Record: 75-81. Pace: 78-84. Change on 2014: +13.

As I haven't written much on here lately, thanks to moving, work, and poor internet set up, this will double as a bit of a recap of the year as well as the game. That said, much the same thing applies to both the year and this game.

My expectations for this game weren't very high, but David Peralta and Ender Inciarte combined to surpass them, albeit by a good bit more than the team as a whole for the season. It started with Peralta running 102 feet to catch a line drive that looked sure to be an RBI double for Norris. He then led off the fourth with a solo home run. Inciarte followed with a solo shot in the fifth, but the Padres got both runs back off Chacin in the bottom of the fifth. Brito pinch hit for Chacin leading off the seventh, and singled. Inciarte followed with his second home run of the game, making it 4-2. This was the first multi-homer game of his professional career, dating back to 2008.

Before the year started, I said that based on the talent level, the D-backs should post 75 wins. My actual expectations were a bit lower, as I made this statement while it seemed the D-backs would be playing Trumbo and Ross in the outfield and Hill and Tomas in the infield with regularity. How wrong I was. Personnel decisions on the major league level were about what I would have done. Even moves that I questioned, such as the acquisition of Saltalamacchia, turned out to be good decisions. As far as the outfield is concerned? Instead of suffering through Ross and Trumbo in the outfield, Ross was released before the season, and Trumbo, although he did briefly lead the majors in triples, soon found himself in the Pacific Northwest. Instead, we had a regular outfield in which all three members, as of today, have batting averages over .300. Oh, and Peralta and Inciarte combined for three home runs and four RBI in this game.

Today's starting pitcher, Zack Godley, exceeded expectations simply by appearing with the big club. Part of the Miguel Montero deal, he threw three quality starts before having one terrible outing, then was serviceable in several outings that were short by design. His replacement, Jhoulys Chacin, wasn't even with the team in the spring. Yasmany Tomas, though dismal defensively at third, had a couple nice plays at first filling in for Goldy.

Not that the game lacked nervous moments. Andrew Chafin put the first two on in the seventh, before getting two outs and leaving with runners on second and third, but Randall Delgado came on and got Matt Kemp to ground out. The biggest thing about that was that it meant Justin Upton was up to lead off the next inning. It also meant he was facing Daniel Hudson, not Delgado, and Hudson struck him out. At that point, with the shadows lengthening, more offense seemed unlikely. This was in fact the case. Apart from Pollock drawing his third walk of the game, nothing happened. Oh, and Goldy came in as a defensive replacement, recording two put-outs as Ziegler recorded his 27th consecutive save.

On the whole, this year was more fun than last year. Here's hoping that next year shows a similar improvement. And hey, we're still alive to finish .500!

Bells and whistles, by Jim

[Click for details at fangraphs.com]
The Arizona Cardinals offense: Ender Inciarte, +48.6%
The Arizona Cardinals defense: Godley, +13.2%; Peralta, +12.7%
The San Francisco 49ers: Jhoulys Chacin and Yasmany Tomas, each -16.1%

Over 275 comments, not bad considering the Cardinals were kicking ass elsewhere. AzDbackfanInDc, Oldenschoole and hotclaws were the top three, with the others present being: AzRattler, Clefo, Diamondhacks, GuruB, I suppose I'm a Pessimist, Jim McLennan, JoeCB1991, MrMrrbi, NumberOneIanKennedyFan31, SongBird, ford.williams.10, gamepass, onedotfive, piratedan7 and guest recapper (to whom particular thanks!) preston.salisbury.. Comment of the Thread to hotclaws, for her reaction to the Papelbon/Harper dust-up in the Nationals' dugout.

Just surprised they didn't suspend

a DBax player while they were at it.

Baseball fans love numbers. They love to swirl them around their mouths like Bordeaux wine. ~Pat Conroy

by hotclaws on Sep 27, 2015 | 1:49 PM up reply rec (3) flag actions

The D-backs now return to Chase Field for the final home-stand of the 2015 season. They have an off-day tomorrow, and then take things up again on Tuesday, as Robbie Ray faces the Colorado Rockies.