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	<title>Venom Strikes &#187; Rafael Rodriguez</title>
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		<title>Meet Patrick Corbin: Another D-backs Pitching Phenom</title>
		<link>http://venomstrikes.com/2012/03/29/meet-patrick-corbin-another-dbacks-pitching-phenom/</link>
		<comments>http://venomstrikes.com/2012/03/29/meet-patrick-corbin-another-dbacks-pitching-phenom/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:30:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tyler Roberts</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2012 Season]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2012 Spring Training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Diamondbacks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Player Profile]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Dan Haren]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Patrick Corbin]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Rafael Rodriguez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trevor Bauer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tyler Skaggs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://venomstrikes.com/?p=3415</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>There has been much said about the Diamondbacks and the quality of their pitching prospects, but one name seems to be overlooked almost every time with pitching prospects Trevor Bauer and Tyler Skaggs ranked higher than him.  That man is Patrick Corbin, a man who has pitched so well he is making a strong case to [...]</p><p><a href="http://venomstrikes.com/2012/03/29/meet-patrick-corbin-another-dbacks-pitching-phenom/">Meet Patrick Corbin: Another D-backs Pitching Phenom</a> - <a href="http://venomstrikes.com">Venom Strikes</a> - <a href="http://venomstrikes.com">Venom Strikes - An Arizona Diamondbacks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More</a></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There has been much said about the Diamondbacks and the quality of their pitching prospects, but one name seems to be overlooked almost every time with pitching prospects <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;id=bauer-000tre" target="_blank">Trevor Bauer</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;id=skaggs001tyl" target="_blank">Tyler Skaggs</a></strong> ranked higher than him.  That man is <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;id=corbin001pat" target="_blank">Patrick Corbin</a></strong>, a man who has pitched so well he is making a strong case to be the first pitching prospect to either make the team or get called up this season.</p>
<div id="attachment_3424" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 490px"><a href="http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/8/files/2012/03/Corbin.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3424" src="http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/8/files/2012/03/Corbin.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="270" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin throws to the San Francisco Giants during a spring training baseball game Tuesday, March 20, 2012 in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)</p></div>
<p>Corbin has had the best spring of any Diamondbacks pitcher this year, going 1-0 with an ERA of .57 in five games this season, giving up just seven hits and one run while striking out 15 in 15 and 2/3 innings of work.  He also has a WHIP of .89 and and opponents batting average of .135.</p>
<p>His last game was masterful throwing five innings of no-hit ball against the <a href="http://roxpile.com/">Colorado Rockies</a> in a 7-3 victory on Tuesday.  To top it off he helped his own cause going two for two at the plate with an RBI, one of his hits being a triple.</p>
<p>After the game against the Rockies, Manager Kirk Gibson mentioned that Corbin had an outside shot at making the club at the beginning of the year, but with the starting rotation already set and much of the bullpen solid, he is more than likely looking at starting the year with the Triple A affiliate and being a mid-season call-up depending on the performances and health of the starting rotation.</p>
<p>Corbin, as noted above, has flown most of the season under the radar in one of the deepest pitching farm systems in the league in Arizona, but with the spring he is having, people are taking notice.  Corbin was born in Clay, New York on July 19, 1989 and attended Chipola College in Florida.  He was originally drafted by the <a href="http://halohangout.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a> in the second round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft.  On July 25, 2010, Corbin was part of the monumental trade to Diamondbacks with <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/saundjo01.shtml?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Joe Saunders</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=rodrira01,rodrig011raf,rodrig010raf&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Rafael Rodriguez</a></strong> and Tyler Skaggs in exchange for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harenda01.shtml?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker" target="_blank">Dan Haren</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Corbin is on the Diamondbacks top prospect list at No. 8, but with the spring he is having and the potential he has shown, look for him to make a jump up that rankings and ride it all the way to the majors.</p>
<p><em>Follow me on Twitter @<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/roberts_843">roberts_843</a> and at <a href="http://stgeorgesportsguy.wordpress.com">stgeorgesportsguy.wordpress.com</a>.</em></p>
<p><em>Follow Venom Strikes on Twitter @<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/venomstrikes">venomstrikes</a> and like our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Venom-Strikes/137567939598951">Facebook</a> page.</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>September Call-Ups on Horizon</title>
		<link>http://venomstrikes.com/2010/08/25/september-call-ups-on-horizon/</link>
		<comments>http://venomstrikes.com/2010/08/25/september-call-ups-on-horizon/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Aug 2010 03:13:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott Allen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diamondbacks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fanzone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Predictions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rumors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arizona Diamondbacks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brandon Allen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cole Gillespie]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kevin Mulvey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rafael Rodriguez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ryan Roberts]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Zach Kroenke]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://venomstrikes.com/?p=866</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>The Arizona Diamondbacks September call-ups have actually started with the recall of Ryan Roberts.  Roberts hasn&#8217;t really blown anyone away yet.  Time will tell, but for now it just appears he is biding his time.  From spring training on, Roberts hasn&#8217;t looked at that great.  He was struggling in Reno before his latest call up. [...]</p><p><a href="http://venomstrikes.com/2010/08/25/september-call-ups-on-horizon/">September Call-Ups on Horizon</a> - <a href="http://venomstrikes.com">Venom Strikes</a> - <a href="http://venomstrikes.com">Venom Strikes - An Arizona Diamondbacks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More</a></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/mlb-arizona-diamondbacks/image/6301342?term=Brandon+Allen" target="_blank"><img title="MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/6301342/mlb-arizona-diamondbacks/mlb-arizona-diamondbacks.jpg?size=380&amp;imageId=6301342" border="0" alt="Sep 2, 2009; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Brandon Allen (25) is greeted by second baseman Augie Ojeda (11) after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Photo via Newscom" width="380" height="499" /></a><script src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
<p>The <strong>Arizona Diamondbacks</strong> September call-ups have actually started with the recall of <strong>Ryan Roberts</strong>.  Roberts hasn&#8217;t really blown anyone away yet.  Time will tell, but for now it just appears he is biding his time.  From spring training on, Roberts hasn&#8217;t looked at that great.  He was struggling in Reno before his latest call up.</p>
<p>All kinds of rumors as to who the Dbacks will call up.  Most likely it will include at least some of the group that consists of <strong>Tony Abreu, Brandon Allen, Cole Gillespie, Zach Kroenke, Kevin Mulvey, and Rafael Rodriguez</strong>.  By no means do I have any inside info on any of those guys, but I&#8217;ve read some of those guys may see time in Phoenix in September.  Only Allen really jumps off the page for me and says &#8220;come see me play&#8221;.</p>
<p>We know it&#8217;s a lost season, but it&#8217;s time to prepare for 2011 and September is a great time to see what players have.</p>
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
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		<title>Rating the Dbacks Trades</title>
		<link>http://venomstrikes.com/2010/08/01/rating-the-dbacks-trades/</link>
		<comments>http://venomstrikes.com/2010/08/01/rating-the-dbacks-trades/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:55:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott Allen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diamondbacks]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[AL Central]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Bobby Crosby]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chad Qualls]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chicago white sox]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Snyder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[D.J. Carrasco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dan Haren]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dan Hudson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dave Holmburg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Deal or No Deal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Edwin Jackson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Elmer Fudd]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jake Peavy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joe Saunders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Angels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Patrick Corbin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pedro Ciriaco]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Tyler Skaggs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://venomstrikes.com/?p=809</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Well it sure was a busy week of wheeling and dealing for the Arizona Diamondbacks. So exactly what did we give up and what did we get in return?  Sometimes the deals have more bit to them under the surface and there is more there than meets the eye.  Here I rate the trades that [...]</p><p><a href="http://venomstrikes.com/2010/08/01/rating-the-dbacks-trades/">Rating the Dbacks Trades</a> - <a href="http://venomstrikes.com">Venom Strikes</a> - <a href="http://venomstrikes.com">Venom Strikes - An Arizona Diamondbacks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More</a></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Well it sure was a busy week of wheeling and dealing for the <strong>Arizona Diamondbacks</strong>. So exactly what did we give up and what did we get in return?  Sometimes the deals have more bit to them under the surface and there is more there than meets the eye.  Here I rate the trades that the Dbacks have made over the past week.</p>
<p><strong>Dan Haren </strong>to the <strong>Los Angeles Angels</strong> for<strong> Joe Saunders</strong>, <strong>Patrick Corbin</strong>, <strong>Rafael Rodriguez</strong>, and player to be named.</p>
<p>From a Dbacks fan perspective this deal hurts.  Hurts to get rid of a Dan Haren.  Haren was our ace, although in all reality, he isn&#8217;t a typical &#8220;ace&#8221; but rather a low number 1 or great number 2 guy.  Haren was going to be the guy to get the Dbacks back to the playoffs and help bring another championship to the city of Phoenix.  However, his lack of production, high salary, and demand on the open market, gave the Dbacks every chance to get rid of him now.  Joe Saunders pitched great in his first outing a couple of nights ago with the Dbacks.  Is he a viable replacement for Haren?  Right now, probably not.  He is a lefty though and we can only use one of those.  Given Saunders struggles so far this season, his Thursday start in Philly gave promise.  As for Corbin and Rodriguez, only time will tell what kind of impact they will have.  Both sit in the minors for now.  The player to be named is supposedly <strong>Tyler Skaggs</strong>, but that&#8217;s top secret until after August 7th, so I won&#8217;t even speculate yet.</p>
<p>From an Angles fan perspective you have to like this deal.  Not sure this is the deal that gets you to catch the Texas Rangers or not.  In fact, Texas defeated Haren 2-1 last night.  Haren pitched great, but gave up that dreaded homer.  He pitched a complete game though.  What was he missing?  Oh, the same thing he missed here &#8211; run support.  Some things never change.</p>
<p>D&#8217;backs grade:  Incomplete.  Let&#8217;s see what Saunders does and what he gets in arbitration.  I also want to see how this deal completes itself next week and what we see from the minor leaguers.</p>
<p><strong>Edwin Jackson</strong> to the <strong>Chicago White Sox</strong> for <strong>Dan Hudson</strong> and <strong>Dave Holmberg</strong>.</p>
<p>From a Dbacks fan perspective, this is an ok deal.  Jackson had an up and down season in his 21 starts in Arizona.  He did have the no-hitter, but you can only ride that for so long and not have it overshadow his performance the rest of the season.  The Dbacks dump a salary and an over 5.00 ERA.  As for Hudson, he starts for the first time for the Dbacks today.  He&#8217;s been great in AAA Charlotte.  Not so much in Chicago since being recalled to replace the injured <strong>Jake Peavy</strong>.</p>
<p>From a White Sox fan perspective, not sure how this deal helps me either.  I will say, at least with Jackson, you get a proven starter with experience, but that&#8217;s about it.  I&#8217;m not sure this trade helps the White Sox in their run to stave off the Twins for the <strong>AL Central</strong>?  Maybe their management knows something the rest of us don&#8217;t?</p>
<p>Dbacks grade: B</p>
<p><strong>Chad Qualls</strong> to <strong>Tampa Bay Rays</strong> for a player to be named later.</p>
<p>From a Dbacks fan perspective, this is a GREAT deal.  I feel like I just won a million dollars on <em><strong>Deal or No Deal</strong></em>!  Any deal where you dump a $1.5 million salary and an 8.27 ERA and that&#8217;s all you give up for a player to be named later, you&#8217;ve just made a great deal.  Qualls has been a disaster for the Dbacks.  I don&#8217;t care if <strong>Elmer Fudd</strong> is who we get in return, we still get the better end of the deal.</p>
<p>From a Rays fan perspective, you have to ask yourself what the &amp;*#$???  THIS is the only move you make?  Wow!  How can management look their team in the eyes and tell them this is the move they made to help in the run for the pennant?  Not only did they take on Qualls &#8211; but they also took on the whole remainder of his salary, something no other team would concede.</p>
<p>Dbacks grade:  A+++++</p>
<p><strong>Chris Snyder</strong> and <strong>Pedro Ciriaco</strong> for <strong>D.J. Carrasco</strong>, <strong>Bobby Crosby</strong>, and <strong>Ryan Church</strong></p>
<p>From a Dbacks perspective, if this was a few years ago, this would be an awesome deal for us.  As it stands, it&#8217;s a wash.  Snyder wasn&#8217;t performing at the plate and had pretty much been relegated to one or two starts a week thanks to the development of Miguel Montero.  Snyder, at times, looked clueless at the plate.  Sure, it&#8217;s hard to say goodbye to his defense, but in this case, defense does NOT win championships.  Carrasco pitched for the Dbacks last night and fit in immediately, blowing a lead.  Crosby and Church most likely won&#8217;t be a Dback in 2011, so who cares.  Crosby is a former AL Rookie of the Year, but not as good anymore and Church is another whose best years are behind him in New York and Washington.</p>
<p>From a Pirates fan perspective, you say &#8220;ehh&#8221;.  You dumped three below average players for one below average player, so I guess it frees up two spots for better production in 2011.</p>
<p>Dbacks grade:  C</p>
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