Season thread-the road to the playoffs

[Ryanwb]

Kata is so refreshing at the top of the order

 

[Lefty]

Sexson with a missile to center for a 3-run home run. 5-2 bottom of the 8th. Mantei time?

 

[Ryanwb]

Richie makes 'em pay!!! Woo Hoo!!

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Kata the "Ignitor" does it again by starting a major rally and Sexson the "Slaughterer" comes through w/a clutch 3-run HR....Avenges Bochy's Intentional Walk on Gonzalez....Just hope they can continue with the momentum they have....

 

[Evil Ash]

SEXSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3-run homer to dead center ... Dbacks lead 5-2!

Now lets finish them off!

 

[Ryanwb]

props to Bautista....15 game hitting streak

 

[Evil Ash]

Mantei finishes them off. Nice Win!!

 

[Ryanwb]

Brenly has some balls to stick Mantei out there AGAIN!!

 

[Lefty]

D-Backs win 5-2! Mantei with a perfect 9th inning. Props to Daigle, Sexson and Kata.

 

[Chaz]

Hey, It's a win streak!!!

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I just hope that Brenly doesn't tire of it after 2 games or 20 games. Good move, BB. Now let it be.

Alex Cintron was hitting .281 after his 2-for-6 in the extra inning game. Don't blink your eyes or you'll miss seeing him get to .340.

As much as I liked the potential of Shea Hillenbrand ('still do), if Tracy is the real thing at 3B . . .

I'm sure there will be some teams who would like a 20HR-90RBI First or Third Baseman.

Why not package him for a solid #3 starting pitcher -- our greatest need.

Hillenbrand, Mantei, Alomar. Hmmm.

To reiterate...this must become the every day line-up..... This line-up allows each player to apply their strengths accordingly, opposed to trying to press which caused them to go out of their element...

As you and I discussed the other day...Cintron is better suited for the #2 slot since he will have more pitches to choose from and is very much a spray line-driver hitter...When he was at #5, he developed the "pull" mentality...Meanwhile...Finley is a natural pull-hitter and was asked to take pitches and try to bunt his way on, which put undue pressure on him....

I would be for trading Hillenbrand, but of course it's too premature to etch Tracy in as the every day 3B because we obviously cant get carried away on "small sample sizes", especially since several pitchers will face him for the 2nd time around and will probably start pitching him exclusively breaking-pitches which it seemed the "BabyBacks" had difficult overcoming later last season... Also, with the lack of OFs....Tracy may be the only option to substitute either Bautista or Gonzalez if they need the occasional breather, so Hillenbrand would be much needed to still play 3B....

If Mantei can remain healthy and strong between now and the training deadline...I honestly see him being dealt in favor of finally putting Valverde in the closing role....

Alomar only wanted to play for the Dbacks this season and that is why he'd veto a trade or retire prior to going elsewhere.....

I just hope if they're in contention at the trading deadline that they don't continue the trend of trading away top-prospects, because soon their long-term future will be in completely in flux without any immediate recovery...

 

[Lefty]

Just got in. Missed the top of the first but Sparks got them out without a run. How I hope they beat David Wells tonight.

 

[Lefty]

D-Backs had a chance to score in the first but Finley made an out with two on. The Padres also have had their chances. 0-0 bottom of the 2nd.

 

[Lefty]

Finley with a great catch to end the top of the 5th. Padres are up 1-0 thanks to a wild pitch with two outs. I wonder why Mayne is not catching? Mayne is a very good defensive catcher.

 

[Lefty]

Gonzo hits a 2-run home run to make it 2-1 Arizona after six. Grace needs to go. Act like a professional. He is making an a$$ of himself after the home run. I wonder if he was drinking before the game?

 

[AZZenny]

Hillenbrand's third goof lets the tying run score - although the bases should never have gotten loaded to begin with, thank you BULLfriggingPEN!

 

[Lefty]

Diamondbacks are falling apart. Valverde walks the first 2 guys, Koplove comes in with the bases loaded and then Shea throws a one-hopper to home that Hammock could not handle.

 

[Lefty]

Koplove saves the inning. 2-2 going to the bottom of the 8th. Too bad for Sparks. He deserves a win tonight. I guess we might of been wrong about Sparks. He has pitched well.

 

[Lefty]

Padres score 2 runs on a weak hit in the top of the 9th. Thom ripping the bullpen saying they need to get their act together. We need a big bottom of the 9th.

 

[Lefty]

Tough game to lose. Need to go out and take the series tomorrow.

 

[Lefty]

Elmer gives up a run in the top of the first but it could of been worse.

 

[Lefty]

4-2 D-Backs, bottom of the third. Gonzo brings in 2 with a double and Sexson follows with a two-run home run.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Sexson with his 2nd HR of the game (and also to the opposite field)..... It seems that he's getting a better selection of pitches now that Finley is hitting behind him in the order...

 

[Lefty]

6-2 D-Backs as Tracy gets his second hit.

 

[Lefty]

Kata with a single brings in two more and it is now 8-2. Also, Bautista has a hit to extend his hitting streak.