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Highlights:
| - The D-backs won three games |
| - The D-backs lost three games |
| - David Hernandez saved three games |
| - At one point, the D-backs fell to three games back behind first place - they hadn't been that far back since May 24 |
| - Ian Kennedy wasn't very good |
| - Dan Hudson wasn't very good |
| - The D-backs scored 27 runs |
| - The D-backs gave up 29 run |
Follow the jump if you want to learn more...
And here we go:
| Rotation | Trend | Notes |
| Ian Kennedy |  |
Nothing good can be said of his last start in which he allowed 10 hits and 7 earned runs in 5.2 innings against one of the league's worst offenses in the A's. It was the third time this season that Kennedy allowed more than one home run in a game and the 16 flyballs and 8 line drives he allowed were both a season high. It also marked the first time this season that Kennedy had allowed home runs in back-to-back outings. Moving on... |
| Daniel Hudson | |
Hudson didn't do much better, allowing 8 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), in just 4 innings against the Brewers. Much like Ian, Hudson was hurt by the home run, as he allowed all five earned runs via the longball including a grandslam to the opposing pitcher. It was the first time this season that Hudson allowed more than one home run in a game. |
| Joe Saunders |  |
Saunders steadily dropped his ERA throughout June and started off July with the same trend. He pitched 7 scoreless innings in Oakland before allowing a walk and a single to leadoff the 8th. Yhency Brazoban came in and promptly allowed the inherited runners to score, bringing Saunders line to 7 IP / 8 hits / 2 ER. The BB:K ratio - 40:63 - and home runs - 15 - will always be a concern, but for now Joe is proving to be a legit #3 starter. |
|
Barry Enright *** |
 |
No appearances. He's sporting a 3.99 ERA, .210 BAA, and a 19:45 BB:K in ten games with the Aces. |
|
Josh Collmenter |
|
I'd like to see Collmenter succeed as a starter but it's getting tougher each day to believe that it's a possibility. He pitched 4.2 innings in Oakland, allowing 7 hits and 5 earned runs, racking up 92 pitches along the way. Collmenter hasn't been very economical lately and his BB/9 is starting to spike. |
| Zach Duke |
|
Duke had yet another disappointing outing against the Indians, allowing 4 runs off of 9 hits in only 5 innings. For some, it was the final straw, as plenty of 'Pit fans called for his head (a.k.a - "DFA"). For Duke, however, it served as a moment of clarity, as he buckled down and countered with an impressive outing in his following start against the Brewers. He allowed 2 runs off of 5 hits and pitched deep into the game. You're safe for now, Zach. |
| Bullpen | ||
| J.J. Putz |
 |
15-day DL retroactive to June 29 due to right elbow tendinitis. Unless they're keeping things on the down-low, it doesn't appear to be terribly serious. |
| David Hernandez |
|
Our interim closer has pitched very well to say the least. After getting somewhat roughed up by the Indians, Hernandez came back to record three consecutive saves without allowing a baserunner. |
| Juan Gutierrez |
|
15-Day DL retroactive to May 25 due to right shoulder inflammation. An MRI found rotator cuff irritation but no tears. He isn’t expected back before mid-June. |
| Sam Demel |
|
Demel returned after a 40 day rest and continued to do what he does best - strand runners and pitch effectively in the 6th and 7th inning. |
| Aaron Heilman |
|
Heilman continues to allow a bunch of hits (5 more in just 3.1 innings) and his trouble with the home run continues as well as he saw the seventh home run he's allowed float over his head this past week. He struck out four, though, and somehow managed to only allow the one (home)run so he's got that going for him. |
| Bryan Shaw *** |
|
Shaw picked up a pair of saves in Reno but 3 runs and two home runs in the process. |
| Joe Paterson | |
After disappearing for over a week, Paterson returned to throw just over two scoreless innings of relief, allowing a pair of hits and a walk while doing so. There's not much more to talk about... |
|
Esmerling Vasquez *** |
|
If you were hoping for a quick recovery from Vasquez, you'll have to start hoping for something else. Esmerling threw three innings, allowing a pair of runs via a home run along with three walks. |
| Micah Owings |
|
Owings still finds himself on the roster thanks to some solid work from the bullpen. He threw just under 3 innings this past week, allowing only one hit while striking out three. He also stranded a pair of runners. The solid work from Owings could mean that Heilman gets the boot if the D-backs find themselves with a tasty replacement. Otherwise, Heilman seems to be a lock to net the team a Type-B free agent compensation at the end of the year. |
| Alberto Castillo |
|
Allowed three hits and three walks in 2.2 scoreless innings. He stranded a pair of runners which is nice, but he hasn't exactly made me feel very confident about seeing him pitch with any kind of lead, or deficit, really. |
| Yhency Brazoban |
|
I'm not too sure what KT is trying to do with this bullpen but Brazoban doesn't seem to be one of the answers. After two innings, he's given up four hits and a (intentional) and one run. Four strikeouts are hot and sexy, but there's more to it than that. |
| Starters |
||
| Miguel Montero |
|
Arguably left off the roster for the All-Star game, Montero had himself a fairly "meh" week, posting a .718 OPS with just 5 hits in 20 at-bats. He did drill his 10th home run of the year, though. |
| Juan Miranda |
|
Miranda appeared in just 3 games, all of which he started. He went 2-10 with a pair of doubles and a pair of walks, but still nothing flashy. It's not a good sign when Xavier Nady is outperforming you. |
| Kelly Johnson |
|
Johnson had one of those mini-slumpbuster type of weeks where he played decently enough to make you think he's turning things around. He posted a .792 OPS, going 6-24 with couple of doubles and a home run. His OBP is slowly creeping up to .300 again. |
| Stephen Drew |
|
Copy and paste from Kelly Johnson, really. Drew had a .794 OPS with a double and a home run. Still, it'd be nice to see more pop. |
| Ryan Roberts |
|
.517 OPS and slumping. Yikes. It might be time to start wondering about getting a 3B at the trade deadline. |
| Gerardo Parra |
|
Parra continues his hot streak both on defense and in the batter's box. In addition to some flashy catches in the outfield, Parra went 6-18 with a home run and a double to post one of the team's best OPS marks at .924. |
| Chris Young | |
Young stole his third consecutive base without being caught to bring his season total to 11:6 SB:CS. Oh, and he also was also pretty decent at the plate, posting a .885 OPS thanks in part by a homer and a couple of doubles. He's reached base in 16 consecutive games and is tied for second place in the MLB with 24 doubles. |
| Justin Upton |
|
Upton cooled down some, posting a slash line of .217/.308/.522, but thanks to a couple of home runs still managed a respectable .829 OPS. |
| Bench |
||
| Willie Bloomquist |
|
Willie got some extra playing time while Roberts, Drew, and Johnson go through their respective slumps. Filling in, Bloomquist batted .308 and recorded his ninth stolen base. |
| Sean Burroughs +++ |
|
Guess who's back? Back again. Guess who got his first RBIs in over 3 years? Tell a friend. |
| Xavier Nady |
|
He's giving Juan Miranda a run for his money... by posting an OPS of .558... |
| Geoff Blum |
|
15-Day DL stint retroactive to March 22 due to right knee surgery. He's currently rehabbing with the Aces and could be activated very soon. |
| Henry Blanco |
|
1-3 in one start. Almost non-existent. |
| Wily Mo Pena |
|
Wily Mo has more pinch hit home runs in two weeks than the entire 2010 D-backs team had. Meanwhile, that's about all he's done. |
*** Optioned to Triple-A
+++ Outrighted to Triple-A and subsequently recalled