Preview #87: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Cincinnati Reds

Meaningful Game of Thrones quotes for tonight’s contest.

• “The powerful have always preyed on the powerless, that's how they became powerful in the first place.” After suffering the baseball equivalent of the Red Wedding in the final game against the Dodgers, what better cure than to stomp on the team currently occupying last place in the National League Central?
• “I’m Sansa Stark of Winterfell. This is my home. And you can’t frighten me.” With 32 home wins, the Diamondbacks have five more victories in their own park, than any other team in the majors, bar the Dodgers. We’ve outscored the opposition here by an average of more than two runs per game, having averaged a score of over six runs, while conceding fewer than four.
• “It’s not easy being drunk all the time. Everyone would do it if it were easy.” The same can be said about getting to the playoffs. Even with the addition of the extra wild-card team, two-thirds of major-league teams will be sitting at home in the post-season. That’s the highest fraction of failure, for any of the major sports.
• “Winter is coming.” As we mentioned on one of the many occasions this team has previously had a three-game losing streak (this is our sixth such, and we’re not even at the All-Star break!), almost every playoff team will have a longer losing streak than the 2017 D-backs have had to endure to date. Brace yourself.
• “A lion doesn’t concern himself with the opinions of a sheep.” I’m not quite sure how to tie that quote to the Diamondbacks, but it probably has something to do with the irritating Dodgers fan at work. Though to his credit, he was more sympathetic than gloating at work today. Which may have been worse.
• “Power resides where men believe it resides. It's a trick. A shadow on the wall. And a very small man can cast a very large shadow.” One bad outing for Rodney. One game lost. In the overall design of things, these likely won’t matter too much. But it’s up to the team as a whole, who cannot let last night’s loss get to them. Put it behind us, and get back to the winning form which has been the standard in 2017.
• “Are you afraid? Good. You're in the great game now. And the great game's terrifying.” It would likely have been much better if last night’s loss had been like the opener, with the D-backs mounting a ninth-inning recovery, and falling short by the same one-run margin. But take a moment to appreciate: deeply meaningful baseball in July. And we’re far from done yet. There will be more dispiriting losses to come. And, I trust, equally joyous victories. Enjoy the ride.
• “There is only one god and his name is Death, and there is only one thing we say to Death: ‘Not today’.” Go, kick Cincinnati ass. We’ll be watching from the stands.