One night after breaking the losing streak, the Diamondbacks put on a clinic in how not to play baseball. Oh, and Ketel Marte came up lame again.
Diamondbacks News
The good version of Zac Gallen showing up was not enough to help the Diamondbacks win a second game in a row. Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta wound up having an even better night. Then, there was the matter of Arizona’s defense, the mental miscues, Arizona’s bullpen has enough trouble performing as it is. Oh, and Ketel Marte pulled up lame again running out a ground rule double.
Defensive Brain-Fart Dooms Arizona
To say Daniel Vogelbach is a slow base-runner is being generous to Daniel Vogelbach. Daniel Vogelbach pulling up lame rounding third and then hobbling home skip-hopping and dragging his leg behind him might be lapped by Steven Vogt or Alex Avila. Yet, Arizona’s infield (sans Daulton Varsho) apparently thought the play over and paid no attention as Vogelbach finished limping his way home and across the plate to score. Ahmed claims he didn’t see Vogelbach because he was so far outside the baseline and he couldn’t hear Varsho. Frankly, it is still a breakdown in on-field awareness by the infield though. Vogelbach is kind of a big guy to lose track of.
Diamondbacks Shutout Again, Marte Leaves to Hamstring Injury…Again
The Diamondbacks were shutout for the tenth time this season. Ketel Marte pulled up lame as he rounded first on a ground rule double. Lovullo reports that Marte should be fine and the tweak wasn’t even bad enough to warrant an MRI. This sort of disheartening game sums up Arizona’s season rather well to this point.
Is Anyone Off the Table at the Trade Deadline?
What to consider when trade offers for Ketel Marte, Zac Gallen, and Carson Kelly come rolling in.
Other Baseball News
Wander Franco: The 80-Grade Prospect
An evaluator once tweaked Mike Trout’s prospect grade downward to 72, just because he knew no one would take him seriously if he gave a higher grade. Wander Franco is Chipper Jones playing shortstop with base stealing ability. Strap in folks, this kid is exciting.
Wander Franco made his big league debut on Tuesday night. He didn’t take long to make an impact statement. His first hit was a three-run home run off the Red Sox in the fifth inning of a Tampa Bay Rays’ 9-5 loss.
Scherzer Miffed After Being Inspected Three Times
By the end of his outing, Max Scherzer had finally had enough of the new inspection protocols. This included a manager-instigated inspection by the Phillies’ Joe Girardi.
Related: Girardi Ejected After Confronting Scherzer
Joe Girardi was fell victim to the “bad faith” challenge part of the inspection rule and then charged the field after getting stared down by Scherzer.
Inside the Labor Fight Threatening MLB’s Future
Dysfunctional. Unfortunate. Complicated. Tense. Unnecessary.