By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

PHOENIX – This is one of the prime times of year when smart baseball franchises pay homage to their Latino players and fans and history with the individual clubs’ “Hispanic Heritage” day or night.

The Arizona Diamondbacks celebrated their 14^th annual Hispanic Heritage Day on Sept. 16. It wasn’t contrived and it was respectful of Mexican culture, since most Latinos out here are of Mexican descent.

There was real lucha libre wrestling in a ring in the main plaza in front of Chase Field and Mexican folkloric dancers and mariachi in the concourse behind home plate. And the Diamondbacks players wore black “Los Dbacks” jerseys.

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By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

For Fox Deportes

Baseball history will be made in Phoenix Wednesday when the Arizona Diamondbacks host the Miami Marlins in the first doubleheader ever for the D-backs at Chase Field.

A doubleheader in Arizona? The weather isn’t the reason. It’s always sunny and super hot at this time of year, and even if there’s a dust storm (locally known as a “haboob”), the retractable roof is closed and voila, we have baseball and a climate- controlled atmosphere.

Miami didn’t have a rainout nor a makeup date because their brand new ballpark was unavailable, so that’s not the reason. The Diamondbacks didn’t have to cancel a game against the Marlins and make it up on their end, either.

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By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

For FOX Deportes

PHOENIX – Gerardo Parra dresses and talks just about as fast as he plays. But it’s the playing part that has endeared him to many Arizona Diamondbacks fans.

Parra is technically the Diamondbacks’ fourth outfielder, a jack-of-all-trades, a player you can put in left, right or center. He puts a little flair into everything he does on the diamond – going hard after shallow and deep fly balls, scoring from first on a double or going to third from first on a single. Plus throwing a runner out from the outfield to home plate, another of his specialties.

Parra had 12 outfield assists last season and only three errors, on his way to winning a Gold Glove.

And saving a celebratory gesture for the dugout? Not Parra. He shouts or makes a hand sign to his teammates after sliding into a base safely, and the Chase Field crowds love it.

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By Jose M . Romero / @RomeroJoseM

For FOX Deportes

PHOENIX – Henry Blanco turns 41 in a month, and is still pulling down a major-league baseball paycheck. That’s a testament to his value to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and his ability to get the job done in the rare instance his name is penciled on the lineup card.

Blanco, the Diamondbacks’ backup catcher has started 17 of Arizona’s 101 games as of July 28. He’s finished 15 of those and appeared in 37 games last season and is at 20 this year. Playing behind one of baseball’s best all-around catchers is only part of his job – Blanco’s clubhouse cubicle is right next to fellow Venezuelan and Diamondbacks’ No. 1 catcher, Miguel Montero, who gleans wisdom from Blanco the grizzled veteran.

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By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

Starting on Fourth of July, I’ll be at the ballpark every day for the rest of the week. That’s the plan anyway.

When I left the Pacific Northwest – Seattle, to be exact – in 2010, I was glad knowing that even though I was moving to a place where it’s hotter than blazes in the summer and half the fall and spring, at least I was leaving one big-league town for another. And I’d get the chance to see a lot of National League baseball.

It’s been great. The Arizona Diamondbacks had a bad 2010, rose up to win the NL West and hosted the All-Star Game in 2011 and are up and down in 2012, but at least they’re entertaining.

I’ve been to maybe 50 games, more or less, at Chase Field since my arrival. But I’m sure I’ve never been to a Fourth of July game in Phoenix. I look forward to it, even if the festivities are somewhat contrived.  

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By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

For Fox Deportes

 Rod Barajas has put together a long career in Major League Baseball, and the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher has at least two accomplishments that not many others in the game can claim.

He has a World Series ring with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2001, and he got to play a full season and part of another for his hometown team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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