Snake Bytes 9/25: This is a meaningless game?

Diamondbacks News

St. Louis 2, Arizona 3 (19 innings)

Between poor calls by home plate umpire, Larry Vanover, and an inability to hit Cardinals’ ace Jack Flaherty, the ineptitude of the Arizona offense was on full display in Tuesday night’s marathon game. Still, it was not as poor as the performance turned in by the Cardinals. The teams combined for 48 strikeouts, but the Diamondbacks had the final say by walking the game off in the 19th.

Ildemaro Vargas the Big Hero of Wednesday Morning

Ildemaro Vargas entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning. His home run is the hit that sent the game into extra innings. Three hits later, Ildemaro Vargas sent the fans home with a walk-off single in the 19th. That gave Vargas four hits in a game in which he didn’t see action until the ninth inning.

Longest Game in Chase Field History Sets Many Marks

Due to upcoming rule changes, a number of the history-making statistics reached in the 19-inning game may never be broken.

Diamondbacks Give Meaning to “Meaningless Game”

Game #158 on the season was the first meaningless game of the year for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Anyone watching the team grind out a record-setting six hour, fifty-three minute, 19-inning win over the NL Central leading St. Louis Cardinals might be inclined to believe otherwise.

Paul Goldschmidt: New Address, Old Attitude

Paul Goldschmidt met with numerous members of the Arizona media as part of his first return to Chase Field since being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. It didn’t take long to figure out that not much has changed with the six-time all-star first baseman. He remains as low-key as ever, downplaying his own greatness and remaining focused on the baseball work at hand.

Injury Costs Marte, Diamondbacks Shot at History

With both Ketel Marte and Christian Yelich having their seasons come to an early end due to injury, baseball already know the likely winner of the Tony Gwynn National League Batting Champion Award. On the leaderboards, Marte and Yelich both show a .329 batting average. Extrapolated until there is a difference, Yelich beats out Marte by .0006 points. That difference means that Yelich will likely repeat as the NL batting champion and that Marte will finish second. No Arizona Diamondbacks has ever won the award. Luis Gonzalez also finished in second in 1999 when he lost out to Larry Walker .336 to .379.

Around MLB

Five Bad Teams Who Could Contend in 2020

It seems as if every season this list could be headlined by the San Diego Padres. Maybe this winter they will finally land some pitching to help out Chris Paddack. With Houston picking up Greinke, Gerrit Cole will be departing. Look out for the deep-pocketed Angels to add him to a team that will be welcoming back a healthy Andrelton Simmons and Shohei Ohtani, in addition to the best player in baseball.

Cashman Didn’t Want Stroman, Stroman Responds

Mets pitcher, Marcus Stroman has some shade for Yankees GM Brian Cashman.