AZ Snake Pit - Game #35, 5/10: Diamondbacks 5, Marlins 2An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2021-05-11T01:03:30-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/221931882021-05-11T01:03:30-04:002021-05-11T01:03:30-04:00Diamondbacks 5, Marlins 2: Tacos = Wins
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<figcaption>Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Well, that and 6.1 scoreless innings from Luke Weaver, anyway. </p> <p id="P3BDWB">This was the kind of outing that shows you why the team persists with Luke Weaver. When he's good, he's VERY good, and tonight was one of those occasions. He was very effective, highly efficient and took a shutout into the seventh. In his two wins this year, Luke hasn't allowed a run in 13.1 innings, on only five hits with a K:BB of 14:1. Over his three losses, Weaver's ERA is 9.69. Meanwhile, after a road-trip where extra-base hits were like hen's teeth, seven of Arizona’s eight hits tonight were for multiple bags. Combine those two things, and Arizona’s six-game losing streak was put to bed.</p>
<p id="JqJEVn">Good Weaver showed up immediately, retiring the Marlins in order, and needing just nine pitches to do so. The D-backs then opened up with back-to-back doubles from Pavin Smith and Carson Kelly... and failed to score a run on them. Kelly's double was off the wall in center, and Smith had to hold up initially, so was stopped at third. A walk to Asdrubal Cabrera loaded the bases, still with no outs, before Arizona did what Arizona has been doing, and largely spurned the opportunity. David Peralta did get a run home on a groundout, but Christian Walker hit into an inning-ending double-play. </p>
<p id="V1FSKI">Weaver worked nicely around a lead-off double in the second. and was being aggressive with his fastball. He was working quickly, which is always a good sign for Luke. He retired eleven in a row, and the Diamondbacks threatened once more in the bottom of the third. Weaver drew a lead-off walk, improving his career K:BB ratio to 44:3. Smith followed by banging a single back up the middle for his second hit, and Kelly drew a full-count walk. That loaded the bases with nobody out for the second time in three innings, as the Marlins pitcher, making his first MLB start, struggled to locate his offerings. This time, Arizona cashed in, Cabrera smacking a pitch into the right-field corner for a two-run double (below) and a 3-0 lead.</p>
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<p lang="ca" dir="ltr">Big 2-base, 2-RBI knock from Asdrúbal! <a href="https://t.co/bgf1neOVHK">pic.twitter.com/bgf1neOVHK</a></p>— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dbacks/status/1391944532401422341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2021</a>
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<p id="w30mdZ">It was the first Arizona multi-RBI knock since Stephen Vogt's two-RBI triple against the Rockies on May 2; they had none over the entire road-trip. While Peralta, Walker and Eduardo Escobar made outs, a passed ball did make it 4-0 to Arizona. After another 1-2-3 inning by Weaver, the top of the fifth will be remembered for a brilliant, bare-handed play of the year candidate from Nick Ahmed on an infield chopper (below). He nailed the speedy runner by the width of a toenail. Daulton Varsho made his bid to join Nick on the highlight reel, with a diving catch attempt. Unfortunately the ball went right through him for a triple, ending Weaver's streak. However, he retired the next batter to keep the shutout going.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">He's got a pair of Gold Gloves, but <a href="https://twitter.com/NickAhmed13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NickAhmed13</a> didn't need either of them for this play. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SlickNick?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SlickNick</a> <a href="https://t.co/j7deXXfUwM">pic.twitter.com/j7deXXfUwM</a></p>— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dbacks/status/1391955879583305728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2021</a>
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<p id="RZ87h6">The long-awaited tacos then finally showed up, courtesy of Peralta and Walker. Each man doubled hard - 107 and 110 mph off the bat - in the fifth, to make it 5-0 to Arizona. Weaver did allow a lead-off single in the sixth. No problem, said Luke, picking the runner off for the second out. He was through six scoreless innings on only 65 pitches, with only 14 balls, although there was action in the Arizona bullpen, first from Chris Devenski, then Taylor Clarke. Weaver hit for himself in the bottom of the sixth (against former D-back prospect, Luis Madero, making his MLB debut; he was traded to the Angels back in 2017 for David Hernandez), and took the mound in the seventh. </p>
<p id="IaY7Ai">He did allow a lead-off single, yet got to leave on a high, after his sixth and final K. He was lifted at 6.1 innings, with a final line of four hits and no walks. Weaver had still only thrown 75 pitches, and did seem to have gas left in the tank. Just one Diamondback starter since 2007 has has an outing of more than six innings that was also 75 or fewer pitches. Zack Greinke needed 75 to get through seven frames <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WAS/WAS201906130.shtml">on June 13, 2019</a>. [Probably the most efficient ever was Curt Schilling <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN200305300.shtml">in a 2003 start</a>, where he used 64 pitches to record 20 outs] Clarke took over, and gave up a single to the first batter he faced, before getting the next two outs.</p>
<p id="FYFoKQ">The shutout did not survive the eighth inning, however. Another missed dive by Varsho led to another Miami triple, and with two outs Joakim Soria gave up a two-run homer, making the score 5-2. Cue shifting uncomfortably in our seats across Diamondbacks fandom. With it now being a save situation, Stefan Crichton came in for the ninth, and the only real drama was a shattered bat that Ahmed had to dodge while fielding a grounder. Well, that and a nice play by Smith to rob a homer, ending the game instead. It was also the first time this year the Diamondbacks pitched a full nine innings without allowing a base on balls.</p>
<p id="wlk6cE">A much-needed solid victory on both sides of the ball. Smith and Peralta each had a pair of hits, while Kelly, Cabrera and Ahmed each had a hit and a walk. It was the kind of game which was genuinely a pleasure to watch, and so stands in sharp contrast to all the contests on the road-trip. While Mount .500 may still be a little way off, at least it didn’t get further away tonight. Only 6,307 in attendance however; unsurprisingly the smallest crowd of the season at Chase Field, and therefore any season.</p>
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<div id="s8Rz20"><p style="text-align:center"><a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2021-05-10&team=Diamondbacks&dh=0&season=2021">Click for details</a> at Fangraphs.com
<br><b>Hugh Grant: Luke Weaver, +24.6%</b>
<br>Andy McDowell: Kelly, +17.7%; Cabrera, +11.6%
<br><b><i>The audience: Christian Walker, -11.0%</i></b><i>
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<p id="O3MZrQ">Present in the Gameday Thread were: AzDbackfanInDc, DORRITO, Diamondhacks, EdTheRed99, GuruB, Jack Sommers, Jim McLennan, Makakilo, Michael McDermott, MrMrrbi, NikT77, Snake_Bitten, Xerostomia, craiginphoenix, kilnborn and makattack71. Nothing quite turned Sedona Red, the best of the almost comments was by ‘hacks, describing the first inning situation on the basepaths:</p>
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<p id="u97JPG">Having overcome the sticky, Weaver-shaped patch in the rotation for now, the D-backs can look forward to the rest of the series with relative confidence. In particular, tomorrow night sees new staff ace Madison Bumgarner take the mound against these same Marlins (or a slightly difference subset thereof). It’s another 6:40 pm first pitch. </p>
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https://www.azsnakepit.com/2021/5/11/22429862/diamondbacks-marlins-recapJim McLennan2021-05-10T21:30:00-04:002021-05-10T21:30:00-04:00Gameday Thread, #35: 5/10 vs. Marlins
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<img alt="Andie MacDowell And Hugh Grant In ‘Four Weddings And A Funeral’" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gTi-rNMWwGyCT-o8G5Tjh__Pvg0=/497x241:4300x2776/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69266563/129160721.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Gramercy Pictures/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>On this day in 1992, Four Weddings and a Funeral was #1 at the North American box-office.</p> <blockquote><p id="Dl9tHe">Charles: Do you think there really are people who can just go up and say, “Hi, babe. Name’s Charles. This is your lucky night?”<br>Matthew: Well, if there are, they’re not English.</p></blockquote>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/diamondbacks-gamedays/2021/5/10/22429201/gameday-thread-35-5-10-vs-marlinsJim McLennan2021-05-10T20:30:00-04:002021-05-10T20:30:00-04:00D-backs Preview #35: 5/10 vs. Marlins
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<figcaption>Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>2020 called. They want their slump back. </p> <div id="8DQk1r">
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<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
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<th align="left">MARLINS</th>
<th align="left">DIAMONDBACKS</th>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Isan Diaz - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Pavin Smith - RF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Jesus Aguilar - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Carson Kelly - C</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Garrett Cooper - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Asdrubal Cabrera - 3B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Corey Dickerson - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">David Peralta - LF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Brian Anderson - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Christian Walker - 1B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Lewis Brinson - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Eduardo Escobar - 2B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Chad Wallach - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Nick Ahmed - SS</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Jon Berti - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Daulton Varsho - CF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Jordan Holloway - RHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Luke Weaver - RHP</td>
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<p id="am38L2">After arguably the worst road-trip in more than a decade, Arizona returns to Chase Field with things feeling increasingly like last year’s slump. The team has now lost six games in a row, being held to four or fewer runs each time. There have only been two longer streaks of tacoless defeats since the end of 2009. The most recent was last year, when they had a seven-game run. That was part of an overall eight-game losing streak, which started that horrendous spell where the D-backs lost 18 of 20. And, just like the current dismal run, it began when the team reached a season-high of two games above .500. The all-time worst, incidentally, is eight games in 2004. You do not want to break any records set that year. </p>
<p id="5KWKiX">Today doesn’t bring much reason to be optimistic, with Luke Weaver’s ERA of 6.07 now being the highest in the rotation. That seven innings of one-hit ball against Cincinnati is looking as much an aberration as Wade Milley’s no-hitter. His four outings since have seen as many earned runs allowed as innings pitched - 17 of each - with ten walks and an OPS against of 1.074. Some of that is opposing batters hitting them where they ain’t, with a BABIP of .423. But the fact only one of those four appearances saw him get an out past the fourth inning is a problem in any circumstance. At current pace, Weaver could make every scheduled start and still not throw enough innings to be considered a qualifying pitcher. </p>
<p id="x6wHb4">That would be something no NL starter has ever done. The only two pitchers to have made at least 32 starts, without reaching the threshold of 162 IP, were both in the AL. One was mentioned earlier: Miley, who worked 157.1 innings for the 2017 Orioles. The other is Yusei Kikuchi who game one innings short on the 2019 Mariners. Right now, if Weaver made 32 starts, he’d be on pace for 158.1 innings. But if the results don’t improve significantly, it’s hard to see him sticking in the rotation all year. Indeed. it may be that only Taylor Widener being on the shelf has kept Weaver there for now. One more bad start, and the rumbling about Jon Duplantier returning may become more concrete. </p>
<h4 id="Qe5Gj1">Torey Lovullo notes</h4>
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<li id="jHVnOp">Still looking a little rough, but said he is feeling a little better. “My expectation is that we are going to win tonight.” When the team doesn’t match the expectations he has, he gets a bit frustrated, but “today is a new day... Nothing we did yesterday is going to impact us today.”</li>
<li id="II0XrT">HBP and wild pitches at an all-time high. Torey’s perspective is that pitch framing might be part of the reason, with moving the glove and perfecting their hand movements, which might cause them to get “locked up.” With regard to hit pitches, “it used to be an eye for an eye. I don’t necessarily believe in that. For me the protection part of it is not a great answer.” Balls get away from a pitche, and batters want to pull the ball, so are crowding the plate. Also, the lack of mound visits may factor in to an increased number of cross-ups. </li>
<li id="QMZlA7">Expectations for <strong>Luke Weaver</strong>. “I have some unbelievable conversations with Luke over the past few days” and we believe he’s ready to go out and have a terrific game. Everyone is evaluated every single day, but “I think Luke is in a very good spot.”</li>
<li id="G6Loia">“We’ve got to build faith in one another, and go out and perform as a team. That’s one of the demands that we have. We budgeted for hard time, but we’re going to do the little things right, and hopefully win a ballgame.” </li>
<li id="nG9LAe">Injury updates. <strong>Ketel Marte</strong> continues to ramp up activity. He’s going to come over to Chase tomorrow, and get him on the bases in his spikes. <strong>Taylor Widener</strong> threw a bullpen today, and the report was he felt very, very good. The next step, all being well, would be a simulated game in the 50-pitch range. <strong>Kole Calhoun</strong> played catch today, just trying to keep his arm active. </li>
<li id="Fj74VZ">The Marlins are “a quality baseball team” who took advantage of every opportunity. Arizona has got to limit the free passes, but the D-backs have a chip on their shoulder for this series.</li>
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<h4 id="YRPnsS">Torey Lovullo audio [<a href="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22505364/Torey.mp3">or link</a>]</h4>
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https://www.azsnakepit.com/diamondbacks-gamedays/2021/5/10/22429156/d-backs-preview-35-5-10-vs-marlinsJim McLennan