D-Backs notebook: Scherzer up to speed in 1st MLB appearance

TUCSON - Max Scherzer said he made a conscious effort to slow the game down Saturday, in the first appearance against major league hitters in his short career. His fastball paid no mind.

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Scherzer hit 96 mph on the radar gun in his one inning of work in the Diamondbacks’ 12-8 loss to the White Sox on Saturday, when he got three ground-ball outs and gave up a home run to Joe Crede.

“He had a lot of presence out there. You could see that competitiveness,” manager Bob Melvin said.

It is unusual for a pitcher to reach the velocity Scherzer hit early in camp, but it is not unusual to see him at maximum effort.

“I like to get after it every day,” he said. “(Friday) night, I was thinking about pitching to big-league hitters. I tried not let the external factors get into it. For me, it’s all about going out and throwing strike 1.”

Scherzer was the D-Backs’ No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft, the 11th player taken overall. This is his first camp, after he did not sign until last May.

On Crede’s home run, Scherzer said, “That’s the cost of doing business.
“If I’m giving up first-pitch home runs, that means I’m throwing strikes. I’ll play the percentages.”

OWINGS MAY MOVE UP
Melvin’s lineup finagling could extend to the No. 9 spot when Micah Owings pitches.

NL Silver Slugger winner Owings will DH and hit eighth in a split-squad game today at Tucson Electric Park, and Melvin hinted that Owings could be moved up in the lineup at times in the regular season.

“I’m going to tinker with it this spring,” Melvin said. “He’s a guy I would like to hit fifth or sixth. He’s a power guy.”

Owings hit .333 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 60 at-bats last season, when his eight victories were third among NL rookies.

Melvin said Owings will hit somewhere other than ninth when he pitches Monday against Colorado, although Melvin did not specify.

Owings would be more likely to move up in the lineup when he pitches at home, Melvin said, because it would not affect his pregame pattern.

“I don’t want him to have to vary from his routine,” Melvin said.

Augie Ojeda will bat ninth here today, when the other half of the D-Backs play in Hermosillo, Sonora.

MONTERO’S CHALLENGE
Miguel Montero was 7-for-22 with two home runs and six RBIs against Jake Peavy, Roy Oswalt and Ubaldo Jimenez last season, so the D-Backs are not concerned about the way he will attack a setback to his broken right index finger.

Montero will be held out of all baseball activity for a week, and wear an electronic device on his fractured right finger 10 hours a day to stimulate bone growth.

“We want to take complete pressure off his finger for a week and re-evaluate from there,” Melvin said.

Montero will do drills that simulate catching to maintain his lower body condition, and he remains confident he will be ready to play opening day.

“Confidence is the last thing you are going to lose. I just need one at-bat and I’ll be ready,” Montero said.

“He is a kid with a lot of confidence. He played in a (reserve) role he’s never had to play in last year and had some success against really good pitching,” Melvin said.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Dan Haren felt a natural adrenaline burst while making his first start for his new team Saturday, even if it was only an spring game.

“I was happy with the way I was able to control myself and throw strikes, because sometimes when your adrenaline gets going you are all over the place. It has happened to me before,” he said.

Haren, who gave up five singles and a run in his two innings, also was glad to begin establishing a rapport with catcher Chris Snyder.

“I’m just trying to build a relationship with him — him figuring out what works for me, and figuring out little things, like where I like setting up. It takes time, and I think it was a good first day,” Haren said.

“(Haren) made some comments to me about how he likes throwing to ‘Snydes.’ He is a big target. He had a lot of good things to say about him even before we got into a game,” Melvin said.

SHORT HOP
Doug Slaten (knee) threw his second bullpen session Saturday. He has not done pitchers’ fundamental practice yet, but the D-Backs believe there is enough time to prepare him for the regular season.

White Sox 12, D-Backs 8
Notable pitching: Dan Haren threw 38 pitches, mostly fastballs, giving up a run in two innings in his first D-Backs appearance.

Chad Qualls threw a scoreless sixth in his D-Backs debut.

Juan Gutierrez was charged with three runs in the eighth, but all scored after Gerardo Parra lost a fly ball in the sun that would have been the third out.

Notable hitting: Emilio Bonifacio, playing left field and second base, had two doubles and a two-run triple in the eighth.

Parra had his third straight two-hit game, including a two-run home run, and is 6-for-6 this spring.

Justin Upton singled, stole a base and was hit by a pitch.

What: The Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox will play a split-squad doubleheader, with games at Tucson Electric Park at 1:05 p.m. and Hector Espino Stadium in Hermosillo, Sonora, at 2 p.m. The D-Backs will resume a series with Hermosillo that was played every year from 1998-2003.
Radio: KTAR (620 AM, 92.3 FM)
Pitchers: Diamondbacks at TEP – Doug Davis, Brandon Medders, Wes Roemer, Matt Green, Emilio Fruto; Diamondbacks at Hermosillo – Edgar Gonzalez, Barry Enright, Hector Ambriz, Jailen Peguero, Bill Murphy. White Sox at TEP – Javier Vazquez, Tomo Ohka, Carlos Vazquez, Scott Linebrink, Oneli Perez. White Sox at Hermosillo – D.J. Carrasco, Jason Childers, Dewon Day, Nick Masset, Adam Russell
Records: Diamondbacks 0-2-1. White Sox 3-1.