Snake Bytes 7/9: Taterville, USA

Diamondbacks News

[D’backs.com] Greinke, Marte cut from different cloths - One D’backs player has been named to the Midsummer Classic six times in his career. The other is going for the very first time. Zack Greinke is opting out of the festivities, and he deserves so, tending to personal matters while Ketel Marte will be wide eyed and honor the memory of his mother during the week. It’s a different experience between the two of them.

“I dedicated this to my mom,” [Marte] said, remembering his mother, who died two summers ago in a car accident. “I’m so excited. I can’t wait for my first at-bat. I’m doing everything for my mom. I will try to do my best to make my family happy.”

[Arizona Sports] D-backs 2B Ketel Marte batting 8th in National League MLB All-Star lineup - Ketel Marte will be hitting at the bottom of the order in the eight hole for the National League All Stars sandwiched between Chicago Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr.

[The Athletic] CEO Derrick Hall discusses the Diamondbacks’ deadline options, artificial turf and Chase Field’s future - Jim and Turambar caused a stir, positive in my opinion, on their article of the leaked images of a possible new stadium for the Diamondbacks. Zach Buchanan asked CEO Derrick Hall about the future of Chase Field in part due to that investigative journalism.

[MLB Trade Rumors] Cubs Among Teams Interested In David Peralta - Take it for what you will. There hasn’t been any indication that Mike Hazen is inclined to trade David Peralta. It’s difficult to gauge what his value would even be considering that he has missed games recently due to a nagging shoulder injury. There’s also the fact that Arizona currently finds itself in the awkward position of hanging around in the Wild Card race but still treading water with a .500 record.

Around the League

[MLB.com] Polar Bear Pete! Alonso wins Home Run Derby - Don’t even bother trying to tell me in the comments that the Home Run Derby is boring. I won’t hear any of it. Last night’s competition was highly entertaining capitalized by an absurd semifinal round between Joc Pederson and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The two men hit 29 home runs each in their first four minutes and thirty seconds of regulation and bonus time. That prompted a one minute slugfest where they tied again. After a handful of three-swing-swing-offs, Guerrero Jr. emerged the victor only to be defeated by Pete Alonso in the finale. I was going beserk on my couch for two guys I don’t even get to watch on a nightly basis. It was that fun.

[ESPN] Power Rankings: How far can first-half surprise teams rise? - Time to check in at the figurative halfway point. Arizona moves down one spot to #18 in ESPN’s power rankings. CBS Sports places them right in the middle at #15. Stuck at #19 at Bleacher Report. Their biggest movement was +4 to #13 at The Athletic.