Game 21- Arizona Diamondbacks @ Chicago Cubs. 4/20/19

[Ronin]

First pitch is set for 11:20 a.m Arizona time

 

[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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[BC867]

Dyson just out at 2B trying to stretch it to start the game.

But Escobar and Peralta with back-to-back HR's. Wow!

And Zack Greinke does not give up a run in the 1st.

 

[BC867]

Bottom third of the D-backs batting order in the 2nd with two walks
and a sac bunt Greinke. Then a sac fly by Dyson. 3--0 D-backs.

 

[BC867]

Christian Walker with a single and double so far.

And he leads the D-backs in home runs.

Now that he has settled in, he is a hitter.

He is stranded on 2B in the 3rd.


Greinke has never won a game in Wrigley Field.
That is hard to believe.

 

[Dback Jon]

OK - that is TWO Dbacks out trying to take extra bases.

Damn our running

 

[BC867]

OK - that is TWO Dbacks out trying to take extra bases.

Damn our running

Well, they're trying to make things happen. It is a fine line.

Meanwhile, Walker, after his third hit of the game -- a very hard hit single -- advanced to 3B
and scored on a fielder's choice/error at the plate. Walker should have been out, but scored.

You win some, you lose some. And we lead 4-0.

No, it's 6-0 with a John Ryan Murphy 2-run HR. 3 of his 4 hits this season are HR's.

And Greinke with a double off the ivy. 'Just missed a HR, which would have been the
second Murphy/Greinke back-to-back of the season.

All of the D-backs HR's today were by players who had never homered at Wrigley.

'Sure feels better than yesterday!

 

[BC867]

Walker with another hard hit single. 4-for-4 and his batting average is now .353, despite the 2-for-28 funk.

The talk where Torey told him to settle down and not try to hit 6-runs homers has really made a difference
and allowed Christian to begin to fulfill his potential. Especially with his home runs and doubles, in addition
to line drive singles, Christian is now our top power hitter, supplemented by Peralta and Jones.

An essential with Goldy gone.

 

[Lefty]

Who needs Goldy? We have Christian Walker!

 

[BC867]

26-year old rookie Taylor Clarke matches Jon Duplantier with a 3-inning save in his Major League debut.

And he became the first Major Leaguer to have a save and base hit in his first game.

His family is in the stands. Taylor Clarke's wife is named . . . Taylor Clarke.

Steve told Bob Brenly he should have married a woman named Bob.

And the last Cubs batter is named Taylor Davis. Hmmm, taylor made.

 

[Dback Jon]

Shut out win!!

 

[devilalum]

Taylor Clarke
Career 1.000 hitter also sported an ERA of 0.00.


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[Dback Jon]

26-year old rookie Taylor Clarke matches Jon Duplantier with a 3-inning save in his Major League debut.

And he became the first Major Leaguer to have a save and base hit in his first game.

His family is in the stands. Taylor Clarke's wife is named . . . Taylor Clark.

Steve told Bob Brenly he should have married a woman named Bob.

And the last Cubs batter is named Taylor Davis. Hmmm, taylor made.

That is really cool!

 

[Ronin]

Way to go Clarke!

 

[Ronin]

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[Shaggy]

26-year old rookie Taylor Clarke matches Jon Duplantier with a 3-inning save in his Major League debut.

And he became the first Major Leaguer to have a save and base hit in his first game.

His family is in the stands. Taylor Clarke's wife is named . . . Taylor Clarke.

Steve told Bob Brenly he should have married a woman named Bob.

And the last Cubs batter is named Taylor Davis. Hmmm, taylor made.

Nice! Taylor and Taylor. Would be difficult to have the same names wouldn't it?

 

[Ronin]

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[1Sun]

Nice bounceback game.

 

[1Sun]

Walker with another hard hit single. 4-for-4 and his batting average is now .353, despite the 2-for-28 funk.

The talk where Torey told him to settle down and not try to hit 6-runs homers has really made a difference
and allowed Christian to begin to fulfill his potential. Especially with his home runs and doubles, in addition
to line drive singles, Christian is now our top power hitter, supplemented by Peralta and Jones.

An essential with Goldy gone.

I imagine he is going to be streaky still. Reminds me a lot of Mark Reynolds.

 

[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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[thirty-two]

Great, great win today Nice to see Christian continue to bat well.


Edited because words matter

 

[devilalum]

Great, great win today Nice to see a Christian continue to bat well.

Ok, I feel a little bit creepy now.


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[BC867]

I imagine he is going to be streaky still. Reminds me a lot of Mark Reynolds.

The streakiest hitter the D-backs ever had was Steve Finley, because he tried to hit every pitch into the air. He
would carry the team for two weeks, then hit below .200 for four. Mark Reynolds was a slugger who always had
a low batting average, even when he was slugging. He was never a complete hitter.

The difference I see in Walker is that he doesn't try to hit everything into the air. For example, he went 4-for-4
with a walk today and had two of our first three hits. Steve and BB pointed out that the speed of the line drives
coming off his bat are among the best in the league. While he leads the D-backs in HR's, he is selective.

Time will tell, but I believe that Walker's approach sets him apart from the hit-em-into-the-air style of hitters.

Plus you're comparing a player getting his first chance to play in the Majors everyday to a veteran. I also find
Christian Walker to be more of a thinking man in his interviews that either Finley or Reynolds were.

And the fact that Walker paid heed to the advice that Torey gave him and it showed an immediate turnaround.
There was no stubbornness in his approach. Torey said he was trying to do too much. Look at his overall stats
now, even with the 2-for-28.

It is in the best interest of the Diamondbacks for Christian Walker to succeed. He, with Peralta and Jones, in
the heart of the order are Major League.

And I agree with your posts stating that Torey should leave Jones in the heart of the order (with Peralta and
Walker), rather than move him to leadoff vs. lefty starters. I posted that the Miracle Mets of '69 did the same
thing with Tommy Agee and it worked, but they had more firepower (from both sides of the plate) than our D-backs.