AZ Snake Pit - Game #20: 4/28, Arizona Diamondbacks 12, Colorado Rockies 5An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2015-04-29T01:33:45-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/82753802015-04-29T01:33:45-04:002015-04-29T01:33:45-04:00Dbacks 12, Rockies 5: Good, Bad, and Ugly
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<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>So many positives. Too many horrific moments.</p> <p>The game started off really well. <span>Archie Bradley</span> was starting for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>, and he had a great first inning. A nice, easy 1-2-3 inning to start things off. It went even better for the offense in the bottom of the inning. AJ Pollock lead it off by getting a single and then advancing to second on an error by Charlie Blackmon. Chris Owings moved him to third with a single of his own. Another single, this time by <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span>, scored Pollock, and sent Owings to second. <span>Kyle Kendrick</span> had still yet to record an out at this point, when he faced Mark Trumbo. True to his emerging form, Trumbo hit a triple, driving in two to make the score 3-0 in the bottom of the first. They weren't able to manage anything else, with <span>David Peralta</span> grounding out softly for the first out, and then <span>Yasmany Tomas</span> grounding into a 5-3 double play, with Trumbo getting tagged out between third and home, after it was reviewed.</p>
<p>It seemed like everything was going so well, and then it wasn't anymore. <span>Justin Morneau</span> hit a lead off double, Nolan Arenando struck out, bringing <span>Carlos Gonzalez</span> to the plate. He took two balls to start the at bat off, and the third pitch he lined straight up the middle, right into Archie's face. He went down. All the trainers and coaching staff went out there, and he stayed on the ground for a good ten minutes. Based off the video, it looks like the ball hit him on the right side of the face in the cheek/jaw area. Slightly positive news, since the probably rules out a concussion or similar injuries. A picture circulating on Twitter shows a huge lump of swelling on his face, roughly the size of a softball, if I had to guess. He eventually left the field under his own power, with a towel over his face, and a thumbs up sign for the fans. An encouraging sign. After the game, Ken Krinshaw had nothing but positive things to say, so hopefully all will be well going forward Obviously we'll have any new updates here on the 'Pit as we get them.</p>
<p>After that, the Dbacks, understandably, didn't seem to be focused on the game for a couple innings. <span>Andrew Chafin</span> came in, and promptly walked <span>Nick Hundley</span> to load the bases. He then scored, thanks to a DJ LeMehieu single, keeping the bases loaded. Then, he got Kendrick to strike out, and Blackmon to ground out, ending the inning. He gave up two more in the fourth to tie the game.</p>
<p>After that, though, the team seemed to snap out of it and take on something of a "win it for Archie" mindset. To lead off the fourth, Trumbo singled. Breaking the tie, David Peralta launched one out of the park, making the score 5-3 in favor of the home team. They kept it going in the sixth, as well, adding three runs thanks to a two-run, TrumBOMB and an Aaron Hill RBI ground out, putting the game well out of reach, despite the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> adding a run in the fifth.</p>
<p>It just got funny in the eighth, with RBI doubles from Peralta and Goldy giving the Dbacks a final tally of 12 runs on the night. <span>Addison Reed</span> came in for the ninth and gave up his seemingly obligatory run, making the final score 12-5 in favor of the Diamondbacks.</p>
<p>Of note, the home run left Trumbo a double away from the cycle. He was due up second in the seventh, and hit a blooper that maybe a faster runner could have stretched into a double, but Trumbo stayed at first. That was probably for the best, but I know there were a lot of slightly disappointed people in the GDT. Tomas then proceeded to show Trumbo how to take an extra base by hitting a double and <strike>turning it into a triple </strike> getting thrown out at third. Oh well, at least it was Tomas' first MLB RBI. That was cool.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span><iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2015-04-28&team=Diamondbacks&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width = "450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2015-04-28&team=Diamondbacks&dh=0&season=2015">FanGraphs</a></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Almost historic: Mark Trumbo, 28.2</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Not a factor: Andrew Chafin, -9.3</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">A very bipolar GDT, swinging wildly between being worried about Archie, excited about the game, and everywhere in between, making it difficult to chose a CotN. I'm going to go with this positive one from GuruB about the offense</p>
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<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; line-height: 1.5;">You get an Extra Base Hit! You get an Extra Base Hit! You get an Extra Base Hit!</p>
<div 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;" class="meta">by <a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #c62030 !important;" target="_blank" class="poster" href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/GuruB">GuruB</a> on <a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-right: 8px; color: #c62030 !important;" class="date" href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/4/28/8511719/gameday-thread-20-4-28-vs-rockies#302876204">Apr 28, 2015 | 8:29 PM</a> <span class="user_actions"><a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #424242; display: inline-block; margin-right: 8px;" title="reply to this comment" class="reply_link" href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/4/28/8511719/gameday-thread-20-4-28-vs-rockies#">reply</a> <span class="cactions mod "><a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #424242; display: inline-block; margin-right: 8px;" class="rec_link " href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/4/28/8511719/gameday-thread-20-4-28-vs-rockies#"> rec<span class="rec_count"></span></a> <a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #424242; display: inline-block; margin-right: 8px;" class="flag_link " href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/4/28/8511719/gameday-thread-20-4-28-vs-rockies#"> flag</a> <span class="mod_actions"><a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #424242; display: inline-block; margin-right: 8px;" class="actions_toggle" href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/4/28/8511719/gameday-thread-20-4-28-vs-rockies#">actions</a></span></span></span>
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<p>It was also a fairly active GDT, totaling 737 comments on the night. Skins far and away had the most comments, with 170. Soco and I were in a distant tie for second place with 65, and JoeCB1991 was right behind us with 65. All present were:</p>
<p>4 Corners Fan, Arizona Eyebrows, BIGredmc, BrokeNBattleX, BulldogsNotZags, Clefo, Cold Bleded, DbacksSkins, DeadmanG, GODSCHMIDT, GuruB, James Attwood, Jim McLennan, JoeCB1991, JoelPre, Makakilo, PhxSunsFan4Life, Robert Merrill, SongBird, Xerostomia, asteroid, bbtng, cheese1213, coldblueAZ, freeland1787, hotclaws, imstillhungry95, luckycc, onedotfive, preston.salisbury, shoewizard, soco, txzona, xmet</p>
<p>Rubber game of the series tomorrow. Same time, same place. Hopefully, it will be a little less dramatic.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/4/29/8512093/diamondbacks-12-rockies-5-the-good-the-bad-and-the-uglyImstillhungry952015-04-29T00:51:42-04:002015-04-29T00:51:42-04:00Dbacks 12, Rockies 5
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<p>An otherwise great game overshadowed by one horrific moment. In the second inning, Archie Bradley got hit right in the cheek/jaw area by a smashed line drive off the bat of Carlos Gonzalez. He went down and didn't get back up for about ten minutes. You can read all about it <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/4/28/8512137/archie-bradley-hit-in-face-by-line-drive" target="_blank">here</a> with more updates to follow, I'm sure.</p>
<p>The rest of the game was completely enjoyable, and probably would be a contender for game of the year, though the events in the second may disqualify it for me personally. The offense piled on all night long. Twelve runs, 15 hits over the course of the night. Mark Trumbo made things interesting by being a double away from the cycle, and Yasmany Tomas got his first MLB RBI. It seems the team not only wanted to win it for Archie, but also to make up for the lost runs over the last four games.</p>
<p>The bullpen wasn't the greatest. They gave up five runs on the night, though one of them was charged to Bradley since it was an inherited runner. But on the other hand, they ate almost seven whole innings. It could have been worse. Full recap to follow shortly</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/4/29/8512473/dbacks-12-rockies-5Imstillhungry952015-04-28T23:00:29-04:002015-04-28T23:00:29-04:00Archie Bradley hit in face by line drive
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<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A game which had started very well, took a wretched turn when Archie Bradley was hit in the face by a line-drive off the bat of Carlos Gonzalez. Though he left the field under his own power, a significant amount of missed time seems likely. </p> <h5>Note: This story contains images that may be disturbing to some viewers</h5>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> had got off to their best start in quite some time, getting hits from their first four batters to take a 3-0 lead after one inning against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> at Chase Field tonight. But with one out in the top of the second inning, a pitch to <span>Carlos Gonzalez</span> was returned with venom, striking the side of Bradley's face with a sickening crunch that was clearly audible at home on TV, and collapsed immediately to the ground.</p>
<p style="text-align:center"><img src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3652884/bradleydown.0.jpg" alt="Bradley down"><br>[Picture by Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports]</p>
<p>Trainer Ken Crenshaw immediately rushed to the mound, in an eerily silent Chase Field, and tended to Bradley, who didn't move for several moments. Watching the replay, it looked like the ball had caught him on the side of the head, and I was genuinely concerned it might have caught him on the temple, going by the speed at which he collapsed. However, after an anxious wait, for players, coaches and those watching both live and on television, Bradley began to stir, and got a round of applause from the crowd when he sat up.</p>
<p style="text-align:center"><img src="https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3652898/bradleydown2.0.jpg" alt="Bradley down"><br>[Picture by Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports]</p>
<p>After a few more moments, Bradley was helped to his feet, and assisted off the park, but left largely under his own steam, holding a towel to his nose. However, he was alert enough to be able to give a thumbs-up to the camera near the steps on the way into the dugout. Stats indicate the ball which hit him came off the bat at 115 mph, among the ten fastest hits this season, and one can only imagine, the damage will take quite some time to repair. A fractured cheekbone seems almost certain, going by the picture below:</p>
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<p>Trainers tend to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ddbacks?src=hash">#Ddbacks</a> pitcher <span>Archie Bradley</span> after he was hit in the face by a line drive in the second inning. <a href="http://t.co/Eg2J3eLMWl">pic.twitter.com/Eg2J3eLMWl</a></p>
— David Kadlubowski (@Davidkadlu) <a href="https://twitter.com/Davidkadlu/status/593236536377810944">April 29, 2015</a>
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<p>Still, it's safe to say it could have been an awful lot worse. We're waiting official word on the prognosis, but another starting pitcher will almost certainly be necessary. <span>Andrew Chafin</span> took over for the Diamondbacks on the mound this evening, so may be shifted into the rotation as a replacement; <span>A.J. Schugel</span> started today for the Reno Aces, so he could also be moved into Bradley's spot without any trouble. But for now, let's not worry about that, and just send good wishes to Archie, for a speedy recovery after this unfortunate accident.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=93224483&topic_id=6479266&width=400&height=224&property=mlb" frameborder="0" height="224" width="400">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></p>
<h5>Update</h5>
<p>It seems like Bradley may have been the luckiest man in Arizona this evening.</p>
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<p>There's swelling, but at this point they've found no fractures for Archie Bradley. Sounds like close to best-case given circumstances.</p>
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) <a href="https://twitter.com/nickpiecoro/status/593279152674836480">April 29, 2015</a>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dbacks?src=hash">#Dbacks</a> say results of Archie Bradley's CT Scan are very favorable. Will wait until tomorrow at least for final diagnosis.</p>
— Steve Berthiaume (@BertDbacks) <a href="https://twitter.com/BertDbacks/status/593278987469631488">April 29, 2015</a>
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He was taken to hospital for tests, but was released and had returned to the ballpark by the end of the game, and was there to greet his team-mates.</p>
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<p>"Well it's not pretty to look at the mirror right now...Now my concern is to get healthy and get back out there." -<a href="https://twitter.com/ArchieBradley7">@ArchieBradley7</a></p>
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dbacks/status/593280503584686081">April 29, 2015</a>
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A DL stint still seems likely, but with an off-day coming up, any replacement will likely be a reliever in the short term, until we need a fifth starter.</p>
<p>And, finally, what has to be the greatest selfie in Diamondbacks' team history...
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<p>Pretty ugly huh? In all Seriousness tho thanks for the text, tweets and prayers! Could have been a lot worse! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lucky?src=hash">#lucky</a> <a href="http://t.co/NasQBYWqkz">pic.twitter.com/NasQBYWqkz</a></p>— Archie Bradley (@ArchieBradley7) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArchieBradley7/status/593289931864154112">April 29, 2015</a>
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https://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/4/28/8512137/archie-bradley-hit-in-face-by-line-driveJim McLennan2015-04-28T20:00:02-04:002015-04-28T20:00:02-04:00Game #20 Preview: 4/28, Diamondbacks vs. Rockies
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<figcaption>I'm posting kitties till we win. And then probably for a while beyond that... | Putu Sayoga/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Ok, so three games wasn't enough. Can we stop the losing streak at four?</p>
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<span>Kyle Kendrick</span><br>RHP, 1-2, 6.85</h5>
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<span>Archie Bradley</span><br>RHP, 2-0, 1.45</h5>
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<span>Charlie Blackmon</span> - CF</td>
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<span>A.J. Pollock</span> - CF</td>
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<span>Corey Dickerson</span> - LF</td>
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<span>Chris Owings</span> - SS</td>
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<span>Troy Tulowitzki</span> - SS</td>
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<span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> - 1B</td>
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<span>Justin Morneau</span> - 1B</td>
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<span>Mark Trumbo</span> - RF</td>
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<span>Nolan Arenado</span> - 3B</td>
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<span>David Peralta</span> - LF</td>
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<span>Carlos Gonzalez</span> - RF</td>
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<span>Yasmany Tomas</span> - 3B</td>
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<span>Nick Hundley</span> - C</td>
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<span>Aaron Hill</span> - 2B</td>
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<span>DJ LeMahieu</span> - 2B</td>
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<span>Tuffy Gosewisch</span> - C</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Kyle Kendrick - RHP</td>
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<p>I suppose some hope can be taken in that, if you cross off the first inning last night, we actually outscored the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>, 4-2. Perhaps that gives some kind of indication we've turned the corner, considering than in the 28 innings to that point, we were outscored by a 17-2 margin, it's safe to say things couldn't gave got much worse. But there's a reason they play the games over nine innings. I'm not sure what it <u>is</u> but I'm sure there is one. Though it might be interesting if baseball was to adopt different scoring. Say, start doing it like ski-jumping, and drop the runs scored in the highest and lowest-scoring frames. Might avoid too many excessive blowouts and the dullness which results.</p>
<p>Another approach might be <i>petanque</i> scoring, which would certainly reduce game length, eliminating useless at-bats that don't affect the outcome. The away team bats first and gets the usual three outs whether they score or not. The home team then bats but keeps going until they take the lead; that might take anywhere from 0 to 26 outs: if they use up all 27, the game is over. As soon as the home team take the lead, the away team takes over and starts batting. This back and forth continues until one team uses up all of their 27 outs without being able to take the lead. If the winners have only used, say, 21, that's basically two pointless half-innings saved.</p>
<p>Hmm, might have to come up with a more coherent proposal. After all, I can just suggest it'll stop pitchers from getting injured and I'm sure the likes of Craig Calcaterra will be fully behind it... Mind you, it's also perhaps a sad reflection on the state of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> this week, that figuring out massive revisions to the game of baseball is more interesting than trying to come up with a meaningful preview for this evening's contest. Still, it's Archie Bradley starting, so that should be worth a look, at least for a bit. Failing that, well, there's still plenty of stuff sitting on the DVR, staring at me with come-hither eyes...</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/4/28/8511187/arizona-diamondbacks-colorado-rockies-previewJim McLennan