D-Backs notebook: Snyder now finds humor in painful injury

The revisionism made catcher Chris Snyder laugh more than once and drew a smile from Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin. There was nothing funny about being hit in the “family jewels,” as Snyder was when a batted ball led to a badly bruised testicle on July 1 and a trip to the disabled list.

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But now that he’s fully healed, playing solid defense and hitting .323 with four home runs, 13 RBIs, six runs and eight walks in his past 10 games, it’s comic relief.

“Thinking back on what happened, I laugh about it,” he said.

Snyder wears a cup, but the baseball hit him so severe at the right angle, nothing could be done.

Snyder said he’s since “made an equipment change.”

Blocking balls in the dirt or absorbing foul balls hasn’t caused Snyder to flinch or hesitate since. He noted the 15 days on the disabled list were plenty to regain his health, and figures the beatings will continue, but above the equator.

“I feel good again,” said Snyder, who was kept out of Saturday’s lineup for a second consecutive day. “I feel comfortable and everything is simple. I don’t have to think a lot about it. Everything feels good and where it should be.”

STANDING FIRM

One close call wasn’t going to sway Melvin when it came to instant replay, which will be implemented before the regular season ends.

In this case, it was Josh Willingham’s eighth-inning fly ball on Friday. It bounced off Conor Jackson’s glove and then hit the top of the left-field wall before it bounced back onto the field.

It could have been ruled a home run, but wasn’t, to the Diamondbacks’ favor.

“Based on what you saw in that one, I think you’ll run into calls which could be inconclusive, with fan interference, or (umpires) trying to detect how far it’ll travel if someone hadn’t reached over the wall,” Melvin said. “I think it’s easier to swallow knowing you can slow it down and get the best possible recourse for it.”

BACKING THE BRONZE

Melvin paid attention to the baseball portion of the Summer Olympics in Beijing, and though some have called the United States’ bronze medal a disappointment (South Korea won the gold), given the talent available to the U.S. during the major league baseball season, it wasn’t like when the U.S. Olympic basketball team “only” won the bronze in ’04.

“Anytime you win a medal, it’s a good thing, and you’re up against a lot of the best players in the other countries,” Melvin said. “Cuba runs a good club, they’re used to playing with each other and are a little older. This (U.S.) team is, based on this time of season, what you’re going to get, so I don’t think it’s a disappointment.”

SHORT HOPS

Melvin said Brandon Webb planned on throwing his usual bullpen session on Saturday. Webb is still sore from taking a ball off his chest earlier in the week, but still plans to make his next start Tuesday against San Diego.

“Potentially, if he’s a little uncomfortable he could move his bullpen back from (Saturday) to (today), but he plans on throwing it,” Melvin said.

Members of the Arizona State softball team were honored for winning the national championship before Saturday’s game.