Snake Bytes 9/5: Can They Have a Dozen?

Diamondbacks 13, Dodgers 0

[D’backs.com] JD-back, back, back, back! Martinez: 4 HRs - My favorite part of this historic moment was that a young kid caught the fourth home run hit by J.D. Martinez in the game, and he had a chance to meet the Arizona slugger after the game. Even as a Dodger fan, the young man will likely by a Just Dingers fan for the rest of his life. Can we give Yasmany Tomas’ contract to Martinez? The prices in Souvenir City just plummeted because Martinez brought a ton of supply to the party. This was not even the first time in his career that Matinez had a chance at 4 home runs in a game as the first came back in 2015 in Yankee Stadium as a member of the Tigers. Brandon Drury and Adam Rosales each had a home run of their own as well.

"It's kind of one of those things where you're kind of laughing about it," Martinez said. "Was I shocked? No. Going up there and hitting it, it didn't really shock me. I was just happy it went over."

[Arizona Sports] Robbie Ray sets career high in strikeouts in shutout win over Dodgers - Poor Robbie Ray has his tremendous start overshadowed by the historic evening turned in by Martinez. The southpaw has been lights out since returning from being hit in the head by a comeback line drive, and last night was no exception. Robbie Ray went 7 ²⁄₃ innings allowing only 3 hits, 0 walks, striking out a career high 14, and lowering his ERA to 2.80 on the season. His 14 strikeouts were the most by a Diamondbacks pitcher since Randy Johnson’s 15 in 2004. He is the first pitcher in Major League history with 4 games of 10 or more strikeouts in a season against the Dodgers. Yeah, I feel comfortable with him taking the mound in game 1 against the Dodgers should the Diamondbacks make it that far.

“I knew I was throwing the ball really well, actually I didn’t even know how many strikeouts I had tonight, but anytime you can keep this lineup in check it’s pretty special.” -Robbie Ray

Diamondbacks News

[Sports Illustrated] With Silly Hijinks and a Big Fastball, Archie Bradley Anchors a Resurgent Diamondbacks Bullpen - What is with “hijinks” being a buzzword on the interwebs lately? I think I am among the minority that would like to see Archie Bradley remain in the bullpen next season, but I would not be surprised to see him get another crack at being a starter next spring. Kind of reminds you when the Reds used to tinker with Aroldis Chapman as a starter when he first entered the league. I feel that Archie “The Destroyer” Bradley will continue to find his most success at the end of close games. He has been one of the best in the Majors this season in those situations, and he can anchor a young bullpen next season. Regardless of what the future holds for him, his new role this season has taught him an important lesson about the sport.

“A light went on,” he says. “I realized that when you go into the game and step on the mound, you have to do the job. People don’t care if you didn’t get enough sleep the night before. I used to make starting this big day and build everything up to it and now it’s just like, O.K., give me the ball. As a starter I’d be like, I’m not gonna golf two days before my start; I’m not gonna have a beer two days before my start. Now I’m in the bullpen and it’s like, Am I gonna sit in my room? I could pitch every night! When the phone rings, anything before that doesn’t matter. At the end of the day you either did what you were supposed to do or you didn’t and it was no one else’s fault but yours. When you can put that type of pressure on yourself and still be O.K., it just makes it easy.”

[Sporting News] Paul Goldschmidt heads back to Phoenix for MRI on elbow - [Screams internally]. Maybe he was just playing a little too much Pokemon Go? Is that still a thing? My elbow would be sore too if I had to lug around those forearms. Hit them tricep extensions, bro. After last night’s slaughter of the Dodgers, it might be wise to rest Goldy tonight as well for precaution.

[MLB.com] D-backs, Dodgers taking cautious approach - Nobody wants to see these two teams face off in October at less than full strength. The Dodgers are strategically avoiding having their best starting pitchers face the Diamondbacks. Lovullo continues to give his starters adequate rest as the regular season winds down. Nothing from Goldy’s mouth suggests that he will miss a significant amount of time.

"The best thing is, it hasn't affected preparation or playing in the game. I've been playing through it, can keep doing it, and will if I have to. Hopefully, with a couple of days of rest it will be back to 100 percent or close to it."

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks tell 5 scouts they won't be back in 2018 - At first glance on the title, I assumed the Diamondbacks were following a similar trend set by the Astros and contracting their scouting department overall. Fangraphs opined a few weeks ago that the implementation of Statcast in ballparks across the league accumulates much of the data that scouts typically do, reducing the range of responsibilities they have during a game. However, Jared Porter explained that he actually expects to expand the Diamondbacks scouting department, and this was rather a result of a season long evaluation.

“We wanted to give guys the year and really evaluate things,” Assistant General Manager Jared Porter said. “We made some really tough decisions, but it was just about being able to structure the department the way we want to. They’re all very good baseball guys. I expect them to land on their feet. I have nothing but positives to say about the guys, but it was just a matter of structuring things a little differently.”

Around the League

[ESPN] Power Rankings: Remixed races for the postseason go from mild to wild - Keep sleeping on the Diamondbacks. ESPN improves their standing by a meager 1 spot to #7. Bleacher Report bumps them up one position to #4. Fanrag keeps Arizona at their previous standing of #6.

[CBS Sports] Indians' Trevor Bauer hilariously explains run-in with White Sox's Avisail Garcia - Have you ever wondered why Kirk Gibson and Miguel Montero could not stand Trevor Bauer’s antics when he was a Diamondback? Look no further. In fairness, pitchers in history have barked at a batter to get back into the box. However, I do not feel that Bauer has earned the right to inform Avisail Garcia the rules of the game. Not really understanding of the entire sequence of events, but Bauer did offer his version. I take anything that comes out of his mouth with a grain of salt. I would fly to Cleveland to watch the Diamondbacks offense dismantle him should October be as giving.

"He likes to run his mouth. You start sitting there talking, 'Oh, they don't throw me fastballs. Why do they just throw me breaking balls?' He's said it before. Not sure he knows that the rules of this game say you can throw whatever pitch you want. He started yapping at me. I threw him a first-pitch slider. He fouled it off, stared right at me, said something while he was nodding his head, like I'm right on you or something. I told him, `If you're that confident, step back in the box. Let's go. Get back in the box. And then he fouled off a pitch -- another one that he should have hit. It was right down the middle and he missed it. And then he looked at me and started nodding again. I threw him a curveball. He swung and missed. I decided to remind him of the rules of the game. Three strikes, you're out. You can go sit back in the dugout. To his credit, he took it like a champ. He put his head down, he shut his mouth and he walked himself back to the dugout. Good for him."

[Sporting News] Dodgers' Corey Seager contemplating offseason elbow surgery - No word yet on the extent of Paul Goldschmidt’s own elbow ailment, but his division rival Cory Seager is contemplating offseason surgery on his own elbow. Goldschmidt’s injury does not appear to be as serious at this time because he lobbied to play in yesterday’s game.

[Sports Illustrated] Jake Arrieta Expects To Make Next Start After Leaving Game With Leg Injury - The Diamondbacks are not the only team with high postseason hopes that are going through injury struggles. Jake Arrieta had to leave the 3rd inning of his most recent start with what he as calling an apparent leg cramp. The free agent to be does not expect to miss his next start.