Game #56-Arizona Diamondbacks @ Colorado Rockies. 5/29/19

[Adrian]

First pitch is set for 5:40 p.m Arizona time

 

[Shaggy]

What an explosion

And today they will be back to normal with 3 hits all game

 

[Adrian]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[1Sun]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

And today, a hot Marte gets benched for Swihart. SMDH.

 

[BC867]

I'm glad to see that Cron is finally getting his 2nd start at 1B. He has been striking out as a pinch hitter.

I imagine that it is not easy for a rookie sitting on the bench for days, then coming up for his lone at-bat.

That has to be pressure, knowing that he has that one at-bat to make a name for himself.

If you bring up a slugging 1B, especially with Walker struggling, let him play for awhile and build his
confidence, knowing that if he strikes out in his initial at-bat, he will have 3 more chances that game.

I despise bringing up a young player from the Minors, then playing him out of (his normal) position.

A starting pitcher accustomed to a 5-day cycle being brought up to be on-call in the bullpen.

A hitter accustomed to multiple at-bats in games being used in sporadic pinch-hitting spots.

The Major Leagues is a tough place to have a player adapt to a new routine. That should take
place in the Minors.

If you bring him up, use him in his comfort zone. The one that earned him the call-up.

A manager's job is to make it simple (as opposed to complex) for his players to do their job
well. Major League managers seem to be oblivious to that. Considering that most of them
were former Major League players, they should know that better than anyone.

 

[BC867]

And today, a hot Marte gets benched for Swihart. SMDH.

The curse of Phoenix . . . from John MacLeod with the Suns forty years ago to Torey Lovullo with the Diamondbacks.

No matter how hot they are, pull them when their "allotted" time is up. There is a lot of space between a planner
and a free spirit. And a lot more success when a leader utilizes both.

It is difficult to keep hoping for the best from Torey when he is inflexible. Especially when the D-backs are struggling.

 

[AZCrazy]

Contemporary managers give way too much credence to the righty-lefty matchup thing and not enough to having your best players on the field as much as possible.
Marte is on the verge of becoming a huge breakout star this season.

 

[1Sun]

Turns out my issues with Torey aren't unique:

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...tion-torey-lovullo-archie-bradley/1269799001/

 

[BC867]

Locastro, new to the leadoff position with Dyson benched, grounds out on the first pitch of the game.

Didn't any coach tell him that the job of a leadoff hitter at the beginning is to take some pitches so
the other hitters can see what the pitcher has ... and doesn't?

Sigh!

 

[BC867]

The bad and the good.

The bad. A D-backs starting pitcher -- especially our top 2 -- Robbie gives up a first inning run.

The good. With Cron finally getting another start, knowing, as I said, that he has all game to
produce, relaxes and gets a double in his first at-bat.

And Swihart singles him in. Cron chugging around the bases and got his hand on home plate.
Tie game. And a hit by Ahmed.

Confidence builds winners. Winners build confidence.

And Kelly singles in our second run. Runners on 1st & 3rd with no one out.

Four straight hits. And Robbie with a successful sac bunt to move the
runner on first to 2nd base.

 

[BC867]

Escobar leaves the bases loaded. Too bad we didn't get more against a pitcher with
an 8.10 ERA. 8.10. He makes Godley look like a . . . pitcher with a 7.36 ERA.

They're playing at Coors. We need to hit this guy for more.

 

[BC867]

Kevin Cron. First two at-bats of the game, two doubles. That's his third
double in his first ten at-bats. The doubles all coming in his two starts.

If Torey throws him back to the bench, I'm going to TP Torey's house.

 

[BC867]

Here is more about Kevin Cron. Both Christian Walker and he are older rookies.

Walker is 28 and Cron is 26. Given Walker's decline at 1B, Cron deserves the
same opportunity. It makes no sense to keep sending him back to the bench.

Here are his Major League stats so far. In his two starts, he is, so far, 3-for-6
with 3 doubles and 1 strikeout. In his four pinch-hitting appearances, he is
0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts.

You must be registered for see images attach

................................................................................................................Plus first 2 at-bats in this, his 2nd start, 2 doubles. .300

All on the road.

 

[BC867]

Back to the game. Here in the 4th, Robbie has walked the first 3 batters.

Then a 2-run single. 3-2 Rockies. Runners on 1st & 2nd and no one out.

Robbie gets a double play. Runner on 3rd, who scores on a 2-out bunt
single by the pitcher.

Robbie has thrown 85 or so pitches in 4 innings (31 this inning) and is
down 4-2. More stress for the hitters and bullpen.

Adam Jones with a solo HR. D-backs down 4-3.

 

[AZ Native]

Back to the game. Here in the 4th, Robbie has walked the first 3 batters.

Then a 2-run single. 3-2 Rockies. Runners on 1st & 2nd and no one out.

Robbie gets a double play. Runner on 3rd, who scores on a 2-out bunt
single by the pitcher.

Robbie has thrown 85 or so pitches in 4 innings (31 this inning) and is
down 4-2. More stress for the hitters and bullpen.

Adam Jones with a solo HR. D-backs down 4-3.

Robbie's PC in the early innings has been a huge concern for a long time. Why can't he throw strikes early on. He has the potential but the few strikes he throws are killing him. Where are the pitching coaches and what are they doing to improve him?

 

[BC867]

The new pitcher, relieving Robbie Ray in the 5th inning,
makes a wild throw on a pickoff attempt and it's 5-3.

 

[BC867]

Robbie's PC in the early innings has been a huge concern for a long time. Why can't he throw strikes early on. He has the potential but the few strikes he throws are killing him. Where are the pitching coaches and what are they doing to improve him?

I agree with 1Sun and you. Mike Butcher's results as a Pitching Coach suck!

He needs to be relieved (pardon the pun) of his, and our, misery.

Meanwhile, Carson Kelly with a solo HR. It's a 1-run game.

But the bullpen woes will continue. Yoshi coming in to pitch the 6th.

 

[AZ Native]

Turns out my issues with Torey aren't unique:

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...tion-torey-lovullo-archie-bradley/1269799001/

I agree the Bradley thing is frustrating . He has one pitch and they wait for it. His curve ball is nonexistent. He has placed himself as the face of the franchise but cannot back it up. I agree that Torey has given him enough rope to hang himself and he has. Sometimes he is loyal to a fault, like Arians was with his ST coach who sucked, and he hired him again. But all in all, Torey has gotten a lot out of this team but he is no where near perfect, just like the rest of us.

 

[BC867]

Tory is indeed nowhere near perfect. With the D-backs sinking, he benched Dyson as
the starting leadoff hitter/center fielder again..

And Locastro in his spot goes 0-for-5, while the Spark Plug appears as a pinch runner.

We saw it coming when Locastro grounded out on the first pitch to lead off the game.

And the D-backs go down 5-4. 'Sad to say that Torey's obsessions are ruining the team,
both among the position players and on the mound.

I was once his biggest supporter. Now I'm pissed! He didn't seem like the type to flaunt
his power.

The phrases "Good job" and "You're benched" seem to go together in Torey's world.

NOITAVITOM. That is the reverse of MOTIVATION.

I know tomorrow is a day game, but if he benches Cron tomorrow after two more
doubles today, I will officially call Torey Lovullo an ***hole . . . without the ***.

 

[AZCB34]

What is that? 9 runs in the games at Coors?

 

[BC867]

What is that? 9 runs in the games at Coors?

Left on base.