Game #55-Arizona Diamondbacks @ Colorado Rockies. 5/28/19

[Ronin]

First pitch is set for 5:40 p.m.

 

[Ronin]

Diamondbacks take on the Rockies in division matchup
Diamondbacks take on the Rockies in division matchup Arizona Diamondbacks (28-26, second in the NL West) vs. Colorado Rockies (25-27, fourth in the NL West) Denver; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly (4-5, 4.76 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 40 strikeouts) Rockies: Antonio Senzatela (3-4, 6.21 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 27 strikeouts) BOTTOM LINE: Colorado will host Arizona in a matchup of division foes. The Rockies are 8-10 against NL West opponents. Colorado has slugged .450 this season. Nolan Arenado leads the team with a mark of .635. The Diamondbacks are 10-14 in division games. Arizona's team on-base percentage of .319 is eleventh in the MLB. Jarrod Dyson leads the club with an OBP

https://sports.yahoo.com/m/2014b1f8-d303-3f84-a8bf-c7d11f11f816/diamondbacks-take-on-the.html

 

[Ronin]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[BC867]

The spark plug, Dyson, leads off with a single. Despite his
benching against lefties, he leads the league in stolen bases.

And Marte singles after a long at-bat. Perfect!

But a double play ends the top of the 1st.

The sky is ominous. Black clouds. As BB said, it could
rain, snow ... or sunshine.

 

[1Sun]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

No Swihart, thank God...

 

[BC867]

Escobar with a solo HR. 1-0 D-backs.

BTW, Steve just said that Thursday's game
will be a day game. The original schedule
showed it as a night game.

 

[Dback Jon]

Why did you swing at ball 4 Avila?

 

[thirty-two]

Nice to see Locastro get two hits already with his start. Really really rooting for that guy

 

[BC867]

Colorado ties the game in the 4th on a wild pitch of a walk to Arenado.

Then Arenado scores on a double. All with two outs. 2-1 Rockies.

 

[BC867]

Escobar with his second RBI of the game on a single. Tied at 2.

Who is going to step up for Goldy?

"Eddie" Escobar (as Steve has been calling him), who lead the
D-backs in HR's and RBI's.

 

[BC867]

Why did you swing at ball 4 Avila?

Because, batting 8th, he is getting no strikes to swing at.

Avila has power. I have suggested that he bat higher in the order.
Just because he is a Catcher doesn't mean that he has to hit 8th.

 

[AZCB34]

Because, batting 8th, he is getting no strikes to swing at.

He has power. I have suggested that he bat higher in the order.
Just because he is a Catcher doesn't mean that he has to hit 8th.

Just because he is batting 8th doesn't mean he should be swinging at balls out of the strike zone.

 

[BC867]

It's been raining and is very cold at Coors.

Some of the players and umps are wearing woolen
face masks, with only their eyes showing.

Under those circumstances, every inning is like the
8th or 9 inning.

 

[BC867]

Just because he is batting 8th doesn't mean he should be swinging at balls out of the strike zone.

Our pitcher has come up three times with runners on base and two outs
because they pitched around Avila. Each time he made the third out.

Under those circumstances, I don't blame Avila for being aggressive.

 

[AZCB34]

Our pitcher has come up three times with runners on base and two outs
because they pitched around Avila. Each time he made the third out.

Under those circumstances, I don't blame Avila for being aggressive.

I disagree. His job is to get on base not swing at ball four because the pitcher is coming up.

 

[BC867]

I disagree. His job is to get on base not swing at ball four because the pitcher is coming up.

I don't agree. The #8 hitter's job with runners on base is to drive them in. The only exception might be if Greinke is pitching.
Do you really think you should count on the pitcher to not make the third out with runners on base?

And especially if the #8 hitter has more power than the 6th and 7th hitters, as does Avila. And a lefty hitter, as is Avila.

Not taking advantage of that could explain why the D-backs are so weak in leaving runners on base.

The only other solution would be, as I've mentioned, having the NL adopt the Designated Hitter.
Then the Manager wouldn't have to remove the Pitcher if he wasn't ready to.

 

[BC867]

The Rockies with a 2-run HR by ex D-back Chris Iannetta and lead 4-2 after 7.

And the rain still falling.

Guess what? Tim LeCastro has been hit by another pitch. 8th time in 38
plate appearances. And he had 7 in the Minors this year.

Now there is a player who makes things happen.

 

[thirty-two]

Lol Archie walks the bases full.

 

[BC867]

Archie has made less than half of his pitches for strikes.

And he has walked the bases full in the 8th.

But no need to repeat ourselves.

'Sorry, thirty-two, we were typing at the same time.

 

[BC867]

And Archie gives up a 2-run double. 6-2 Rockies.

With runners on 2nd & 3rd.

I hope the Rockies are paying part of his salary
for this game.

 

[BC867]

They beat the rain, but the D-backs didn't beat the Rockies.

 

[AZCB34]

I don't agree. The #8 hitter's job with runners on base is to drive them in. The only exception might be if Greinke is pitching.
Do you really think you should count on the pitcher to not make the third out with runners on base?

And especially if the #8 hitter has more power than the 6th and 7th hitters, as does Avila. And a lefty hitter, as is Avila.

Not taking advantage of that could explain why the D-backs are so weak in leaving runners on base.

The only other solution would be, as I've mentioned, having the NL adopt the Designated Hitter.
Then the Manager wouldn't have to remove the Pitcher if he wasn't ready to.

I would rather take chances with the pitcher. Guess I just want base runners. And as long as I have plagued and coached I have hated beingaggressive and swinging at pitches out of the zone. Strikeouts rarely are a positive but we have seen walks translate into extended innings. Pitcher guys a seeing eyed grounder or loops one into shallow outfield. Yes you may be bucking the odds but it isn't as though the pitcher is a 0% bet.

 

[1Sun]

Archie has made less than half of his pitches for strikes.

And he has walked the bases full in the 8th.

But no need to repeat ourselves.

'Sorry, thirty-two, we were typing at the same time.

Torey just refuses to learn, doesn't he? Like I said, Hazen needs to force his hand. Torey will keep going to the same poisoned well over and over and over and over and...

 

[BC867]

Yes you may be bucking the odds but it isn't as though the pitcher is a 0% bet.

Better than zero? That is not a winning formula.

I agree with you that I don't like to see batters flailing at pitches outside the strike zone.
That is a generalization.

But we're talking about Avila extending his strike zone to drive in runners on base vs. the
pitcher (who failed three times today when they pitched around Avila). Left on base.

On the Suns board, some posters refer to All Stars or All NBA to fill their open Power
Forward and Point Guard positions. And I reacted, why does it have to be all or nothing?

Why not just solid players at their position playing alongside Booker and Ayton who
will, hopefully, become All Stars or All NBA?

My reaction is the same here with the reference to a pitcher not being a 0% bet to
being left to drive in runners with two outs.

That is like saying that Archie is not a 0% bet to give up runs. This season, even if he
gives up runs 4 out of every 5 times (20% success), that is hardly Major League worthy.