AZ Snake Pit - Game #133: Diamondbacks 0, Giants 1An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2013-08-31T02:00:05-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/44418992013-08-31T02:00:05-04:002013-08-31T02:00:05-04:00D-backs 0, Giants 1: Stranded in a Desert Climate
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<figcaption>Norm Hall</figcaption>
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<p>Although Randall Delgado pitched admirably for the Diamondbacks (and Paul Goldschmidt collected another hit off of Tim Lincecum), Arizona couldn't get hits when they needed them, stranding too many runners as they dropped the series opener.</p> <p>The Giants hit the ground running, with an Angel Pagan double leading things off in the top half of the first. Although Delgado pulled things together, the Giants still managed to scrape a run across in the inning, as a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly by Marco Scutaro and Brandon Belt, respectively, gave the Giants an early 1-0 lead.</p>
<p>After that, though?</p>
<p>Delgado was great. Now, these are the hapless Giants we're talking about, but still, with a young arm like Delgado, you like to see performances like tonight's. Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval added a pair of singles in the fourth, but past that, no other Giants collected a hit against the righty (there were two walks issued, though, one of which was to Lincecum). He only struck out three, but it's a small blemish on an otherwise great outing. You could probably argue that it was superior to Lincecum's in many ways -- he allowed five baserunners to Timmy's eight, in an additional frame to boot -- but in the end, it was for naught.</p>
<p>Check it: in the first, a one-out Adam Eaton double was squandered. In the second, Miguel Montero (GOT A HIT?!) was stranded on first after a one-out single. In the third, Eaton was left on first after a one-out single. After drawing a one-out walk in the fourth, Aaron Hill was caught stealing with two outs to end the inning. In the fifth, a runner was stranded on first after a leadoff AJ Pollock single. In the sixth, _with the bases loaded and one out_, Miguel Montero put on an incredibly frustrating performance, striking out, and AJ Pollock was absolutely robbed by Pablo Sandoval. It wasn't that Timmy was _dominant_, it's just that all of the hits we collected and walks we drew were isolated, which results in getting shutout by a has-been pitcher.</p>
<p>But, hey, once Lincecum was out of the game, then we could pounce, right?</p>
<p>In the bottom half of the eighth, Martin Prado strode to the plate in a one-on, one-out situation. Goldy had drawn a one-out walk, so the Prado and his hot bat represented the go-ahead run. He lined a pitch right back at the pitcher's ankles... right to second base, where the ball was promptly picked up and flipped over to first to end the inning just like that. I imagine every 1-0 game has its fair share of grueling moments, but surely this one ranks up there in "oh, Diamondbacks..." moments. No one could hit with runners on base. Blargh.</p>
<p>Miguel Montero (GOT ANOTHER HIT?!) singled in right-center gap in the ninth, but Pagan was quick to cut it off. Campana then ran for Montero, and Eric Chavez pinch-hit for Pollock. Chavez popped out, and didi Gregorius flew out to end the game (mercifully).</p>
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<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2013-08-30&team=Diamondbacks&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width="450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br><span>Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2013-08-30&team=Diamondbacks&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></span><br><b></b>
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<b>The Good: Randall Delgado, +27.5%</b><br><i>The Everything Else: The entire offense sans Paul Goldschmidt, -81.8%</i><br>
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<center style="text-align: left;">RobbieFVK, asteroid, and soco took the podium for comments tonight, with the three all registering comment tallies in the forties. Also present in the 445-comment GDT tonight were BulldogsNotZags, Clefo, Dbacks4eva10101, Diamondhacks, FatBoysEatMeat, GuruB, Jim McLennan, JoelPre, Marc Fournier, PR151, Rockkstarr12, TolkienBard, Zavada's Moustache, azshadowwalker, blank_38, cheese1213, coldblueAZ, cole8865, ex-distancerunner, hotclaws, imstillhungry95, kishi, melliemacker, shoewizard, and xmet.</center>
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<center style="text-align: left;">Comment of the Night goes to RobbieFVK, who placed the blame on tonight's game squarely on the shoulders of our president:</center>
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<h2 class="title collapse_toggle " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 5px; line-height: 17px; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Gotham SSm A', 'Gotham SSm B', Arial, sans-serif; overflow: hidden; background-image: url(http://cdn2.sbnation.com/images/icons/thumb-green.vaa5927d.png); background-color: transparent; padding-left: 20px; color: #292929; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">THANKS OBAMA</h2>
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<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5; color: #666666;">u kno dat make me throw up</p>
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<div class="meta" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #888888; margin-top: 12px; font-family: 'Gotham Narrow SSm A', 'Gotham Narrow SSm B', Arial, sans-serif;">by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/RobbieFVK" class="poster" target="_blank" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #c62030 !important;">RobbieFVK</a> on <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/8/30/4678000/gameday-thread-133-8-30-vs-giants#181461381" class="date" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-right: 8px; color: #c62030 !important;">Aug 30, 2013 | 8:21 PM</a> <span class="user_actions"><a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/8/30/4678000/gameday-thread-133-8-30-vs-giants#" class="up_link" title="scroll to parent comment" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #424242; display: inline-block; margin-right: 8px;">up</a> <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/8/30/4678000/gameday-thread-133-8-30-vs-giants#" class="reply_link" title="reply to this comment" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #424242; display: inline-block; margin-right: 8px;">reply</a> <span class="cactions mod "><a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/8/30/4678000/gameday-thread-133-8-30-vs-giants#" class="rec_link recommended" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #424242; display: inline-block; margin-right: 8px;"> rec <span class="rec_count">(4)</span></a> <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/8/30/4678000/gameday-thread-133-8-30-vs-giants#" class="flag_link " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #424242; display: inline-block; margin-right: 8px;"> flag</a> <span class="mod_actions"><a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/8/30/4678000/gameday-thread-133-8-30-vs-giants#" class="actions_toggle" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #424242; display: inline-block; margin-right: 8px;">actions</a></span></span></span>
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<p>Let's hope tomorrow goes a bit better, yeah?</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/8/31/4678424/diamondbacks-0-giants-1-stranded-in-a-desert-climate-paul-goldschmidt-tim-lincecumWailord2013-08-31T00:27:04-04:002013-08-31T00:27:04-04:00FINAL: Diamondbacks 0, Giants 1
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<figcaption>Jennifer Stewart</figcaption>
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<p>Well, that wasn't exactly what I was expecting.</p> <p>For those hoping to read a box score that involved Paul Goldschmidt going 4-4 off of Tim Lincecum with sixteen RBIs, I'm afraid your <strike>princess</strike> game is in another <strike>castle</strike> box score. Tim Lincecum held the Diamondbacks scoreless over six inning, striking out six while allowing six hits and walking two (both of which were issued to Aaron Hill). Paul Goldschmidt "only" went 1-3 off of Lincecum with a single. Slacker!</p>
<p>The Diamondbacks had a shot at breaking the game open in the sixth, as Arizona had loaded the bases down 1-nil. AJ Pollock (who had already singled in the fifth) was up and laced a ball down the third-base line. Pablo Sandoval made a play reminiscent of the one made by Martin Prado against the Padres, diving to his right to snare the ball and fire it over to first to beat Pollock by a step. As much as it pains me to say, it was an undeniably clutch play. There's my token Giants praise for the decade.</p>
<p>Randall Delgado's new specs must have been working, though, as he gave the Diamondbacks offense a great chance at winning. They just happened to squander it. Delgado went seven strong innings, allowing just one run on five baserunners with three strikeouts. The lone run off of Delgado came from some small-ball from the Giants in the first, on a double/sac bunt/sac fly. Definitely nice to see from a piece in the Upton trade. Though, somewhere, Harold Reynolds sits muttering about how Delgado just doesn't know how to win.</p>
<p>Oh, and the Reds lost, for those still keeping track.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/8/31/4678136/final-diamondbacks-0-giants-1-tim-lincecum-paul-goldschmidtWailord2013-08-30T20:30:03-04:002013-08-30T20:30:03-04:00Preview: One-peat it is, then...
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<figcaption>Ezra Shaw</figcaption>
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<p>San Francisco come to town. Seem like a while? That's because it was. June 9 was the last time they played here, and they were 1.5 games back. But since then, the Giants have gone 26-45 and plummeted out of contention. </p> <p>
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<br><span>Tim Lincecum</span><br>RHP, 7-13, 4.55</h5>
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<br>Randall Delgado<br>RHP, 4-4, 3.87<br>
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<span><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a></span> line-up</h4>
<ol>
<li> <span>Gerardo Parra</span>, RF</li>
<li>
<span>Adam Eaton</span>, LF</li>
<li> <span>Martin Prado</span>, 2B</li>
<li>
<span>Paul Goldschmidt</span>, 1B</li>
<li> <span>Aaron Hill</span>, 2B</li>
<li>
<span>Miguel Montero</span>, C</li>
<li>
<span>A.J. Pollock</span>, CF</li>
<li> <span>Didi Gregorius</span>, SS<br>
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<li> Randall Delgado, P</li>
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<p>It's interesting to me that, since the last baseball strike killed the 1994 season, only three teams have managed to repeat at National League West champions: the D-backs in 2001-02, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> in 2005-06 and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> in 2008-09. And, in a lot of cases, it's not just that they haven't managed to defend the crown, but that they have fallen off quite spectacularly. Here's a list showing the results since the division became a five-team race [albeit with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> apparently occupying the "Mark Grace" spot!]</p>
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<tr>
<td>Year</td>
<td>Champion</td>
<td>Next season</td>
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<td>1998</td>
<td>Padres</td>
<td>4th, 26 back</td>
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<td>1999</td>
<td>D-backs</td>
<td>3rd, 12 back</td>
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<td>2000</td>
<td>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a><br>
</td>
<td>2nd, 2 back</td>
</tr>
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<td>2001</td>
<td>D-backs</td>
<td>Repeated</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2002</td>
<td>D-backs</td>
<td>3rd, 16.5 back</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2003</td>
<td>Giants</td>
<td>2nd, 2 back</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2004</td>
<td>Dodgers</td>
<td>4th, 11 back</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2005</td>
<td>Padres</td>
<td>repeated</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2006</td>
<td>Padres</td>
<td>3rd, 1.5 back</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2007</td>
<td>D-backs</td>
<td>2nd, 2 back</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2008</td>
<td>Dodgers</td>
<td>repeated</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2009</td>
<td>Dodgers</td>
<td>4th, 12 back</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2010</td>
<td>Giants</td>
<td>2nd, 8 back</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2011</td>
<td>D-backs</td>
<td>3rd, 13 back</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2012</td>
<td>Giants</td>
<td>5th, 19 back</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p>Obviously, this year's numbers are "so far," but San Francisco is currently on pace to become the first NL West since we joined the division, to go from the penthouse to the cellar in a single season. Since the last repeat, in 2007-8, the fall-off has become increasingly steep, with champions finishing an average of 13 games out the following year. The Giants are doing very little to buck the trend, their once-feared pitching rotation melting down to such a degree that the team is dead-last in the National League, with an 81 ERA+. Just three years ago - with a rotation also then featuring Cain, Zito, Lincecum and Bumgarner - the Giants were #1, at 117.</p>
<p>We may have been mediocre here in Arizona, little better than last year, but personally, it has been one of this season's pleasures, watching San Francisco fall apart. Just a shame they didn't lock Lincecum up to a long-term deal before his pitching talent turned into a puff of (oddly-scented) smoke. Of course, as with any former Cy Young winner, there's always a fear that tonight is going to be the night where they suddenly rediscover the skills that made them so feared - and, really, there weren't many better pitchers in the league over 2008-09. But, counterpoint: Paul Goldschmidt, who has been Timmeh's kryptonite. Sure Goldzilla has had this series circled for a while!</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/8/30/4677534/diamondbacks-giants-previewJim McLennan