Preview, #6: 4/2 @ Padres

Five games in, and just about every game has been remarkable in one way or another, good or bad. Let’s just review this season so far.

• Game #1. Most home-runs hit on Opening Day
• Game #2. Longest game by time in the 57-year history of Dodger Stadium
• Game #3. The D-backs score seven runs in an inning... and lose.
• Game #4: The longest position player pitching outing by pitches in over 30 seasons
• Game #5: Win and Save both going to pitchers making their MLB debut

What might Game #6 bring? Game suspended due to a swarm of giant preying mantises? Zack Greinke hits for the cycle? The Swinging Friar falls off the roof of the Western Metal Supply Co. building? Who can say. Still, this is why we watch baseball. And why we will keep watching, even if this season ends up being as dire as it seemed it might be at moments in the Los Angeles series. Here’s my prediction for today’s dose of weirdness: we end the day with a five-way tie for first place in the NL West. All it takes is for us to beat the Padres, the Giants to beat the Dodgers and the Rockies to beat the Rays. Though as I write, Colorado are 3-0 down to Tampa, so this claim may not make it much past the time of publication.

To my surprise, we will be seeing John Ryan Murphy catching Zack Greinke once again this evening. I’m sure we haven’t forgotten how well that worked out last time, i.e. not very. Clearly, Greinke and Torey Lovullo have more faith in him than just about everyone in the D-backs fanbase. Interesting how things change: ten months ago, Murphy had a .950 OPS, and it seemed that just about everyone in the D-backs fanbase was demanding he replace Alex Avila on an everyday basis. Now, it seems he has taken on the role of Designated Scapegoat from Avila, blamed this year for everything up to and including our poor bullpen pitching. Hopefully tonight can get the wheel of public opinion turning a bit in his favor.

Just don’t let him pitch.