Gameday Thread, #51: 5/30 vs Mets

by Jim McLennan on May 30, 2006 6:24 PM EDT in Diamondbacks News

Miguel Batista, RHP (4-2, 4.60)

Alay Soler, RHP (0-0, 3.00)

"Your attention, please. This is your captain speaking. There is no need to be alarmed. The shaking and juddering that you feel is perfectly normal. Every voyage will have its share of rough water; we should be through it shortly, and continue sailing on in the manner to which we have become accustomed. However, to make up for any inconvenience, you are all welcome to join me for drinks in the Titanic ballroom at 7pm. I'll bring the ice."

Events of the last couple of days have left me with a sense of unease. Does Valverde's struggles indicate that the over-achievement of our bullpen is about to come to a grinding halt? At least Melvin has made it clear that we won't see him tonight - albeit for "fatigue" reasons, rather than Kurt Angle-esque "You Suck" reasons. Be interesting to see who goes out there if it is a save situation: early returns in our poll seem to indicate Jorge Julio is the fans' pick as a replacement.

Don't know much about Alay Soler - it sounds like his name is Pig Latin. This is only his second start in the big leagues, and last time out he walked the first three batters he faced (I'm assuming nerves) , but settled down thereafter and delivered a quality start. It's probably an exaggeration to describe this as a "must-win" game, but with the outcome of tomorrow's game uncertain, even with Webb on the mound, I'd far rather go into it, 3-2 on this roadtrip, rather than sporting a three-game losing streak.

Some advance warning: I'm off to Burbank on Friday for the Fangoria Weekend of Horrors convention: hanging out with my homies, Bruce Campbell and Lance Henriksen. Well, actually, Mrs. SnakePit is going, in her role as VP of Press + Marketing for local horror company Brain Damage Films [there was a bit in the Republic business section about them last week], and I'm tagging along. We drive out Friday morning, back Sunday afternoon; unsure how to handle this, AZSnakePit.com-wise. If anyone fancies taking over the helm for the weekend, let me know; if not, I'll just post all the GameDay threads for Fri-Sun on Thursday night.

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I'm scared

i fear another loss

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

Today's lineup

C. Counsell ss .309
E. Byrnes cf .324
C. Tracy 3b .296
L. Gonzalez lf .283
C. Jackson 1b .296
S. Green rf .333
J. Estrada c .306
O. Hudson 2b .234
M. Batista p .143

Much the same lineup as yesterday for us. Interesting change on the Mets, with Nady apparently being DL'd due to a burst appendix, according to Amazin' Avenue, with uber-prospect Lastings Milledge replacing him. I remember seeing Milledge in the AFL last year, but to be honest, his name made a bigger impression on me than his play.

by Jim McLennan on May 30, 2006 7:00 PM EDT reply actions

Counsell on

with a blooper.

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 7:14 PM EDT reply actions

Man

Sixth SB for Counsell, but the Mets announces see them out.

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 7:16 PM EDT reply actions

Byrnes

on with a BB

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 7:16 PM EDT reply actions

Men

in scoring position. lets go Gonzo!

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 7:18 PM EDT reply actions

Full Count~

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 7:20 PM EDT reply actions

1-0

Sac Fly by Gonzo. Byrnes on third.

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 7:21 PM EDT reply actions

Full COunt...

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 7:23 PM EDT reply actions

CoJack on first with a wild pitch

and Byrnes scores! 2-0!

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 7:23 PM EDT reply actions

Green is up with a 2-2 count.

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 7:26 PM EDT reply actions

Valentin

still haunts us.

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 7:51 PM EDT reply actions

Webb Gem

By Counsell

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 7:52 PM EDT reply actions

DP will end th einning

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 7:53 PM EDT reply actions

Another Error By Tracy

BOnehead move by Batista.

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 7:53 PM EDT reply actions

DP

But 2-1.

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 7:54 PM EDT reply actions

hit for tracy

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 8:00 PM EDT reply actions

Hudson!

With a Triple and a RBI! 3-1

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 8:14 PM EDT reply actions

The first three innings

I think we're lucky to have a 2-1 lead. Counsell was out by yards on the stolen base attempt, but we caught a break. The Mets have been smoking balls off Batista - the bullet Milledge hit in his first major-league at bat would be a good example.

And I'm not sure who to blame for that play on the bunt: Batista did throw it to Tracy, even though he was nowhere near the bag. However, Tracy a) should have been on the bag, b) should never have thrown to first, since there was no play, and c) made an awful throw. Still, into the fourth and it's 2-1 to us: but let's hope we play a little better all round.

by Jim McLennan on May 30, 2006 8:15 PM EDT reply actions

Fourth inning

Batista survives once more, but some indication of his troubles can be seen from the fact it takes him 10 pitches to dispose of the opposing pitcher - who, remember, is in his second major league game. It reminds me of the game we saw Miguel pitch: forever teetering on the edge of calamity, like a drunk on a tour of the Grand Canyon, but somehow managing to stagger back to the bus at every stop.

by Jim McLennan on May 30, 2006 8:31 PM EDT reply actions

Pitch count

He is just at 60 pitches though and Byrnes just homered again....Maybe they won't need to use a closer today :)

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on May 30, 2006 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

lol...

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

H O M E R

ByrneS!

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 8:32 PM EDT reply actions

4-1

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions

3 RUN HOMER! COJACK!

Jacking it out of yard. 7-1!!!!!

"They call me the princess of third base" -- Chad Tracy

by Mr. Philosophical on May 30, 2006 8:36 PM EDT reply actions

Rookie of the Year!

I think that long at-bat by Soler must have taken something out of him - he allows a home run to Byrnes, a single to Tracy, walks Gonzalez, and then Jackson smokes one into left field for a three-run shot. 7-1 Arizona now.

by Jim McLennan on May 30, 2006 8:37 PM EDT reply actions