AZ Snake Pit - Game #142, 9/8: Diamondbacks 4, Braves 5An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2018-09-09T02:12:56-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/175994932018-09-09T02:12:56-04:002018-09-09T02:12:56-04:00Arizona Diamondbacks 4, Atlanta Braves 5: Botchamania 2018
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<img alt="Atlanta Braves v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VzLglvULL5S2SfSeXU941hPXwqs=/0x0:2478x1652/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61250245/1029584072.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Another very good game to miss.</p> <p id="ZzCPIq"><strong>Record 76-66. Pace 87-75. Change on 2017: -6. </strong></p>
<p id="h59ncm">I did not see a single pitch of this one, instead attending a show put on by a local pro wrestling federation. I think I can say what I watched there was likely more competent and fundamentally sound than the spectacle which unfolded at Chase Field tonight. While the loss was charged to the bullpen, there was a lot of blame available to go around. The D-backs’ defense, one of the best in the majors, melted down by committing four errors. Indeed, for most of the game, Arizona had more errors than hits, and when they finally got a knock with a runner in scoring position - on the 11th AB - it was the game-ending play. Yep, my mental health again thinks not watching was a <strong>really</strong> good idea.</p>
<p id="wVUi2s">If there’s someone who deserves to be absolved of responsibility for this one though, it’s <span>Clay Buchholz</span>, who has proven to be a remarkably good pick-up. He came into the game tonight having been worth 2.9 bWAR to the team, a figure that will only have gone up after his performance this evening. For comparison, <span>J.D. Martinez</span> last season was worth only 2.6 bWAR as a Diamondback. It’s also worth remembering that when <span>Buchholz</span> came into the rotation, he took the spot previously occupied by <span>Kris Medlen</span> and <span>Troy Scribner</span> and their 10.57 combined ERA. I’d have settled for replacement value as an improvement. What Clay has given Arizona has been far, far more. </p>
<p id="HvunJV">Tonight, he allowed one earned run over 6.1 innings, on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts. It was Buchholz’s FIFTH consecutive start allowing zero or one earned runs. There has been just one longer streak in franchise history, by <s>Randy Johnson</s> <s>Curt Schilling</s> <s>Brandon Webb</s> Andy Benes. Wait, what? Yep, back in the team’s debut year of 1998, Benes went six straight with one ER or fewer, allowing three earned runs over 46.1 innings. Johnson and Webb both went five straight, in 2002 and 2007 respectively. So did <span>Robbie Ray</span> and <span>Patrick Corbin</span> last season. But if you’d told me on Opening Day Buchholz would become the sixth D-back starter with such a streak... </p>
<p id="JdYCJZ">It looked a bit flaky in the first inning, as the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> scored before recording an out, and the first error of the night, by <span>David Peralta</span>, gave them an extra 90 feet. That proved crucial as a ground-out and sacrifice fly brought the runner across, putting Atlanta 2-0 up early. Like good guests, the Braves repaid the hospitality, allowing the D-backs to score without needing to get a hit. Two walks and a wild pitch were followed by <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> popping out: <span>A.J. Pollock</span> came home, and fortunately, the Braves catcher dropped the ball after it was fired home, getting Arizona on the board. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Buchholz finds the gap for just his second hit of the season. But it pulls the <a href="https://twitter.com/Dbacks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dbacks</a> even. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PitcherWhoRake?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PitcherWhoRake</a> <a href="https://t.co/mTCGDGKK6Y">pic.twitter.com/mTCGDGKK6Y</a></p>— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSPORTSAZ/status/1038592914308227072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2018</a>
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<p id="ES6YB1">There were two more errors by the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> in the second inning. A <span>Daniel Descalso</span> E put a man aboard with one out, and then Buchholz made one of his own on a pick-off throw, allowing the runner to motor to third. Fortunately, the next batter grounded back to the mound, and the Brave was thrown out at the plate. Buchholz redeemed himself in the bottom half, getting his first career extra-base hit (above), in his 12th season and 313th plate-appearance. The double to the gap in left-center was Arizona’s first hit of the game, scoring Steven Souza, who had walked to lead off the inning, all the way from first-base, and leveled the scores at two after two.</p>
<p id="16yNdG">Both starters settled in for the next three innings, before Atlanta had a chance to break open the game in the top of the sixth. They loaded the bases on two singles and a walk with one out off Buchholz, but Torey Lovullo chose to keep faith with his starter. And Clay proved that faith justified, getting a pop-out to the infield and a strikeout to escape. He left after allowing a one-out single in the seventh, and <span>T.J. McFarland</span> tied things up there. <span>Jake Diekman</span> was not able to do so in the eighth, allowing a solo home-run that put Atlanta back in front, 3-2. However, <span>Descalso</span> followed Buchholz in atoning with the bat for his glove, doubling home <span>Peralta</span> with two outs in the bottom half, to tie things again.</p>
<p id="rYR1mB">Arizona almost were able to take the lead there, coming one ball away from doing so. Souza walked and <span>Ketel Marte</span> was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for pinch-hitter Ildemaro Vargas. He then took three straight pitches, but ended up lining out to second on a full count. Both sides then squandered chances in the ninth. First Atlanta stranded a one-out triple, <span>Yoshihisa Hirano</span> working out of that jam. Then Arizona had men on the corners with one out, but <span>A.J. Pollock</span> was thrown out at home trying to deliver a walk-off score on a groundball off the bat of Peralta. Just reading the play-by-play, it feels like two fat men arguing about who should go through a revolving door first...</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It looked like the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dbacks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dbacks</a> again were going to tie the game. Then ... game over. <a href="https://t.co/1onTgSr2Du">pic.twitter.com/1onTgSr2Du</a></p>— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSPORTSAZ/status/1038643730658426880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2018</a>
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<p id="y0ceMa">The Braves finally took the lead in the tenth. Of course, this game being what it was, they did so without the ball intentionally leaving the infield, scoring the go-ahead run on a walk (<span>Andrew Chafin</span> gonna <span>Chafin</span>, naturally), stolen base, infield single and <span>Goldschmidt</span> error, the fourth of the night for the D-backs. A RBI triple made if 5-3 before the inning was over. Arizona weren’t quite done, and got two men in scoring position with two outs in the bottom half. Pollock hit the ball back up the middle, and one run scored, but <span>Dansby Swanson</span> was able to stop it from going into the outfield; <span>Nick Ahmed</span> was thrown out at home, trying to score the tying run from second. </p>
<p id="7XGSTM">If you were a neutral, and not someone particularly fussy about fundamentally sound baseball, this game was probably a lot of fun to watch, with a bit of everything. But for the D-backs, it was another example of their recent weaknesses. As noted in the preview, the bullpen has been losing too many games of late: in the second-half, Arizona’s starters are 18-8, and the relievers are now 5-14. It was also yet another one-run loss. The D-backs are 18-27 in those games this year, and have lost the last seven such in a row. The <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> beat the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>, so we are back to being 2<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> games behind Colorado.</p>
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<div id="I8pvh2"><p style="text-align:center"><b>Click <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2017-04-02&team=Diamondbacks&dh=0&season=2017" target="_blank">here</a> for details, at Fangraphs.com</b>
<br><b>Michelangelo: Eduardo Escobar, +22.4%</b>
<br>Da Vinci: Souza, +22.3%; Hirano, +15.2%
<br><b><i>Jackson Pollock: Andrew Chafin, -43.8%</i></b><i>
<br>Andy Warhol: Peralta, -17.3%; Diekman, -16.9%; Marte, -16.3%; Owings, -15.2%;
<br>Goldschmidt, -13.9%; Vargas, -13.7%; Pollock, -10.0%</i></p></div>
<p id="fjO4vj">A busy Gameday Thread, with three people reaching double digits. Present were: AzDbackfanInDc, DORRITO, Dbacks Nation, DeadManG, GuruB, Jack Sommers, Jackwriter, Johnneu, Justin27, Makakilo, Michael McDermott, MikeMono, MrMrrbi, PaulGoldsmith, Rockkstarr12, ShirtOffYourBack, SongBird, Sprankton, The so-called Beautiful, asteroid, coldblueAZ, errordataguy, hotclaws, kilnborn, onedotfive, red_leader and smartplays. Comment of the night to Jack:</p>
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<p id="jMEZPj">Fairly sure that may not have been the only thing burned tonight. :( Tomorrow, it’s the series finale, with <span>Robbie Ray</span> starting for Arizona... and our former first-round pick, <span>Touki Toussaint</span>, starting for Atlanta. He’ll probably throw a no-hitter against us. Dave Stewart truly is the gift that keeps on giving...</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2018/9/9/17836732/arizona-diamondbacks-atlanta-braves-recapJim McLennan2018-09-09T00:20:59-04:002018-09-09T00:20:59-04:00Arizona Diamondbacks 4, Atlanta Braves 5
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<img alt="MLB: Atlanta Braves at Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0CJzNWfGBxi3iEz2lc-Wfs2-fes=/0x0:4920x3280/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61249663/usa_today_11211891.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Four errors factored into another loss for the bullpen.</p> <p id="I8Z1Ds">The early innings tonight were, frankly, a mess. A David Peralta error opened the door for the Braves to score twice in the first inning, but Atlanta immediately returned the favor, allowing A.J. Pollock to score without a hit. The D-backs then tied up the game in the second, on Clay Buchholz's first career extra-base hit, a double into the gap, which scored Steven Souza.</p>
<p id="5WZf13">Both starting pitchers then settled in, though Buchholz had to work out of a jam in the sixth, after loading the bases with one out. He went six innings, allowing one earned run (plus one unearned) on five hits, with two walks and six strikeouts. T.J. McFarland finished the seventh, but Jake Diekman allowed a go-ahead homer with two outs in the Ieighth. The Diamondbacks responded, tying the score on Daniel Descalso's double with two out - only their third hit.</p>
<p id="w14MSS">Both sides spurned chances in the ninth, so into extras we went. Another D-backs error allowed Atlanta to take the lead in the 10th, without hitting the ball out of the infield. They scored twice against Andrew Chafin, and Arizona came up just short, having the tying run thrown out at home. They drop 2.5 back of Colorado, who beat Los Angeles. </p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2018/9/9/17836378/arizona-diamondbacks-atlanta-braves-scoreJim McLennan2018-09-08T20:00:02-04:002018-09-08T20:00:02-04:00Gameday Thread, #142: 9/8 vs. Braves
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<img alt="Restoration Work Completed On Michelangelo’s David" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qCre_iF83EMYpCm3Y9RZ9HZAT8g=/0x21:1954x1324/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61246893/50891638.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">September 8 - 1504: Italy - Michelangelo's David, a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture, was unveiled in Florence. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/history?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#history</a></p>— Today In History (@Yesterday_Today) <a href="https://twitter.com/Yesterday_Today/status/1038414961305894912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2018</a>
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https://www.azsnakepit.com/2018/9/8/17835548/gameday-thread-142-9-8-vs-bravesJim McLennan2018-09-08T19:30:02-04:002018-09-08T19:30:02-04:00Preview, #142: 9/8 vs. Braves
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<img alt="Atlanta Braves v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/R_kNKjOdVp-Tl2N2QOhZOpKAmO0=/0x0:4149x2766/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61246865/1028969000.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The second-half bullpen losses are a key reason why the D-backs are no longer in first place. </p> <div id="2vRzSn">
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<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
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<th align="left">BRAVES</th>
<th align="left">DIAMONDBACKS</th>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Ronald Acuna - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">A.J. Pollock - CF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Johan Camargo - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Eduardo Escobar - 3B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Freddie Freeman - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">David Peralta - LF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Nick Markakis - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Paul Goldschmidt - 1B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Kurt Suzuki - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Daniel Descalso - 2B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Ender Inciarte - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Steven Souza - RF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Ozzie Albies - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Ketel Marte - SS</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Dansby Swanson - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Jeff Mathis - C</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Julio Teheran - RHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Clay Buchholz - RHP</td>
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<p id="WzcP7D">I’ve been looking to see if I can find out what the cause is of the D-backs’ problems in one-run games this season. Are those games where the team failed to score enough in the later innings, or games where their pitchers allowed runs? Looking at that is probably going to require checking the box scores on a per-game basis, but we can get some idea, based on the team’s record on a per inning basis, when compared to the NL average. One thing we see is that the 2018 <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> are good off early innings: they are better at holding leads and also at overcoming deficits. In the NL, if you lead after the first, you win 71.0% of the time. The D-backs are 36-11 there, or 76.6%. </p>
<p id="j1i8ed">Conversely, if trailing after one, NL teams win 29.7% of games; Arizona is 8-18, winning 30.8%. [Interesting to note the D-backs have led 47 times at the end of the first, and trailed only 26. Their 116 first-inning runs scored is twenty more than any other side in the league] But their record when leading at the start of each of the sixth through eighth innings is worse than league average. They’ve let more of those leads slip away than most, which suggests bullpen issues, We also see the team struggle in tied games, where they are below .500 every inning after the first. In games tied after six, for example, Arizona is only 6-11, also indicating relief runs allowed are an issue. </p>
<p id="yChCj8">We can see Diamondbacks’ starters have more wins than any other team in the league, nineteen over .500 at 55-36. Meanwhile, the Arizona bullpen is eight games <em>below</em> .500, at 21-29, The <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> (22-31) are the only team whose relievers have a lower W%. W-L record is to be taken with a grain of salt, but the record is at odds with an ERA which, even with the recent issues, still sits at a best in the league 3.17. These losses have been a particular issue since the All-Star break, where the D-backs’ bullpen has had thirteen of them, ahead only of the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> (14). In contrast, the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> much-maligned bullpen have eight second-half losses and the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>’ eleven. That provides the margin in the NL West, and then some. </p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/diamondbacks-gamedays/2018/9/8/17835460/preview-142-9-8-vs-bravesJim McLennan