Los Angeles @ Arizona GameThread, Jul 18, 2008 9:40 PM EDT

Gameday Thread, #96: 7/18 vs. Dodgers

by Jim McLennan on Jul 18, 2008 4:26 PM EDT

Los Angeles @ Arizona

Hiroki Kuroda
RHP, 5-6, 3.43

Doug Davis
LHP, 3-4, 3.80

Baseball-Reference.com preview [opens in new window]

Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends
We're so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside...

That was a nice break: four days is the Diamondbacks' longest time without a defeat since May 16. And now, we have Tony 'Mufasa' Clark back in the dugout, so I confidently expect us to go 67-0 the rest of the way. Though it's probably best if Clark avoids rock-climbing with his brother, until after the season is over...

Overall, I do think this will make the team better, simply by providing someone with pop on the bench, something sadly lacking of late. The current residents of the pine, Burke, Bonifacio, Hammock, Ojeda and Romero, have combined for zero home-runs and only fifteen extra-base hits in 335 at-bats this season. I am also prepared to bet that Clark's OPS will be better than the .521 posted by Burke so far this season. I am optimistic that he is the most likely recipient of a ticket to DFAville - Clark is hardly going to replace Bonifacio or Ojeda at second, Hammock behind the plate or Romero in the outfield.

We start with a crucial series against the Dodgers, with the leadership of the division on the line, and then what will probably be an even tougher one against the Cubs. There are some very intriguing pitching match-ups coming in the next week. Tomorrow will be a cracker, with Dan Haren facing Chad Billingsley, and Sunday sees a battle of the ground-ballers, as Brandon Webb goes up against Derek Lowe. I think we have a narrow, but perceptible, edge in both of those; we'll be hoping Haren continues his brilliant form of the first half, with an ERA of 1.45 over eight outings since the start of June.

Today, Kuroda faces Doug Davis: while both men have similar ERAs over their past seven starts [3.35 for Kuroda vs. 3.74 for Davis], but got there by radically different means. Kuroda has three shutout appearances, including a one-hitter against Atlanta; two quality starts; and two flops. Davis, has been much more consistent, rarely being brilliant or awful, yet falling just one out short of giving the Diamondbacks six quality starts in a row. Particularly good, his WHIP over these six outings is 1.24, a significant improvement over early on this year - or, indeed, the previous couple of seasons. Is is sustainable? We'll find out tonight.

Chris Snyder will be making - somewhat gingerly, I suspect - a rehab start for Visalia tonight, but if that goes well, he could be back in the lineup later in the series, which will certainly be a boost. Justin Upton's return is still in doubt, and will likely be made shortly before gametime. Melvin said after a workout yesterday, "We'll take this workout to see. He's done a little bit of tee work. I don't know if I'm comfortable with where he was and we'll have a decision to make with him tomorrow." If he's unable to play, maybe we will see Jackson in left, Tracy in right and Clark at first?

Finally, a little nugget from Baseball Prospectus. You might think our outfield is offensively weak, but Andruw Jones currently has more than twice as many strikeouts as hits (59 to 27). in the last 50 years, there have been just six other players to do the same in a season of at least 180 plate appearances. Worse yet, he has only 41 total bases. If you divide strikeouts by total bases, Jones comes up with the third-highest ratio (min. 180 PA) in the last 50 years. The only players with a worse ratio are two obscure shortstops from the late '60s: Darrel Chaney, who struck out 75 times while collecting 49 total bases in his rookie season for the '69 Reds, and Oyler, who whiffed 59 times versus 40 total bases for the '68 Tigers.

Definitely going to be about for most of this series; while a Dark Knight trip is being contemplated at some point this weekend, that probably won't be during peak hours, as a busy cinema is not our idea of fun. Getting this up very early, to give us a forum to chat about the series, the return of Big Tony, and the Batman flick.

0 recs | Comment 480 comments

Story-email Email | Print |

Comments

Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends

Who sings that song? Thanks.

It's like living with a six-year old.

by 4 Corners Fan on Jul 18, 2008 5:43 PM EDT 0 recs

Emerson, Lake and Palmer

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 18, 2008 5:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hannah Montana?

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 8:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

Did you see Dark Knight, or did you just want to add a laugh track to the end of all your comments?

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 18, 2008 9:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

I haven't yet

But I figured in honor of the movie, I’d jokerize some things.

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

I didn’t notice the avatar change until you mentioned it.

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 18, 2008 9:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

I did the same on Facebook as well

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh, way.... you did.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 18, 2008 10:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

*wow

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 18, 2008 10:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah, I'm a nerd

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 10:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Still.

I’m impressed by your decision to “jokerize” everything.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 18, 2008 11:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh wow, did I miss baseball!

"We...probed them all the way through. They're completely meat." — Terry Bisson

by Scrbl on Jul 18, 2008 5:54 PM EDT 0 recs

seconded

You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The first is never get involved in a land war in Asia. The second, only slightly less well known, is this: never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Ha ha ha ha ha ha --

by utahdbacksfan on Jul 18, 2008 6:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

thirded

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Jul 18, 2008 9:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed

but it probably wouldn’t be as noticible if there was anything else going on in the sports world at the time. Talk about a deadzone.

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

You mean reruns of the 2007 World Poker Championships aren’t “something?”

What about a rerun of the D-Backs/Padres July 4th game? Why, oh why did they have to rerun that one?

"We...probed them all the way through. They're completely meat." — Terry Bisson

by Scrbl on Jul 18, 2008 9:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

I flipped the channel to that and immediately left. Seeing it once was more than enough.

by TwinnerA on Jul 18, 2008 10:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Man, new season of Psych, part 3 of Dr. Horrible, and the return of baseball. It’s going to be an exciting evening.

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 18, 2008 5:58 PM EDT 0 recs

Dr. Horrible

Made of awesomeness and win.

Isn't it enough to know I ruined a pony making a gift for you?

by mrssoco on Jul 18, 2008 11:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

I do think that Clark will improve our bench. He is an upgrade over all of the guys you named.

You would also have to believe he is happy to be back in Sedona red. Tracy has played some right field in the past. Has anyone heard who we are sending down yet? I can’t find anything on it.

by DiamondbacksWIn on Jul 18, 2008 6:42 PM EDT 0 recs

I believe

The radio said Upton is being DL’d to free up a spot for Clark temporarily. Make the Jackson, Young and Tracy outfield more likely…

by Jim McLennan on Jul 18, 2008 6:47 PM EDT up 0 recs

::crosses fingers and hopes burke isn't starting today::

by utahdbacksfan on Jul 18, 2008 6:50 PM EDT 0 recs

soco's keys to the game

1) Watch the game while I wait for the wife to come home
2) Watch movies of secret nature
3) Dessert?

By all means hit at a glacial pace. You know how that thrills me.

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 8:54 PM EDT 0 recs

Tonight's lineup

Refreshingly Burke-free:

S. Drew ss .264
C. Jackson lf .300
O. Hudson 2b .302
C. Tracy 1b .309
M. Reynolds 3b .249
M. Montero c .262
C. Young cf .228
A. Romero rf .250
D. Davis p .111

Still not exactly impressed with the lower-half of that order. We need Young to start hitting – or, at least, getting on-base – at a decent clip.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 18, 2008 9:02 PM EDT 0 recs

Anyone going to the game?

I want a sign out there that says “Our struggling center fielder batting seventh is better than your struggling center fielder batting seventh!”

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 18, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

So you know Sarah Schallenberger?

SMALL WORLD

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah, we went to high school together

It is a bizarrely small world, at times.

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 18, 2008 9:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

I want a sign that says

“Our Team Has Three Hitters, Four on a Good Night, Does Yours?”

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'd go with

“First one to score wins, ok?”

by Jim McLennan on Jul 18, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

Also good

now the game would be, which one could get past security first?

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

Should that be my sign for

the game in LA?

Maybe the Diamondbacks should just sign me...

by emilylovesthedbacks on Jul 18, 2008 9:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

The early big contracts for Young and Tool-man

are looking pretty silly right about now.

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

So

FSN are counting down the top 50 moments in D-backs history. #50 = Greg Colbrunn’s cycle. Does anyone have the slightest doubt which will be #1?

by Jim McLennan on Jul 18, 2008 9:33 PM EDT 0 recs

Episode 1 of the Eric Byrnes show?

I’d be torn between Randy’s perfect game and Gonzo’s World Series-Winning bloop single.

"We...probed them all the way through. They're completely meat." — Terry Bisson

by Scrbl on Jul 18, 2008 9:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

I couldn't be torn

Randy’s game was great [and might be #2], but it’s a blip beside the ninth inning of Game Seven.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 18, 2008 9:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

That ninth inning was the most enjoyable 10 minutes (or so) of baseball that I’ve ever watched. The perfect game was fun in a different way: 2 hours of “Can this guy get any more amazing?.....He can? Wow!”

"We...probed them all the way through. They're completely meat." — Terry Bisson

by Scrbl on Jul 18, 2008 9:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

Those will probably go 1 and 2

with winning the Series first, and the perfect game second.

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 18, 2008 10:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

There's a lot of room

for sarcastic answers to that, but I’ll restrain myself.

That is one great thing about baseball, and the fact that you play so many games. Even in a terrible season you almost always have an awesome moment to remember.

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

And a little blooper

Base Hit! Diamondbacks are World Champions!

After growing up in DC and having to deal with the Orioles in perpetual 4th place, having a championship won within a year of moving to Phoenix turned me into a bonafide D’backs fan. I watched every game of the 111 loss season, but I think they’ve been tougher to watch this year than any time in the past. There is so much talent not being utilized.

Don't blink; blink and you're dead. Don't turn your back, don't look away, and don't blink. Good luck!

by Stile4aly on Jul 18, 2008 9:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

Stile4aly's keys to the game

1) Enjoy the game from the AZsnakepit forum, which I haven’t been able to do lately
2) Avoid kidding about killing Bob Melvin
3) Steak.

Don't blink; blink and you're dead. Don't turn your back, don't look away, and don't blink. Good luck!

by Stile4aly on Jul 18, 2008 9:35 PM EDT 0 recs

Mmmm...

Steak…

Probably on Sunday, as that’s our sixth wedding anniversary. I sense a trip to Black Angus. :-)

by Jim McLennan on Jul 18, 2008 9:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

Steak for us

will probably Saturday when our new grill arrives.

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

What is with all these

radio commercials that mimic radio shows? What is the deal?

(Please don’t sue me, Jerry Seinfeld)

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:38 PM EDT 0 recs

I note Clark is no longer #34

Ironic, since Jackson took the number to honor him!

by Jim McLennan on Jul 18, 2008 9:40 PM EDT 0 recs

I smell a sitcom!

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

Welcome back, Tony Clark!

by TwinnerA on Jul 18, 2008 9:41 PM EDT 0 recs

I missed baseball.

Maybe the Diamondbacks should just sign me...

by emilylovesthedbacks on Jul 18, 2008 9:41 PM EDT 0 recs

Then you could play for the Diamondbacks

when can you report?

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

That's 1st half thinking

It’s like pre 9/11 thinking. No matter how right it is, you’re not allowed to do it anymore.

Don't blink; blink and you're dead. Don't turn your back, don't look away, and don't blink. Good luck!

by Stile4aly on Jul 18, 2008 9:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

Right now.

Who are they moving to make room for me?

Maybe the Diamondbacks should just sign me...

by emilylovesthedbacks on Jul 18, 2008 9:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hopefully Burke

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

Upton confirmed on the DL

“He just wasn’t in a position last night even when we had him in the cage taking some tee swings where he couldn’t let it go,” Melvin said. “How long it will be I’m not sure.”

Link

by Jim McLennan on Jul 18, 2008 9:43 PM EDT 0 recs

Oh, dear

Doug not able to get anyone out so far. :-(

by Jim McLennan on Jul 18, 2008 9:44 PM EDT 0 recs

Not that any one cares

but eBay is banned from selling LVMH perfumes (Dior, Kenzo, Guerlain, et cetera). This could have pretty big ramifications down the road.

EDIT: Oh dadnabbit people!

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:45 PM EDT 0 recs

???

Eh?

by Jim McLennan on Jul 18, 2008 9:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

LVMH

is one of the largest luxury goods companies, and the fact that eBay is now banned from selling their product is pretty huge. This opens the door for other companies to follow suit, if you’ll excuse the pun.

EDIT: Dammit, I’m not talking about this anymore. Both times I start to write a run scores.

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ah, makes sense

I imagine down to the number of counterfeits there?

by Jim McLennan on Jul 18, 2008 9:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

It's half that

and half that the luxury market would very much like to control every aspect of the distribution. When I was a perfume vendor we’d have to destroy bags and product that could be donated simply because the companies didn’t want their brands to be watered down.

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 18, 2008 9:53 PM EDT up 0 recs