Diamondbacks and Reds Series

[Azlen]

After giving up a 1 out triple, Corbin strikes out Choo and Votto. Wow, just wow. That kid is really showing something.

 

[Azlen]

One of those moments where Heath Bell as closer scares the hell out of me.

 

[Marklar]

Hey, for the record, I'm not bitching or complaining. Just stating fact. There is no other team in MLB that has a player with the % of the teams' RBI total as the Dbacks and Goldy have. That's just a fact...

Yep, I fully agree there, it's undoubtedly a problem. But it's nice to have the luxury of having hitters out of form from first place. The guy saying he couldn't even watch this team right now...what!?!

 

[Azlen]

From Jack McGruder's twitter feed.
Dbacks have been shut out 0 times. Everyone else in majors has at least 3. Atlanta shut out for 11th time Saturday

 

[thirty-two]

Raise your hand if you were expecting that. Freaking Bell!! Ugh!

 

[Azlen]

One of those moments where Heath Bell as closer scares the hell out of me.

Justifiably so.

 

[devilalum]

This is all on Gibby because he has to be the only person in AZ that thought Bell had any chance of closing this game.

 

[devilalum]

They need to release Heath Bell. 5 home runs in 5 games is pathetic!!!

 

[AzStevenCal]

Hells bells, Bell. Who didn't see this coming after the walk?

Steve

 

[thirty-two]

Man 2 errors by Didi in the past two games. Bummer.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Corbin just cannot catch a break. It's a little reminiscent of that stretch with Randy Johnson (Buck's last year with us?).

Steve

 

[thirty-two]

Love this team

 

[Marklar]

Even Chapman can blow saves with no outs

 

[Azlen]

I hope Gibby is ready to name a new closer.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Tremendous win! Gibby should never have yanked Corbin. He hadn't even hit 100 pitches... Lame...
Great at-bat by Montero and Kubel comes up big... Wow that was a roller coaster ride... Just can't go with Bell anymore...

 

[Brian]

Tremendous win! Gibby should never have yanked Corbin. He hadn't even hit 100 pitches... Lame...
Great at-bat by Montero and Kubel comes up big... Wow that was a roller coaster ride... Just can't go with Bell anymore...

He was at 104 after 8.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

All's well that ends well

 

[JS22]

Raise your hand if you were expecting that. Freaking Bell!! Ugh!

Well duh.

 

[UncleChris]

If Gibby was so damned insistent on closing with Bell, he should have had Ziegler ready to go and pulled Bell as soon as he walked the first guy. I swear, this team wins in spite of Gibby, not because of anything smart he's doing.

Bell throws hard, but that simply isn't enough. He can't throw a curve for a stirke, he can't locate his fastball and his fastball appears to have no movement. Guys coming to the plate are just sitting on a fastball and, well.... we know the results.

Time for this guy to have "elbow problems" or "shoulder problems" and ride the train up to Reno.

And time for Gibby to get over this bad case of rectal-cranial inversion he is suffering from....

 

[82CardsGrad]

He was at 104 after 8.

Still should have been allowed to start the 9th...

 

[BC867]

Still should have been allowed to start the 9th...

I have to disagree. I was at the game tonight and fully support hitting for Corbin in the bottom of the 8th when he was over 100 pitches.

The hearts of 30,000+ fans broke when the Heath Bell Experience dropped his load of crap on the mound again.

I'll say it as I've said it before, and this time I'm going to shout!

IT IS EASIER TO REPLACE A LONG RELIEVER THAN A CLOSER. JUST AS JOHN SMOLTZ TURNED INTO AN OUTSTANDING CLOSER, I BELIEVE THAT JOSH COLLMENTER WOULD DO THE SAME.

WHY NOT GIVE HIM A CHANCE? PUTZ IS NOT THE SOLUTION ANY MORE THAN BELL. NOR IS DAVID HERNANDEZ.

 

[TJ]

WHY NOT GIVE HIM A CHANCE?

Because Collmenter is so dominant at his current role of long reliever and spot starter that by attempting to convert him to closer, you're undoubtedly creating a void in order to potentially fill another.

Due to the number of extra inning games we've played and short outings our starters have had this season, we need a solid man for that position. And no, it is not easy to replace those guys. Other teams who do not have the luxury of a Collmenter end up unnecessarily burning 3-4 bullpen guys in dire circumstances i.e. injured starter, 15 inning game etc.

Smoltz is not a good example because Smoltz was an elite overall pitcher and could execute regardless of the situation. Randy Johnson could have been the best closer to ever pitch if he were ever put in that position, but that't because he was so damn elite. Collmenter shouldn't be mentioned in that category. He's a good pitcher, but nowhere near elite. The coaching staff has found his niche, and that's as a long reliever and spot starter.

An easier transition to closer would be Brad Ziegler, who has a 0.93 WHIP, 2.00 ERA, and doesn't seem to be phased by the moment. There is no easy answer for this problem other than to hope that one of Putz, Bell, and/or Hernandez figure it out by the all-star break.

 

[Brian]

If Gibby was so damned insistent on closing with Bell, he should have had Ziegler ready to go and pulled Bell as soon as he walked the first guy. I swear, this team wins in spite of Gibby, not because of anything smart he's doing.

Bell throws hard, but that simply isn't enough. He can't throw a curve for a stirke, he can't locate his fastball and his fastball appears to have no movement. Guys coming to the plate are just sitting on a fastball and, well.... we know the results.

"Velocity is a luxury, location is a necessity"

- Randy Johnson

 

[Brian]

Because Collmenter is so dominant at his current role of long reliever and spot starter that by attempting to convert him to closer, you're undoubtedly creating a void in order to potentially fill another.

Due to the number of extra inning games we've played and short outings our starters have had this season, we need a solid man for that position. And no, it is not easy to replace those guys. Other teams who do not have the luxury of a Collmenter end up unnecessarily burning 3-4 bullpen guys in dire circumstances i.e. injured starter, 15 inning game etc.

Smoltz is not a good example because Smoltz was an elite overall pitcher and could execute regardless of the situation. Randy Johnson could have been the best closer to ever pitch if he were ever put in that position, but that't because he was so damn elite. Collmenter shouldn't be mentioned in that category. He's a good pitcher, but nowhere near elite. The coaching staff has found his niche, and that's as a long reliever and spot starter.

An easier transition to closer would be Brad Ziegler, who has a 0.93 WHIP, 2.00 ERA, and doesn't seem to be phased by the moment. There is no easy answer for this problem other than to hope that one of Putz, Bell, and/or Hernandez figure it out by the all-star break.

Agree except you have to keep Zeigler in the role he's in now...the groundball guy when you gotta have a groundball.

The closer isn't on the roster.

 

[TJ]

Interesting take from McManaman:

Bob McManaman
@azbobbymac
If Dbacks elect to move Bell out of the closer's role, which I suspect, Gibson can turn to Hernandez until Putz returns on Thursday in D.C.

I'm cool with Putz coming back as the closer to see if his early season issues were due to injury, but not alright with Hernandez in that role until Thursday.