2019 SnakePit Awards: Play of the Year candidates, Infield (left side)

With the finalists in the BBWAA awards having been announced - no Diamondbacks making the top nominees in any of the categories - it’s time to get cracking on the 2019 ‘Pitties. These are our annual awards, which we have been handing out since 2006, so this will mark the fourteenth set. We’re guaranteed some handing of the torches this year, as last season’s MVP (Paul Goldschmidt), Pitcher (Patrick Corbin) and Unsung Hero (Clay Buchholz) didn’t play for the team in 2019. But we are still some way off those awards. In most cases, there will be three stages: an open call for nominations, with some suggestions, then a narrowing of the pack to five names for voting, and then the announcement of the winner.

But for Play of the Year, things are a bit different. We will have a number of categories: two for the infield, one for the outfield, one for hitters, and perhaps a fifth “wild-card” category. Because I am particularly open to suggestions: if a play has been unfairly omitted, suggest it in the comments. If we get enough good suggestions to justify it, we’ll have a poll for these at the end. For your use: MLB Video archive, which you can search for a specific player’s highlights. The winners of each category will then go on to the final poll, which will determine an overall champion in this category. We start with the left-hand side of the infield: plays made by third basemen and shortstops (regardless of physical location!).

Escobar’s long throw to first (09/29)

Eduardo Escobar makes a great throw across the diamond to first base to retire Luis Urias for the second out in the top of the 2nd frame

Lamb’s fantastic diving stop (08/13)

Jake Lamb dives to stop a Yonathan Daza hard grounder then throws to first from his knees in time for the out in the 5th inning

Escobar’s slick diving catch (08/04)

Eduardo Escobar robs Anthony Rendon of a base hit with his slick diving catch in the top of the 9th inning

Ahmed nabs Kingery after review (06/12)

Nick Ahmed makes an incredible diving stop and fires to get Scott Kingery after a challenge overturns the call at first in the 7th

Ahmed turns DP after review (05/29)

The D-backs challenge a close play at first and the call is overturned, resulting in a double play in the bottom of the 8th inning

Ahmed’s diving stop (03/31)

Nick Ahmed makes an incredible diving stop and then fires to first in time for the out in the bottom of the 6th inning