Game #31: Diamondbacks vs. Rockies

Jordan Lyles RHP, 3-0, 2.93

Josh Collmenter RHP, 1-2, 3.38

Diamondbacks Lineup

1. Gerardo Parra - RF
2. Martin Prado - 3B
3. Paul Goldschmidt - 1B
4. Miguel Montero - C
5. Aaron Hill - 2B
6. Cody Ross - LF
7. Cliff Pennington - SS
8. Tony Campana - CF
9. Josh Collmenter - P

Worst starts in the major-leagues since 1998

• 5-25.
  2003 Tigers (Won #31)
• 7-23.
  1998 D-backs (Won #31)
  1999 Marlins (Won #31)
  2005 Royals (Won #31)
• 8-22.
  8 teams tied, including 2014 D-backs

Yep, if the Diamondbacks do not win this evening, and their record slips to 8-23, they're going to be entering some fairly elite territory of suckage. The last National League team with a worse beginning to the season was more than a quarter century ago: the 1987 Padres started 7-24, on their way to a 65-97 finish. A loss would tie Arizona with four others - the 2006 Pirates, the D-backs and Marlins teams above, and the 1995 Marlins - for the poorest start in the NL since then. I'm almost getting to the stage where I am embracing the awfulness; might as well, since there's not much indication it's going away, any time soon.

But, to some extent, that's what defines us as fans. It's easy to support a team through the good times: it's the hard times which winnow out the bandwagoners from the true devotees. And we've been pretty fortunate over the past few years. Sure, 2009-10 sucked, but those are the only times we've been below .500, which makes for a fairly respectable experience in terms of fandom. Damn, there are probably younglings out there who don't remember what 2004 was like, and don't even know what a Casey Fossum is. If we get to the All-Star break, and our winning percentage is still less than one-third, then we can talk about bad seasons....