Snake bites

• With outfielder Adam Eaton starting the year on the disabled list and Ross seemingly a lock to do the same, that opens the door for outfielder A.J. Pollock to make the team. It also means that the D-backs will likely choose between Alfredo Marte and Tony Campana for the final outfield spot.

Campana has the big league experience, but the D-backs like what they've seen of Marte, who had an .886 on-base plus slugging mark last year at Double-A Mobile.

"He swings the bat, he's got real good hands," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "He's really improved a ton; he's improved his outfield play. I just see kind of a pure hitter. He's got a great attitude -- what's not to like? He's certainly a prospect for us."

• One aspect of the team that appeared set was the bullpen, but Gibson hedged just a bit there Wednesday.

Gibson said J.J. Putz, David Hernandez, Heath Bell, Brad Ziegler and Josh Collmenter were set. However, while it's been assumed that Tony Sipp and Matt Reynolds would be the two lefties in the bullpen, Joe Paterson is still hanging around.

"I don't think it's totally set," Gibson said. "We still have three lefties in camp and there's a question how we go from there."

It's hard to imagine that Sipp would not make the team given his 2.70 ERA this spring and big league track record. Reynolds has struggled this spring with a 9.64 ERA, but he, too, has a solid Major League performance history.

• Gibson said pitching and defense will win the National League West.

"We have to pitch good, we have to defend good," Gibson said. "I think we will score our share of runs. We'll be able to manufacture more runs than we have in the past. We probably won't hit as many home runs. If we don't pitch, we're going to be just like everybody else that doesn't pitch, we're not going to have a good shot at all."