Diamondbacks 3, Dodgers 4 - Failed Comebacks Leave One Wondering
by snakecharmer on May 14, 2011 2:16 AM EDT
in Diamondbacks Game Reports
Email
Print
Record: 15-22. Pace: 66-96. Change on last season: 0.
The NL West road trip continues with a leg back down the coast to Los Angeles. This series gives us the opportunity to pass the Dodgers and take third place in the division, if only we could find a way to win a few. Time to put the 1-5 record behind us and start fresh.
New city, same result. Joe Saunders had a great outing, the Diamondbacks' offense failed to show up until late in the game, and mental errors led to another one-run loss against a division foe.
Details in the usual place, but I won't blame you for skipping...
The game once again started out so promising for Arizona. Chris Young doubled to lead off the game and Melvin Mora followed with a bloop double where Young could only make it to 3rd base. But Xavier Nady and Stephen Drew both struck out and Justin Upton popped out. Had Nady or Drew hit a fly ball or even a grounder to the right side, Young might've scored, but instead, both runners were stranded. Nearly the same thing happened in the third inning. Joe Saunders worked a leadoff walk from Clayton Kershaw, Young singled, and Nady then walked to load the bases with one out. But Drew stuck out again and Upton flew out again. Three hits, two walks, and zero runs scored in those two innings, and the Diamondbacks gave Kershaw and the Dodgers back all that momentum.
Joe Saudners was pitching really well under the bright lights of the Los Angeles sky. He allowed one hit to the first batter he faced and two other walks through the first five innings. Former Diamondback Rod Barajas picked on a mistake pitch and gave the Dodgers a 1-run lead with his solo home run in the 5th inning. Jamie Carroll led of the 6th inning with a single and scored on a double by Matt Kemp. Saunders intentionally walked Juan Uribe to load the bases with, but James Loney and Rod Barajas could not extend the Dodgers' lead past 2-0.
It all came apart for the Diamondbacks' defense in the 7th inning. With two outs, Jamie Carroll reached base for the third time tonight, this time with a walk. Aaron Miles hit a ground ball to Stephen Drew, which he ran to grab and throw to Kelly Johnson to get Carroll out at 2nd base. Except Kelly wasn't actually covering 2nd base, and Drew's throw went way past 1st base into right field. Upton fired home but by then Miles had scored, and Blanco's throw to 3rd to try to get Miles was late and that throw nearly went into left field. So Gibson pulls Saunders for Joe Patterson to face Andre Ethier, who induces a ground ball to Drew - who again throws it a bit wide of Nady playing 1st base, and Miles scores to make it 4-0. Patterson's job was done, and Esmerling Vasquez came in and, after the Dodgers' third infield single in the inning, finally got Juan Uribe to pop out to Mora to end the 7th inning.
The Diamondbacks finally got on the board in the 8th inning against Matt Guerrier. Chris Young singled, stole second base, and scored on a single by Nady, but Drew notched his third strikeout of the night to end the frame. Gutierrez pitched a scoreless 8th to keep Arizona in the ballgame leading into the 9th. Vincente Padilla was brought in for the save, and the Diamondbacks wasted no time against him. Upton worked a walk and Kelly Johnson singled to put two runners on. Parra's weak groundout moved the runners over to 2nd and 3rd base. This time, pinch-hitter Miguel Montero - who fell early in the count to 0-2 by swinging for the fences - smacked a hanging curve into center field to plate Upton and Johnson and reduce the Dodgers' lead to - surprise, surprise - one run. But pinch-hitter Russell Branyan and (after CY walked) Melvin Mora both struck out, giving the Diamondbacks their 5th straight one-run loss.
Hero: C Young, +16.8%
Goat: M Mora, -14.1%
Villain: S Drew, -20.3% (defense not included)
Ho-hum, quelle surprise, another day, another one-run loss. Another episode where the starting pitcher deserved much better than his fate, if only the offense and/or defense had shown up. Chris Young was 3 for 4 with a walk, but Diamondbacks batters struck out 15 times. Thanks to soco, we know the modern record for one-run losses was seven in a row by the 1919 Washington Senators. Anybody want to place bets on whether or not we meet or surpass that record?
Strange how a road trip such as this can lull us into feeling that a zero-zero game is such a bad situation; it sure seems as though the team feels that way too. So it was a rather depressing and wine-filled, if fairly active, gameday thread tonight. imstillhungry95 obliterated the competition and was the only poster over 100 comments. Rockkstarr12 and hotclaws were millimeters from each other in 2nd and 3rd, with Clefo and blue bulldog just barely behind them. All told there were 833 comments by: 4 Corners Fan, Rockkstarr12, snakecharmer, blue bulldog, Jdub220, diamondintherough, Jim McLennan, IHateSouthBend, emilylovesthedbacks, Clefo, BattleMoses, Prosopis, hotclaws, pygalgia, txzona, imstillhungry95, kishi, piratedan7, Azreous, shoewizard, jaydubsped, Backin'the'Backs (Welcome!), SeanMillerSavior, justin1985, NASCARbernet, soco, dbacks25, Gravity, Gibbysdad, and SenSurround.
There were several LOL-worthy candidates for Comment of the Day, including some pretty good proposed lineups for tomorrow. My ultimate winner was one of Clefo's gems:
It's like dates I've been on
It’s long, drawn out, nothing happens and nobody scores
Bad doormat! No stock options!
Tomorrow's game is one of the "evening" games FOX is now airing, starting at 4pm Pacific/Arizona time. So, since Josh Collmenter's debut is going to be on national television, let's try to, oh, I don't know, win?? What do you think, who's with me??!?! YEAH!!!!!!!
..... Yeah. See ya tomorrow.
30 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Despite only giving up 3 earned runs
Saunders outing was still pretty bad….this guy is beginning to depress me…and my preseason faith in him for being at least a 1.5 WAR guy
Drew had a rough night. 3 K’s. The defense though is really unfortunate. Actually, on both those groundballs that Drew ended up throwing away he showed pretty amazing range. The problem is KJ wasn’t covering 2B (probably assumed Drew was going to go to first for the out, but he should have been covering since it’s way too difficult for the Drew to throw across the diamond to 1B while running towards 3B). The second poor throw from Drew to Nady was pretty bad….he makes that throw look so easy most of the time. If I had to bet, I’d say the first error was probably weighing on him still.
How is his outing bad??
He had one hit and two walks until Barajas’s solo shot. Yeah he loaded the bases in the 6th but escaped with only one run, and the “hits” in the 7th were more generous scoring decisions than hits.
I stopped reading. Now I just write sarcastic, angry comments.. -- soco
They're not even cooking the ice! -- kishi
by snakecharmer on May 14, 2011 3:21 AM EDT up reply actions
4 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
in less than 7 innings pitched?
how is that not a bad outing?
granted, Barajas’s solo shot was off a pitch that was far inside….but still
anytime you give up more BB than K that’s a pretty bad outing.
by blue bulldog on May 14, 2011 6:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Because
the scale is more nuanced than “bad outing” or “ZOMG.”
I'm daydreaming on a strawberry swing.
Saunders is not dominant
with the strikeout. 2 Ks is low but since he didn’t allow that many runs, I’m totally fine with it. And one of those was an IBB.
I stopped reading. Now I just write sarcastic, angry comments.. -- soco
They're not even cooking the ice! -- kishi
by snakecharmer on May 14, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
And it would have produced a win
if not for the errors. Stats are useful to compare things, and to a lesser extent predict the future with varying degrees of accuracy, but the object of the game is to win, which is the only stat that really counts in team sports.
Not exacly a 'bad outing'
My Saunders’ concern is seems to only pitch well if front of big market cities, and then only at sea level with high humidity (thick air).
by NASCARbernet on May 14, 2011 4:20 AM EDT up reply actions
This wouldn't be a problem
Except that he plays in a mid-market city at the second-highest elevation in the majors (I think).
Rest In Peace: Me (2008-2010)
Good luck keeping your upper lip warm without MY help, Mr. Zavada.
by Zavada's Moustache on May 14, 2011 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
can't score on a strikeout
- C. Young doubled to right
- M. Mora doubled to shallow right, C. Young to third
- X. Nady struck out swinging
- S. Drew struck out swinging
- J. Upton popped out to second
pretty much says it all
This is exactly why
Towers got rid of high K players. Now to impress upon the normal ones not to do that either!!!!
I stopped reading. Now I just write sarcastic, angry comments.. -- soco
They're not even cooking the ice! -- kishi
by snakecharmer on May 14, 2011 11:48 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Technically
You COULD score on a strikeout. But it’d be in the realm of very fluky plays
Bad doormat! No stock options!
Your 2011 Diamondbacks already provided that to the opposition
And wasted no time either, doing it in Colorado on Opening Day.
Bottom of the 7th, Rockies Batting, Behind 4-6,
Juan Gutierrez replaces Ian Kennedy pitching and batting 9th
- S. Smith Strikeout Swinging
- C. Gonzalez Single to RF (Line Drive to Short RF)
- T. Tulowitzki Lineout: LF
- T. Helton Single to CF (Ground Ball thru SS-2B); Gonzalez to 2B
- T. Wigginton Strikeout Swinging, E2; Gonzalez Scores/unER; Helton to 3B; Wigginton to 2B
"I'm confused."
"Yeah, well. It's a big club. We should get t-shirts."
by Jim McLennan on May 14, 2011 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
As noted in the GDT
Only your 2011 Diamondbacks can lead off a game with back-to-back doubles, and still not manage to score…
"I'm confused."
"Yeah, well. It's a big club. We should get t-shirts."
by Jim McLennan on May 14, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
It seems that our new team
Has less “swager” than last years team. If we are doomed to be annual celler dwellers then let’s stop pretending this is the year. Let’s get some people who WANT to win. Not just get paid
by Gibbysdad on May 14, 2011 12:53 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Really?
It’s only been a week since the hit back-to-back home runs off the Rockies’ closer, and we were all talking about how gritty this year’s team was. You can scrap all you want, but when the offense is in a slump, and the pitching isn’t good enough to win a lot of ballgames, you’re going to lose.
Rest In Peace: Me (2008-2010)
Good luck keeping your upper lip warm without MY help, Mr. Zavada.
by Zavada's Moustache on May 14, 2011 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions
The pitching really has not been the problem
They’ve thrown 125 innings since the start of the Cubs series, and the Diamondbacks have a 3.02 ERA, but possess a 5-9 record over that time.
In May, it’s better yet: just 2.85, the second best in the league – yet they are 4-7.
That is good enough to win a lot of ball-games – just not when your offense is hitting .218 and scoring three or less, more often than not, as the D-backs have also been doing.
"I'm confused."
"Yeah, well. It's a big club. We should get t-shirts."
by Jim McLennan on May 14, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Offense seems to know exactly what is required of them
and do just enough to not meet that requirement. Seriously, losing five straight games by a run? In any event, they’ve blown countless man on 2nd no out situations, which is pretty bad, blowing 2nd and 3rd no out last night was by far the worst though. You have to make contact in that situation. They apparently can’t even pull of small ball, as Blanco proved by striking out on a bunt attempt with 1st and 2nd no outs on Wednesday…I understand he’s a catcher, but how hard is it to learn how to bunt? In any event, they need to learn how to manufacture runs, they create opportunities only to waste them, or score them with two outs, they need to be able to guarantee themselves a run with runner on 2nd no outs or runner on 3rd 1 out.
At least this team
doesn’t give up when they’re down. And no one, literally no one, thinks this is “the year”. And if someone told you that this is the year, they are high and they need to share.
Also, if we had players who just wanted to get paid, why did many of our players sign team friendly long term deals and pass on the opportunity to just ride out the 6 years with us and leave to a big market team?
Justin Upton through 28 games: .283/.367/.547, 1.5 WAR.
You mad, AZCentral?
I'm not as pessimistic as some of the others
starting pitchers are beginning to pitch like I expected them to, but the hitters are in a slump. When the hitters are out of the slump, and the pitching continues to be effective, suddenly wins, and maybe even in bunches. Notice that even with this horrific slide the D’Backs are only five and half out. Crazy. Yeah, I would want another good hitter in the line up to force opposing teams to alter their pitching strategies, but things are not as dire as they seem.
by NASCARbernet on May 14, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
That doesn't take much
things seem pretty dire right now. All pessimism aside, we could be in a much worse position right now. If the pitchers contiune to not do to bad, and the offense remembers how to hit w/ RISP, then we might even challenge for the division lead.
The question is. will that happen? I don’t know. For it to happen though, I think we need to start with DFA’ing Mora and Branyan, and bring up your choice of good hitting minor leaguers. There’s my advice Gibby and KT, please take it.
WE WANT DUKE! WE WANT DUKE! etc. etc.
by imstillhungry95 on May 14, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Man,
I really thought I had a chance for COTD this time. I wonder if they will mention on the broadcast tonight now we are one more one run loss away from tying yet another horrible record (that being the record of consecutive one run losses at seven straight.)
WE WANT DUKE! WE WANT DUKE! etc. etc.
by imstillhungry95 on May 14, 2011 4:58 PM EDT reply actions
Game Standing
After 5 Innings (37 games)
Ahead: 15
Tied: 4
Behind: 18
Game Standing After 7 Innings
Ahead: 10
Tied: 4
Behind: 23
Game Standing After 9 Innings
Ahead: 12
Tied: 4 (extra innings)
Behind: 21
We get outscored early, but if there’s a game segment where we appear to degrade from a flirtatious, barely sub .500 wannabe to a last place millstone, that would appear to be the sixth and seventh innings. At least so far. Some of it, perhaps most, may be random variation, but I wonder if Gibby’s staff usage contributes.
He seems to leave struggling starters in too long in the middle innings, often replacing them in favor of second and third tier RPs, with men on base and the probable outcome very much at stake. Not every game, certainly, but a little too regularly, in my judgement.
David Hernandez has entered as many games when we’re behind (8) as when it’s tied (5) or protecting a lead of three runs or less (3) combined. Not as easy to manage as it sounds, but by the time KG tabs Hernandez, typically the 8th, we’re behind so often he doesnt impact game outcomes often enough, even when he throws characteristically well.
I suspect these trademark, come from behind rallies that just fall short are not entirely a coincidence, or entirely the straightforward result of player performance. Unlike 2010, Gibson has some bullpen pieces to leverage this year, and could likely improve some in that respect.
Link to bref’s fascinating team scoring report.
by Diamondhacks on May 14, 2011 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, the sixth is our pitchers' second-BEST inning
In terms of OPS against. The seventh is a bit flaky, but look at the third and fourth frames, where the opposition hits over .300 against (presumably) our starters. Ouch.
"I'm confused."
"Yeah, well. It's a big club. We should get t-shirts."
by Jim McLennan on May 14, 2011 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Managers have less practical discretion substituting pitching personnel in the third or fourth inning. I’d say the fifth, and certainly anything after that, is probably more relevant to my post.
Sixth inning ops against, or runs allowed or whatever, may be “second-best” but the “best” split, by a healthy margin, is the 8th inning – thanks largely to Hernandez. Eighth inning ERA is essentially half what it is in the sixth. Why settle for “second best” if and when game outcomes are imminently in doubt after, say, the fifth inning?
I realize there’s inherent assumptions here; that Hernandez is flexible, would continue to pitch great, etc. But assuming he’s established himself as more consistently effective and durable than his peers, it just makes sense to me to employ him when and where outcomes are slipping away most often.
by Diamondhacks on May 14, 2011 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions
to be fair
Hernandez isn’t as great as his ERA suggests. he’s been quite lucky so far this year.
that being said, i agree the with the premise of your argument. i think Gibby’s management of pitching has been horrendous. our back end starters don’t have the talent to go deep into a game. knowing that, along with the fact that our bullpen is clearly one of the better ones in the NL, we should be using our bullpen more often.
by blue bulldog on May 14, 2011 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions
You're right
he has been luckier than I realized. For some reason, I thought his K/BB was around 3, but it’s half that.
by Diamondhacks on May 15, 2011 4:56 AM EDT up reply actions
When it seems that fans take losses harder than players we got a problem. Where’s the veteran presence we heard so much about. I see them down in the duggout spittin seed. Weren’t they brought aboard to not only help produce win but to lead and teach the younger players “trade secrets”. There’s another 0-2 stat some one can drum up to prove another usless point. Wins=Fans. Embarassing consecutive losses=a scolding from Gibbysdad. I am a fan. I am just a frustrated, dissapointed, pessamistic(realistic) fan. Go Dbacks. Plus my brother in law is a Doyers fan and I hate getting midgame text about strikeouts, errors, and just plain suckin
by Gibbysdad on May 14, 2011 6:39 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on AZ Snake Pit
Related FanShots on AZ Snake Pit
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
