Attempting to draw up and execute an all-encompassing plan for the trade deadline is a bit like forming a battle plan while the battle is already raging. But we’re taking a run at it, because we’re good like that.
It’s a foregone conclusion that the D-backs will be sellers at the deadline this year. We know the front office has …
Continue Reading →Miguel Montero is tied with Giancarlo Stanton for something related to power. The two hitters each have six home runs on two strike counts. That ranks tenth most in baseball this season, and coincides with a trend throughout the game that hitters aren’t afraid to swing for the fences, regardless of the count. For Montero, hitting long balls when faced …
Continue Reading →A whirlwind month of transactions continued in the last week, with Chris Owings hitting the DL with his shoulder injury, a brief cameo by Zeke Spruill, and the return of Nick Evans. But to put Nick Ahmed on the 40-man (and 25-man) to replace Owings, Eric Chavez was transferred to the 60-day DL. Is that the end of …
Continue Reading →At one point, the Diamondbacks’ starting rotation was supposed to consist of Patrick Corbin, Wade Miley, Bronson Arroyo, Brandon McCarthy, and Trevor Cahill. All signs pointed to Randall Delgado being the sixth starter. Unfortunately, things have not gone according to plan. As July begins, nine different pitchers have started a game this season for the …
Continue Reading →Last year, Gerardo Parra finished with a stunning 4.5 WAR, which was 30th among all MLB players and 7th among all NL outfielders. This year, he’s struggled to a 0.2 WAR in more than half of his 2013 plate appearances — so what’s wrong with Gerardo Parra? Anecdotal evidence suggests that Parra has been “slower” this year, and we’ve seen …
Continue Reading →Last week, we discussed the term “clutch” and whether it means anything when looking at a team or player’s numbers with runners in scoring position. We found that “clutch” is more abstract, based on our natural instinct to place greater value on certain players who we perceive to perform better in certain situations, but in reality, it is meaningless. …
Continue Reading →If there’s one pervasive description for the Arizona Diamondbacks, it’s that they’re an old school organization. The fan base has resonated with this in the past and the franchise is run with a unique, albeit perhaps outdated style. The question is whether or not this is working, and it’s something that deserves to be discussed. Taking a break from the …
Continue Reading →Paul Goldschmidt has already indicated that if he were invited to participate in this year’s Home Run Derby, he would say he wasn’t interested. But would it hurt Goldy’s swing if he did participate, given that he’s an all-fields hitter?
I don’t want to put words in Goldy’s mouth — in my opinion, when this story “broke” yesterday, everyone was …
Continue Reading →The minor league season is in full swing, as all eight minor league affiliates are now playing. After the draft, the Hillsboro Hops (SS-Rookie Advanced) Missoula Osprey (SS-Rookie), Arizona Rookie League D-backs (Complex) and Dominican Summer League D-backs (International) all started their seasons, with the exception of the Dominican team who had started just prior. They’re all underway now, and …
Continue Reading →It was the top of the eighth inning, in the first game of a doubleheader, when Aaron Hill drew a walk against Jose Valverde. The walk loaded the bases in a tie game, but would prove meaningless as Eric Chavez flew out to end the inning. Just a “BB” in the scorebook, to be forgotten about. Except that was …
Continue Reading →First thing’s first: please join me in welcoming Jeffrey Bellone to the Inside the ‘Zona team! Jeff has been writing baseball for quite a while now, most recently at Beyond the Box Score, and we’re really excited to have him. He’ll be writing regularly at both sites for the foreseeable future. Click here for more about Jeff, here to see …
Continue Reading →Jeff’s post last week about how bad the Diamondbacks have been with runners in scoring position got me thinking. He explained that there is no such thing as clutch hitting. I wholeheartedly agree. I wondered if good relievers could make a team’s pitching more clutch. My idea was that better relievers would hunker down, especially in close games, and it …
Continue Reading →Brandon McCarthy is allowing more than one in five of his fly balls to turn into home runs. Think about that for a second. That means when you are watching McCarthy pitch, whether at home from your TV or live in the stands, any time the ball flies off the opposing hitter’s bat, and the camera angle adjusts towards the …
Continue Reading →Can we all just accept that 2014 is a lost cause, already? I’m not trying to ruin your day, but it seems like with each series win there were calls to maintain hope. Unfortunately, Arizona has gone 2-5 over their last two series, dropping three of four to the Astros and two of three to the scuffling Dodgers. As of …
Continue Reading →On June 12th, the Colorado Rockies placed Jordan Pacheco on waivers, and the D-backs put in a successful waiver claim. The D-backs’ press release calls Pacheco an “infielder/catcher,” and on a team with Martin Prado and other moving parts, I think it’s natural to wonder how Pacheco fits in. Note: I’m kind of a sucker for complicated time shares and …
Continue Reading →Are the Diamondbacks a “clutch” team at the plate? I know their record would seem suggestive on it’s own, but humor me for a moment. If they were a clutch team, what would that look like? It’s generally accepted that clutch teams, or better yet, a clutch player, would come through in high leverage situations with an unusually high frequency. …
Continue Reading →@ryanpmorrison
Best part of Peralta’s 108 mph fliner over the fence, IMHO: that he got that much leverage despite scooping it out… https://t.co/ivBrl76adF, 
RT @OutfieldGrass24: If you're bored of watching Patrick Corbin get dudes out, you can check out my latest for @TheAthleticAZ. https://t.co/k1DymgY7zO, - Of course, they may have overtaken the league lead for outs on the bases just now, also...
But in 2017, Arizona ha… https://t.co/38MBrr2D4b,
- Prior to the games today, there had only been 5 steals of 3rd this season (and no CS) in the National League. The… https://t.co/gVVL84vPQ5,
- RT @OutfieldGrass24: Patrick Corbin has a WPA of .318 and it's only the fifth inning.,
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RT @ramorin_azc: #DBacks have announced players attending Spring Training, which kicks off Feb. 13 https://t.co/XbO2DFZvXY, 
RT @ClueHeywood: The guy who in 1997 shot a Maricopa County supervisor over her vote allowing tax dollars for Chase Field spoke at a… https://t.co/2RCmryyllY, 
RT @TheAthleticAZ: So, the @Dbacks are pretty much done with key additions? And your 2B and CF are … ? @ZHBuchanan
https://t.co/Q7MujxM6w8, 
RT @BenLindbergh: Wrote @ringer about the spread of multi-position players, the blurring of traditional lines between positions, and… https://t.co/Rj6KyyqWdq, - #Dbacks get three players in the 101 this year. SS Jazz Chisholm is the highest-rated (nice) with RHP Jon Duplantie… https://t.co/1mK4RQLAfb,
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