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Diamondbacks Digest
Jack Reinheimer Gaining Valuable Experience in AFL
Is Jack Reinheimer a possibility to fill the offensive void in the Diamondbacks' middle infield in 2016? The 23-year-old who came to the team as part of the Mark Trumbo deal with Seattle is still getting used to hitting the better pitching, but he is getting developmental time at second base as well as continuing to work on his game at his primary position, shortstop.
Daniel Palka Hits First AFL Homer
It has been a year of adjustments for Daniel Palka. While adapting to the shift from playing first base to playing the outfield, the 23-year-old has not stopped hitting. Now Palka is getting a look at advanced pitching and being asked to work on pitch selection.
Numerous Pitching Options Face Diamondbacks this Winter
The 2016 free agent pitching class is a deep one, but will the presence of arms like Price and Cueto drive the price of lower-tier pitchers too high for the Diamondbacks to find a good fit? Will the Diamondbacks turn their attention overseas, possibly to Japan and Kenta Maeda?
The World Series
Game 1
It would hardly be possible for a Game 1 to be filled with more drama, or to better set the stage for an epic World Series. Royals' starter Edinson Volquez took the mound and pitched very well, not knowing his wife was waiting in the clubhouse to let him know his father had died earlier in the day. Both teams received home runs from their leadoff hitters. The Royals' Escobar managed to do it in inside-the-park fashion - without a play at the plate. The usually sure-handed, two-time Gold Glover, Eric Hosmer committed a very costly error in the eighth inning to put the Mets up. The Mets, who had not blown a save since June 30th took the field in the 9th, looking to have stolen Game 1, only to cough up the lead on a one-out home run by Alex Gordon. The game went deep into extras, requiring both teams to turn to starters to make a relief appearance. Chris Young managed three scoreless innings of relief pitching. Bartolo Colon only managed two and a third, allowing only an unearned run. That allowed the Royals to walk off with a 4-5 victory in 14 innings of play that went five hours and nine minutes.
Game 2
While not providing nearly the level of drama that Game 1 did, Game 2 was memorable as well. Although Johnny Cueto has had his ups and downs since being traded to the Royals, he has come up large when it counted most, including the win or go home Game 5 against the Houston Astros. On Wednesday, Cueto got to face off against a familiar opponent. He responded by doing familiar things, tossing 122 pitches en route to a two-hit complete game, allowing only one run to plate in the fourth inning. That run came thanks to Lucas Duda the only Met to tally a hit in the game.
Other Baseball News
It sure did not take Don Mattingly very long to find work. Less than a week after Mattingly's departure from the Los Angeles Dodgers, he has been tabbed to helm the Miami Marlins as their new manager.
Alex Anthopoulos Turns Down Extension, Leaves Toronto
After leading the Toronto Blue Jays to their first postseason appearance in 22 years, the Blue Jays' GM has decided to turn down an extension and will seek his fortunes elsewhere.
Nationals Name Bud Black Their New Manager
The former Padres skipper is said to have beaten out Dusty Baker for the position.