Snake Bytes 6/3: Welcome Back Vargas

Diamondbacks News:

Diamondbacks 6, Mets 7

From the article: Madison Bumgarner made his 12th start of the season and has started to revert back to the pitcher we knew in 2020 and the first few starts of this season. The New York Mets tagged him for six hits and four runs in the first inning alone... but fear not. Arizona counter punched with four runs of their own in the bottom of the first courtesy of a two run home run from Ketel Marte, and a two run single from old friend Ildemaro Vargas.

Madbum exits with shoulder injury after loss

From the article: Bumgarner said following the loss that the issue was something that flared up two or three weeks ago. He added that he thought the problem would get better.

“I didn’t think too much of it,” Bumgarner said. “This stuff comes and goes throughout the year every year. Like I told you guys before, it’s pretty rare to go out there and feel great every time, and this is just bad judgment on my part. I thought it was gonna get better and go away sooner. It’s gotten worse, and the last three or four days have been enough where it’s going to affect my pitching.”

Madison Bumgarner sent for MRI due to shoulder discomfort

From the article: It’s an issue he’s been pitching through for 2-3 weeks, Bumgarner himself said (via Bob Nightengale of USA Today).

Perhaps not coincidentally, Bumgarner’s last four starts have been disastrous. The 31-year-old began the season with three poor games, but he seemed to flip a switch before his April 18 outing against the Nationals.

Pirates trade Ildemaro Vargas to Dbacks

From the article: The Diamondbacks announced Wednesday that they’ve acquired infielder Ildemaro Vargas from the Pirates in exchange for cash. Infielder Domingo Leyba was designated for assignment to clear a spot for Vargas, who is returning to the club that originally gave him his first Major League opportunity.

Pavin Smith’s power is starting to surface for Diamondbacks

From the article: In his previous nine games entering Wednesday, Smith was 16 for 34 (.471) with three doubles, a triple and two home runs.

“I’ve always felt like I’ve had power, no matter what people have said,” Smith said. “It is just kind of learning how to do it in the game and having it translate to the game, which I feel like is starting to happen now.”

Diamondbacks pitcher Kevin Ginkel is donating guitars to Alice Cooper’s teen centers

From the article: ....... Kevin Ginkel has agreed to donate one guitar to Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers for each strikeout he pitches at Chase Field this season.

Ginkel, whose walk-up song is Cooper’s big ‘80s hit, “Poison,” has also provided tickets to Diamondbacks games to teens from the center as well as transportation to the games.

Caleb Smith awaits word from team

The blurb: Smith has not been told if he will be making another start, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Smith made a passable fill-in start Tuesday and was good enough to earn another start. Already down three starters, the Diamondbacks await word on Madison Bumgarner, who left Wednesday’s start with shoulder discomfort. It would seem Smith is a lock to remain in the rotation. If so, the left-hander would likely next pitch Sunday against the Brewers.

Baseball News:

MLB sued for $1 billion dollars for pulling ASG from Atlanta

From the article: Job Creators Network, a conservative-leaning business group, filed the lawsuit on Monday of the Southern District in New York, where MLB is headquartered, demanding the July 13 game return to Atlanta.

MLB bans 4 MiLB pitchers for using foreign substance to doctor balls

From the article: Four minor league pitchers have been suspended this season by Major League Baseball after being caught using illegal foreign substances to doctor baseballs, signaling a stronger crackdown in the game’s feeder system than in the big leagues during a historically dominant stretch by pitchers.

Snek Byte:

Aussie SNAKE INVASION to follow army of mice as rodents bring out plague of serpents on the hunt

From the article: “After the mice, the snakes will follow,” Gerard Dallow, from Micropest in Sydney, told Nine. He said the infestation of mice was common for South Australia, but not for New South Wales. “The mice aren’t likely to leave the food sources and head into the city.”