D-Backs notebook: Upton adding base stealing to his repertoire

Justin Upton is being encouraged to run more this season as the Diamondbacks try to expand their efficient use of the stolen base. The outfielder has four of the team's 10 stolen bases this spring and has not been caught.

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"If they give me the green light, it's part of my game that's still developing," Upton said. "I'm trying to learn as much as I can and utilize it as much as I can."

Upton had 21 stolen bases base at three stops last season - nine at Class-A Visalia, 10 at Double-A Mobile and two with the D-Backs after joining them Aug. 2.

The D-Backs did not want to rush him into running in his first exposure to the big leagues, "but it's something he's working doubly hard on this spring," manager Bob Melvin said.

"He's trying to see how far he can go and how big a lead he can create. We expect him to have better running numbers this year."

The D-Backs stole 109 bases last year, and their 82 percent success rate was the second-most efficient in the major leagues. Eric Byrnes was 50 of 57. Chris Young was 27 of 33.

"I think Stephen (Drew) can get better as far as steals go," said Melvin, adding that Conor Jackson, Mark Reynolds and catcher Chris Snyder will not be asked to run more, "but I think everybody else on our team has a chance to get a little bit better."

Drew was successful on all nine of his stolen base attempts last season and is 11-for-11 in his major league career.

YOUNG PADAWAN
Doug Davis escaped trouble, walking four in four innings while giving up one run in Oakland's 2-1 victory on Wednesday, but he was more taken by former teammate Dana Eveland.

"The walks, I hate them," Davis said. "It's kind of typical Doug Davis, I guess you could say.

"At the same time, I want to reverse that, especially when my young padawan on the other side is out there throwing strikes."

Davis and Eveland played together in Milwaukee in 2005-06 and briefly with the D-Backs last season. A padawan is a Jedi knight apprentice in the "Star Wars" series.

"I got to start against one of my best friends," said Eveland, whose five innings were exactly what he pitched in two stints with the D-Backs last season.

"That's probably the first time they've seen me throw real well. It's good to have a good outing. I was due."

Eveland could open the season as Oakland's No. 4 starter, and former D-Back Greg Smith is a candidate for the No. 5 spot while Chad Gaudin recovers from offseason surgery.

A LITTLE FRUSTRATING
Melvin met with the D-Backs earlier this week regarding the fine line between aggressive and reckless base running after seeing five runners doubled off base with no outs, and Wednesday expressed concern at not putting the parts together so far.

"I know it's spring training, but still when you take the field you expect to win," he said after Arizona dropped to 6-9-1. "It's a little bit tiring to lose games like this. We just haven't gotten the recipe right."

The D-Backs got five hits Wednesday but were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

SHORT HOP
Randy Johnson threw a side session in Tucson on Wednesday.

ON DECK
What: The Diamondbacks return to Tucson for their first meeting of the spring with Milwaukee at 1:05 p.m. at Tucson Electric Park. The D-Backs play their next two games in the Valley, Friday at Scottsdale and Saturday at Tempe.
TV/Radio: None
Pitchers: Diamondbacks – Micah Owings, Juan Gutierrez, Brandon Medders, Tony Peña, Jailen Peguero. Brewers – Jeff Suppan, Brian Shouse, Chris Narveson, Seth McClung.
Records: D-Backs 6-9-1, Milwaukee 9-5

AT A GLANCE
A’s 2, D-Backs 1
Notable pitching: Doug Davis gave up one run in four innings, walking four. Ex-D-Back Dana Eveland threw five shutout innings for Oakland, giving up four hits and walking none.

Edgar Gonzalez gave up his first run of the spring, on a chopping single up the middle with two outs in the fifth. His ERA is 1.43.

Notable hitting: Conor Jackson’s sacrifice fly to deep left field in the sixth inning drove in the D-Backs’ only run, after Orlando Hudson walked and Eric Byrnes doubled inside the third-base bag.

Byrnes had two of the D-Backs’ five hits.