AZ Snake Pit - Game #31: 5/6, Arizona Diamondbacks 7, Atlanta Braves 2An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2016-05-06T23:59:25-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/113768932016-05-06T23:59:25-04:002016-05-06T23:59:25-04:00Diamondbacks 7, Braves 2: Apocalypse averted
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<figcaption>Daniel Shirey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>It's odd to talk about "must win" games not even 20% of the way into the season, but this was probably as close to being one as we'll see for quite a while. </p> <p><b>Record: 13-18. Pace: 68-94. Change on 2015: -1. </b></p>
<p>This was strange to watch. I've always been a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>' fan, rather than a particular player - I support the name on the front, rather than the one on the back. So, previously, when players have left, they've been dead to me. A "You're either with us or against us" kinda thing. But tonight's Greinke-Blair match-up was different, for a variety of reasons - even beyond not having <span>Zack Greinke's</span> dad as a member! We've only had a month or so with Greinke, a hired gun brought in over the winter, whose love for the team, one suspects, is largely inspired by the name printed on his checks. We had two and a half years of following <span>Aaron Blair</span> from draft selection until trade to the Brave, his departure not in his control.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the smug "told you sos" from the nattering nabobs of negativity who crucified the Diamondbacks for making the trade, had Blair beaten Greinke, would have been painful to endure. Hey, I didn't think it was that great a trade at the time, but it's one of things about being a fan; by association, we carried out those trades ourselves, and feel obligated to defend them, at least somewhat. Which is really dumb when you think of it, because I doubt many people out there select sports teams based on the front-office philosophy, let alone changing their loyalties as a result of a new GM. Instead, it's "my franchise, right or wrong."</p>
<p>Which brings us to tonight's game. Normally, and especially given our woeful play over the past week, I'd celebrate the Diamondbacks taking a three-run lead by the middle of the third. But tonight, the happiness was kinda muted, it coming at the expense of Blair. Got to feel for him, not least because... well, to be blunt, you can see why the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> are currently on course for north of 120 losses this season. Our first run came after an Atlanta outfielder Trumbo'd a fly ball into a double for Chris Owings. The second, after they picked <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> off, only for him to end up safe on second. And the third scored when a three-base error by the 3B scored <span>David Peralta</span> - despite the ball also beating him home by 30 feet, as shown below. Windmill Williams got <i>very</i> lucky the ball skittered away.</p>
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<p>The Barves' [sic] hitters weren't doing much better, and for the first time since we got him, Greinke looked like a true ace early on, at one point striking out five consecutive Atlanta hitters. His seventh K of the night, ended the fourth inning and got <span>A.J. Pierzynski</span> tossed from the game. for flapping his gums at the home-plate umpire. Always a pleasure, A.J... But the D-backs were not averse to the gaffe game favored by the Braves: <span>Jake Lamb</span> and David Peralta both <i>lined</i> into double-plays in consecutive innings (the third and fourth). <span>Jean Segura</span> was caught too far off first, and Paul Goldschmidt clearly thought the ball was not going to be caught, respectively.</p>
<p>Aaron Blair left the game after five, replaced by a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the inning. He had allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, but had some control issues - Blair walked four and the only strikeout was the last man he faced, <span>Welington Castillo</span>. After he'd gone, it didn't take long for the D-backs to add on: two pitches from Jim Johnston, and <span>Brandon Drury</span> had notched his sixth home-run of the season, with a line-drive shot to left-field. That left the Diamondbacks teetering on the edge of tacos for the first time since the opening game of the series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>. Could they satisfy the hungry masses?</p>
<p>There was some more ugliness to get through first. A leadoff single was followed by a wild pick-off from Greinke, and another single put runners on the corners for Atlanta, still with no-one out. A potential double-play ball went to Lamb, but he forgot you had to catch the ball before starting the double-play, and it became an infield RBI single. Fortunately, another double-play ball followed, but a walk and another infield single brought another Braves tally, as Zack was clearly running out of gas. A hard-hit liner to center allowed him to escape in the end: his final line was six innings of two-run ball, allowing seven hits and one walk, with eight strikeouts.</p>
<p>Highlight of the seventh was a hellacious bit of defending from both Castillo and <span>Nick Ahmed</span>. A lead-off single tried to advance on a ball in the dirt, but somehow, Beef managed to get a throw off in the direction of short, which Ahmed, equally inexplicably, managed to snag and apply the tag on the runner while doing something resembling the splits. For some reason, I can't add any pics to this recap, so look, just go and <a target="_blank" href="http://m.mlb.com/video/v664786083/ariatl-castillo-and-ahmed-team-up-to-nab-aybar/?c_id=mlb">watch the highlight</a>, will ya? It'll make a LOT more sense than any description. But it has gone onto my list for 'Play of the Year' candidates, that's for sure.</p>
<p>Arizona added the fifth and taco-friendly run in the eighth, as David Peralta singled, his third hit of the night, and Castillo then doubled. After Brandon Drury grounded out too sharply to third, and Owings was intentionally walked, <span>Phil Gosselin</span> - another, in a parade of former Atlanta players - brought the run home with a sacrifice fly. But the win wasn't yet secure: <span>Tyler Clippard</span> had worked a scoreless seventh, however, <span>Daniel Hudson</span> brought the tying run to the plate for the Braves with one out in the eighth, then got a ground-ball to Ahmed who... Well, I needn't even bother with a description of what followed, need I?</p>
<p>Two more runs were added by the Diamondbacks in the top of the ninth, Castillo banging the ball through the left-side of the infield to score Segura and Lamb, and <span>Brad Ziegler</span> worked a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation, with the help of a nice sliding catch from Peralta for the final out. Peralta ended with three hits, Owings reached base three times on a hit and two walks, and Castillo had a pair of hits. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> lost, and are back below .500, but one of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> <u>has</u> to win, since they're playing each other, so we'll remain three games back of whichever one is victorious.</p>
<p align="center"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2016-05-06&team=Braves&dh=0&season=2016"><img src="https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6452199/chart.0.png" alt="chart.0.png"></a><br>[<i>Click to enlarge, at fangraphs.com</i>]<br><b>Geronimo: Zack Greinke, +15.5%</b><br>Sitting Bull: Welington Castillo, +13.8%<br><i><b>Chief Wild Eagle: Jean Segura, -4.8%</b></i></p>
<p>MichaelMcD831993 cracked three digits, and had twice as many as anyone else. "Anyone else" tonight would be: AzDbackfanInDc, Clefo, Diamondhacks, GuruB, Jackwriter, James Attwood, Jim McLennan, JoeCB1991, JoelPre, Makakilo, MrMrrbi, Oldenschoole, Re Tired, accidentallyonpurpose, asteroid, coldblueAZ, hotclaws, jmfugate, noblevillain, onedotfive, shoewizard, since_98 and thunderpumpkin87. Comment of the night to Clefo:</p>
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<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Clefo" target="_blank" class="avatar"> <img src="https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/profile_images/3225066/CLgD5bQUcAAAs_j_small.jpg" alt="Clefo"> </a>
<h2 class="title collapse_toggle ">Italicized prediction</h2>
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<p><i>Someone will score a run this game</i></p>
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<p>weltanschauung</p>
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<div class="meta">by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Clefo" class="poster" target="_blank">Clefo</a> on <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2016/5/6/11613376/gameday-thread-31-5-6-braves#374436521" class="date">May 6, 2016 | 4:49 PM</a> <span class="user_actions"> <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2016/5/6/11613376/gameday-thread-31-5-6-braves#" class="up_link" title="scroll to parent comment">up</a> <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2016/5/6/11613376/gameday-thread-31-5-6-braves#" class="reply_link" title="reply to this comment">reply</a> <span class="cactions mod "> <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2016/5/6/11613376/gameday-thread-31-5-6-braves#" class="rec_link recommended user_recommended"> unrec <span class="rec_count"> (5) </span> </a> <span class="mod_actions"> <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2016/5/6/11613376/gameday-thread-31-5-6-braves#" class="actions_toggle">actions</a> </span> </span> </span>
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<p>And, hey - whaddya know! He was right! We'll reconvene tomorrow, and try to start a streak of the good kind. But before you all get <u>too</u> excited - it's a <span>Shelby Miller</span> start. Guess that preview just about writes itself as well...</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2016/5/6/11613854/diamondbacks-braves-recap-zack-greinke-aaron-blairJim McLennan2016-05-06T22:56:33-04:002016-05-06T22:56:33-04:00Diamondbacks 7, Braves 2
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<figcaption>Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>WE WON THE TRADE!!!! [No, the OTHER one...]</p> <p>Okay, maybe or maybe not the <i>other</i> other one. But Zack Grienke and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> did beat <span>Aaron Blair</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> at Turner Field this evening, ending the six-game losing streak with a relatively solid performance. With the help of some particularly poor Atlanta defense, Arizona tallied a single run in the second and two in the third to take the lead. Meanwhile, Greinke was mowing down the Braves' hitters, at one point striking out five in a row. He ended up going six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk, with eight strikeouts. Chip Hale was clearly intent on the win, <span>Tyler Clippard</span>, <span>Daniel Hudson</span> and <span>Brad Ziegler</span> throwing the final three innings.</p>
<p>The seven runs scored were the most by the Diamondbacks in a while too. <span>David Peralta</span> led the hit parade with three, scoring twice, while <span>Welington Castillo</span> had a two-hit night, and <span>Chris Owings</span> reached base three times, on a hit and pair of walks (one intentional). <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> and <span>Jean Segura</span> each had a hit and a walk, and <span>Brandon Drury</span> delivered his sixth home-run of the season, leaving him one behind Castillo for the team lead. Goldy was also credited with a stolen-base, managing to take the base despite being picked off [like I said "with the help of some particularly poor Atlanta defense"...] It's nice to be winning again, isn't it?</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2016/5/6/11614196/diamondbacks-7-braves-sJim McLennan2016-05-06T17:30:03-04:002016-05-06T17:30:03-04:00D-backs Game Preview, #31: The Which Blair Project
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<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Few things are more meaningless than a single baseball game. Still, as meaningless goes...</p> <div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix">
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<span>Zack Greinke</span><br>RHP, 2-2, 5.50<br>
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<span>Aaron Blair</span><br>RHP, 0-1, 3.18</h5>
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<span>Jean Segura</span> - 2B</td>
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<span>Nick Markakis</span> - RF</td>
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<span>Jake Lamb</span> - 3B</td>
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<span>Adonis Garcia</span> - LF</td>
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<span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> - 1B</td>
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<span>Freddie Freeman</span> - 1B</td>
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<span>David Peralta</span> - RF</td>
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<span>Kelly Johnson</span> - 2B</td>
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<span>Welington Castillo</span> - C</td>
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<span>A.J. Pierzynski</span> - C</td>
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<span>Brandon Drury</span> - LF</td>
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<span>Reid Brignac</span> - 3B</td>
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<span>Chris Owings</span> - CF</td>
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<span>Erick Aybar</span> - SS</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Zack Greinke - RHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Aaron Blair - RHP</td>
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<span>Nick Ahmed</span> - SS</td>
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<span>Mallex Smith</span> - CF</td>
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<p>The storylines for this one practically write themselves. The starting pitchers this evening were both key to the off-season moves for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>. Zack Greinke was signed to the biggest free-agent contract in franchise history, while Aaron Blair was part of the package of young players sent to Atlanta in exchange for Shelby Miller. That hasn't worked out so far - to the extent that Blair alone would have been an overpay, never mind <span>Ender Inciarte</span> and Dansby Swanson. I've no doubt Chip in his pre-game conference will call this "just another game". But it isn't. 0.62% of the baseball season or not, and fair or not, if Blair beats Greinke, it will be seen by many as confirming the idiocy of Dave Stewart and Tony La Russa.</p>
<p>The possibility of defeat would have seemed unlikely on Opening Day, but Greinke has been far from the unstoppable force he was in 2015, and the D-backs in general have spluttered and stuttered. You probably do not need reminding that Arizona has now lost six straight, and eight of nine - they haven't scored more than four runs over that latter time, the longest such streak since a Goldy-less team limped its way towards the finish line in August 2014. Either the MLB-worst <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> - currently on pace for a record of 42-120 - will represent a refreshing sorbet on our palate, cleansing it from the sour taste of the last two series, or...</p>
<p>I must confess, the writing part of me would quite like to watch the D-backs' world burn. There are a lot more interesting articles you can write about a team that's flaming out, than one performing somewhat below expectations. In some ways too, the worst case scenario for the team might be a degree of competence which could - if you squinted a bit, in a poorly-lit room - convince the front office 2016 was just a series of unfortunate circumstances, and that save for a broken Pollick, they were on the right path. We saw what early success did to both Josh Byrnes and Kevin Towers, creating a aura of infallibility which proved woefully unjustified. Can certainly do without that again, and not even the division title!</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2016/5/6/11612514/arizona-diamondbacks-game-preview-atlanta-bravesJim McLennan