25-year old righty starting pitcher Josh Collmenter wasn’t one of the D-Backs’ top 30 prospects coming into the 2011 season according to Baseball America. But, when he was given a chance to start when the D-Backs suffered some injuries in the rotation, he ran with it. Collmenter has pitched in 31 games (24 starts) for the Diamondbacks so far this year and he is 10-10 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Collmenter pounded the strike zone this year as he whiffed 100 batters while only walking 28 in his 154 1/3 innings, while only giving up 137 hits. He will be the Diamondbacks’ #4 starter in the playoffs starting later this week.

The Diamondbacks have acquired 28-year old lefty reliever Mike Zagurski from the Phillies for a player to be named later. He won’t be eligible for the playoffs, as the D-Backs just need him to help them get there. Zagurski pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Phillies this year and he was 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA and a 2.10 WHIP. He has also pitched in 46 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Phillies this year and he was 4-0 with 11 saves, a 2.65 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Zagurski has now pitched in 37 games (0 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 1-0 with a 6.82 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. I like this move for the Diamondbacks as they are doing every thing they can to make the playoffs.

The Diamondbacks have designated 27-year old righty reliever Esmerling Vasquez for assignment. Vasquez pitched in 31 games (0 starts) for the Diamondbacks this year and he was 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He has pitched in 141 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the D-Backs and he was 5-10 with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. It will be interesting to see if Vasquez clears waivers or not.

UPDATE: (9/27/2011) - The Diamondbacks have lost Esmerling Vasquez on waivers to the Twins.

25-year old lefty reliever Joe Paterson has been solid for the D-Backs so far this year. He has pitched in 60 games (0 starts) for the Diamondbacks so far this year and he is 0-3 with 1 save, a 2.97 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Paterson has only given up 28 hits in 33 1/3 innings this year while whiffing 28 batters and those are pretty solid numbers. He has also walked 15 batters and that’s a little too high of a number but he will continue to work on his control. One of the best things about Paterson is that the D-Backs took him off the division rival San Francisco Giants hands in the Rule 5 Draft last winter.

The Diamondbacks have designated 28-year old righty swinging shortstop Tommy Manzella for assignment. Manzella played in 22 games in AAA-ball for the D-Backs this year and he was 15 for 61 (.246 avg, .587 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has played in 90 games in parts of two years in the majors and he is 59 for 263 (.224 avg, .528 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 1 homer and 21 RBIs. This is no loss for the D-Backs as Manzella wasn’t going to help them this year.

UPDATE: (9/22/2011) - Tommy Manzella has accepted at outright assignment to AAA from the Diamondbacks.