PHOENIX -- The most important thing is that Joe Panik looks the part. Everyone knows that if you pull your socks up you immediately look faster, and with his black socks tugged up to his knees Saturday night, Panik strolled to the plate in the first inning looking like your typical leadoff hitter.
The second-most important thing is that Panik is playing the part. He reached base three times on Saturday night, raising his on-base percentage to .342 and extending his streak to 16 consecutive games with a hit or walk. On this night he had both, with a hit and two walks, while hitting leadoff for a lineup that did what you should against a struggling pitcher.