I didn’t want to go there, but these are hard times…
Yes, it’s the 50th birthday today of St. Penelope of the Cross. So I have had to break out an appropriate photo, in an effort to enliven the D-backs offense, which last scored more than one run in a game on Tuesday. Mind you, it’s not exactly that long ago, there was a worse streak still. For Arizona ended the 2023 regular season, “backing into the playoffs” (TM, Doomer Inc) by scoring 1, 1, 0 and 1 runs over the final four games. That seemed to work out perfectly okay, the team clearly saving its runs for when they were needed most.
But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about how the D-backs have started this season. Health has clearly been a big problem, hardly a series going by without one player or another experiencing an issue, of varying severity. Even some of the healthy players have struggled. Corbin Carroll is now below the Uecker Line, the bullpen is inconsistent at best, and the team’s defense has not been the strong overall positive it was in 2023. Torey Lovullo and his coaching staff have work to do, if this team is not going to be out of contention by the end of May, after a month whose schedule does Arizona no favors.
I don’t want to see 2023 being the latest in a long line of one-and-done playoff appearances for the Diamondbacks. However, baseball is a harsh mistress, and it’s no longer especially pessimistic to imagine that as a possible scenario. Avoiding it would begin with avoiding a sweep at the hands of the Mariners this afternoon.