Spring Training Gameday Thread, #8: 3/7 vs. Cubs

Sunday afternoon watching the D-backs? Don’t mind if I do.

D-backs lineup

1. Josh Rojas, LF
2. Ketel Marte, SS
3. Eduardo Escobar, DH
4. Christian Walker, 1B
5. Asdrubal Cabrera, 3B
6. Stephen Vogt, C
7. Josh VanMeter, 2B
8. Trayce Thompson, CF
9. Stuart Fairchild, RF
   + RHP Merrill Kelly, RHP Josh Green, RHP Joakim Soria, RHP Chris Devenski, RHP Kevin Ginkel, RHP Humberto Castellanos

The first set of roster moves took place this morning, with the following four players being reassigned to minor league-camp.

• RHP Bradley Roney
• C Dominic Miroglio
• INF Drew Ellis
• INF Christian Lopes

No particular surprises here, with none of the four really expected to have much of a shot at the major-league roster. Indeed, to be honest, I can’t say I’d noticed any of the four as contributing over the first week of games. Unsurprisingly, no outfielders were cut. The team now has 61 players left in camp, so still a long way to go before we reach the 26-man roster for Opening Day.

Torey Lovullo notes

• Today’s game will be a 9-inning game
• On sending guys out: Need to create space for the guys that are going to stay to get more innings
• With no Minor League Camp opening yet: Players sent out will have overlapping workouts in different part of the facility. They’re still in the protocol/bubble as the MLB team. The players sent out will play in B games and sim games. The workload for players like Thompson and Fairchild who’ve been playing full games is acceptable and they’re prepared. He’s not worried about overworking them
• Innings Limits and 6-man rotation: Torey acknowledged there will be innings limit on the other 4 starters in the rotation as well, they won’t just isolate Zac Gallen in this. But they haven’t “plugged in” all the numbers yet to figure out what those would be
• Pressed on whether they would reconsider just going to a 6^th man rotation instead of just trying to juggle everyone, Torey said: I’m sure you can make a legitimate argument for that reason. I just think for right now we’re going to go with a standard 5 man rotation and see where that takes us.
• I need to highlight that Nick Piecoro also covered this on March 1^st HERE. Some of the various strategies they may try to employ to limit workload are in that article.
• It should also be noted that one reason they don’t want to go to a 6 man rotation is to avoid a situation where a guy doesn’t pitch for 6 or 7 days due to off days. But that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me personally; they can always skip a 6^th starter, much like they skip a 5^th starter from time to time now. And if they are talking about pushing guys back a day or two from time to time to limit innings, what’s the difference?

Torey Lovullo audio [or link]

And, yay! This afternoon’s game does appear to be being broadcast on Fox Sports Arizona, with Bob and Steve on the call. Got the windows open in SnakePit Towers, there’s a nice cross-breeze going through, and it promises to be a very pleasant afternoon. Join us, why don’t you?