Game #1-Arizona Diamondbacks @ LA Dodgers. 3/28/19

[sdscard4]

Just 6 months ago leading the West and a top nl team...now this

 

[1Sun]

Any bets on whether Torey Lovullo survives the season?

 

[82CardsGrad]

Well, on the bright side, while the score is 12 - 2... The home run score is only 8 - 2! #there'salwaysapositive

 

[1Sun]

I was surprised when Koch made the opening day roster over Rzepczynski. Looks like that surprise was justified.

 

[Dback Jon]

This is flat out embarrassing

 

[BC867]

Muncy (who has taken over 1B from Bellinger), Bellinger (moved to RF) and Hernandez with home runs off Koch in the 7th.

Dodgers leading 12-2. With 8 home runs in the game. Greinke and Koch (pronounced Cook) have each given up 4.

As Steve and BB are saying, "Walk them, walk them." Or as Casey Stengel used to say when he took over the expansion Mets, "Can anyone here play this game?"

Oh well, I can root for my NBA Phoenix Mercury (led by all stars Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and my favorite, DeWanna Bonner as it gets close to their final season together) over the summer.
Except they are hardly ever on TV.

 

[BC867]

And Christian Walker with another extra base hit to go with his HR, an RBI double in the 9th.

Jake Lamb might have nightmares tonight.

Then a Marte sac fly and it's 12-4 Dodgers.

Ahmed with a sac fly and the game ends 12-5.

 

[Shaggy]

Glad I missed this game. 8 homers is ridiculous.

 

[AZ Native]

Any bets on whether Torey Lovullo survives the season?

This is the only day as a DBack’s manager that Torrey has had a sub .500 team. It was 1 freaking game!

 

[AZCB34]

This is the only day as a DBack’s manager that Torrey has had a sub .500 team. It was 1 freaking game!

That is an amazing stat.

Games get sideways sometimes. It happens. Let's see how they bounce back tomorrow.

 

[1Sun]

This is the only day as a DBack’s manager that Torrey has had a sub .500 team. It was 1 freaking game!

It's not just based on today. Last season ended with an epic collapse, the team got progressively worse as Spring Training proceeded, ending up with one of the worst records in the Cactus League after a very good first week, and they weren't even competitive today.

I agree that it will be interesting to see if/how they bounce back, but given the team's current trajectory, I wouldn't get my hopes up.

Meanwhile, our best player in Spring Training and today is someone Lovullo continues to refuse to commit to.

 

[AZ Native]

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It's not just based on today. Last season ended with an epic collapse, the team got progressively worse as Spring Training proceeded, ending up with one of the worst records in the Cactus League after a very good first werk, and they weren't even competitive today.

I agree that it will be interesting to see if/how they bounce back, but given the team's current trajectory, I wouldn't get my hopes up.

Meanwhile, our best player in Spring Training and today is someone Lovullo continues to refuse to commit to.

I get all that but you have to admit that is an amazing stat. So we started out great last year and fizzle. But we lose 1 game and all is lost?

 

[Broseph]

It's not just based on today. Last season ended with an epic collapse, the team got progressively worse as Spring Training proceeded, ending up with one of the worst records in the Cactus League after a very good first werk, and they weren't even competitive today.

I agree that it will be interesting to see if/how they bounce back, but given the team's current trajectory, I wouldn't get my hopes up.

Meanwhile, our best player in Spring Training and today is someone Lovullo continues to refuse to commit to.

This. The way last season ended up how absoultey destroyed we got today and records set against us. I would likely bet this is going to be a really bad baseball team, especially if Ray and Godley return to last years form, you're looking at probable last place.

 

[sdscard4]

It's not just based on today. Last season ended with an epic collapse, the team got progressively worse as Spring Training proceeded, ending up with one of the worst records in the Cactus League after a very good first werk, and they weren't even competitive today.

I agree that it will be interesting to see if/how they bounce back, but given the team's current trajectory, I wouldn't get my hopes up.

Meanwhile, our best player in Spring Training and today is someone Lovullo continues to refuse to commit to.

Lol based on your posts in the Suns forum you have a thing for coaches/managers. Granted I agree about Igor...Torey deserves to ride this season out no matter. Hes done a really good job. My opinion could change but he's no Igor

 

[1Sun]

Lol based on your posts in the Suns forum you have a thing for coaches/managers. Granted I agree about Igor...Torey deserves to ride this season out no matter. Hes done a really good job. My opinion could change but he's no Igor

I never said he was. Igor is historically bad. Torey is just a repeat of the Bobs (Brenly and Melvin). Just my opinion.

 

[sdscard4]

I never said he was. Igor is historically bad. Torey is just a repeat of the Bobs (Brenly and Melvin). Just my opinion.

I really liked Melvin he's still doing really good.

 

[1Sun]

I really liked Melvin he's still doing really good.

Both Bobs had a good year or two and then got too cute and basically outsmarted themselves while letting too many things go in the clubhouse, losing control and stability of their teams in the process.

 

[Shaggy]

Meanwhile, our best player in Spring Training and today is someone Lovullo continues to refuse to commit to.

Who's that?

 

[1Sun]

Who's that?

Christian Walker

 

[BC867]

Christian Walker

I've alluded to that in previous posts, calling him "my boy", meaning my favorite.

The is the first (partial) chance to show what he can do, following a great Spring Training and two extra base hits today in Game 1 (both against righties).

I have two thoughts. If I were Christian Walker, I would think, "Why is he (Lovullo) not showing any vote of confidence?

And, what does Torey have to lose to, as I've posted, give Lamb and him regular assignments and see how it plays out? Jake had bad second halves two seasons in a row, then was injured last season.

Walker as platoon 1B vs. lefty starters and, the rest of the time, pinch hitter (he showed today he can hit righties) and, as the only 1B on the team, defensive replacement when he is not starting?

Jake hasn't earned the right to infer that 1B is his. Walker has earned the right (for the good of the team) to finally receive a vote of confidence from the manager to see how it plays out. It is ideal.

I appreciate Lovullo's loyalty (to Lamb) but, for the good of the team, a platoon (and being proud of it) seems to be the best handling at this time.

As you said, 1Sun, Torey seems to make premature decisions weeks in advance, then not budge, no matter how it develops.

 

[TigToad]

First off, I agree that it is time to give Christian Walker serious at-bats and see how it goes. If he can earn every day status, great, Lamb can get at bats as a 1st/3rd platoon and DH. I'm frustrated with how bad Lamb is when not platooning.

Yesterday was disheartening. It felt like watching a Suns game. Except for the meaningless spark in the 9th, we looked flat. The Dodgers hit HR after HR. I rushed home from work to watch the second half of the game, and turned on the radio to Grienke giving up back to back HRs and not making it out of the 4th.

I know baseball is a long season, and this was only one game, and the Dodgers are very good. But, my fear is that if this is the level of heart we have, it'll be a very, very long season.

 

[BC867]

First off, I agree that it is time to give Christian Walker serious at-bats and see how it goes. If he can earn every day status, great, Lamb can get at bats as a 1st/3rd platoon and DH. I'm frustrated with how bad Lamb is when not platooning.

Except there is no way that Lamb is going to be put back on 3B. And there shouldn't be.

If Walker hits better than Lamb, it would be logical to have him learn RF, with Jones moving back to CF and the light hitting Ketel Marte back to the infield. That would give us Major League power in the OF.

I suppose Torey could approach Walker and say, "With the season ending injury to Souza, would you help the team and move to RF? That way I could give you and Lamb both starters' time.

The only thing I don't like about that idea is that Walker is our only natural 1B but, either way, he will not be seeing the majority of the time at 1B while Lamb is around.

Even without the pitchers' problems yesterday, solo HR's by Jones and Walker and Walker's RBI double would not have been enough to win a reasonable game. But we sure need them both in the lineup every day.