Snake Bytes 8/28: Bummer in the Bay

Arizona Diamondbacks 0, San Francisco Giants 2

[D’backs.com] D-backs unable to support Corbin’s superb effort - Arizona’s offense fell completely flat on its face in support of Patrick Corbin. Corbin surrendered only two earned runs on a home run from Steven Duggar. Otherwise, he struck out 9 and only walked 1 requiring only 95 pitches over 7 innings.

[Arizona Sports] Diamondbacks unable to solve Stratton in loss to Giants - Giants starter Chris Stratton was rocked in his last start against the Diamondbacks, but turned his fortunes around for his 9th victory on the 2018 season last night. Arizona seemingly got to him quickly in the top of the first as the first two baserunners reached safely, but he strapped up from there on to complete eight scoreless innings.

[AZ Central] Chris Stratton shuts down Diamondbacks as Giants take series opener - Fun fact. The Arizona Diamondbacks became the fastest franchise to reach 25,000 strikeouts as a team, surpassing the Miami Marlins by almost 300 games. Not entirely surprising considering the alarming rate at which strikeouts have increased since Arizona became a franchise.

Diamondbacks News

[D’backs.com] D-backs prepare for tough test down the stretch - Pressure is building with each passing contest. Scoreboard watching this late into the season is exciting and anxiety inducing at the same time.

“This is really what it’s all about,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’re back within our division, and I know I made the comment that I feel like the teams that play the best within their division are going to have the best chance to go to where they’re hoping to get to at the end of the story. We’ve talked about these moments, we’re prepared for these moments and I think these guys are ready for this next set of challenges.”

[Arizona Sports] NL West and Wild Card tracker: The D-backs fight for the playoffs - The Diamondbacks have to capitalize during the final calendar month of the regular season. Plenty of games remain against the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers which allows Arizona to control its own fate in the division standings.

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks’ scouting contributing to Clay Buchholz’s resurgent season - Philosophical changes the Diamondbacks front office has employed in regards to pitching strategy has paid enormous dividends for Clay Buchholz. His career has been brought back to life since he joined the team part way through the season. It also helps that he has a stellar defense behind him.

“This is sort of modeled toward the pitcher,” [Buchholz] said. “I think that’s how it’s helped. It’s not just your straightforward model for each hitter. It’s more designed for what you throw and when you throw it and how you throw it.”

[Forbes] Arizona Taxpayers Owe Nothing To Diamondbacks, Coyotes Or Suns - It has been a while Pitters. Go forth and discuss in the comments. I’d place greater odds on funding coming from one of the Native American Tribes than from city, county, or state coffers.

Around the League

[ESPN] Power Rankings: Which team could break into MLB’s top trio? - Positive movement in a near .500 week. Yay? ESPN jumps Arizona one spot to #7. MLB.com keeps them at #9 with Colorado right behind at #10. Likewise for CBS Sports. The Athletic drops the Diamondbacks down one position to #8.

[Cut 4] Women’s World Cup pitcher Jade Gortarez showed off a delivery that caught a former MLB All-Star’s eye - Better delivery than Zack Godley. That’s for dure.

[USA Today] MLB power shift has managers’ salaries in free fall - Don’t see this talked about all this often. Greater emphasis is placed on player salaries as opposed to the skipper of a ball club. Salaries for an MLB manager range from the $6 million Mike Scioscia is depositing this season to just a shade over three quarters of a million for Alex Cora.