
What do you want first? The bad news, or the bad news?
Things that were good in this game:
- Caleb Smith was moved to the bullpen and didn’t suck?
Things that really chapped my rear in this game:
- Ketel Marte injured a hamstring (*screaming)
- Madison Bumgarner continues to struggle and create questions around his contract
- Chris Owings destroyed his former team and only played half the game
- D’backs shutout at Coors Field for the first time since July 3rd, 2009
Last night’s back and forth game, as long as it was, was ridiculously fun to watch. Tonight’s contest, not so much. Of primary concern is Ketel Marte’s hamstring injury. He was trying to beat out a groundball to third base in the sixth and came up clutching his right hamstring before hitting the bag. He collapsed to the ground in obvious pain, and I’m fairly certain we’re in store for some bad news. Marte slammed his helmet to the ground and had to be assisted off the field. My laptop is a giant piece of crap, and my patience is pretty thin right now, otherwise I would embed the video for you. It wasn’t good.
Defensive gaffes from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning gave Colorado the lead to begin the game, and they never let go of it from there. It was a collective team effort of suckage. Garrett Hampson led it off for the Colorado Rockies by scorching a liner off of Madison Bumgraner’s thigh for a single. It hardly phased Bumgarner who remained in the game. A myriad of fielding issues ensued. Hampson stole second base, and Eduardo Escobar couldn’t field Carson Kelly’s throw on the hop, letting the ball travel into the outfield while Hampson advanced to third. Former D’back Chris Owings, a non-roster invitee for Colorado in the Spring, then began his assault on the evening. Christian Walker and Escobar failed to communicate on a catchable Owing’s popup in foul territory which kept his at bat alive. Of course, he tripled to right field in retaliation, as expected. Bumgarner retired the next three Rockies in order to prevent any further scoring.
C.O. got it going again for Colorado in the third with a double to left field. Two at bats and he already was just a home run and single away from the cycle. C.J. Cron, another non-roster invitee for Colorado, doubled off the wall in right field to score Owings. Josh Fuentes scored Cron on a single to left field making the score three-to-nothing.
Mark Grace and Jody Jackson commented postgame on how Madison Bumgarner has looked pedestrian for the D’backs this season and last, and they couldn’t be more right. His struggles continued in the fourth inning. Yonathan Daza singled, was pushed to second on a bunt, and scored on a single from Hampson. Hampson stole his second of three bases and was doubled home by C.O. The score now five-to-nothing at the conclusion of the fourth.
Meanwhile, the Arizona offense did absolutely nothing against Antonio Senzatela. He went eight complete innings giving up only four hits and two walks. That lowered his season ERA from 18.90 to 5.56, while Bumgarner’s actually lowered as well (lol) to 11.00. Not going to sugarcoat it, that contract is looking worse with each start. Caleb Smith, just moved to a relief role today, struck out three in the sixth inning and two in the seventh.
That’s about all I can muster for words for this contest. It was a complete polar opposite of last night’s game, with really no positives outside of Caleb Smith. It was not a good feeling. Torey Lovullo offered no comments on Chris Devenski, and Madison Bumgarner offered no comments at all. Fun.
I’ll be at the home opener on Friday if for no other reason than to enjoy the atmosphere.
Torey Lovullo audio [or link]
FanGraphs
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