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The Diamondbacks on Sunday, Aug. 2, reacted to the big-name deadline trade in which the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired star pitcher Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers to another ace starter to add to their stacked pitching staff.
"Kinda laugh. I mean, I don't want to say that it's like the inevitable right now," Diamondbacks catcher James McCann said, asked about his reaction to the trade. "But at the same time, it's like... you talk about scoreboard watching and all that, and really one thing I think that we do well in here is we focus on ourselves. We truly believe if we take care of our business then we're going to exactly where we want to be at the end of September and the beginning of October."
Manager Torey Lovullo said he wasn't surprised that the Dodgers got Skubal, effectively making the rich richer in roster talent. He credited Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman for being good at his job.
"He's built that team, 'Doc' (manager Dave Roberts) runs it as good as anybody, and they've won world championships," Lovullo said. "So I'm wishing it didn't happen, but it did, and we've got to deal with it. We can't feel sorry for ourselves; I don't think anybody else in the league can, for that matter. We've got to focus on our dugout and take care of what we do best."
There's a chance Skubal, a former Kingman, Arizona resident, pitches against the Diamondbacks next weekend, with the Dodgers in Phoenix Aug. 7-9.
"'Not surprised' is probably a phrase everybody in baseball is using right now," Lovullo said.
One of Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo's best friends is Guardians veteran infielder José Ramírez, Perdomo's fellow Dominican Republic countryman. The two share an agent and talk often.
"He's my brother," Perdomo said in Spanish. "We always keep in touch. He's one of the biggest mentors I have in baseball, and I always enjoy my time playing against him."
In the July 31 game, the two shared a playful moment as Ramirez slid into second base ahead of a tag attempt by Perdomo.
Ramirez, 33, is a seven-time All-Star and seven years older than Perdomo.
"I've asked him who his best friend in baseball is, and he always says José," Lovullo said of Perdomo. "That's a good man to look up to and a good man to call a friend. He's done it at a really high level for a long period of time, and I think he's taken Geraldo under his wing, and they play a very similar game. They're very smart, very heady."
Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (8-8, 4.86) vs. Guardians RHP Gavin Williams (10-6, 3.71).
At Progressive Field: Kelly's earned run average was 9.95 on May 4, and he posted a 7.31 ERA in June. He had three starts of just five innings out of five in July, but has found something, as his July ERA was 1.95. He is coming off 5 2/3 innings of scoreless ball in his most recent start on July 27 at Pittsburgh. Kelly, a 22nd-round draft pick of the Guardians, has a win in his only other career start against Cleveland. ... Williams has pitched seven innings in three of his past four starts, including in a loss at Cincinnati on July 28. He also has a victory in his only career start against the Diamondbacks, last August when he went 5 1/3 shutout innings with five strikeouts. Williams leads the Guardians in wins and strikeouts (168) this season.
Monday, Aug. 3: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (10-3, 2.48) vs. Padres TBA.
Tuesday, Aug. 4: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (5-1, 4.00) vs. Padres TBA.
Wednesday, Aug. 5: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Mitch Bratt (0-1, 5.23) vs. Padres TBA.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks at Guardians live updates. DBacks react to Skubal trade
Continue reading...
"Kinda laugh. I mean, I don't want to say that it's like the inevitable right now," Diamondbacks catcher James McCann said, asked about his reaction to the trade. "But at the same time, it's like... you talk about scoreboard watching and all that, and really one thing I think that we do well in here is we focus on ourselves. We truly believe if we take care of our business then we're going to exactly where we want to be at the end of September and the beginning of October."
Manager Torey Lovullo said he wasn't surprised that the Dodgers got Skubal, effectively making the rich richer in roster talent. He credited Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman for being good at his job.
"He's built that team, 'Doc' (manager Dave Roberts) runs it as good as anybody, and they've won world championships," Lovullo said. "So I'm wishing it didn't happen, but it did, and we've got to deal with it. We can't feel sorry for ourselves; I don't think anybody else in the league can, for that matter. We've got to focus on our dugout and take care of what we do best."
There's a chance Skubal, a former Kingman, Arizona resident, pitches against the Diamondbacks next weekend, with the Dodgers in Phoenix Aug. 7-9.
"'Not surprised' is probably a phrase everybody in baseball is using right now," Lovullo said.
A fun friendship
One of Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo's best friends is Guardians veteran infielder José Ramírez, Perdomo's fellow Dominican Republic countryman. The two share an agent and talk often.
"He's my brother," Perdomo said in Spanish. "We always keep in touch. He's one of the biggest mentors I have in baseball, and I always enjoy my time playing against him."
In the July 31 game, the two shared a playful moment as Ramirez slid into second base ahead of a tag attempt by Perdomo.
Ramirez, 33, is a seven-time All-Star and seven years older than Perdomo.
"I've asked him who his best friend in baseball is, and he always says José," Lovullo said of Perdomo. "That's a good man to look up to and a good man to call a friend. He's done it at a really high level for a long period of time, and I think he's taken Geraldo under his wing, and they play a very similar game. They're very smart, very heady."
Diamondbacks at Guardians, 10:40 a.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (8-8, 4.86) vs. Guardians RHP Gavin Williams (10-6, 3.71).
At Progressive Field: Kelly's earned run average was 9.95 on May 4, and he posted a 7.31 ERA in June. He had three starts of just five innings out of five in July, but has found something, as his July ERA was 1.95. He is coming off 5 2/3 innings of scoreless ball in his most recent start on July 27 at Pittsburgh. Kelly, a 22nd-round draft pick of the Guardians, has a win in his only other career start against Cleveland. ... Williams has pitched seven innings in three of his past four starts, including in a loss at Cincinnati on July 28. He also has a victory in his only career start against the Diamondbacks, last August when he went 5 1/3 shutout innings with five strikeouts. Williams leads the Guardians in wins and strikeouts (168) this season.
Coming up
Monday, Aug. 3: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (10-3, 2.48) vs. Padres TBA.
Tuesday, Aug. 4: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (5-1, 4.00) vs. Padres TBA.
Wednesday, Aug. 5: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Mitch Bratt (0-1, 5.23) vs. Padres TBA.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks at Guardians live updates. DBacks react to Skubal trade
Continue reading...
