2012 Arizona Diamondbacks season thread - June edition

[Gaddabout]

Say what you want about Chris Young, but both he and Roberts have some clutch in their bats.

 

[jw7]

I don't follow baseball much, but I caught the ninth inning.

That stop and throw from the 3B to end it was amazing. I might have to watch more.

 

[JS22]

Hmm, not impressive thus far. 6 free passes in 2 2/3 innings? Not ready.

I wouldn't say he's not ready. He's been known to give up some walks while also striking out a ton of guys.

What else could he do in AAA? The competition was pretty non-existent there. May as well come up, face better competition, maybe take a few lumps, and improve.

 

[JS22]

Intellectual superiority? Cockiness? Acting as though he is above paying his dues as a Major League rookie?

I wonder how his relationship with Montero will develop? Will he listen and learn or be in his own world? Bauer getting off to a disappointing start is probably the best thing that could have happened to him.

At least it is a brand new ballgame at 2-2. Most of our other starting pitchers put us in the hole by four runs.

Or maybe just focus?

 

[Gaddabout]

Or maybe just focus?

Bauer has some unusual issues, but lack of focus isn't one of them. That kid is more tuned in than most veterans on game day. He got his MLB debut on the road against the Braves on short rest against an ump that had a moving strike zone. He was hitting the black pretty consistently. The more he had to adjust and move in on the plate, that's when he got into more trouble. But he got the team into the 5th without a huge deficit, so ... #winning.

Until he takes coaching, he's going to have control/pitch count issues. He's so freakin' defensive about the whole thing. I'm convinced he's going to have to see how this is a problem for himself before he changes. When he's taking a shutout into the 7th a time or two on 110 pitches and then guys start raking, he'll start listening.

 

[JS22]

Bauer has some unusual issues, but lack of focus isn't one of them. That kid is more tuned in than most veterans on game day. He got his MLB debut on the road against the Braves on short rest against an ump that had a moving strike zone. He was hitting the black pretty consistently. The more he had to adjust and move in on the plate, that's when he got into more trouble. But he got the team into the 5th without a huge deficit, so ... #winning.

Until he takes coaching, he's going to have control/pitch count issues. He's so freakin' defensive about the whole thing. I'm convinced he's going to have to see how this is a problem for himself before he changes. When he's taking a shutout into the 7th a time or two on 110 pitches and then guys start raking, he'll start listening.

That is actually what I meant.

He just has the look of someone who is extremely focused. Not cocky or "intellectually superior."

 

[82CardsGrad]

Bauer has some unusual issues, but lack of focus isn't one of them. That kid is more tuned in than most veterans on game day. He got his MLB debut on the road against the Braves on short rest against an ump that had a moving strike zone. He was hitting the black pretty consistently. The more he had to adjust and move in on the plate, that's when he got into more trouble. But he got the team into the 5th without a huge deficit, so ... #winning.

Until he takes coaching, he's going to have control/pitch count issues. He's so freakin' defensive about the whole thing. I'm convinced he's going to have to see how this is a problem for himself before he changes. When he's taking a shutout into the 7th a time or two on 110 pitches and then guys start raking, he'll start listening.

Exactly how I saw it Matt... I was pretty impressed with how he dealt with the entire situation. That ump was pathetic - for both teams! And still, he fought through and only gave up 2 runs to a team that has absolutely thrashed the D-Backs all season. I like what I saw and can't wait for more!

 

[Mathew81]

Aaron Hill just hit for the cycle again. The last time someone hit for the cycle twice in one season was 1931. Hill has done it twice in 11 days.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[devilalum]

Aaron Hill just hit for the cycle again. The last time someone hit for the cycle twice in one season was 1931. Hill has done it twice in 11 days.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

All Star

 

[82CardsGrad]

Awesome game tonight! Hill is on an amazing run right now, as is Goldy. He is certainly playing like he'll be our firstbaseman for many years to come!
Kennedy looked much better tonight. A few stupid lapses that cost him a couple of runs, but overall it was 7 strong innings...

Oh, and CY now down to .219.

 

[Dback Jon]

Awesome game tonight! Hill is on an amazing run right now, as is Goldy. He is certainly playing like he'll be our firstbaseman for many years to come!
Kennedy looked much better tonight. A few stupid lapses that cost him a couple of runs, but overall it was 7 strong innings...

Oh, and CY now down to .219.

GW Homer yesterday buys time

 

[devilalum]

GW Homer yesterday buys time

Pitch Hitter?

 

[AZ Native]

Hill, AMAZING feat in the last 11 Days. On a side note, Goldy and Hill combined for: 8-9, .888, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6RBI, 4 R and a SB.

 

[82CardsGrad]

GW Homer yesterday buys time

 

[JS22]

Goldschmidt had a really good chance at a cycle himself. Unfortunately a fan interfered with the ball. (It would have been REALLY close though.) That would have been amazing. Two cycles in the same game.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Last night was big as both the Dodgers and Giants lost. D-Backs crawl to within 4 games of first place in the West and though it's still early and a BRUTAL stretch ahead in July and August, they are only 2 games out of the Wildcard..

They have 4 guys in the top 18 in the NL for batting average: Hill, Goldy, Kubel and Bloomquist.
Kubel is 7th in RBI.
Goldy is 8th in Doubles and 9th in OPS.
Upton is 10th in Runs.
Miley is 4th in ERA, 5th in WHIP and tied for 6th in Wins.


As a team, the D-Backs are 3rd in the NL in Batting Average.
6th in Runs.
5th in Hits.
7th in HR's.

Nice stuff...

The rest of the way, it's critical that Miley stays on fire, Kennedy becomes more consistent, Saunders comes back healthy and solid and Cahill just keeps doing what he's doing... And of course, if Bauer can emerge as a legit major league contributor this season - that would be a HUGE bonus!
Offensively, though he's been swinging a hot bat lately, Upton has to find his Homerun swing! 7 dingers at this stage of the season is really, really putrid for him. Same for RBI's...
Kubel has been terrific and has given the team everything, and more, than we might have expected.
Goldy is now a legit offensive threat. SO impressed with this kid. He got off to a worse start than Upton, and was able to make the required adjustments and has been crushing the ball over the past 30 games or so! And defenisively he is a rock at first base!
Bloomquist has been amazing as well...
Would be great to see Miggy get hot and get his average and Home Run totals up where they should be.
What can we say about Hill... Wow!!!
CY MUST go!! Period... either that or simply sit his ass for the rest of the season and go with Parra.
And we can only imagine where this team would be if we had a legit threat at 3rd base...

 

[Lefty]

Glad to see the team turning it around and looks like the dogpile on Upton is starting to recede. The big question will be, does the front office make a trade for a third baseman, say Headley?

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

Upton is doing better - wish he weren't so scared of the wall in right field, but I guess seeing his friend and teammate go down he is being overly cautious. His hitting is coming around - fewer strikeouts, more contact up the middle and to the right side. Had an RBI taken away by Livo's unintentional kick save. If the entire middle of the lineup can keep it up, the offense will be just fine. Now, let's see what the rookie pitcher(s) can do.

 

[Brian]

They have to move Willie to 3rd the rest of the way. Split time at short between Drew and Johnny Mac. Not the power you'd like at 3rd, but I'll take what Willie gives at the plate and on the bases over Rhyno all day.

Parra needs to move to CF. I am finally off the CY bandwagon. I have held on and held on and now I'm done. The guy just can't hit and he has a noodle arm. Let him make spot starts when one of the other 3 need a rest.

 

[82CardsGrad]

They have to move Willie to 3rd the rest of the way. Split time at short between Drew and Johnny Mac. Not the power you'd like at 3rd, but I'll take what Willie gives at the plate and on the bases over Rhyno all day.

I'm in with that plan!

Parra needs to move to CF. I am finally off the CY bandwagon. I have held on and held on and now I'm done. The guy just can't hit and he has a noodle arm. Let him make spot starts when one of the other 3 need a rest.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BC867]

Parra needs to move to CF. I am finally off the CY bandwagon. I have held on and held on and now I'm done. The guy just can't hit and he has a noodle arm. Let him make spot starts when one of the other 3 need a rest.

I cannot understand how Chris Young (who finally got the message at the beginning of the season that swinging parallel to the ground with a slight uppercut leads to an acceptable batting average and more home runs) came back after the injury with his old roundhouse uppercut swing. And his average has dipped from over a .400 start to .219. In other words, he is hitting in the .100's since his return.

How can the Front Office, managers and coaches sit by and allow it? And feed us bull$hit like they are trying to figure out what the problem is.

Even if they are trying to showcase him for a trade, you'd think the roundhouse uppercut swings would have stopped.

If Kirk Gibson were a more consistent Manager and named starters and bench players, it would have to be either Young or Parra in CF. But Gibby's non-committal lineups from day-to-day allow this situation to continue.

I'm telling you guys. Just as Brenly and Melvin both won Manager of the Year, then were fired because of the results of their inconsistent lineups, it is going to happen to Gibson. Manager of the Year to looking for a job.

 

[AZ Native]

I'm on board with Headley. SD has 2 good prospects at 3rd and Chase would be powerful force here.


Originally Posted by Brian
Parra needs to move to CF. I am finally off the CY bandwagon. I have held on and held on and now I'm done. The guy just can't hit and he has a noodle arm. Let him make spot starts when one of the other 3 need a rest.

I'm good with this one too.

Hill and Goldy, what can you say?

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

Didn't get to see the game - got stuck with the Padres and Rockies (really, Fox!). Looks like Miley and Kubel had tough days. Why did Upton get pulled? Injury?

 

[82CardsGrad]

Man this team is infuriating... what a grotesque way to end a really solid month... both the Giants and Dodgers lost last night as well, which makes our loss hurt that much more.
The team struck out 16 times... you don't often see that over 9 innings... WOW!
Miley came crashing down to earth - it looked like he was throwing batting practice he was getting hit so hard.

CY now down to .214. Seriously, all kidding aside - how is this guy in the majors?? He even looked horrendous in the field!! Misplayed a ball to deep center into a triple. And then, with a runner on 2nd base with average speed, a Brewer hits a hard shot up the middle, ball takes a few bounces and CY doesn't even attempt to make a throw to home. Most other CF's would have at least made the throw, if not nailed the runner - Parra for sure would have thrown the guy out. It's like all teams now know they can run on Young anytime, anywhere...
He's become nothing short of a laughable clown now...

 

[BC867]

Why did Upton get pulled? Injury?

Gibby's quote was that he wanted to get Parra an at-bat. There is probably more to it than that, but we'll never know. We can usually see for ourselves when Upton is either tentative, careless or showboating in the field.