Dbacks 2, Twins 6: All Men Must Die; All Seasons Must End

Much like many other games this season, the Diamondbacks starter, Andrew Chafin, struggled early, while the offense didn't even think to show up for a few innings. In the first inning, Chafin avoided any actual damage, but didn't make anything easy on himself. He struck out the first two batters he faced, but then he hit Joe Mauer with a pitch and gave up a single to Trevor Plouffe, both with two outs. However, he struck out Oswaldo Arcia to end the inning and avoid giving the Twins a lead.

He wasn't so lucky in the second. A lead off walk before getting Eduardo Nunez to popup to second set the table for a three run inning for Minnesota. Brian Hicks moved Nunez to second, and then Eduardo Escobar hit an RBI single to put the Twins on the board. He then went to second on the throw home, and Hicks made it to third. A strikeout and an intentional walk loaded the bases for Chris Parmalee, in the game to replace Mauer after the HBP in the first. He hit a single that knocked in two. However, he ran his way out of the inning by trying to take second, and getting thrown out by Ender Inciarte.

The Dbacks offense, unsurprisingly, wasn't doing much better. Kyle Gibson shut the team down early on, not even allowing a base runner until the ninth spot in the order. Even with Inciarte also getting a single that inning, they weren't able to manage anything until the fourth inning. Lamb lead that inning off with a double, and was brought home by a two-out, Chris Owings single. 3-1 Twins.

Chafin followed up his struggles of the first two innings with a quick inning in the third. He wasn't nearly so successful in the fourth. A lead off double for Nunez, and then an RBI double for Hicks gave the Twins a 4-1 lead and chased Chafin from the game. Spruil came in and got out of the inning without anymore damage.

Spruil gave up another run in the fifth and seventh, but overall kept the Twins quiet. The Dbacks did pick up offensively in the last couple innings, putting a run on the board in the eighth and ninth, including getting the tying run to the plate with two outs in the ninth, but in the end, went away quietly. Final score Dbacks 3, Twins 6.

Source: FanGraphs

The Baseball Season: Ender Inciarte, 5.9%

The Off Season: Andrew Chafin, -27%

With how quickly the number of comments in the GDT's are declining, one almost has to wonder if we'll continue to break triple digits the rest of the way. Only 129 comments today, spread out over 13 posters. I lead the way with 31 comments, GuruB was second with 25, and hotclaws came in third with 20. All present were:

Clefo, GuruB, Jim McLennan, JoeCB1991, Makakilo, The Lord Humungus, asteroid, benhat, hotclaws, imstillhungry95, onedotfive, preston.salisbury, xmet

Comment of the day goes to hotclaws, for her pun:

" Hello,I'm Chafin "

"Have you tried putting talcum powder in your jockstrap ? "

Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field? 
Jim Bouton

by hotclaws on Sep 23, 2014 | 5:21 PM reply unrec (2) actions

***

Well, that's it. My last recap of the season, and the Dbacks last game I'll be able to listen to this year. You would think that I would be happy! No more Trevor Cahill starts, Addison Reed blown saves, or offensive futility. Instead, I find myself slightly depressed. I find myself wishing that next Tuesday I could recap another Videl Nuno seven inning game, where he gives up only one run, but at the same time, the Dbacks manage only one themselves. Then, in the ninth, Reed comes in and gives up a two run home run to screw it all up. I find myself wishing that because next Tuesday, for the first time in six months, I know it won't happen. It's over. There's nothing left.

Despite everything this team has done to infuriate me this season, I find that saddening. Despite all their struggles, there have been some pretty great moments. Snakepit Fest immediately comes to mind. Learning about different types of food that I wouldn't have even thought to research because of Fang Food as well.The rises of Chris Owings, Chase Anderson, David Peralta, and Ender Inciarte also come to mind.  Knowing that no matter what I've been dealing with during the day, I can always come here and there will be great people and baseball. That has been the best part.

Sure, there will be the Arizona Fall League, and the Winter Meetings, and then eventually Spring Training, but it isn't the same. It isn't the Dbacks. It isn't my Dbacks. And as much as they frustrate me sometimes, I don't want them to go. Now I begin the "staring out the window and waiting for spring". However, despite my logical side telling me there is no way to compete, I already find myself growing hopeful for next year. Goldschmidt will be back. The offense almost has to do better. Hopefully, the rotation will be bolstered during the off season. It seems illogical to me, but at the same time, isn't that the point of being a fan? So I just have one question: Is it Spring Training yet?

***

There are more games, however. Join the rest of the 'Pit tomorrow for an early start tomorrow, 10:10 AM Arizona time. Be there, if you can. There aren't many more of these left.