Preview, #105: 7/27 @ Marlins

Defeat this afternoon would probably be fatal for the Diamondbacks’ post-season hopes. Of course, with 57 games left, they wouldn’t be mathematically eliminated. But it’s hard to think of a clearer sell signal this team could give to the front office, than losing consecutive games to the worst outfit in the National League. It would mean they would be able to go, AT BEST, 4-3 against the Orioles and Marlins, in what was almost certainly the easiest week of the season on the schedule. It would also drop the team back below .500. With the next 11 games after this series coming against the Yankees, Nationals, Phillies and Dodgers - none further than a game out of a playoff spot - that simply isn’t good enough.

The manner of yesterday’s defeat was particularly painful, being just the latest in an ongoing series of meltdowns by closer Greg Holland. Over the past month, this has been his line:
Holland: 7.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 8 BB, 10 SO, 2 HR, 8.59 ERA, 0-2, 3 blown saves
It’s quite spectacular, considering to that point he had a 2.08 ERA, and was holding batters to a .146 average. He has to be bailed out of his last two save opportunities, and yesterday, there just wasn’t enough wiggle-room for Yoshihisa Hirano. Coming in with the winning run on third and one out is basically a thankless task for any reliever.

I understand the concept of reliever volatility, and fans do have a tendency to over-react to small sample sizes. But on the other hand, know when Holland’s last successful conversion of a one-run save opportunity was? May 1st. Hare his appearances since then, when he came in with a one-run lead.

• May 8 @ TBR: 1 IP, 2H, 1 BB, 1 ER, BS
• June 20 vs. COL: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, BS
• July 2 @ LAD: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 BB, 2 ER, BS, L
• July 3 @ LAD: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, BS
• July 26 @ MIA: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, BS, L

That’s five consecutive blown saves in one-run games for Holland, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits and seven walks in just 3.1 innings. And. yet, we have this.

Seriously, at what point does Torey Lovullo realize it - and, by it, I mean Greg Holland - just isn’t working?