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Diamondbacks Line-up
- Gerardo Parra, RF
- Didi Gregorius, SS
- Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
- Eric Chavez, 3B
- Cody Ross, LF
- Miguel Montero, C
- Martin Prado,2B
- A.J. Pollock, CF
- Wade Miley, P
This is not necessarily the actual line-up, but given there's another right-handed pitcher on the mound, and we ran out the one above on both Friday and Saturday, it's likely not too far from the truth. Maybe there'll be a Kubel sighting, just for variety? But since I'm writing this not longer after our thrilling 1-0 victory on Saturday night, it's all a bit vague. I'll post the updated line-up in the Gameday Thread (assuming I'm up in time to do so. - never mind the preview, a first pitch on a Sunday of 10am local time is something that Amnesty International needs to investigate, as cruel and unusual punishment).
I won't actually be around for most of this one, as I'm going with Mrs. SnakePit and SnakePit Jr to see the new Star Trek movie at the movies. Not something we do often, but figured this was suitably cinematic that I should make the effort. I will even be turning off my mobile phone, so there will be no surreptitious checking during the movie: I'm a real Cinema Stasi about that, so got to practice what I preach! But I have every confidence that I can leave this game in your capable hands, and return to see us sweeping our way out of Miami, leaving nothing but a bunch of half-eaten fish-sticks (custard optional) in our wake.
So far, we've had one game where the hitting got it done, and one where it was all about the pitching. In the latter category, we turn to Wade Miley, who had a most un-Wadelike outing last time up, the Braves slapping him around for seven runs in five innings. I'm a bit concerned about Miley, whose previous four starts have had an ERA of 4.91 and a K:BB ratio of 12:12 in 22 innings - his first four had a 2.77 ERA to go with a 23:7 ratio, so it does seem as if something has been off for Wade of late. However, if he can't turn things around against the Marlins (whose overall offense so far, as measured by wRC+, is the worst since the 19th century), then we'll worry.
Regardless of what happens, we're guaranteed to leave Miami with at least a share of the division lead, which is all I was hoping for coming in to the series. Really, this is the kind of team we should beat up on, and so far we've tended to do so: we're 13-5 against teams below .500. While I can only feel sorry for the Marlins' fans, in a whole variety of ways, there's no room for mercy in sports fandom, and I fully expect reptile superiority to be demonstrated once again this morning.