SCOTTSDALE - The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies have moved into their posh new spring training complex, joining the rest of the party. Now all 15 Cactus League teams train in the Phoenix area.
Twelve practice fields, roomy weight rooms and an 11,000-seat ballpark are spread across the $100 million, 140-acre site. A large, red capital "A" adorns the ceiling of the D-backs' clubhouse, dressing up the place.
As the D-backs break in their new home for the next five weeks, they will also make a fresh start.
Entering Kirk Gibson's first full managerial season, Arizona is rebuilding after back-to-back last-place finishes in the NL West.
Gibson has said the spring workouts will be intense and any player can make an impression. He has said he will install a new winning culture. After the team hit .250 and produced a 4.81 ERA - second-to-last in the NL - last season, the D-backs brought in a fresh staff, including hitting coach Don Baylor and pitching coach Charles Nagy.
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The Rockies and D-backs had trained in Tucson since the outset of their franchises in 1993 and 1998, respectively, but moved to the Scottsdale area to be closer to the other teams.
Optimism was soaring last week as players reported to the new complex, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, and participated in the first workouts.
"Win the West, that's what our mindset is, to win," new closer J.J. Putz said. "If you're not ready or not prepared to put the work in to get it done, then you shouldn't be here."
Since this time a year ago, third baseman Mark Reynolds, starting pitchers Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson, first baseman Adam LaRoche and left fielder Conor Jackson have left the organization. As drills began, so did meet-and-greets. New faces include starting pitchers Armando Galarraga and Zach Duke, along with veterans Henry Blanco, Geoff Blum and Melvin Mora, who were brought in by new general manager Kevin Towers.
"We've got good guys who came here, and the new culture is going to be for real," catcher Miguel Montero said. "These guys have experience and they came here to take care of business. It's contagious."
With all the new faces, questions abound on who will play where, especially at first base and left field, and in the bullpen. Brandon Allen will get a shot at first base, and Mora or Blum will likely be at third. Xavier Nady or Ger-ardo Parra could be in left.
"It's a new slate," pitcher Barry Enright said. "We have some new guys in here, new faces, new coaching staff. We have a great leader, so we can build off that."
As for the rotation, Enright (6-7, 3.91), Duke (8-15, 5.72) and Galarraga (4-9, 4.49) will be competing for the final spots behind Joe Saunders (3-7, 4.25), Daniel Hudson (7-1, 1.69) and Ian Kennedy (9-10, 3.80).
Enright said he doesn't expect to be handed a spot in the rotation.
"In my eyes, I really haven't earned anything," said Enright. "I'm young. I had a few good starts last year, but for me, I like to compete. I like competition, to get out there and push someone and have someone push me. That's just going to make me better, along with everyone around each other."
The bullpen certainly can get better. D-backs relievers sported a 5.74 ERA last season - the worst in NL history. The new closer, Putz, saved a career-high 40 games as an All-Star with Seattle in 2007. Juan Gutierrez, Joe Paterson, David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio will be the main pieces of the bullpen.
"Our bullpen has gotten a lot stronger just within the winter meetings," Kennedy said. "We got a solid closer, and J.J. has done a great job in the past, and I'm really happy to see him work in person, and we have other guys to fill those roles."
One game on tap
Although the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies have fled to new spring training sites near Scottsdale, there will be at least one spring training game this year in Tucson.
The D-backs and Chicago White Sox are scheduled to play a split-squad game March 7 at Kino Stadium, formerly Tucson Electric Park.
Proceeds will go toward the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Fund. Her family announced the fund to honor Christina-Taylor's life and memory. She died in the Jan. 8 shooting in Tucson that injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
In addition, Tucson Padres general manager Mike Feder has said the team's parent club, the San Diego Padres, has been looking for an opponent for a spring-training game in Tucson. A date has yet to be determined.
Otherwise, the March 7 game is the only scheduled game in Tucson.
D-backs versus White Sox
• What: Spring training charity game
• When: 1:05 p.m. March 7
• Where: Kino Stadium
• Tickets: Go on sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Available at Kino Stadium box office, 2500 E. Ajo Way, online at www.dbacks.com, www.whitesox.com, www.kinosportscomplex.com or by phone at 434-1367.
UP NEXT
• What: Spring training opener
• Who: Diamondbacks at Giants
• Where: Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale
• When: 1:05 p.m. Friday
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