AZ Snake Pit - Game #132: 8/30, Arizona Diamondbacks 4, San Francisco Giants 3An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2016-08-31T01:55:47-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/124839112016-08-31T01:55:47-04:002016-08-31T01:55:47-04:00AZ 4, SF 3: Grienke is an Ace, Offense does enough
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<figcaption>Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>A battle of two of the best pitchers in the NL tonight, and, for once, it worked out okay for the Diamondbacks</p> <p id="K3JXi5">Zack Grienke wasn’t his most efficient tonight, but he got the job done for the most part. He allowed in a couple walks in the first couple innings, but he stranded all three of the runners he allowed in innings one and two. In the third, he wasn’t quite so lucky. Denard Span lead things off and reached on a Segura error. Pagan singled him to second, and then Span made it to third on a Posey sac fly, putting runners on first and third, with one out. Crawford brought the run home with another sac fly, putting the Giants on the board first. Belt popped up to end the inning, but 1-0 Giants.</p>
<p id="6lmQUm">It stayed that way until the top of the fifth. El Tanque lead off the inning with a walk, and was then brought home right away thanks to a Chris Owings triple. Grienke then walked, to put runners on the corners with no outs. Segura hit an RBI single for the second run of the inning. Bourn bunted into a force out, Grienke out at third, for the first out. Pollock walked to load the bases, but Goldy struck out for the second out. It was okay, though, because Beef backed him up with a two RBI single, to make the score 4-1 Diamondbacks.</p>
<p id="wfkMxB">Grienke made it through the sixth, though he did give up another run before escaping his final inning. Delgado took over in the seventh, and struggled. He got a strike out for the first out, but the gave up a double to Pagan and walked Posey. Hale had the quick hook and brought in Edwin Escobar. He threw three pitches, got a double play, and ended the inning and the threat.</p>
<div id="yBFg6w"><center> <iframe style="border:1px solid black;" width="450" height="450" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2016-08-30&team=Giants&dh=0"></iframe><br><span>Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2016-08-30&team=Giants&dh=0&season=2016">FanGraphs</a></span> </center></div>
<div id="WcTrkE">
<center><b>Spinato's Pizza:<b> Chris Owings, 21.7% Edwin Escobar 21.5%</b></b></center> <b><b> </b></b><center><b>Little Caesar's: Paul Goldschmidt -12.3% Michael Bourn -10.7%</b></center>
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<p id="GOng40">Light GDT tonight. Sadly to be expected considering the point we’re at in the season. Of the <s>fool</s>hardy souls who showed up, we managed 166 comments. No one broke even twenty comments on the night. All present were:</p>
<p id="Alqzlo">Anisha0913, Augdogs, AzRattler, GuruB, Jackwriter, Jim McLennan, JoeCB1991, Makakilo,MichaelMcD831993, MrMrrbi, Oldenschoole, Rockkstarr12, SongBird, Xerostomia, asteroid, blue bulldog,david.munter, gamepass, hotclaws, imstillhungry95, makattack71, noblevillain, onedotfive, porty99, shoewizard,thunderpumpkin87</p>
<p id="98rUik">No red comments means no comment of the night. Day game tomorrow, at 12:45 Arizona time.</p>
<p id="PylOg1"> </p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2016/8/31/12724602/az-4-sfg-3-grienke-is-still-an-ace-the-offense-does-enoughImstillhungry952016-08-31T01:34:38-04:002016-08-31T01:34:38-04:00Diamondbacks 4, Giants 3
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<p id="f7Ibmv">Grienke didn't make it look pretty tonight, but he was ultimately effective. He ended up going six innings, and he only allowed two runs, but did give up six hits and two walks. He made it work, though, and he kept his team in the game for his entire outing.</p>
<p>The offense was mostly shut down by Cueto, but they put up a four spot in the fifth off of him, that ended up being all the offense they would get for the evening. The rest of the way, they stayed pretty quiet. Of note, however, AJ Pollock got on base four times, two hits and two walks, and stole a base. Granted, the stolen base set up an IBB of Goldy, which is never optimal, but still good to see in a vacuum.</p>
<p>The bullpen took over starting in the seventh. Delgado struggled, only going 1/3 of an inning, but the rest of the bullpen finished things off. Escobar came in and cleaned up the mess Delgado left after leaving the game and then worked another inning. Hudson gave up a run but got the save. Full recap to follow shortly</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2016/8/31/12724742/diamondbacks-4-giants-2Imstillhungry952016-08-30T22:00:07-04:002016-08-30T22:00:07-04:00Gameday Thread, #132: 8/30 vs. Giants
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<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Zack Greinke takes the mound. Looks like his next start will be in Los Angeles.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2016/8/30/12722026/gameday-thread-132-8-30-vs-giantsJim McLennan2016-08-30T20:30:03-04:002016-08-30T20:30:03-04:00Diamondbacks Game Preview, #132: Giant killers?
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<figcaption>Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Games until the blessed end of the season: 31</p> <table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 10%;"><img src="https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/2572695/ari.png"></td>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 40%;">
<h5>
<span>Zack Greinke</span><br>RHP, 11-4, 4.29</h5>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 10%;"><img src="https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6765357/san_logo.0.png"></td>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 40%;">
<h5>
<span>Johnny Cueto</span><br>RHP, 14-4, 2.86</h5>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 50%;">
<span>Jean Segura</span> - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Denard Span</span> - CF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Michael Bourn</span> - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Angel Pagan</span> - LF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>A.J. Pollock</span> - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Buster Posey</span> - C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Brandon Crawford</span> - SS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Welington Castillo</span> - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Brandon Belt</span> - 1B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Jake Lamb</span> - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Hunter Pence</span> - RF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Yasmany Tomas</span> - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Joe Panik</span> - 2B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Chris Owings</span> - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Eduardo Nunez</span> - 3B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Zack Greinke - RHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Johnny Cueto - RHP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>If the season had started at the All-Star break, this would be the standings going into this evening's game.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th data-stat="team_ID" align="center">Tm</th> <th data-stat="W" data-filter="1" data-name="Wins" align="center">W</th> <th data-stat="L" data-filter="1" data-name="Losses" align="center">L</th> <th data-stat="win_loss_perc" data-filter="1" data-name="Win-Loss %" align="center"><nobr>W-L%</nobr></th> <th data-stat="games_back" align="center">GB</th> <th data-stat="RS" data-filter="1" data-name="Runs Scored" align="center">RS</th> <th data-stat="RA" data-filter="1" data-name="Runs Allowed" align="center">RA</th> <th data-stat="win_loss_perc_pythag" data-filter="1" data-name="PythW-L%" align="center"><span>Pyt%</span></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr data-row="0">
<td align="left">LAD</td>
<td align="right">22</td>
<td align="right">18</td>
<td align="right">.550</td>
<td align="right">--</td>
<td align="right">204</td>
<td align="right">195</td>
<td align="right">.521</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="1">
<td align="left">COL</td>
<td align="right">23</td>
<td align="right">20</td>
<td align="right">.535</td>
<td align="right">0.5</td>
<td align="right">240</td>
<td align="right">207</td>
<td align="right">.567</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="2">
<td align="left">ARI</td>
<td align="right">17</td>
<td align="right">24</td>
<td align="right">.415</td>
<td align="right">5.5</td>
<td align="right">198</td>
<td align="right">279</td>
<td align="right">.348</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="3">
<td align="left">SDP</td>
<td align="right">17</td>
<td align="right">24</td>
<td align="right">.415</td>
<td align="right">5.5</td>
<td align="right">168</td>
<td align="right">185</td>
<td align="right">.456</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="4">
<td align="left">SFG</td>
<td align="right">14</td>
<td align="right">26</td>
<td align="right">.350</td>
<td align="right">8.0</td>
<td align="right">162</td>
<td align="right">173</td>
<td align="right">.470</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Yep, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> would be last in the division and it wouldn't be particularly close. Indeed, the Giants have been the worst team in the entire National League over the second half, two games back of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a>. If that keeps up going forward, then hopefully that "even year magic" bullshit will end. Though the Giants still hold the first wild-card spot, so effectively, they have a 3.5 games hold on a play-off position, currently ahead of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a>. That's why <i>Baseball Prospectus</i> gives them a 79.8% chance of making the post-season, and MLB.com is even more optimistic, at 83.4%. I'm pretty sure Giants fans don't feel quite as hopeful.</p>
<p>I feel somewhat vindicated though, having picked the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> and Giants earlier in the season as teams who were over-performing their Pythagorean records to the greatest degree. In the second half, the Giants have regressed, under-performing by 120 points of W%, and they're now actually one below what Pythag projects. Of late, they've won the blowouts and lost the close games - over their past 16 games, San Francisco are 0-6 in games decided by two or fewer runs. They also have one win over that time in which they've scored under six times, so if Greinke is on form tonight, that may bode well for the visitors.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Cueto has been pretty good, allowing just the one score in each of his past two outings. We saw him at the beginning of July and, though he wasn't great (four earned runs over seven innings), it proved good enough for the Giants. We've seen him three times this season: he's 2-1, having gone seven innings each time, and with an ERA of 3.86 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> in 2016. Our offense looks to be at full strength tonight: Hale is sticking with having Pollock hitting three, behind the 1-2 of Segura and Weeks, and in front of Goldschmidt. We'll see how that works.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2016/8/30/12719300/arizona-diamondbacks-game-preview-san-francisco-giantsJim McLennan