Eric Byrnes is off to another good start for the D-Backs this season.  In 22 games this season, Byrnes in 26 for 89 (.292 avg, .821 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 3 homers, 13 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.  The young D-Backs need someone to look up to and no one plays harder than Eric Byrnes.  He plays 110% on every play in the ballgame and the D-Backs hope that rubs off on their youngsters.

The D-Backs offense needs production from every position if they want to have a decent offense and their catchers aren’t doing too well so far this season.  Chris Snyder has had a little more playing time than Miguel Montero and he has not played well so far this season.  He has played in 12 games and he’s only hitting .171 with a .572 OPS this year.  He’s 6 for 35 with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs.  Miguel Montero has played in 10 games so far this season and he’s only 6 for 27 (.222 avg) with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs.  It’s possible that Montero could start to get a little bit more playing time because he’s hitting a little bit better than Snyder, but these guys both need to hit like they can.

The D-Backs went 1-6 last week as they were outscored 31-19.  Many thought that the young D-Backs hitters would have problems producing runs and that looks like those people might be right.  The D-Backs are now in 4th place in the American League West with a 10-10 record, 3.5 games behind the LA Dodgers.

Randy Johnson has completed his rehab assignment and he will be activated to start tomorrow’s ballgame with the San Diego Padres.  Johnson was throwing really hard in the minors and it appeared that his trademark slider had a lot of bite to it.  The D-Backs will finally have their fantastic rotation all together and healthy for the first time of this season, so they could take off as long as they get the hitting.

The D-Backs have placed rookie Micah Owings and Juan Cruz on the 15-day DL.  Owings has a strained right hamstring and Cruz has a strained muscle below the back of his right shoulder.  Owings has started 3 games this season and he’s 1-1 with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.  In 15.1 innings this season, he’s only allowed 12 hits while whiffing 14 batters.  Cruz also was pitching well as he is 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP.  In 8.1 innings so far this season, he’s allowed 8 hits and whiffed 11 batters.