Will there be fireworks on the field at Chase tonight too?
Fireworks after the game, both tonight and tomorrow at Chase Field. Personally, I’m looking forward to a four-day weekend, having taken Saturday off to join up the Independence Day holiday with my regular Sunday and Monday weekend. It’s going to be quite pleasant: easily the most time I’ve had off so far this year, without having actually to do anything, and I am looking forward immensely to not doing it. Tomorrow, I will naturally be celebrating the anniversary of America’s independence from… um, me, along with the rest of your treacherous colonials. 🙂 But I will not let any sense of conflict interfere with the scheduled consumption of hot-dogs, apple pie and flavorless beer.
Bit of a key game tonight against the Giants, because there is a large difference between taking three of four from a divisional rival, and splitting the series, especially at home. I said before it began that a split – effectively standing pat – wouldn’t be good enough, because they really to be start making up ground on the teams above them. With the series finale to go tonight, it’s still all to be decided. Victory will mean Arizona has closed two games on San Francisco, and sits 11⁄2 back of them. However, defeat will leave the gap unchanged on what it was going in, at 31⁄2 – just with four more contests crossed off the schedule. So, if not a “must win”, this will be another one of those “definitely prefer to win” games.
Normally, somebody hitting .155 in July would not be a cause for celebration, but that’s a damn sight better than Jake McCarthy was hitting when he was sent down to Reno. Indeed, after going 0-for-4 on his return, McCarthy’s average was a staggeringly bad .067 (3-for-45). But since then, he has assembled a seven-game hitting streak, with a line of .308/.333/.615 for an OPS of .949. Could do with a few more walks – one in 27 PA. But it’s at the point where his roster spot may survive the return of Corbin Carroll. However, doing so, with Tim Tawa the logical alternative to be Reno bound, would leave the D-backs overstocked with left-handed outfielders again. At least McCarthy is forcing the issue.