Preview, #124: 8/17 vs. Giants

Last night, the D-backs hit six home-runs. That was enough to take their tally for the season to 179 - that has already surpassed the tally for all of 2018, and there are still 39 games left to play. Right now, Arizona is projected to hit 236 home-runs this year. That would easily shatter the previous record of 220, set in 2017 - perhaps not by coincidence, the last season before the introduction of a humidor at Chase Field. And the Diamondbacks are not alone. If you want further proof that the balls are juiced this season, the majority of MLB teams are currently on pace to set a new franchise record for home-runs: 16 of 30. And in many, it’ll be obliterated: seven are currently on target to surpass the previous high by more than 20 HR.

Leading the way are, of all teams, the Minnesota Twins, The current all-time record for home-runs in a single season is 267, by the Yankees last year. The Twins have already swatted 238 and are on pace to reach 316 - setting a new major-league record by almost fifty homers. There hasn’t been anything so dramatic in more than seven decades. According to Jayson Stark, “no team has broken any significant single-season hitting record by 15 percent or more since Johnny Mize’s 1947 New York Giants hiked the home run record by 21.4 percent.” Below, I’ve listed all 30 teams, with their current HR pace and existing franchise mark, in descending order of... er, surpassy-ness.

Torey Lovullo’s media briefing

• Yoshihisa Hirano has been placed on the IL with Right Elbow inflammation. He complained of discomfort after game, but had an MRI today, which showed no structural damage. He will get a cortisone shot
• Ketel Marte was a late scratch due to lower back tightness. Marte could be available later in the game.
• Jon Duplantier: He is being sent back to Reno to WORK OUT OF THE BULLPEN.
• Jack’s comment: It appears there are two most likely possibilities here:
  A.) They have decided Duplantier is a reliever now
  B.) They have decided to limit his workload due to his injury earlier this season.
  It should be noted that Duplantier has only thrown 66 Innings this year, all levels combined. In 2018 he only threw 95 innings, all levels combined, including 21 IP in the Arizona Fall League.
• Joel Payamps has been called up to work out of bullpen after making 14 starts this year. He’s had a good year, and this is a nice player development story.