Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals series

[coyoteshockeyfan]

The Dbacks are back at the BOB for an important series vs. St. Louis.

Monday, July 4 Bank One Ballpark | 3:10 PM MST


Matt Morris, RHP (9-1, 3.31)
Cardinals (51-30) @ Brandon Webb, RHP (8-4, 3.24)
Diamondbacks (40-42)



Scouting Report:
Morris rebounded from a rocky outing in his last start. He faced Cincinnati and allowed just two runs over seven innings. Morris has been in control in every start with the exception of his June 23 start against Pittsburgh in which he gave up three earned runs in three innings. In his last start Morris made one mistake, a two-run homer to Wily Mo Pena, but shackled the Reds for the rest of the evening. He did not allow more than one runner to reach base after Pena's home run in the second inning.
Webb suffered the loss against the Giants on Wednesday. The right-hander allowed three runs on nine his over seven innings as the D-Backs fell, 4-2. Webb cost himself a run in the third inning when, thinking he was out, he turned toward second base while legging out a fielder's choice.





Tuesday, July 5 Bank One Ballpark | 6:40 PM MST


Jeff Suppan, RHP (7-7, 4.34)
Cardinals (51-30) @ Shawn Estes, LHP (6-6, 4.30)
Diamondbacks (40-42)



Scouting Report:
Suppan continues to vary from shaky to sturdy. After stopping a three-game Cardinals losing streak by going 8 1/3 innings and giving up just one run to the Pirates on June 24, he gave up four runs in four innings to the lowly Rockies in the series opener.
Estes had his worst outing of the year in his last start against the Giants on Thursday. The left-hander allowed eight runs (seven earned) on five hits in just 2 1/3 innings. Prior to that Estes has put together three straight solid performances, including back-to-back complete games.





Wednesday, July 6 Bank One Ballpark | 7:10 PM MST


To be announced
Cardinals (51-30) @ Javier Vazquez, RHP (7-7, 4.75)
Diamondbacks (40-42)



Scouting Report:

Vazquez allowed just three runs through six innings of his last start against the Dodgers on Friday. But things fell apart in the seventh as LA scored four times, with three of the runs charged to him. The right-hander faced an uphill battle regardless, as Brad Penny tossed eight shutout innings for the Dodgers.

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/probable_pitchers.jsp?c_id=ari

 

[AZZenny]

That was not an enjoyable game - thought the umpiring left a lot to be desired, too. I may pass on tonight - they'll count the seats as filled anyhow - and I'm tired of seeing Estes. I swear he pitches every Tues or Friday, which is when I have the partial season tix.

I'm very ambivalent. If the Cardinals roll and pleat us, maybe the illusion that we could compete outside the NL West will be put to rest and we don't have to hold our breath up to the trade deadline waiting for some appalling trade for an injury-prone and/or washed up overpaid veteran reliever.

Then again, I love baseball and would like to watch the Diamondbacks play some good games this year.

 

[WizardOfAz]

St. Louis is pretty good, huh?

 

[Lefty]

This team is not going to win many games with Clayton, Snyder and the pitcher batting 7 thru 9 in the line-up. I just don't understand why Melvin will not give Cintron a shot at short?

 

[ajcardfan]

St. Louis is pretty good, huh?

So far we just look helpless against them. Seems like, with the exception of the White Sox recently, we haven't played anyone outside of our division very well.

 

[devilalum]

This is why the Dbacks need to be sellers. Even if they were able to throw away some of their top Tucson talent on a player or two and win the west they would be totally humiliated by the Cards or the Nationals in the first round.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Good for Alex Cintron.

 

[Gnomad]

Men on 1st and 3rd. Who should step up to the plate? That's right, Jose Cruz Jr.! You just KNOW when the guy steps on the field he's going to screw something up. We had a legitimate chance to win last night. We'll be swept 4 games this series.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Walk off bomb for Gonzo to salvage game 4!

Bring on those Reds!!

 

[Ryanwb]

Holy crap.... Claudio Vargas is our stopper.

I don't know what he's doing, but keep it up.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Holy crap.... Claudio Vargas is our stopper.

I don't know what he's doing, but keep it up.

Vargas is 3-0 with a 3.75 ERA in his last four starts. Not bad for a guy we claimed off waivers. But I'm sure he'll go back to the pen when Russ Ortiz comes back. Man, I'm really not looking forward to seeing that guy make $34 million pitching every fifth day for the next 3 1/2 years.

 

[AZZenny]

Man, I'm really not looking forward to seeing that guy make $34 million pitching every fifth day for the next 3 1/2 years.

Two words:

Tonya Harding.

 

[BC867]

Two words:

Tonya Harding.

Do you think that the D'backs "kneed" that advice?

 

[Gnomad]

Vargas looked great last nite. Got a little crazy towards the end of the 7th, but the rest of the game he was spot on.

So the question is: is he for real? is this the kind of outing we can expect for the most part? He's improved every game he's played in our constant rotation. He's already better than Ortiz, but I think 1/2 our board here is better than him. At least for that kinda scratch.