With busy week ahead, D-backs taking Friday off

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- With an extra-long Spring Training thanks to their early opening series against the Dodgers in Sydney, Australia, the D-backs' coaching staff has looked for ways to break up the monotony of the spring.

After having a short day of work Monday so that they could play paintball, the D-backs will go at it hard Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

"The next three days we'll get a little more intense," manager Kirk Gibson said. "When they come out of Thursday, they'll probably be pretty tired."

With that in mind, the D-backs will get a full day off Friday before gearing back up over the weekend in preparation for next Wednesday's first Cactus League game.