AZ Snake Pit - Game #84: Diamondbacks 5, Mets 3An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2013-07-04T00:51:19-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/42556112013-07-04T00:51:19-04:002013-07-04T00:51:19-04:00D-backs 5, Mets 3: Slumpbuster
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4XFEV7tGvOZtoIyqbRTGFJYcYW0=/0x0:3990x2660/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15881371/20130703_lbm_ae5_252.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Diamondbacks put together a come-from-behind win with the complete package: great starting pitching, timely hitting, solid defense, and enough bullpen to take it home.</p> <p><b>Record: 43-41. Pace: 83-79. Change over last year: +2.</b></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Diamondbacks</a> went into the game just looking to right their ship. Losers of 5 straight, they were facing a tough customer in <span>Matt Harvey</span>, and the young right-hander did not disappoint in the early inning.</p>
<p><span>Randall Delgado</span> took the bump for the D-backs, and outside of a bumpy 4th inning, he was a refreshing surprise. That 4th inning, though, brought nightmarish visions to all Arizonans who watched, as he gave up 2 home runs in the inning. The first solo shot was powered out by <span>David Wright</span>, who took a calf-high ball and tattooed it to left. <span>Josh Satin</span> stepped up two batters later and hit his own solo home run, and it gave the home team a 2 run lead.</p>
<p>It felt insurmountable at the time, but we should have better faith. Our despair might have been justified given how the D-backs offense went, or more specifically didn't go, in the first few frames. Arizona had bases loaded with only one out in the first, looking to score early, and of course <span>Martin Prado</span> hit into a double play to end the threat. After that it was all strikeouts and fielder's choices.</p>
<p>Then the D-backs entered the top of the 6th, and suddenly everything seemed different. <span>Miguel Montero</span> worked a walk, part of a 2 hit and 2 walk game, then Martin Prado got on with a single. This set the table for <span>Cody Ross</span>, who summoned the dark magick to get a home run just over the left field fence to give a lead that Arizona wouldn't give up.</p>
<p>Matt Harvey would get run from the game in the 7th, eventually being tagged for 2 more runs. One was scored by <span>Tony Campana</span> off an <span>Eric Chavez</span> double, and then Miggy hit a sac-fly off reliever <span>Scott Rice</span>.</p>
<p>Harvey had another high strikeout game, which is not surprising. The rest of his line did not look good, however: 6 innings pitched, 9 hits and 3 walks allowed, 5 earned runs.</p>
<p>Delgado, on the other hand, had a pretty fantastic night outside the 2 home runs. He went 7 innings to help out the struggling bullpen, gave up 7 hits but not walks, and struck out 9. Overall his stuff looked good, and although I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, it certainly gives an idea of what kind of pitcher we may have received in the Upton trade.</p>
<p>The D-backs made it more stressful then it needed to be, with David Hernandez giving up a homer and a ground rule double back-to-back in the bottom of the 8th. He got the final out, though, and <span>Heath Bell</span> came into close things out. It was a surprisingly stress-free affair for Bell, and even though he gave up a two out single, he got Andrew Brown to flyout harmlessly to center to secure the save and the win.</p>
<p>It wasn't the most predictable of results. Who'd have thought the D-backs would end their slide against Matt Harvey of all pitchers? Or that Randall Delgado would break the streak of starting pitchers not getting a win? Well, you know what they say (over and over): can't predict ball.</p>
<p> </p>
<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=2013-07-03&team=Mets&dh=0"></iframe><br><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2013-07-03&team=Mets&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></span>
</center>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>X-Wing: </b>Cody Ross (37.5%)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>A-Wing: </b>Miguel Montero (13.1%), Eric Chavez (12.6%)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Corran Horn: </b>Martin Prado (-13.4%)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Z-95: </b><span>Jason Kubel</span> (-11.3%)</p>
<p>Busy Gameday Thread tonight, which might be partially attributed to the later start. BulldogsNotZags led the way, being the only one to crack 100 comments. He was joined by: AJV19, Airwave, AzDbackfanInDc, AzRattler, Clefo, Diamondhacks, Fangdango, GuruB, Jim McLennan, JoeCB1991, PR151, Paper Clip, Rockkstarr12, TolkienBard, Zavada's Moustache, asteroid, azshadowwalker, blank_38, cheese1213, dbacks79, dbrowell, hotclaws, kristina, onedotfive, piratedan7, preston.salisbury, rd33, snakecharmer, soco, and xmet.</p>
<p>Comment of the Day goes to asteroid for this gem, summing up the game:</p>
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<p> </p>
<h2 style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Gotham SSm A', 'Gotham SSm B', Arial, sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff;" id="comment_title_171411815" class="title collapse_toggle"><a style="color: #222222;" id="comment_171411815">#faveflave</a></h2>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; font-family: 'Gotham Narrow SSm A', 'Gotham Narrow SSm B', Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;" class="body" id="comment_body_171411815"></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; color: #888888; font-family: 'Gotham Narrow SSm A', 'Gotham Narrow SSm B', Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: #ffffff;" class="meta">by <a style="color: #424242;" class="poster" href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/asteroid">asteroid</a> on <a style="color: #424242; margin-right: 8px;" class="date" href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/7/3/4491674/gameday-thread-84-7-3-vs-mets#171411815">Jul 3, 2013 | 7:28 PM</a> <a style="color: #424242; display: inline-block; padding-right: 8px;" href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/7/3/4491674/gameday-thread-84-7-3-vs-mets#comment_item_171411595" class="up_link">up</a> <a style="color: #424242; display: inline-block; padding-right: 8px;" id="comment_reply_171411815" data-comment-id="171411815" title="reply to this comment" class="reply_link" href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/7/3/4491674/gameday-thread-84-7-3-vs-mets#comment_tease">reply</a> <span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;" class="cactions mod "><a style="color: #424242; display: inline-block; padding-right: 8px;" href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/7/3/4491674/gameday-thread-84-7-3-vs-mets#" class="recommend rec-link user_recommended" id="rec_link_171411815">rec <span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;" id="comment_rec-count_171411815" class="rec-count">(1)</span></a> <a style="color: #424242; display: inline-block; padding-right: 8px;" class="actions_toggle" id="actions_link" href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/7/3/4491674/gameday-thread-84-7-3-vs-mets#">actions</a></span>
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<p> </p>
</blockquote>
<p>Tomorrow is the 4th of July, which in America is a holiday to celebrate giving a finger to our British Overlords. Everywhere else in the world it's a Thursday. Also tomorrow is another D-backs/Mets contest, as if we didn't already have enough of those, so hopefully Arizona will tie up the series and limp on home with some dignity. First pitch is at 10:10am Arizona time, and features <span>Ian Kennedy</span> facing <span>Dillon Gee</span>. Murrica!</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/7/4/4492600/diamondbacks-5-mets-3-matt-harvey-loss-delgado-montero-and-ross-bust-5-game-slumpsoco2013-07-04T00:25:42-04:002013-07-04T00:25:42-04:00D-backs 5, Mets 3: A Quick One While You Wait
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/stdpaGvKG7Z0n68KRT2cblijpT4=/0x65:4000x2732/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15881231/172583094.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Elsa</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The game had an early billing of the Mets young pitching phenom Matt Harvey matching up against the slumping D-backs. He started brilliant and was matched by Randall Delgado, and then the game swung wildly from despair to hope back to the edge of despair.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> went into the game just looking to right their ship. Losers of 5 straight, they were facing a tough customer in <span>Matt Harvey</span>, and the young right-hander did not disappoint in the early inning. </p>
<p>Randall Delgado took the bump for the D-backs, and outside of a bumpy 4th inning, he was a refreshing surprise. That 4th inning, though, brought nightmarish visions to all Arizonans who watched, as he gave up 2 home runs in the inning. The first solo shot was powered out by <span>David Wright</span>, who took a calf-high ball and tattooed it to left. <span>Josh Satin</span> stepped up two batters later and hit his own solo home run, and it gave the home team a 2 run lead. </p>
<p>It felt insurmountable at the time, but we should have better faith. Our despair might have been justified given how the D-backs offense went, or more specifically didn't go, in the first few frames. Arizona had bases loaded with only one out in the first, looking to score early, and of course <span>Martin Prado</span> hit into a double play to end the threat. After that it was all strikeouts and fielder's choices.</p>
<p>Then the D-backs entered the top of the 6th, and suddenly everything seemed different. <span>Miguel Montero</span> worked a walk, part of a 2 hit and 2 walk game, then Martin Prado got on with a single. This set the table for <span>Cody Ross</span>, who summoned the dark magick to get a home run just over the left field fence to give a lead that Arizona wouldn't give up.</p>
<p>They made it more stressful then it needed to be, with David Hernandez giving up a homer and a ground rule double back-to-back in the bottom of the 8th. He got the final out, though, and Heath Bell came into close things out. It was a surprisingly stress-free affair for Bell, and even though he gave up a two out single, he got Andrew Brown to flyout harmlessly to center to secure the save and the win.</p>
<p>It wasn't the most predictable of results. Who'd have thought the D-backs would end their slide against Matt Harvey of all pitchers? Well, you know what they say (over and over): can't predict ball.</p>
<p>Full recap to follow.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/7/4/4492552/diamondbacks-5-mets-3soco2013-07-03T17:30:04-04:002013-07-03T17:30:04-04:00Preview: Campana rings the changes
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UAo34ikb2lnE8loz7FfvWs6LtfM=/0x1100:3173x3215/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15864481/153317647.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Banks</figcaption>
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<p>Arizona needs a win today to stay above .500 for the season. Unfortunately, they're facing one of the best pitchers in the National League this season. </p> <p>
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<h5>
<br><span>Randall Delgado</span><br>RHP, 0-2, 4.05</h5>
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<br><span>Matt Harvey</span><br>RHP, 7-1, 2.00</h5>
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<h4>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> Line-up</h4>
<ol>
<li> <span>Tony Campana</span>, CF</li>
<li> <span>Aaron Hill</span>, 2B</li>
<li> <span>Eric Chavez</span>, 1B</li>
<li> <span>Miguel Montero</span>, C</li>
<li> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/1001/martin-prado">Martin Prado</a>, 3B</li>
<li> <span>Jason Kubel</span>, LF</li>
<li> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/425/cody-ross">Cody Ross</a>, RF</li>
<li> <span>Cliff Pennington</span>, SS</li>
<li>Randall Delgado, P</li>
</ol>
<p>Campana arrives, and immediately gets slotted in to the lead-off spot. Should be interesting, if only he can get on base often enough to use his devastating speed. He had 24 stolen-bases in 28 attempts for the Reno Aces this year, but I'd expect an on-base percentage in the majors closer to .250 than the .350 he achieved in Triple-A. Still, should be fun to watch. We also get Pennington rather than Gregorius, which is a little odd, considering it's a right-handed pitcher: but both men have hit a lot better vs. RHP than southpaws, so it's not much of a difference. Chavez starts at 1B for just the ninth time in his 16-year career, giving Goldie a day off. Still no <span>Gerardo Parra</span>.</p>
<p>If you're wondering how the Diamondbacks have managed to stay in first place, despite being mired deep in their worst slump of the season, the following tables should help clarify things. Here are the standings on Friday June 14. The last column is the Pythagorean winning percentage, based off the number of runs scored and allowed.</p>
<table class="oldschool">
<thead><tr>
<td data-stat="team_ID" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" align="center"><b>Tm </b></td>
<td data-stat="W" class="tooltip" align="center"><b>W </b></td>
<td data-stat="L" class="tooltip" align="center"><b>L </b></td>
<td data-stat="win_loss_perc" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" align="center"><nobr><b>W-L%</b></nobr></td>
<td data-stat="games_back" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" align="center"><b>GB </b></td>
<td data-stat="RS" class="tooltip" align="center"><b>RS </b></td>
<td data-stat="RA" class="tooltip" align="center"><b>RA </b></td>
<td data-stat="win_loss_perc_pythag" class="tooltip" align="center"><b>PyW% </b></td>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr data-row="0">
<td align="left">ARI</td>
<td align="right">37</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
<td align="right">.552</td>
<td align="right">--</td>
<td align="right">295</td>
<td align="right">275</td>
<td align="right">.532</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="1">
<td align="left">SFG</td>
<td align="right">35</td>
<td align="right">31</td>
<td align="right">.530</td>
<td align="right">1.5</td>
<td align="right">293</td>
<td align="right">297</td>
<td align="right">.494</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="2">
<td align="left">COL</td>
<td align="right">35</td>
<td align="right">33</td>
<td align="right">.515</td>
<td align="right">2.5</td>
<td align="right">337</td>
<td align="right">302</td>
<td align="right">.550</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="3">
<td align="left">SDP</td>
<td align="right">33</td>
<td align="right">34</td>
<td align="right">.493</td>
<td align="right">4.0</td>
<td align="right">281</td>
<td align="right">302</td>
<td align="right">.467</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="4">
<td align="left">LAD</td>
<td align="right">28</td>
<td align="right">38</td>
<td align="right">.424</td>
<td align="right">8.5</td>
<td align="right">232</td>
<td align="right">280</td>
<td align="right">.415</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>And here are the NL West standings for games played since that date.</p>
<table class="oldschool">
<thead><tr>
<td data-stat="team_ID" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" align="center"><b>Tm </b></td>
<td data-stat="W" class="tooltip" align="center"><b>W </b></td>
<td data-stat="L" class="tooltip" align="center"><b>L </b></td>
<td data-stat="win_loss_perc" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" align="center"><nobr><b>W-L%</b></nobr></td>
<td data-stat="games_back" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" align="center"><b>GB </b></td>
<td data-stat="RS" class="tooltip" align="center"><b>RS </b></td>
<td data-stat="RA" class="tooltip" align="center"><b>RA </b></td>
<td data-stat="win_loss_perc_pythag" class="tooltip" align="center"><b>PyW% </b></td>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr data-row="0">
<td align="left">LAD</td>
<td align="right">11</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">.688</td>
<td align="right">--</td>
<td align="right">70</td>
<td align="right">60</td>
<td align="right">.570</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="1">
<td align="left">SDP</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
<td align="right">10</td>
<td align="right">.412</td>
<td align="right">4.5</td>
<td align="right">58</td>
<td align="right">70</td>
<td align="right">.415</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="2">
<td align="left">COL</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">10</td>
<td align="right">.375</td>
<td align="right">5.0</td>
<td align="right">53</td>
<td align="right">70</td>
<td align="right">.375</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="3">
<td align="left">ARI</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">11</td>
<td align="right">.313</td>
<td align="right">6.0</td>
<td align="right">52</td>
<td align="right">74</td>
<td align="right">.344</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="4">
<td align="left">SFG</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">13</td>
<td align="right">.235</td>
<td align="right">7.5</td>
<td align="right">41</td>
<td align="right">68</td>
<td align="right">.284</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Bad though the Diamondbacks have been of late, the team which was closest to us in the standings, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a>, have been even worse, and the third-placed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Colorado Rockies</a> and fourth-placed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a> have been only fractionally better. Those four teams have combined to win just one-third of their games since then, with a 22-44 record (and I suspect a lot of the 22 wins came against each other!). The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> have, obviously, done a lot better, but their start to the season was so miserable that they were almost out of the picture. Now, that's no longer the case.</p>
<p>If the Diamondbacks had gone .500 over this stretch of games, they'd have built themselves a 4.5 game lead over the second-placed Rockies, which would be their biggest margin of the season. Instead, they find themselves on a five-game losing streak, and facing a pitcher who has allowed more than one run in only six of his 17 starts to date. Of course, there seems to be something about opposing aces that brings out the best in the D-backs, who have gritted out victories in starts by opposing aces such as Wainwright, Darvish, Kershaw (three times!), Cueto, Cain, Strasburg and Gallardo already this season. Can they add Harvey to that list? I certainly hope so.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/7/3/4491388/preview-game-84-diamondbacks-metsJim McLennan