Team News

D-backs stay competitive, walks continue to kill in loss to Padres

In contrast, the offense has 40 walks this year, the fewest in baseball. “Sometimes we don’t have a very mature at-bat because everybody wants to do it,” Lovullo said. “They want to be the guy who is gonna go ahead and do it. But put the bat down. Let the next guy take his shot at it and just keep passing the torch.”

https://arizonasports.com/story/3521209/diamondbacks-stay-competitive-walks-make-difference-in-loss-to-padres/

Walks haunt Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks in latest loss to Padres

“I think it’s more missing the zone,” he said. “I know there were some deep counts, but in my mind today there weren’t really any pitches that jumped out to me that I thought were good pitches that they didn’t swing at.”

Merrill Kelly Falters Late in Loss to Padres

https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/game-day/merrill-kelly-falters-late-in-d-backs-loss-to-padres

Diamondbacks catcher Moreno has throwback style that has helped him throw out runners

“Now you add the balance, which allows him to deliver the ball accurate, which is really good. And then the arm strength. And he’s got really good arm strength,” Banister said. “So you combine all of those things, you have the recipe for a really good thrower.”

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2023/04/22/diamondbacks-catcher-gabriel-moreno-defense-baserunners-throw-out-mlb-leaders/70141366007/

Other Baseball

Rays 12-0 at home after Arozarena delivers record HR, walk-off hit

https://www.mlb.com/news/randy-arozarena-hits-walk-off-rays-win-12th-home-game

García in rare company after 3-HR, 8-RBI night

“You just don’t see that often,” Bochy added. “He’s a tremendous talent, a great all-around player, good outfielder, baserunner. But I mean, the bat. What he did tonight, it’s just impressive. It’s fun to watch great athletes when they get locked in and have a night like tonight. It was a lot of fun for all of us to watch that one.”

https://www.mlb.com/news/adolis-garcia-hits-three-home-runs-against-athletics

Pirates Extend Contract Of Manager Derek Shelton

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/04/pirates-extend-contract-of-manager-derek-shelton.html

Oakland Athletics Making History in Horrible Start to the Season

@BostonSportsInf tweeted:

“Oakland A’s.... have the worst run differential (-100) thru 21 games in MLB history. 1) OAK - 2023 - (-100), 2. BAL - 1988 - (-85) SO it’s not really even close AND.... the worst ERA (8.08) in MLB history thru 21 games. Just a mess.”

https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/oakland-athletics-making-history-in-horrible-start-to-the-season

Anything Goes

Career appearances for Dbacks tracker:
Ziegler: 377

Chafin: 347

This day in history:

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 and Hank Aaron hit his first MLB home run in 1954, amongst other things.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/day/april-23

This day in baseball:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/April_23

You can’t move or touch William Shakespeare’s bones.

William Shakespeare’s legacy doesn’t stop at his plays and how many words he created – but even in the afterlife, he leaves a lasting display of his wit. Buried in 1616, the playwright was said to write his tombstone inscription which reads: “Good friend, for Jesus’ sake forebeare, To digg the dust enclosed heare; Bleste be the man that spares thes stones, And curst be he that moves my bones.”

Handshakes were originally a safety measure.

In 5th century Greece, handshakes were done to make sure that the other person wasn’t carrying a hidden weapon. The hand clasp proved that your hand was empty and shaking it was meant to “shake out” weapons hiding in the sleeve.