I believe hearing something like this team is 41-42 in its like 80 something games. Feel like we've been playing .500 baseball for 80% of the season. I don't know what to make from this team, they are very inconsistent and seem to struggle against bad teams (Rangers, Reds etc). Bottom line is we need to get hot and get hot soon.
Stagnant team
- Thread starter Broseph
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Yup - so frustrating. Nothing consistent about them
devilalum
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I like Luvollo but isn’t consistency the job of the manager?
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BC867
Long time Phoenician!
I understand Lovullo's reason for never putting his best lineup out there until August to keep them fresh for the stretch run and post-season.
But there is a drawback and he went overboard. And now, it's like Spring Training all over again and they can't just flip the switch. Bad habits have developed. You never bench a hot hitter because it was his turn to sit. But Lovullo has done it regularly. It causes the position players (and the fans) to think, "What's the use?"
Yes, injuries caused part of the problem, but all teams have injuries. Now they are just getting used to a regular starting lineup and a regular reserve crew, all of whom know their roles.
The only hope for the offense is if they can all jell now and make it work. And, most importantly, stop trying to play American League ball in the National League. They need to learn how to manufacture runs instead of hoping that some of their pop flies and strikeouts (especially with runners on base) become home runs. Until they do, they're lucky to be playing .500 ball.
It is all about specifics. Losing to last place teams isn't something that is happening to them. It is about what they are doing. And have been doing. And now they are in a trick bag.
In answer to your question, "... isn't consistency the job of the manager?", it sure is! You called that right! All season long, Tory Lovullo's trademark with the offense has been inconsistency. It has become a large part of the D-backs identification and mindset. He brought it on himself.
BC867
Long time Phoenician!
P.S.: Bob Brenly, then Bob Melvin, as D-backs managers used to employ 130 different batting orders per season. The was bad enough, but it was about using different batting orders with the same starters. Tory Lovullo isn't just using pot luck batting orders, he has used pot luck lineups -- different starters every game.
Baseball is an individual sport . . . played in a team concept. There is something positive about each player knowing and embracing his role throughout the season. That doesn't mean you can't make changes if a combination isn't producing results. But every night???
Baseball is an individual sport . . . played in a team concept. There is something positive about each player knowing and embracing his role throughout the season. That doesn't mean you can't make changes if a combination isn't producing results. But every night???
DWKB
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Right now the team is on pace for 88.7 wins.
The amount of predictions that were dead on or less than three away make up almost all of the predictions.
Everyone knew who this team was, but watching it happen in real time seems to be baffling to many all the same.
The amount of predictions that were dead on or less than three away make up almost all of the predictions.
Everyone knew who this team was, but watching it happen in real time seems to be baffling to many all the same.
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is it baffling or just boring people to tears?
DWKB
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Maybe both.
Just seems like people are trying to figure out why an 88 win team isn’t a 95 win team even though they predicted the 88 win team before the season started.
BC867
Long time Phoenician!
Because as the season progressed and the trades that were made, we wound up (after the return of the injured) having a solid starting 5-man rotation, what was a solid big-3 closing bullpen, very solid fielding and a batting order that was hitting (almost from top to bottom) in the upper .200's vs. the lower .200's.
Expectations rose (as they should) but the team's W-L performance has not. That falls on the coaching staff.
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i think that first month is totally to blame. Setting records for most consecutive winning series just shifted expectations sky-high and once they fell back to earth, it was inevitable for people to be grumpy after such a tease.
They just didn't fell back to earth, the were blown out of the sky!
gimpy
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Awww, come on. We're still fighting for first place. Listening to all this you would think we had the worst record in all of baseball.
Awww, come on. We're still fighting for first place. Listening to all this you would think we had the worst record in all of baseball.
My comment was really for June. They crashed and burn that month.
