB, 2K in final Cactus Leag. start. Grace: 1-4, 1HR.

3/25/2001 - After a slow Cactus League start, @Luisgonzo20 heated up (11H, 7RBI, 8R in 16AB), going 3-4 w/2HRs as the #DBacks (16-10-2) inched closer to the reg. seas. w/an 8-1 win over SD in Tucson. Finley: 3-4, 2RBI, 1SB. @gehrig38: 6inn., 6H, 1ER, 1BB, 8K in final ST start.

3/24/01 - In the flukiest moment in sports hist., Randy Johnson (7inn. 7K) hit a dove w/a 7th inn. slider to Calvin Murray (Kyler's Uncle) in a SS 10-6 #DBacks (15-10-2) win over the SF Giants, Johnson's Cactus League finale. RJ was not amused. DBacks SS also beat SD's SS, 7-3.

3/23/2001 - Rounding into regular saeason form, @Luisgonzo20 (3-5, 3R, 1RBI) crushed three 3B's, including the go-head hit in the 9th, leading the Arizona #DBacks (13-10-2) to a 6-4 win over the SF Giants in Scottsdale. D. Batista: 4-5, 3RBI. M. Bautista: 5inn., 1H, 0R, 2BB, 4K.

3/22/2001 - Battling for the 5th spot w/Geraldo Guzman and Miguel Batista, Bobby Witt had his first poor start of the Cactus League, throwing 4inn, allowing 4H, 4ER, 2HR, w/0BB, and 2K, in a 4-3 Milwaukee Brewers win over the Arizona #DBacks (12-10-2). Jay Bell/@Luisgonzo20: 3-4.

3/21/2001 - Minus Mark Grace (back) & @ReggieSanders (hamstring), the #DBacks moved to 12-7-2 in the Cactus League w/an 11-7 win over Seattle in Tucson. Bell: 3-4, 3R, 1RBI. @Luisgonzo20: 2-3, 3R, 2RBI. Durazo: 2-3, 1HR, 2RBI, 3R. Finley: 2-5, 2RBI. Anderson: 5inn., 4H, 2ER, 5K.

3/20/2001 - Despite it being a Cactus League day off for the #DBacks (11-7-2), @gehrig38 stayed on sched. throwing 7inn. for the #Sidewinders, K'ing 11, allowing 3ER in a 5-3 Tucson exhibition win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Damian Miller caught, throwing out two runners.

3/19/2001 - @ReggieSanders (1-4) had been white hot, but pulled his hamstring vs the White Sox in a #DBacks (11-7-2) 5-1 loss in Tucson. Randy Johnson threw 7inn. (104np), allowing 6H, 5ER, 2BB, 7K, & a 2nd inn. GS to Ray Durham. Counsell: 2-3. AZ optioned Rob Ryan & Bret Prinz.