Gameday Thread, #74: 6/23 vs. Angels

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 9:38 PM EDT in Diamondbacks News

Ervin Santana, RHP (7-3, 4.10)

Enrique Gonzalez, RHP (2-0, 3.67)

A couple of highly-thought of youngsters go up against each other in the opener of this homestand - which I fervently hope goes a bit better than the last one. Y'know like two wins? Santana has the hype, but I've been impressed with EnGon's last couple of starts, and feel that between him, EdGon and possibly the surging Micah Owins, our rotation is already shaping up to be better in 2007.

The question is, will our offense - scorer of just 27 runs in total, over the seven-game roadtrip - come back to Chase? Or is it, as it seems, still circling round a baggage carousel at Atlanta airport? We'll see... No time to write any more, since it's almost game time, but it should be an interesting series, since the Angels are struggling a bit lately: 5-8 in the past two weeks, including two losses to the Giants earlier this trip.

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Today's lineup

C. Counsell ss .284
J. DaVanon cf .287
L. Gonzalez lf .260
C. Tracy 3b .275
C. Jackson 1b .262
S. Green rf .294
J. Estrada c .304
O. Hudson 2b .261
En. Gonzalez p .000

No DH today. ;-) Nice to see DaVanon staying in CF, but he needs to be batting leadoff, I reckon. Gonzo's back. :-(

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 9:40 PM EDT reply actions

That dreaded first inning

Two walks, two hits lead to one run, and the bases are loaded with two outs. Bear down, Gonzalez!

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 9:58 PM EDT reply actions

And now...

A bases-loaded walk. On four pitches. The booing has already started at Chase.

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 10:00 PM EDT reply actions

Ouch, and another

Not a good start.

by kishi on Jun 23, 2006 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions

And another one...

Gonzalez walks in another run. Four walks in the first inning, now 3-0 Angels, with the bases still loaded and two out. What a nightmare.

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 10:02 PM EDT reply actions

I think the Republic has given up interest

From their Sports front page: "D-Backs vs. Giants"

Um, the Giants? Really? We're losing to teams we're not even playing!

by kishi on Jun 23, 2006 10:02 PM EDT reply actions

Gonzalez...

Finally throws strikes. Shame it's against the opposing pitcher, who has one career at-bat... After 42 pitches, he finally escapes.

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 10:03 PM EDT reply actions

Um...um...um...

I wish I had something uplifting and inspiring to say about the D'Backs, but we simply suck! When our starter has to resort to only throwing strikes against the opposing PITCHER (AL one at that!!), I start to think ahead to our 2007 lineup; maybe it was our great start that suckered a lot of us in, but this season has nearly become a lost cause.

by IndyDBack on Jun 23, 2006 10:10 PM EDT reply actions

I feel your pain

It's really hard to even listen to the games, because I know I'll inevitably end up wanting to throw something. We are just playing so badly at the moment, words fail me.

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Another inning, another run

Home-run this time. 4-0 Angels. Breaking news: we suck. Film at 11.

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 10:18 PM EDT reply actions

Another inning, another run

Home-run this time. 5-0 Angels. Breaking news: we suck. Film at 11. Comment-bot has got a new phrase...

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Two on, one out, and Gonzo...

...grounds into a double play!!

Well, I've seen enough for one night - - thank goodness I have to work in six hours or I might be compelled to watch more of this train wreck!!

(Sadly, I will still be recording the game so I can launch profanities at the screen tomorrow after work!!)

by IndyDBack on Jun 23, 2006 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

Tracy has gone yard

5-1 Angels

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 10:47 PM EDT reply actions

Jackson and Green follows with a single each

They probably realize now that it is not Johan Santana they are facing...2 on with no outs for Estrada

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 10:51 PM EDT reply actions

Estrada grounds into forceout

Green out at 2nd. Runners at the corners for Hudson

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 10:53 PM EDT reply actions

Jackson thrown out at home

on Hudson's grounder to 1st base. 2 outs now with Enrique up

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 10:56 PM EDT reply actions

Enrique's day is done

Clark to pinch-hit

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 10:57 PM EDT reply actions

Give us some HOPE!!!

I knew I would have to watch a little more...one out, runners on each corner, and...rats, CoJack out at home!

by IndyDBack on Jun 23, 2006 10:58 PM EDT reply actions

HOPE...less

Clark strikes out to end the inning.

...sigh...

by IndyDBack on Jun 23, 2006 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Aquino in to pitch the 5th

and gives back the run as Vlad homers

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 11:01 PM EDT reply actions

Or not...

Guerrero seems to be on second?

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

On-field delay?

Is there a brawl or something?

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 11:06 PM EDT reply actions

Ahh, fan interference

They're saying that the ball could have been caught. So a ground-rule double instead. Still 5-1

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 11:08 PM EDT reply actions

Aquino gets out of the inning

D'Backs still just down by 4

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 11:12 PM EDT reply actions

DaVanon walks again

He's certainly doing his best to convince Melvin to keep him in the lineup. Let's see if Gonzo can have a positive contribution

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 11:17 PM EDT reply actions

Gonzo singles

and DaVanon goes to 3rd. Middle of the order are up

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 11:19 PM EDT reply actions

Tracy draws a walk

and the sacks are full of D'Backs

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

Jackson = tying run

Hope he had a good slump-buster last night. :-) Both starting pitchers have had big control issues today.

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

Jackson walks

and D'Backs get an easy run. Santana has walked 3 in the inning

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 11:23 PM EDT reply actions

It must be infectious...

Santana walks in a run: according to Candiotti, Santana's body language is awful.

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 11:24 PM EDT reply actions

Green pops out

Bases still loaded with 2 outs for Estrada

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 11:25 PM EDT reply actions

Why the fock

was Green hacking at a 2-0 pitch, given Santana couldn't find the zone with both hands?

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 11:25 PM EDT reply actions

My thought exactly

At least make the guy prove he can throw a strike before you think about swinging!

by kishi on Jun 23, 2006 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Estrada doesn't get it done

but the D'Backs are back within 3 runs

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 11:26 PM EDT reply actions

Hmmm.

One run, we leave 'em loaded. Even when the other pitcher is falling apart, we still only pull in so much luck.

by kishi on Jun 23, 2006 11:27 PM EDT reply actions

Left eight men on base so far

Six hits, six walks, and we've only scored two runs.

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 11:35 PM EDT reply actions

2 out single by Counsell in the 6th

DaVanon's at the plate

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 23, 2006 11:41 PM EDT reply actions

Make that nine left on base.

Santana didn't walk anyone this inning though. We didn't give him a chance too, with Hudson swinging on a 1-1 pitch, and pinch-hitter Green hacking at the first pitch.

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 11:47 PM EDT reply actions

Now Valverde has the yips

Two walks after a double, bases loaded for Anaheim and only one out. The two teams have combined for 13 walks so far.

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 11:55 PM EDT reply actions

Just when Jose was looking good...

Faced five hitters so far, four have reached on two hits and two walks, with two earned runs and only one out.

by Jim McLennan on Jun 23, 2006 11:57 PM EDT reply actions

Jackson gets his second hit

But just more runners left on base. Largely irrelevant, since Valverde dug us a six-run hole in the top of the inning, by allowing three to score.

by Jim McLennan on Jun 24, 2006 12:10 AM EDT reply actions

Well, they'll need to improve the RISP

but at least they're getting some people on base :)

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 24, 2006 12:19 AM EDT reply actions

Medders and Choate

Pitch walkless innings! Woo-hoo!

by Jim McLennan on Jun 24, 2006 12:35 AM EDT reply actions

Hope Tracy or Gonzo can reach safely

I'd like to see Jackson have a shot at getting on base for the fifth time.

by Jim McLennan on Jun 24, 2006 12:39 AM EDT reply actions

D'Backs 10 Angels 9

Seems like eternity since the D'Backs out-hit their opponents....Too bad the final score in 8-2 Angels :)

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jun 24, 2006 12:43 AM EDT reply actions

That's only because

It seems like an eternity since we won... We did - just - outhit our opponents in both victories of the current streak, but we were outhit in every loss. The last time we outhit our opponents, and still got beaten, was the June 5th, 4-3 loss to the Phillies, when we outhit them 10-9...just like today.

by Jim McLennan on Jun 24, 2006 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions