Snake Bytes 8/30: Giant Disappointment

Arizona Diamondbacks 2, San Francisco Giants 5

[D’backs.com] D-backs ‘frustrated’ as woes return in loss - One day after snapping an eight-game losing streak, old issues cropped up for the D-backs. Luke Weaver had some early struggles, and coming off a big game, the D-backs’ offense went quiet again as the Giants prevailed, 5-2, on Saturday night at Chase Field. It was Arizona’s ninth loss in the past 10 games. The D-backs had reason for optimism coming into the game. Weaver had pitched better in his previous two starts, the last of which was also against San Francisco, and the offense seemingly found its footing with a seven-run outburst in the first game of this series. However, the Giants jumped on Weaver early, scoring two runs in the first inning, one in the second and one in the third before the right-hander was removed from the game to open the fourth.

[Arizona Sports] D-backs fail to recover from Luke Weaver’s early exit in loss to Giants - “I think Luke, although he had good stuff, I think there were just too many mental mistakes,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said after the game. “The you make mental mistakes at this level you’re going to pay for them. He was getting ahead of some counts and I thought everything looked crisp … but once I got into some conversations I just felt like those mental mistakes caught up to him.” Weaver had little time to settle in against a Giants team who entered Saturday 6-11 on the road. After a three-pitch strikeout kicked off his inning, Weaver ran into trouble in the form of a single before back-to-back doubles quickly put the score in the Giants’ favor at 2-0. Another double in the second inning brought in another run before a third-inning RBI single, courtesy of DH Pablo Sandoval, increased the D-backs’ deficit to 4-0.

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks lose to Giants as bats fall silent again - The Diamondbacks believe they are not just a solid offensive team – they believe they are an elite one. The reality is that being considered mediocre would be a step up from how they have looked through 34 games. “This probably takes the cake,” Diamondbacks catcher Stephen Vogt said when asked, after a 5-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night, if he had ever been on a team where perception and reality were so out of whack for an offense. “We’re frustrated, obviously. We’re underperforming. We aren’t playing to our capabilities.” More than halfway through their season, the Diamondbacks are fielding one of the least productive offenses in the National League. They are not getting on base. They are not hitting for power. They are not scoring runs.

Around the League

[MLB Trade Rumors] Red Sox Unlikely To Trade Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez - At 11-22, the Red Sox are one of the league’s few clear sellers. In recent days, teams have been connected to each of Matt Barnes, Christian Vázquez, Kevin Pillar and Jackie Bradley, Jr. While those players all look like strong trade candidates, star shortstop Xander Bogaerts and designated hitter J.D. Martinez are unlikely to be traded before Monday’s deadline, hears Jon Heyman of MLB Network (via Twitter). That’s not particularly surprising, as Bogaerts and Martinez were always something of longshots to move because of their contractual situations. The former signed a six year, $120MM extension last April that’ll pay him around $3.5MM the rest of this season and guarantee him $20MM every year from 2021-25.

[MLB.com] Right now, the HR leaderboard is historic - Take a look at the Major League leaders in home runs entering Sunday’s games, and you’ll see quite the juxtaposition. The co-leaders so far this season are 21-year-old Fernando Tatis Jr. and 40-year-old Nelson Cruz — with 13 each. If that wide age gap feels notable, it’s because it is. This is the first time in the Modern Era (since 1900) that two players aged 21 or younger and 40 or older have been tied for the Major League lead in home runs to start a day, according to the Elias Sports Bureau (minimum five HRs). Cruz is the first 40-year-old to have a share of the MLB lead in homers since 1958, according to Elias (min. five HRs). Hank Sauer, who was 40 years old at the time, led the Majors with seven homers through April 29, 1958. Since then, no 40-year-old had done it — until now.

[MLB.com] New guy! Taijuan’s 6 clean in Toronto debut - The Blue Jays acquired Walker from the Mariners on Thursday to help solidify their rotation with consistent innings, but Walker’s debut went well beyond that. With six shutout frames in Saturday’s 5-0 win over the Orioles at Sahlen Field, the right-hander was rock steady, pitching like his nine-day layoff and the trade hadn’t even happened.

[NBC Sports] Padres acquire Trevor Rosenthal in trade with Royals - The San Diego Padres acquired Trevor Rosenthal in a trade with the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, bolstering their bullpen for their pursuit of their first playoff appearance in 14 years. San Diego thought its bullpen would be one of its biggest strengths this year after it traded for Emilio Pagan and signed Drew Pomeranz in free agency. But it has been hit hard by injuries, losing closer Kirby Yates for the rest of the season because of an inflamed right elbow. Pomeranz was on the IL with a strained left shoulder before he was activated on Saturday. Enter Rosenthal, who is in the middle of a rebound season after struggling with injuries and poor performance in recent years. The 30-year-old right-hander has a 3.29 ERA and seven saves in 14 games.