The 2008 predictions are forthcoming!
(The following is an article written July 1, 2006 for a publication that never went to print.)
The Diamondbacks and the National Pastime
“The game of baseball has now
become beyond question the leading feature of the outdoor sports of the United
States...It is a game which is peculiarly suited to the American temperament and
disposition; ...in short, the pastime suits the people, and the people suit the
pastime.”—-Charles A. Peverelly, 1866
What’s more American than a story about baseball in our Cancer issue in
a Cancer country? The Arizona Diamondbacks were born as a Major League Baseball
team with the first pitch at 8:16 pm on March 31, 1998. The game was scheduled
to begin at 7:30 pm, but festivities for the long awaited arrival of baseball in
the Valley of the Sun delayed that start. Astrologically, it served the serpents
of the desert well. Aries is the sun sign of the D’Backs. Aries is symbolic of
athletic energy, trailblazing, courage, and baldness which probably
explains why Matt Williams was such a good fit at third base in the team’s
early years. The
first sign of the zodiac also is said to rule heat, garlic, headaches( give‘em,
don’t get ‘em), upperlips(stiff or otherwise), mustard, sharp tools, and
diamonds. Diamonds? That has a nice ring to it!
Ah,
but I can hear skeptics saying that many other expansion major league teams also
had their first games while the sun was in Aries, including the Tampa Bay Devil
Rays who played their first game on the same day as the Snakes of the Sonora.
The difference is the ascendant or the rising sign on the eastern horizon point
at the birth of a person, and yes, even a business or team. Tampa Bay started
out with the sign Virgo as their ascendant. One of the Virgo traits that can
surface negatively is a lack of self esteem and being overly self-critical. If
you have followed the ownership moves of the Rays since their inception, then
you know what a mess they’ve been. Whenever they open their collective mouth,
it’s only to change feet! No sooner than when the wound on one foot begins to
heal, they shoot themselves in the other foot, leaving them without a leg to
stand on! It’s a good thing a Devil Ray is a creature of the sea, or they’d
really be in trouble!
Speaking
of not having a leg to stand on, what about those snakes of the hot sands? The
D’Backs’ first pitch was thrown when the first degree of Scorpio was rising.
Scorpio has dominion over death, taxes, bathrooms, other peoples’ money,
rebirth, regeneration and…..snakes! That’s snakes...as in the one that not
only hisses but rattles. It makes me think that original Diamondbacks owner,
Jerry Colangelo(Scorpio), paid some high-priced Chicago astrologer to work out
the time for that first pitch to be thrown.
One thing about fixed sign Scorpio as a rising sign, one will see traits
of rebirth and regeneration year in and year out. Scorpio is an energy that is
resilient, stubborn and just plain hard to kill. To verify that just ask The New
York Yankees how easy it is to kill
snakes in a seven-game series.
A
regeneration talent the rattlesnake has is to shed its skin or renew itself
every year. The Diamondbacks baseball team is no different. They have shown
themselves to be effective at becoming stronger and regenerating after a poor
year. You’ll never see this team have two rotten seasons in a row. The year
after the bad one will show marked improvement by changing its skin in a manner
or shedding players who no longer fit in the plans and importing new ones. Their
first year of existence was about average for an expansion team as they went
65-97. But in year two with shrewd Virgo acquisitions in the name of Randy
Johnson and Luis Gonzalez, the team slithered to the top with a 100-win season
and the NL West Championship, something totally unheard of for a second year
expansion team. We all know it didn’t stop there. Arizona became the youngest
new franchise to win a World Series in just their fourth season of existence in
2001.
Things hit rock bottom in 2004 as the
asps won 14 fewer games than in their inaugural season. Time to plug in the
regeneration cord. Last year the team showed a 26-game improvement in the win
column and was in the hunt for the weak NL West lead until the final month. Over
the winter, more regeneration in the form of new general manager, Josh
Byrnes(Cancer), replacing Joe
Garagiola, Jr., who went to work in the office of the Commissioner of Baseball.
Byrnes was recognized prior
to his hiring as one of the brightest magnitude up and coming management stars.
Some of his player moves over the winter seemed tame at the onset, but the
contributions of newcomers, Sagittarians Jeff DaVanon and
Orlando
Hudson,
Damion Easley(Scorpio), Johnny Estrada(Cancer), Juan Cruz(Libra) and Luis
Vizcaino(Leo) thus far in the D’Back’s season has been phenomenal! Although
it’s a long season with two-thirds to go, the team is in first place going
onto the second week of June.
DIAMONDBACK’S FUTURE: While the planetary positions that brought the 2001 World Series Championship won’t repeat for a couple of decades there are indications that the team will be a winner for years to come with the 2009 season holding strong markers for a very special season.
STARSHOTS:
Josh
Byrnes, GM:(June 23, 1970) Josh is a
Cancer sun sign at a professional peak right now meaning that the progressed
moon in his chart is traveling through the signs of Gemini and Cancer. Perfect
time, Perfect job. This man can take the snakes to the promised land, and I’m
not joshing you!
Bob
Melvin, Manager(Oct 28, 1961) A Scorpio with
a Cancer Moon and it’s a good thing too! Scorpios bite and sting easily with
their words. Having a Moon sign associated with sensitivity and family helps him
balance the wording in those sometimes testy post-game interviews. Melvin has a
progressed lunar hit involving nebulous Neptune this year adding some underlying
confusion most likely connected with the last year of his managing contract. His
Cancer sun and the GM’s Cancer Sun definitely lay the foundation for
communication on a verbal as well as intuitional level. The bottom line is that
Melvin is a good baseball man and will be a success over the long run whether he
stays with the D’Backs or not. Unless GM Byrnes has a great replacement
waiting in the wings, Melvin is a team guy and the two have that lunar-solar
link.
Luis
Gonzalez(Sep 3, 1967) A Virgo who has
become the icon of the team. Next year is an option year and the question is
will the team pick up that option which is eight or nine million? With talented,
restless farm hands waiting in the wings and what I see in Gonzo’s chart,
probably not. But there’s a sweet year coming in 09. Possibly the team and
Gonzo can re-work a contract that would allow the Virgomeister to be available
as a player-mentor for another year with an eye toward coaching or perhaps the
front office or the broadcast booth.
Brandon
Webb(May 9, 1979) A cool Taurus
heading for his first All Star year, reminds me of another Taurus pitcher,
Warren Spahn. There are similarities in the charts and mound characteristics as
well. Although throwing opposite sides off the mound, neither could be
classified overpowering and location and changing speeds is their game. Expect
Webb to pitch many seasons as a winner. Where they differ is at the plate. Spahn
holds the record with 35 home runs as a pitcher.
Webby, you’ve got BP waiting!
Eric
Byrnes(Feb 16, 1976) An Aquarian
with an analytical Virgo Moon that comes in handy picking up flies and liners
hit toward centerfield. This man isn’t playing baseball unless his uniform has
grass stains or red dirt on it. He’s a fun player to watch. It’s said that
many Aquarians march to the beat of a different drum. This D’Back has a whole
set of “those” drums!
Johnny
Estrada(Jun 27, 1976) A key
acquisition from Atlanta. The Snakes have never had a catcher hit for average or
knock in a lot of runs since they started. Cancerian Estrada is on a pace for a
hundred RBIs and hitting over .300 so far. Also has a Cancerian Moon. Great
intuition for calling the right pitch in the right situation.
(The following article was written in
March, 2006, prior to the start of the regular MLB season)
The Virgos are Coming! The Virgos are Coming!
By Ken Hopkins, Sports Astrologer
The
Arizona Diamondbacks are busy getting ready for their ninth season of major
league baseball. There was improvement last year over the rock bottom year of
2004. Since shipping 37 home runs to Toronto in the name of Troy Glaus, many
baseball experts are forecasting more gloom and doom for the Desert Snakes in
2006. Borrowing an exclamatory expression from the mind of Lee Corso, “not so
fast ‘horsehide breath!’” Arizona doesn’t lose a thing with Chad Tracy
moving to third and the rest of the team is stronger than last year’s in many
areas. Tracy is still coming into his own and he could easily hit 25-30 home
runs per year plus carry an average above 300 which was difficult at best for
Glaus to achieve.
There appears to be a good mix of veterans such as Luis Gonzalez, Tony
Clark, Craig Counsell and Shawn Green to combine with several new faces from
other teams and rookies such as Conor Jackson and newcomers who may be onboard
in the next year or two such as Carlos Quentin, Stephen Drew, Chris Young and
Justin Upton.. Being an astrologer, I couldn’t help but notice that Quentin,
Young and Upton are born during the sign of Virgo, August 24 thru September
23.
Virgos are known for exacting routines which include shopping on the same
day and time every week, showering at the same time every day, and of course,
exercise regimens. Virgos find a feeling of security in a well-defined and
adhered-to schedule. They are perfectionists to the nth degree and have been
known to be hard on themselves when they fall short of their goals. When they
are able to recognize that every failure, shortcoming or error is an opportunity
for learning and improvement and if they can forgive and forget times when
regression occurs, they are much easier for others to be around. Randy Johnson
is a classic Virgo. He’s an analytical perfectionist who winds himself tightly
especially about 24 hours before a start until the last pitch of his game is
thrown. The August 23-September 22 crowd usually have strong desires to be of
service to others, especially when they are on top of their game. You’ll often
see them working in their communities to help others.
Luis Gonzalez is another Virgo who doesn’t mind a rigorous physical
schedule of exercises to strengthen his body. He has labored to build up his
arms and shoulders over the years which
has resulted in a sweet home run swing seen often in the last several years.
Gonzo has been working on the upper body over the off season again and should be
totally healthy from his surgery. It’ll be interesting to see if this Virgo
will have a resurgence of power creating more circling of the bases than we’ve
seen lately from this lovable Diamondback icon.
2006 will be viewed as a major year of transition when several very
talented farm hands began to transform the D’Backs into a perennial power not
just in the National League West, but all of Major League Baseball. Here come
the Virgos! And yes, we’ll have to throw in one member from the opposite sign,
Pisces as a counter-balance in the name of Stephen Drew.
Chris Young, September 5, 1983, acquired
in the Vasquez trade to the White Sox, has displayed power and speed in minor
league action, paired traits that have been rare if not invisible on Diamondback
rosters. Young experienced a pre-spring training injury that kept him from the
spring training hitting party that most D’Backs, veterans and rookies alike,
have enjoyed as the team leads in hitting average for all major league teams
with the regular season less than three weeks away. Young has been reassigned to
the minor league camp but is slated to start in center for the Tucson Toros just
a couple of hours down the road from Chase Field. Likely MLB debut:
Young has an outstanding lunar position that matures July 1st and
continues into the fall.
Carlos
Quentin, August 25, 1982, has been tabbed as Gonzo’s heir
apparent. Quentin has excelled at triple A and is having a good spring thus far.
Carlos is unlikely to remain in the minors all of this season. Likely MLB debut:There is one strong
astrological indicator that Quentin will be making his major league debut no
later than July 15th.. The corner outfield prospect has hit over 300 at every
minor league stop including 301 last year at Tucson where he collected 21 home
runs and 28 doubles. Any injury by Green or Gonzalez would summon Quentin
instantaneously if not sooner.(1st MLB game: July 20th)
Justin
Upton, August 25, 1987 has no minor league experience and has been
nothing but impressive hitting all kinds of pitching from various levels of
minor and major league arms during spring training. This observer can’t fathom
the D’Backs developing this talent very long at shortstop with the emergence
of Stephen Drew. Looking ahead it makes perfect sense to have Upton and Drew in
the same lineup with each hitting 25 or more homers a year and knocking in 100
runs per year. Justin may be headed for the outfield. Second base could be a
long shot. Usually the power guys can be found at every position but second
unless your last name is Sandburg but this 18-year-old is in an astrological
zone where he can have a sudden rise to fame and he can do it in surprising
ways. Likely MLB debut:Nothing
is impossible for Justin. He could be one of the call ups in September which if
he stays at class A South Bend all season would be a rarity. Players invited to
the big team in September are almost always AAA. Expect the unexpected from
Upton and it should be a good thing.
Chris
Carter, September 16, 1982. A Stanford teammate with Quentin, Carter
has shown some pop at the plate as a non-roster invitee. Conor Jackson may feel
a little more pressure to perform at first base if Carter tears up the league
and he could do just that as he has a lunar-nodal thing happening right now.
Carter could get a look at the top level this year as well, whether with the
D’Backs or another team via a trade for a top pitching prospect. Likely MLB debut: Carter could be a surprise call up by
someone this year.
Stephen
Drew, March 16, 1983, is the shortstop of the future. The question
is, is that future now or next year? Drew has had an impressive spring and has
benefited from Craig Counsell’s shoulder injury. Drew appears ready now but
he’s got to play almost everyday if he’s with the big club so if
Counsell’s well, it looks like AAA to start the year. Likely MLB
debut: By August 5th unless Counsell becomes the Wally Pip of the
Snakes and never regains his starting status to a hot rookie. Pip couldn’t
play one day for the Yankees, and a guy named Gehrig took his place at first and
the rest is baseball history. (MLB 1st game: July 16)
The Diamondbacks seem to have more top notch prospects than you can shake
a (batting) stick at! If upper
management does it’s job with the major league roster, the Diamondbacks could
have six or more players who will hit for 25-30 homers per year and a nice
average to go with the power. And almost all are in the organization at some
level now. The majority are “home grown” farm products. There are enough top
prospect position players, that some will have to be dealt off, hopefully for
some hot pitching prospects. You can never have too much good pitching.
Before spring training’s first crack of the bat, I had a dream that the
Diamondback’s would be better this year than most expect. If spring training
is just a small indicator, this team is more solid at the plate and in the field
for sure. It remains to be seen if the pitching shows improvement. My analysis
shows that this team will improve last year’s record but it might be a year
away from contending for the top division spot. But then again, the Virgos are
Coming!
// = parallel # = contra-parallel
How to read the charts: The transiting planets and nodes are located on the left and once in the graph body while the natal placements can be viewed on the right. The natal declination points are represented by dotted lines, the transits by solid lines. The moon makes a complete cycle and a little over each month. It starts off the month being out-of-bounds in the south and then moves to out-of bounds the 13th-19th in the north and then back to OB the 26th. Out-of-bounds means when the Moon or other planet exceeds 23 degrees 26 minutes in the north or south.