AZ Snake Pit - Game #129: 8/29, Arizona Diamondbacks 2, Oakland Athletics 3An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2015-08-30T00:45:25-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/89900882015-08-30T00:45:25-04:002015-08-30T00:45:25-04:00D-backs 2, A's 3: Thanks, Jhoulys - pack your bags
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<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Jhoulys Chacin's reward for another solid start this evening at Chase Field was a ticket to Reno. However, I don't think he'll be checking into an extended-stay hotel...</p> <p><b>Record: 63-66. Pace: 79-83. Change on 2014: +9. </b></p>
<p>Quite a few moving parts around the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>, and we can probably expect this to continue through at least Tuesday, as we shuffle players back and forth in advance of the roster expansion that comes when the calendar turns to September. The apparent trade of <span>Addison Reed</span> is still somewhat up in the air, Reed saying after the game that all he knew about it, is what he saw on Twitter. I hope he's not doing that "searching for his name" thing again, or he's probably not going to be too happy about the reaction there... Still, we'll monitor this one carefully, and make sure it's not some kind of cruel joke played on us by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>.</p>
<p>The other news is the tonight's starter, <span>Jhoulys Chacin</span>, was thanked warmly for his services after the game, and the seven innings of two-run ball which he provided... and promptly optioned back down to Reno. This was necessary, in order to make room for tomorrow's spot starter, as Chip Hale continues to expand the rotation to give the Diamondbacks' starting pitchers extra rest. Sunday's game will see <span>Allen Webster</span> taking the mound, and we'll hope this goes better than his previous major-league starts, which were about one part of "meh" to three of "why isn't someone warming up in the bullpen already?" But I suspect Chacin will be back before far into September's calendar.</p>
<p>Certainly, it may be a small sample size, but his two outings, with a combined ERA of 2,70 have me wondering why no-one could be bothered to take a flyer on him before. He could increase that number by an entire run, and he would still be better than any of our current rotation. With a year of control left, and probably getting about $7m in his final year of arbitration, we could perhaps do a lot worse. Especially since that may end up being not much less than what Addison Reed will make next season for the Mets (pending a physical, he quickly added, realzing simultaneously how difficult is it to type with your fingers crossed).</p>
<p>This evening, as noted, it was seven innings of five hits, two walks, six strikeouts, and more or less one mistake, which was dumped into the pool area by Oakland catcher <span>Stephen Vogt</span>, for a two-run homer in the second inning. Outside of that, he was efficient, taking only 94 pitches to get through those seven frames, which is better than we have usually seen from the rotation. The only other bit of real trouble was in the fourth, when he put two on with one out, but a groundball was hit to <span>Nick Ahmed</span> and he did a nifty shovel pass over to <span>Jake Lamb</span> at third, nailing the lead runner there, and helping extinguish the threat.</p>
<p>However, the Diamondbacks offense were equally stymied by the A's starter, especially the first two times through the order. We finally got in the board in the fifth, starting off with a Nick Ahmed double that rang off the outfield wall and just about left the park. He was batting ninth, behind the pitcher, so that allow <span>Ender Inciarte</span> to single, putting runners on the corners, and then <span>A.J. Pollock</span> drove in our first run with another single, Inciarte moving to third. That brought up <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span>, who tied the game up, albeit with about the most rally-killing of runs, hitting into a double-play that scored Inciarte, yet emptied the bases.</p>
<p>It wasn't one of Goldie's best nights. He went 0-for-3 with a walk and a pair of strikeouts, and the second of those K's, in the eighth inning, led to the normally placid and imperturbable Goldschmidt taking out some obvious frustration on a bat-rack in the dugout. It was most un-Goldielike [video can be found in our #SnakeStrikes section, for those who want to peer into the abyss], and whatever the bat-rack did, I'm sure it is very, very sorry and won't do it again. After Peralta smashing his bat, is it a trend? I can understand Paul's irritation, because Ender and A.J. were doing their job ahead of him, combining to go 5-for-7 with a walk. The rest of the line-up? Not so much: 3-for-25 with a walk.</p>
<p>Unlike last night, where after we tied the game, we were then able to build on the momentum and take the A;s bullpen to the wood-shed, there was nothing doing tonight. After Pollock's hit ended the shutout, with no outs in the fifth, we send one batter over the minimum to the plate the rest of the way, climaxing with Jake Lamb, <span>Chris Owings</span> and <span>Jarrod Saltalamacchia</span> striking out in the ninth. <span>Andrew Chafin</span>, with a bit of an assist from <span>Aaron Hill</span>, allowed Oakland to score the go-ahead run in the eighth, before <span>Randall Delgado</span> relieve him to get the final out, and pitched a scoreless ninth. But it was a day we'll remember more for what happened outside the lines, between Reed and Goldie!</p>
<p align="center"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2015-08-29&team=Diamondbacks&dh=0&season=2015"><img src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4011798/chart.0.png" alt="fangraph"></a><br>[<i>Click for details, at fangraphs,com</i>]<br><b>Inspires joy-joy feelings: Ender Inciarte, +19.7%</b><br>Matched his meat: Chacin, +16.5%; Pollock, +10.9%<br><i><b>Murder-death-kill: Andrew Chafin, -24.8%</b></i><br><i>Need to enhance their calm: Lamb. -19.0%; Goldschmidt, -15.8%; Peralta, -15.8%</i></p>
<p align="left">262 comments in the thread, with asteroid leading the way, ahead of GuruB and freeland1787. Also there? I suppose I'm a Pessimist, Jim McLennan, JoeCB1991, JoelPre, Makakilo, MrMrrbi, NumberOneIanKennedyFan31, Oldenschoole, SongBird, asteroid, gamepass, hotclaws, makattack71, noblevillain and onedotfive. No comment got more than two recs, so I'm with-holding any comment of the thread award. The game, frankly, didn't deserve it. Still, we'll go for the rubber game tomorrow, with... Webster on the mound. Yeah, I'm not feeling too optimistic about that one, but hey, I always hope to be pleasantly surprised.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/8/30/9226873/diamondbacks-athletics-paul-goldschmidt-jhoulys-chacinJim McLennan2015-08-29T22:52:00-04:002015-08-29T22:52:00-04:00Diamondbacks 2, Athletics 3
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<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>As first time out, Jhoulys Chacin pitched well. As first time out, the offense didn't do their part. </p> <p>The game began in a similar style to its predecessor last night, with the A's taking a two-run lead. However, in this case, the scoring all came in a single blow, a two-run shot off the bat of Stephen Vogt. That was all the damage Jhoulys Chacin would suffer, as he worked a solid seven innings on an economical 94 pitches, allowing five hits and two walks with six strikeouts; small sample size, but he's looking like a decent pick-up so far. Similarly to last night, the D-backs offense struggled to cope with the A's starter in the early going, though we were unfortunate on a number of occasions, hitting the ball too close to opposing fielders.</p>
<p>The Diamondbacks did tie the game with a two-run inning of their own. An RBI single by A.J. Pollock got Arizona on the board, and put runners on the corners with no outs for Paull Goldschmidt. While I guess he <i>did</i> tie the game, he did so in the ugliest manner, with a double-play that killed the rally. Still, with the score now tied at two, we waited for a repeat of last night's late outburst against the Oakland bullpen. Unfortunately, it never showed up, and after Andrew Chafin allowed the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, there was no longer time for a further comeback. Ender Inciarte was 3-for-3 with a walk, with Pollock adding a pair of hits.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/8/29/9226733/diamondbacks-athletics-scoreJim McLennan2015-08-29T19:00:14-04:002015-08-29T19:00:14-04:00Game #129 Preview: 8/29, Diamondbacks vs. A's
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<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Can we get a winning streak going? Please? </p> <h4 align="center">The La Russa Heartbreakometer</h4>
<p align="center"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/8/21/9189161/arizona-diamondbacks-cincinatti-reds-preview/in/8953700">What is this?</a></p>
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<td><img alt="Heart Left" style="height: 200px;" src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989046/heartl.0.png"></td>
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<img alt="W" src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989118/w.0.png"><img alt="W" src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989118/w.0.png"><img alt="W" src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989118/w.0.png">
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<td><img style="height: 200px;" alt="Heart right" src="https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989044/heartr.0.png"></td>
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<span>Aaron Brooks</span><br>RHP, 1-1, 6.20<span> </span>
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<td valign="middle" width="10%"><img src="https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/2572695/ari.png"></td>
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<span>Jhoulys Chacin</span><br>RHP, <span>0-1, 2.84</span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span>
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<td class="td-last td-name" width="50%">
<span>Billy Burns</span> - CF</td>
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<span>Ender Inciarte</span> - RF</td>
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<span>Mark Canha</span> - 1B</td>
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<span>A.J. Pollock</span> - CF</td>
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<span>Josh Reddick</span> - RF</td>
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<span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> - 1B</td>
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<span>Danny Valencia</span> - 3B</td>
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<span>David Peralta</span> - LF</td>
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<span>Stephen Vogt</span> - C</td>
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<span>Welington Castillo</span> - C</td>
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<span>Brett Lawrie</span> - 2B</td>
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<span>Jake Lamb</span> - 3B</td>
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<span>Coco Crisp</span> - LF</td>
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<span>Aaron Hill</span> - 2B</td>
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<span>Marcus Semien</span> - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Jhoulys Chacin - RHP</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Aaron Brooks - RHP</td>
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<span>Nick Ahmed</span> - SS</td>
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<p>Nice to see the Heartbreakometer going the right way yesterday, after a series that saw the gap become so sizable, the D-backs started offering mule rides to the bottom and back... Hopefully the narrowing will continue today. A few bits of news to come out of the pre-game press conference. Again, they are extending the rotation, and will be calling someone up to make a spot start for tomorrow's game pushing everyone else back by a day. It seems likely that will be either <span>Allen Webster</span> or <span>A.J. Schugel</span>, since <span>Archie Bradley</span> started last night with Reno, <span>Zack Godley</span> hasn't been down for the minimum 10 days, and <span>Aaron Blair</span> needs a 40-man roster spot.</p>
<p>Neither Webster nor Schugel appeal much, but I guess you gotta do what you gotta do. Webster is the scheduled starter for the Aces tonight, so if he gets pulled from that, we'll probably know the reason why. Schugel, I believe, started on Tuesday, so he'd line up automatically with a start tomorrow. Also, there's a locker with Phil Gosselin's name in the clubhouse, apparently in preparation for his arrival on Monday. That will need a pair of moves, both to clear room on the 40-man roster and, because rosters don't expand until Tuesday, on the 25-man as well. Could be a return to a more standard 7-man bullpen, in advance of that expansion?</p>
<p>Chacin makes his second start for us, after a solid outing in his first time out, which really didn't deserve a loss. He'll also have to contend with hitting eighth in the line-up: wonder why Chip has now got a new found fascination for that tactic? Maybe it's just to confuse American League opponents, who aren't sure what to do without a DH to write in their line-up!</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/8/29/9225835/game-129-preview-8-29-arizona-diamondbacks-vs-oakland-athleticsJim McLennan