Gameday Thread, #95: 7/20 vs. Dodgers

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 8:24 PM EDT in Diamondbacks News

Mark Hendrickson, LHP (4-10, 3.77)

Brandon Webb, RHP (10-3, 2.52)

Batting seventh, in left-field: Carlos Quentin. Yep, no Gonzo tonight - truly, The Future is Now. We should get shirts made. :-) However, Melvin's comments before the game make it clear that we should not expect this every day. "This is just a guy that we feel is ready for the big leagues. But is not here in a starting role right now. Gonzo is going to be back out there tomorrow. But certainly Gonzo wants to play everyday and I don't blame him. Gonzo is swinging the bat well and I expect him to continue to swing the bat well."

Exactly where Quentin is going to get into the lineup, remains to be seen. We already have DaVanon capable of operating as the fourth outfielder when necessary, so it's hard to see this as a sustainable scenario for the long-term, even if (as tonight) Quentin gets to start against left-handed pitching. My money is still on one of Gonzalez or Green - most likely the latter, but hell, in an ideal universe, both - being traded away between now and the deadline. Otherwise, this roster move doesn't really make an awful lot of sense.

Elsewhere in tonight's game, Brandon Webb takes on Mark Hendrickson, in what should see Arizona with the edge. However, despite the fact that he is 1-7 in the past two months, Hendrickson did allow only a single run last time out, and that was against a powerful St. Louis lineup. He also pitched a complete game versus the Tigers, with only one unearned run to show for it, so it would be wrong to underestimate the potential here.

However, if we can pry three runs from the Dodgers tonight, that should be enough; it would be very little surprise at all if we were to see back-to-back complete games. Webb has been insanely good lately, with an 0.78 ERA for his three July starts, covering 23 innings. I expect more of the same, and think that by the end of the night, we'll either be back in second, or a game closer to the Padres. The major-league debut of a stud prospect and the best pitcher in the NL starting for us? Mrs. SnakePit and I would like to thank the Diamondbacks for this fine 4th anniversary gift - now, let's just hope they can tie the series off with a win, so we don't need to exchange it for towels. :-)

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Tonight's lineup

E. Byrnes cf .291
O. Hudson 2b .261
S. Green rf 0 .309
C. Jackson 1b .266
J. Estrada c .322
C. Tracy 3b .276
C. Quentin lf .000
S. Drew ss .263
B. Webb p .163

It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood... :-) May this be the first of several hundred games in which these three appear. Though I think they won't be 7-8-9 for long.

I'm off to take Mrs. SnakePit for an anniversary feed, but should be back about the third inning. Should be fun...

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 9:00 PM EDT reply actions

Happy anniversiry

by flyingdutchman on Jul 20, 2006 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Lineup with age

1. E. Byrnes cf .291 (30)
2. O. Hudson 2b .261 (28)
3. S. Green rf .309 (33)
4. C. Jackson 1b .266 (24)
5. J. Estrada c .322 (30)
6. C. Tracy 3b .276 (26)
7. C. Quentin lf .000 (23)
8. S. Drew ss .263 (23)
9. B. Webb p .163 (27)

5 guys who are 27 years old and below that should have long futures with the team

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jul 20, 2006 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Go Q!

"very cunning Mr. *VIII*" -- Jim

by Mr. Philosophical on Jul 20, 2006 9:27 PM EDT reply actions

Conor Jackson gets a 2-out RBI

to give the D'Backs an early 1-0 lead.

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jul 20, 2006 9:56 PM EDT reply actions

hello every one

by flyingdutchman on Jul 20, 2006 10:01 PM EDT reply actions

Webb

should win the cy young

by flyingdutchman on Jul 20, 2006 10:01 PM EDT reply actions

darn

1-1

by flyingdutchman on Jul 20, 2006 10:02 PM EDT reply actions

Leadoff walk to Aybar hurts

as the D'Backs exchange 2 outs for the tying run

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jul 20, 2006 10:03 PM EDT reply actions

K for webb

by flyingdutchman on Jul 20, 2006 10:04 PM EDT reply actions

I'm back...

Returned from Outback Steakhouse just in time to see the Dodgers score the tying run. Know we should have stayed for dessert. :-)

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 10:05 PM EDT reply actions

Quentin's first MLB at-bat

comes with Tracy in 2nd and no outs

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jul 20, 2006 10:07 PM EDT reply actions

and it's a simple groundout to short

that doesn't move the runner. Here comes Drew

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jul 20, 2006 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions

double for tracy

by flyingdutchman on Jul 20, 2006 10:07 PM EDT reply actions

darn

by flyingdutchman on Jul 20, 2006 10:08 PM EDT reply actions

Drew

has 4th straight extra-base hit gives the D'Backs the lead again

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jul 20, 2006 10:09 PM EDT reply actions

GO STEPHEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by flyingdutchman on Jul 20, 2006 10:09 PM EDT reply actions

Hendrickson

should stick with basketball

by flyingdutchman on Jul 20, 2006 10:10 PM EDT reply actions

I see someone...

in the crowd with a yankees jersey on

by flyingdutchman on Jul 20, 2006 10:13 PM EDT reply actions

Looks like Gonzo is not happy...

They were saying on the TV that a Republic article suggested he was grumpy at being benched for Quentin. After that first at-bat by Q, I can see why... :-) But Drew delivers his fourth consecutive extra-base hit in as many at-bats, drives in his first run and it's back to 2-1. Not been able to find out exactly what article they were referring to, there's no immediate sign on the Rep site. But I think Gonzo had better get used to it, because I sense more pine in his future....

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 10:13 PM EDT reply actions

sigh

we are just going to have to turn the page

by flyingdutchman on Jul 20, 2006 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions

There's my three runs...

But why stop there? :-) After Byrnes fouled a pitch off his heel and did a little dance, Grace referred to him as "Byrnesie Baryshnikov". I am impressed by Grace's knowledge of ballet dancers...

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

I watch

on mlb.tv

by flyingdutchman on Jul 20, 2006 10:20 PM EDT reply actions

Nice play by Hudson

Comebacker by Furcal, glanced off the glove of Webb, grabbed by Hudson almost over the second-base bag and then threw across his body to Jackson for the force. Drew would probably have had a better angle, since he was moving towards first: however, I guess rookies with less than one week of major-league experience do not call off the reigning Gold Glove holder at second-base... :-)

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 10:31 PM EDT reply actions

J.D. Drew followed up with a two-out double...

And there was a nice shot of him taking his lead off second, with li'l bro' lurking in the background. I'd rather have our one, thank you very much. :-)

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 10:32 PM EDT reply actions

Brennaman bitching

About first-pitch hacking and statistics. He reckons that if you swing at the first pitch and foul it off, that should count as an out... Even Mark Grace, a man I suspect still awaiting his doctorate for advanced statistics, pointed out the idiocy of that particular idea.

Down go the D'backs, 1-2-3, with Tracy a little grumpy at being rung up by...yep, Angel Hernandez. It did look like the pitch was outside the zone.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 10:37 PM EDT reply actions

He should be reading this article

Swinging at 0-0 is a good idea most of the time, IF the hitter has the ability to put it in play, which is a big if.
http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2006/07/let_er_rip_ii_1.php

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jul 20, 2006 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Drew having positive effect on the infield?

Hudson and Jackson making good plays tonight :)

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jul 20, 2006 10:40 PM EDT reply actions

Here's the Gonzo article

Excerpted from the Republic. I never thought I'd see the word "miffed" in the headline of a major metropolitan newspaper:

Gonzalez miffed as he's replaced in lineup by rookie

PHOENIX - Arizona manager Bob Melvin told Luis Gonzalez he was going to start rookie Carlos Quentin in left field Thursday night to give him a night off against a tough left-hander. Gonzalez took it a different way. The 16-year veteran interpreted his benching as a sign the organization may be ready to part company with him at year's end. There has been speculation the club will not pick up its $10 million option on Gonzalez for 2007. "You guys read the writing on the wall," Gonzalez told reporters before the Diamondbacks played the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. "Am I upset? Of course I am. If you weren't upset, you wouldn't be a professional athlete, not wanting to be on the field."

Gonzalez said he was happy for Quentin, who made his major league debut Thursday night."I'm excited for Quentin to be here," Gonzalez said. "I hope he gets four hits tonight, five hits. But as a veteran that's been around, I want to be on the field." The timing of the move mystified Gonzalez, who said the club needs veteran leadership as it contends for the NL West title. Arizona came into Thursday's game in third place, three games behind San Diego. Gonzalez hinted that the Diamondbacks' front office pushed Melvin to play Quentin. "It's kind of weird because we're in the middle of a pennant race, but I understand that it's not (Melvin's) decision," Gonzalez said. "I think there's a lot more to it, maybe not from down here (in the clubhouse)."

It's been a frustrating season for the 38-year-old Gonzalez, a 2001 World Series hero and the most popular player in franchise history. Although he's been hot since the All-Star break, Gonzalez came into Thursday batting .270 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs. He's on pace to hit only 12 homers, which would be his fewest since 1997.

"This is a new regime here," Gonzalez said. "I understand that. And I understand the direction they want to go, and I can live with that. I honestly don't want this to play into a soap opera. I've been playing 16 years. I've been here for eight, and I don't want to play head games or things like that. I feel like I've earned the respect just to kind of know what's going on upstairs."

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

The writing on the wall

The D'Backs are auditioning Quentin for the part in LF. It's similar to what happened when they brought Tony Pena up. They liked what they saw enough to send Edgar Gonzalez back down to Triple A. I don't think Quentin will get enough ABs to make an impact before Scott Hairston is back though.
BTW, what is the option situation with Edgar? I thought he would have run out by now....

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jul 20, 2006 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I can only presume

His 2005 appearance (0.1 IP) can't have counted as the use of an option, for some reason. I'm not certain why, since I wasn't aware of there being any 'minimum stay' requirement on those.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

"veteran leadership"

any time that phrase is used, you know smoke is being blown.

by johngordonma on Jul 20, 2006 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Quentin goes yard!

First hit, RBI, homer, run scored, etc....
5-1 D'Backs

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jul 20, 2006 11:12 PM EDT reply actions

And a no-doubter at that

Right off the bat. Three plate appearances to break his home-run duck in the majors. Got to love that. He just matched Luis Gonzalez' HR total for all of May and June combined... D'you hear that? It's the winds of change...

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

theres the future

by flyingdutchman on Jul 20, 2006 11:13 PM EDT reply actions

Drew has another hit

5 in his last 6 ABs. Could be time to put him in the 2 hole.

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jul 20, 2006 11:16 PM EDT reply actions

agree

by flyingdutchman on Jul 20, 2006 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Could this game get any better????

by johngordonma on Jul 20, 2006 11:16 PM EDT reply actions

CELEBRATING!

Was anyone else running around cheering when Carlos crushed that homer!

... I know Gonzo wasn't :( I hope he is big enough with all this right now to congratulate the kid. I bet he is, but I worry.

by Mister T in AZ @ AZ Snakepit on Jul 20, 2006 11:17 PM EDT reply actions

Celebrating? You bet.

Charged straight through to tell Mrs. SnakePit. Who is probably about the only one in the house who would care. The SnakePitette and SnakePit Jr weren't around, and our dogs' knowledge of the prospects in our farm system is really distressingly poor. :-(

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Just what the doctor ordered

2 on and no outs...and Webb gets a comebacker to start a double play

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Jul 20, 2006 11:31 PM EDT reply actions

The future is near!

Maybe NOW! MUHAHAHA. Keep him there, try to shop Green!

"very cunning Mr. *VIII*" -- Jim

by Mr. Philosophical on Jul 20, 2006 11:31 PM EDT reply actions

Good comeback from Webb

First two reach for the Dodgers, but a double-play, and a beautiful, three-pitch strikeout solves the matter. The bullpen which had been lacing its boots, sits back down again.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 11:33 PM EDT reply actions

Sigh ...

It's better, as a 'knowledged' fan, to see these guys come up and get their big league hits in at a time where club and franchise attitude is high, but it's still a shame as a 'kayfab' fan to see guys like Gonzo and Couns be down about their position. I wish them the best luck in the pending free agency market, but I see our future being strong and hope for a good hot stove free agency season for us.

"Pepper needs new shorts!"

by npineda on Jul 20, 2006 11:36 PM EDT reply actions

It must be tough

For any athlete, coming to the end of their career, to accept that there are younger, cheaper, better alternatives for their position. But dealing with that is part of what makes a player's legacy: showing good grace in dealing with the inevitable. Otherwise, you're like a party guest who barfs on the doorstep while leaving - that's what you'll be remembered for, not the witty anecdotes you told during the party.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions

For the record

I didn't KNOW it was the front steps I was puking on. I thought it was the cat.

"Pepper needs new shorts!"

by npineda on Jul 20, 2006 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions

If it had been the cat...

I'd have minded less. It cleans itself. :-)

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

That's the Drew defense we heard about...

Dodgers have men on first and third. Grounder hit to Drew, but he can't get it out of his glove, and a potential double-play ball ends up with everyone safe.

Tying run at the plate? No problem. Webb calmly gets another double-play ball, this one is executed without issue and though it's now a 5-2 game, the Dodgers are down to their last three outs. Save situation, I'm thinking Julio is probably in.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 20, 2006 11:50 PM EDT reply actions

You, Sir

Your good. Very good :)

"Pepper needs new shorts!"

by npineda on Jul 20, 2006 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice

Didn't comment, as I surprisingly got the feed and was able to watch the game on TV- a rare delight. But a Carlos Quentin home run, and four double plays, most (if not all) involving Drew? That certainly gives warm fuzzy feelings for the future.

Oh, and the series win is nice, too.

by kishi on Jul 21, 2006 12:05 AM EDT reply actions