Snake Bytes 3/23: Three Pack of Ties

Arizona Diamondbacks News

[Arizona Sports] Diamondbacks offense solid again in spring training play vs. A’s - The Arizona Diamondbacks’ offense had a solid showing Monday against the Oakland A’s, accumulating eight hits and four runs in the team’s third tie in just as many days. After the A’s took a three-run lead in the fifth inning, Arizona came alive and responded with three of their own in the sixth, sparked by Tim Locastro scoring the D-backs’ first run of the game on a wild pitch. Both Locastro and teammate Pavin Smith were strong at the plate Monday, each going 2-for-4 with one run. Meanwhile, Josh Rojas stayed hot, going 1-for-3 with one run scored. The shortstop has now reached base safely in 15 of his last 16 games.

[The Athletic] Zac Gallen hurt his forearm in the batting cage and now the Diamondbacks are in limbo - On March 10, Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen took a swing in the batting cage that didn’t quite connect correctly with the ball, causing a twinge in his forearm. Two days later, the 25-year-old pitched 3 1/3 innings against the Angels in Tempe, feeling normal except whenever he threw his curveball. Five days after that, Gallen started again, tossing 4 1/3 innings against the Rangers. The odd feeling persisted. Now, with Opening Day only 10 days away, Arizona’s best pitcher is shut down, at least for the moment, while the Diamondbacks investigate what is going on with his arm. He has had tests – specifically, an MRI, a CT scan and an X-ray – which have revealed a diagnosis of “right lateral forearm soreness,” according to manager Torey Lovullo. Gallen was scratched from his planned start Monday and, for now, he and the Diamondbacks are in a holding pattern until a path forward can be plotted for him. “Physically, I feel OK. It’s just a little bit of soreness. Mentally, it’s probably worse,” Gallen said. “We were coming down the home stretch here, getting ready for the season.”

[D’backs.com] Gallen scratched (sore forearm) against A’s - “It’s just not the news you want to hear,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “You want to start having guys prep and get ready for the season. So I’m not going to sugarcoat it and say that it’s OK. We’re obviously going to get him evaluated and figure out what the best thoughts are moving forward. And we don’t know any of this information right now. So yeah, it’s not it’s not anything I was prepared to hear today.”

Around the League

[NBC Sports] Gallen injury before A’s game shows MLB’s need for DH in NL - Since the experiment in 2020, it appeared many were still torn on whether or not they wanted to universally implement the designated hitter position. Opponents usually mention enjoying pitchers hit, but we rarely see a pitcher with a strong batting average. If you automatically think of Madison Bumgarner, he has slashed .177/.228/.303 in 679 career plate appearances across his 12-year career, with 19 home runs. It’s not bad for a pitcher, but it’s just bad if you take “for a pitcher” out of the equation. A’s manager Bob Melvin said before he likes that there are two different leagues in MLB. But despite being an old-school guy, he embraced most of the 2020 season’s changes. From a marketing perspective, we know MLB wants more excitement in the game. Having a player whose job is only to hit the ball could do that.

[TMZ Sports] MLB Player Rips Foul Ball Into Fan’s Beer Wild Photos Capture Moment of Impact - It all went down in the 2nd inning of the Angels vs. A’s game Saturday at Diablo Stadium in Tempe — when A’s catcher Sean Murphy stepped up to the plate and smacked a laser beam toward 3rd base. A quick-thinking fan used his beer can as a shield to protect himself and his lady friend from getting hit by the ball — and photographer Mark Rebilas managed to snap some pics right at the moment of impact!!! The good news ... the fan and his friend weren’t hurt. The bad news ... those stadium beers are pricey as hell — and judging by the explosion, it was a pretty full can!

[MLB Trade Rumors] Kirby Yates To Miss “Multiple Weeks” With Flexor Strain - Blue Jays right-hander Kirby Yates is expected to miss “multiple weeks” due to a flexor-pronator strain in his throwing arm, the team announced. (MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson was among those to report the news.) Signed to a one-year, $5.5MM deal in January, Yates was expected to provide some veteran experience at the back of Toronto’s bullpen, projected to get the bulk of save opportunities given his past track record. Yates was arguably baseball’s best reliever from 2018-19, posting a 1.67 ERA and 39.02% strikeout rate over 123 2/3 innings and racking up 53 saves. In 2019, Yates received an All-Star selection and finished ninth in NL Cy Young Award voting. 2020 was a lost year, however, as Yates made just six appearances before undergoing surgery to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow. More will be known about this latest injury after further examination, and naturally any sort of elbow problem is cause for concern, particularly given that Yates already has a Tommy John surgery on his record. He underwent that procedure way back in 2006, which resulted in Yates not being drafted and led to the righty beginning his pro career by signing a free agent deal with the Rays in 2009.