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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xml:lang="en"> <title>AZ Snake Pit - All Posts</title> <subtitle>An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and blog</subtitle> <icon>https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png</icon> <updated>2025-05-12T18:00:29-04:00</updated> <id>http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/current/</id> <link type="text/html" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/" rel="alternate"/> <entry> <published>2025-05-12T18:00:29-04:00</published> <updated>2025-05-12T18:00:29-04:00</updated> <title>Current Diamondbacks 40-man roster [last change: 5/12]</title> <content type="html"> <figure> <img alt="San Francisco Giants v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KYUWQMQJlnriYBKJzfVP2wFR0bQ=/0x0:5585x3723/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73694996/2156123471.0.jpg" /> <figcaption>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption> </figure> <p>Keeping track of who’s who this winter</p> <h4 id="80cUEC">40-man roster transactions</h4><p id="6iezeP"><em>Listed in reverse chronological order.</em></p><ul><li id="RnzLsH">05/12/25: Designated IF Garrett Hampson for assignment</li><li id="TxHSck">05/12/25: Designated LHP José Castillo for assignment</li><li id="d10HdM">05/01/25: Moved J.P. Puk from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL</li><li id="NUI4MS">05/01/25: Selected the contract of LHP José Castillo from Reno Aces</li><li id="xZzkKf">04/27/25: Selected the contract of RHP Scott McGough from Reno Aces</li><li id="GeBYQG">04/27/25: Designated J.P. Feyereisen for assignment.</li><li id="qrjTuW">04/19/25: Designated 3B Grae Kessinger for assignment.</li><li id="y3OY9X">04/19/25: Selected the contract of RHP J.P. Feyereisen from Reno Aces</li><li id="5m039R">04/19/25: Selected the contract of RHP Juan Morillo from Reno Aces</li><li id="syYKjv">04/15/25: Placed RHP Joe Elbis on the restricted list.</li><li id="bukJUg">03/26/25: Jordan Montgomery<a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/3/25/24393870/jordan-montgomery-to-have-tommy-john-surgery"> placed on 60-day IL</a> (Tommy John)</li><li id="mDmDmt">03/26/25: Designated Rene Pinto for assignment</li><li id="blZUdy">03/26/25: <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/3/25/24393870/jordan-montgomery-to-have-tommy-john-surgery">Signed free agent</a> LHP Jalen Beeks</li><li id="Yd0NzF">03/26/25: Shelby Miller selected</li><li id="pHiJMe">03/23/25: Garrett Hampson selected</li><li id="6MavpY">03/23/25: Blake Walston placed on 60-day IL (Tommy John)</li><li id="zLGa7I">02/20/25 Miami Marlins claimed RHP Seth Martinez off waivers</li><li id="cgdII2">02/17/25 <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/2/14/24365681/arizona-diamondbacks-sign-kendall-graveman">Signed free agent</a> RHP Kendall Graveman</li><li id="bcsTvn">02/17/25 Designated RHP Seth Martinez for assignment</li><li id="DgZxTS">02/04/25 <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/2/4/24359066/d-backs-agree-to-terms-with-randal-grichuk">Signed free agent</a> OF Randal Grichuk</li><li id="ETA4Uf">01/10/25 Claimed C René Pinto <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/diamondbacks-claim-rene-pinto-orioles-catcher.html">off waivers from Baltimore Orioles</a>.</li><li id="aHxcNl">01/08/25 3B Grae Kessinger <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Fnews%2Fgrae-kessinger-traded-to-diamondbacks-from-astros&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F11%2F1%2F24285064%2Fcurrent-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">traded from Houston Astros</a></li><li id="fZ2gpw">12/30/24 <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2024/12/28/24330704/diamondbacks-sign-corbin-burnes-six-years-210-million">Signed free agent</a> RHP Corbin Burnes.</li><li id="GzARZp">12/21/24 RHP Slade Cecconi <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2024/12/21/24326876/arizona-diamondbacks-trade-josh-naylor-guardians">traded to Cleveland Guardians</a></li><li id="KP6lWg">12/21/24 1B Josh Naylor <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2024/12/21/24326876/arizona-diamondbacks-trade-josh-naylor-guardians">traded from Cleveland Guardians</a></li><li id="9tDkTD">11/22/24 LHP Brandon Hughes <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Froster%2Ftransactions%2F2024%2F11&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F11%2F1%2F24285064%2Fcurrent-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">elected free agency</a>.</li><li id="FBD382">11/19/24 <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Froster%2Ftransactions%2F2024%2F11&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F11%2F1%2F24285064%2Fcurrent-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Selected the contract</a> of RHP Joe Elbis</li><li id="Tx3u8w">11/19/24 <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Froster%2Ftransactions%2F2024%2F11&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F11%2F1%2F24285064%2Fcurrent-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Selected the contract</a> of 2B Tim Tawa</li><li id="pxnjgm">11/04/24 Activated LHP Kyle Nelson <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Froster%2Ftransactions%2F2024%2F11&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F11%2F1%2F24285064%2Fcurrent-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">from the 60-day injured list</a>.</li><li id="7ds5p0">11/04/24 RHP Scott McGough <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Froster%2Ftransactions%2F2024%2F11&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F11%2F1%2F24285064%2Fcurrent-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">elected free agency</a>.</li><li id="Qe0fvT">11/04/24 DH Joc Pederson <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Froster%2Ftransactions%2F2024%2F11&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F11%2F1%2F24285064%2Fcurrent-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">elected free agency</a>.</li><li id="POiePC">11/04/24 Activated RHP Drey Jameson <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Froster%2Ftransactions%2F2024%2F11&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F11%2F1%2F24285064%2Fcurrent-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">from the 60-day injured list</a>.</li><li id="bW55DA">11/04/24 Activated RHP Bryce Jarvis <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Froster%2Ftransactions%2F2024%2F11&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F11%2F1%2F24285064%2Fcurrent-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">from the 60-day injured list</a>.</li><li id="HU72LR">11/04/24 Claimed RHP Seth Martinez <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fpress-release%2Fpress-release-d-backs-roster-moves-x6570&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F11%2F1%2F24285064%2Fcurrent-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">off waivers from Houston Astros</a>.</li><li id="2b5rtB">11/01/24 RF Randal Grichuk declined option and <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Froster%2Ftransactions%2F2024%2F11&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F11%2F1%2F24285064%2Fcurrent-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">elected free agency</a>.</li><li id="4gTuCm">11/01/24 1B Christian Walker <a href="https://x.com/MLBPA_News/status/1852446113049334117">became unrestricted free agent</a>.</li><li id="72bDRd">10/31/24 RHP Paul Sewald <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Froster%2Ftransactions%2F2024%2F10&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F11%2F1%2F24285064%2Fcurrent-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">elected free agency</a>. </li><li id="QHPJWQ">10/31/24 1B Josh Bell <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Froster%2Ftransactions%2F2024%2F10&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F11%2F1%2F24285064%2Fcurrent-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">elected free agency</a>. </li><li id="z7tXmv">10/31/24 SS Kevin Newman <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Froster%2Ftransactions%2F2024%2F10&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2024%2F11%2F1%2F24285064%2Fcurrent-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">elected free agency</a>.</li></ul><p id="qyzGB7"><em>The below roster is updated as of 05/12/25.</em></p><p id="JewKZD"><em>Mobile users: The table is best viewed in landscape mode.</em></p><div id="Q9XHz0"><div data-anthem-component="table:12468238"></div></div><p id="WZKe8X"></p> </content> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2024/11/1/24285064/current-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster"/> <id>https://www.azsnakepit.com/2024/11/1/24285064/current-arizona-diamondbacks-40-man-roster</id> <author> <name>Jim McLennan</name> </author> </entry> <entry> <published>2025-05-12T16:00:00-04:00</published> <updated>2025-05-12T16:00:00-04:00</updated> <title>Minor League Roundup: Gift Keeps Giving</title> <content type="html"> <figure> <img alt="Kansas City Royals v Toronto Blue Jays" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/G2gwTmKicJlaHb-vFXx8sjcdQKw=/0x18:5363x3593/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74079009/948759204.0.jpg" /> <figcaption>Ngoepe, here in the dugout while with the Toronto Blue Jays, is in his third year with the Diamondbacks’ organization.</figcaption> </figure> <p>Gift Ngoepe got attention eight years ago when he became the first African player in the major leagues. Where is he now? Visalia. Plus, another solid week from each affiliate.</p> <p id="44IouR">In May of 2017, the entire baseball world was drawn to the story of Gift Ngoepe, the first African to play major league baseball. <a href="https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/gift-ngoepe-pittsburgh-pirates-south-africa">He wrote about that experience</a> at the time. But as so often happens, the news cycle and the baseball world turned to other stories. The transaction log tells one part of the story. Traded to the Blue Jays for cash considerations. Released by the Blue Jays and signed by the Phillies, who also released him. He re-signed with the Pirates, and after being released on July 30, 2019, his time in affiliated ball was done.</p><p id="SWmjLA">He bounced around independent leagues for a little while, both in North America and Australia. After a pretty successful year in the Frontier League in 2021, he was done with his playing career. </p><p id="I0bs7S">To anyone who has read the Players’ Tribune piece, the reason shouldn’t be too surprising. Ngoepe married in 2018 and had a kid. “I wanted more time with family” he says, and the travel demands of professional baseball were at odds with that. Still, baseball was what he knew, and was his field of expertise. That made coaching a natural fit. That year in Quebec had been part of the transition, as he was a player/coach. In 2022, the family <a href="https://www.newportrams.com/news/2022/03/15/special-announcement-nbc-2022-23">moved to Australia to work with the Newport Rams</a>. </p><p id="dvHhMo">The fan perception of on-field jobs in baseball (whether they be player or coach) is the result of teams scouting and finding people they want. But Ngoepe’s journey to the Diamondbacks has more in common with a regular job search. “I sent my resume to all 30 teams,” he says, and the Diamondbacks responded to set up an interview. Ngoepe interviewed with Josh Barfield, then the director of player development. While our resumes may differ substantially from his, the process is one that resonates with anyone who has hunted for a job. In January of 2023, he began working with the Diamondbacks. He’s moved through the system at a similar pace to many of the players he coaches, a purposeful decision by the organization to assist with development.</p><p id="JuoUdQ">Last season he was the manager in the complex. Despite it being just his second year with the organization, the learning curve was not as steep as might be expected. The Diamondbacks had him fill in as manager some the previous year, which got him experience controlling the game. Still, he says he will “keep learning and growing” along with the players he is coaching. According to Ngoepe, the organization has done well giving him and other young coaches the tools and opportunities needed to succeed. They “involve everyone in every aspect of the game” which helps people find the right fit. As a former infielder, he of course does a lot of work with infielders, but at the lower levels, there’s plenty of work in every aspect of the game to go around.</p><p id="20fdyS">Ngoepe serves on the board of the African Baseball Project, along with long-time catcher Charles Johnson and Hall-of-Fame outfielder Andre Dawson. He’s still involved in trying to bring baseball to Africa, so many more can eventually follow in his footsteps. He’d like to see an African league formed, the African Continental Baseball League (ACBL), which would have teams in eight cities across seven nations. This is a mammoth project that will require a lot of infrastructure and some insane travel if teams play in their home cities. Great circle distance between Cape Town and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, is 5,551 kilometres. For reference purposes, Seattle to Miami is a paltry 4,384. But Africa is the only continent (except Antarctica) without a baseball league, according to the ACBL.</p><p id="yyehPD">Ngoepe brings a unique perspective to the Diamondbacks. He’s still connected with African baseball. While we did not discuss it in our brief conversation, I’ll note that the Dodgers have a baseball academy in Uganda. There is nothing to prevent the Diamondbacks or other organizations from building academies across the continent. It may be a decade or more before they bear fruit, but Ngoepe proves that the world’s second-largest continent (by both land area and population) can produce players capable of playing the sport at the highest level even without support from major league teams.</p><p id="dgsiWE"><strong>The Week That Was</strong></p><p id="xetLb4">Not as good of a week as last week, either with hitting or pitching, but the end results still wound up being pretty good. Reno split with Las Vegas, but were shut out at home for the first time since 2023 on Tuesday, and followed that up with being shut out again two days later. They still managed to score 32 runs, but allowed 43. Amarillo won their second consecutive series, taking four of six from the Tulsa Drillers. Hillsboro maintained a three game lead in the Northwest League by taking four of six from Eugene. Visalia was the lone team to lost their series, dropping four of six, but this was somewhat fortunate, as they did so while being outscored 44-15. The Pygmy Rattlers of Salt River went 3-3 for the week. 11<sup>th</sup> round pick Bo Walker made his pro debut, and homered on the third pitch he saw.</p><p id="CvqcZU"><strong>Hitters of the Week</strong></p><figure class="e-image"> <img alt="Syndication: Amarillo Globe-News" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TclYg8saSC_6fuLvBMXphQiKv-g=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25991872/usa_today_21518612.jpg"> <cite>Carter Pirtle for the Amarillo Globe-News / USA TODAY NETWORK</cite> <figcaption>Robinson rounds the bases after a home run in 2023. He’s hit plenty this year, but his cut in strikeouts is still more impressive</figcaption> </figure><p id="YE3igK"><em>Kristian Robinson, Amarillo (.286/.476/.786)</em></p><p id="anJPFj">In addition to those numbers, Robinson stole four bases and had a better showing on the basepaths overall, although he did have a couple of hiccups. But for a player who has struck out far too often in his career, it’s notable that he had as many extra base hits as strikeouts, and twice as many walks as strikeouts. His strikeout rate for the season has dropped below 30%, and since April 15<sup>th</sup> it is a mere 21.4%. That’s approaching the 20% figure where it probably needs to be in order to be a productive bat at higher levels. If he keeps this up, he’ll be in Reno soon, as right-handed outfield bats are in somewhat short supply system-wide.</p><p id="pF3TbV"><em>Demetrio Crisantes, Hillsboro</em> <em>(.318/.423/.636)</em></p><p id="vLHE5H">Crisantes led the system in runs batted in for the week, with ten. But runs batted in remains an overrated statistic, unless you are batting yourself in. Crisantes did so twice, which is twice as often as he struck out for the week. Despite a slow start this year, he is now second to Ryan Waldschmidt on the team in terms of home runs, and for the year has walked more than he has struck out. Since failing to reach base twice against Spokane in mid-April (although he did pick up two sacrifice flies in one of those games) he’s reached base in 17 of 20 games. Despite moving up a level (and to a pitching-friendly league at that) he’s <em>increased</em> his walk rate, decreased his strikeout rate, and is homering at a similar rate to his start in the California League last year, and better than his overall rate. Oh, and his BABIP has <em>dropped</em> <strong>122 points</strong>. His BABIP combined between the complex and Visalia last year was .397, and in 2023 it was .425. This year it’s .267; among Hops with at least 100 plate appearances, the only player with a lower BABIP is Anderdson Rojas’s .231.</p><p id="xsLD36">I expected Crisantes to be moved along more slowly. I thought he would be given a few weeks at Visalia. But he started at Hillsboro and has adjusted so quickly that it’s beginning to look as if the level is too easy for him.</p><p id="kMzIIF"><strong>Starting Pitcher of the Week</strong></p><p id="sckks7"><em>Dylan Ray (Amarillo) and Junior Sanchez (Visalia)</em></p><p id="UeluHF">With only Casey Kelly making multiple starts this week, and he not performing particularly well, it was going to be a single-start pitcher. And there was little to separate Ray and Sanchez. Both pitched six scoreless innings. Both walked just one. Sanchez allowed fewer hits (two compared to five) and struck out eight to Ray’s seven. But Ray was doing it in more hitter-friendly conditions against tougher opposition. </p><p id="3EvHFi"><strong>Relief Pitcher of the Week</strong></p><p id="oJzrwl"><em>Hayden Durke, Hillsboro (3 IP, 6 K)</em></p><p id="UUUG3E">There were other pitchers with impressive strikeout numbers (Luke Albright struck out eight in four innings, Rocco Reid struck out six in 3.1 innings.) But no one did what Durke did this week, which was face nine batters and get them all out. But it’s been more than just a week. Over his last six appearances (dating back to April 23) Durke has tossed 9.1 hitless innings. If we’re awarding combined no-hitters to pitching staffs in single games, surely relievers who work nine hitless innings can be credited with a different sort of combined no hitter. He’s struck out 16 of the 31 batters he’s faced and allowed just four to reach base (three walks and one hit by pitch.)</p><p id="hbJ6iU">Prior to last season, a lot of people had Durke as a bullpen name to watch, but he didn’t quite live up to it. But this year, he has surpassed even the most hopeful expectations.</p><p id="Et8sOF"><strong>Plays of the Week</strong></p><div id="ndXebx"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"> Trent Youngblood Walk-Off Walk!! <br><br>Rawhide complete a four run comeback in front of a sold-out crowd!!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoRawhide?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoRawhide</a> <a href="https://t.co/xfFQ3bTDuD">pic.twitter.com/xfFQ3bTDuD</a></p>— Visalia Rawhide (@VisaliaRawhide) <a href="https://twitter.com/VisaliaRawhide/status/1921062483717955637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><div id="cYVxeg"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CRISANTES WITH THE GLOVE FLIP DOUBLE PLAY <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TodosSomosSo%C3%B1adores?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TodosSomosSoñadores</a> <a href="https://t.co/3rYhbeocOY">pic.twitter.com/3rYhbeocOY</a></p>— Hillsboro Hops (@HillsboroHops) <a href="https://twitter.com/HillsboroHops/status/1921349181366551027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><div id="Q9vfiQ"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ANGEL ORTIZ ARE YOU KIDDING??? A HOMER FOR THE LEAD?? WE CAN’T EVEN HEAR <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AllHoppedUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AllHoppedUp</a> <a href="https://t.co/Bdm29N0RFQ">pic.twitter.com/Bdm29N0RFQ</a></p>— Hillsboro Hops (@HillsboroHops) <a href="https://twitter.com/HillsboroHops/status/1921060283037962613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><div id="bsgriX"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here he goes again, Demetrio Crisantes blows this game wide open with a 2-RBI triple!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AllHoppedUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AllHoppedUp</a> <a href="https://t.co/YAhmSm2gJU">pic.twitter.com/YAhmSm2gJU</a></p>— Hillsboro Hops (@HillsboroHops) <a href="https://twitter.com/HillsboroHops/status/1920568386129379692?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><div id="zEjA5W"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hayden Durke collects the save with a NASTY breaking ball, HOPS WIN!!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AllHoppedUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AllHoppedUp</a> <a href="https://t.co/N7DyFqylr5">pic.twitter.com/N7DyFqylr5</a></p>— Hillsboro Hops (@HillsboroHops) <a href="https://twitter.com/HillsboroHops/status/1920585111873147355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><div id="wJEkhD"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WALK OFF WIN! I REPEAT WALK OFF WIN!!!! <a href="https://t.co/wWgOgCmpuj">pic.twitter.com/wWgOgCmpuj</a></p>— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) <a href="https://twitter.com/sodpoodles/status/1920664530524258468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><div id="1cdmkm"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">OH MY GOODNESS<br><br>TREY MANCINI WINS THE GAME OFF THE TOP OF THE SCOREBOARD <a href="https://t.co/azOwBQDbkp">pic.twitter.com/azOwBQDbkp</a></p>— Reno Aces (@Aces) <a href="https://twitter.com/Aces/status/1921055525329838341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><div id="pa1igp"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jordan Lawlar YOU are a defensive wizard ♂️ <a href="https://t.co/7xsIYLXgFF">pic.twitter.com/7xsIYLXgFF</a></p>— Reno Aces (@Aces) <a href="https://twitter.com/Aces/status/1921702160531603775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><p id="SF0BfC"><strong>Next Up</strong></p><p id="9hzmQ4">Everyone is on the road this week. Reno sets off on one of their longest road trips (by distance) of the year, going to Sugar Land to face the team that was once known as the Skeeters and really should still be. Amarillo goes to Springfield (Cardinals, not Isotopes), Hillsboro to Tri-City (Pasco, WA), and Visalia to Modesto.</p><p id="PAQCXG">Reportedly, Jordan Lawlar is also next up. He’s played extremely well (although he did struggle this past week) and certainly well enough to earn a call-up. But there is a big difference between Reno and the major leagues. He’s going to have a learning curve. Don’t expect greatness right away; if it happens, it happens. One wonders if this will mark the end of time with the organization for Garrett Hampson or Randal Grichuk.</p> </content> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/5/12/24428797/minor-league-roundup-gift-keeps-giving"/> <id>https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/5/12/24428797/minor-league-roundup-gift-keeps-giving</id> <author> <name>Steak85</name> </author> </entry> <entry> <published>2025-05-12T13:30:00-04:00</published> <updated>2025-05-12T13:30:00-04:00</updated> <title>Series Preview #14 : Diamondbacks @ Giants</title> <content type="html"> <figure> <img alt="Robbie Ray." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LUydtcGPfdsLY5PwxZq5aVW4Cts=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74078707/2212140178.0.jpg" /> <figcaption>Robbie Ray. | Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images</figcaption> </figure> <p>The Diamondbacks need to win this series!</p> <h2 id="1W7Qbs"><strong>Will the Diamondbacks win the series?</strong></h2><p id="mVG2ml">It is incredible that three or four teams from the NL West could reach the playoffs! I’m feeling positive that the Diamondbacks will obtain a wild-card berth.</p><p id="FmsdeM">If the Giants fail to win the NL West (which is likely), they are competing with the D-backs for a wild-card spot, making a series win important, both for the win and for the potential tiebreaker. </p><p id="9jL08t">The Diamondbacks have more runs scored per game than the Giants. That’s one reason for optimism. Ketel Marte is in the lineup. That’s another reason for optimism. The Giants come into this series having been swept by the Twins (scoring a total of 2 runs in the first two games). That’s a third reason for optimism.</p><p id="KgiC6y"><em>The key to winning the series will be pitching.</em> The game will flow from the starting pitchers. It will continue with the bullpen pitchers. The Giants are capable of walk-off wins (on 6 May, they scored 11 runs in the top of the 11th inning against the Cubs), and ninth inning pitching will likely make a difference. </p><h2 id="qn3Z6N"><strong>Giants to watch during the series.</strong></h2><p id="UmHzi0"><em>Wilmer Flores</em>, DH, former Dback (2019). His 7 home runs was tied with Matt Chapman for the best on the Giants. In games through 29 April, his .438 SLG ranked 13th in the Majors among qualified DHs. On 5 May, his SLG had fallen to .424. </p><p id="SIRcQN"><em>Jung Hoo Lee</em>, CF. In games through 29 April, his .536 SLG was the best on the Giants. On 5 May his SLG had fallen to .485.</p><p id="cRTtP8"><em>Mike Yastrzemnski</em>, RF. In games through 29 April, his .471 SLG was second best on the Giants. On 5 May his SLG had risen to .491. </p><h2 id="spCifx"><strong>What to look for each day.</strong></h2><p id="IxC0eL"><strong>Monday, 6:45 PM MST.</strong></p><p id="CUC7Wy">Merrill Kelly has pitched against the Giants 19 games. The Diamondbacks won 8 of the 19 games. Nevertheless, this season Kelly held opponents to 2 earned runs or less in 6 of his 7 starts. I like the Diamondbacks chances.</p><p id="0cAc52">Justin Verlander has won many awards, but he is now 42 years old. On 1 May, Justin Verlander started at home field against the Rockies. He allowed 2 earned runs in 6.1 innings and the Giants lost 3-4. If the Rockies can win against him, the Diamondbacks can, too!</p><p id="TvVmQn">This matchup of starting pitchers is advantage Diamondbacks.</p><p id="5vvRc9"><strong>Tuesday, 6:45 PM MST</strong></p><p id="0j90hL">Brandon Pfaadt has pitched 3 games against the Giants. The Diamondbacks won 1 game. This season, the Diamondbacks won 6 of the 8 games that Brandon Pfaadt started. His latest start was 6.1 innings with zero runs allowed against the Dodgers!</p><p id="zJXZCL"><em>Robbie Ray is a </em>former Dback (2015 through 2020). In 2021, he won the Cy Young award. His two recent starts were awesome. </p><ul><li id="JSsQXH">On 26 April against the Rangers, he allowed 2 earned runs in 7 innings, with 8 strikeouts and 1 walk. </li><li id="hMPC5z">On 2 May against the Rockies, he allowed zero earned runs in 7 innings, with 8 strikeouts and 2 walks.</li></ul><p id="SYPRnq">This matchup of starting pitchers is even. Either team could win this game.</p><p id="WQgwuJ"><strong>Wednesday, 12:45 PM MST</strong></p><p id="BcRQEo">When the Giants play against left-handed starters, their win-loss record was 2-9 in games through 5 May per <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6335795/2025/05/06/sf-giants-left-handed-starters-struggles/">Grant Brisbee</a>. That is a positive sign that Eduardo Rodriguez will find success as a starter against the Giants. </p><p id="f9H35F">Another positive sign is that only 3 current Giants have faced him, only 1 with success:</p><ul><li id="BUTWHP">Matt Chapman, 1.375 OPS, 18 PAs.</li><li id="w9Lb3h">Heliot Ramos, .333 OPS, 3 PAs.</li><li id="uH2PY2">Willy Adames, .000 OPS, 10 PAs.</li></ul><p id="SgvwVK">Jordan Hicks has an ERA of 6.03, which is the worst in the Giants’ rotation.</p><p id="w3ib8s">This matchup of starting pitchers is advantage Diamondbacks.</p> </content> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/5/12/24421035/series-preview-14-diamondbacks-giants"/> <id>https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/5/12/24421035/series-preview-14-diamondbacks-giants</id> <author> <name>Makakilo</name> </author> </entry> <entry> <published>2025-05-12T10:00:00-04:00</published> <updated>2025-05-12T10:00:00-04:00</updated> <title>Snake Bytes, 5/12: Lawlar time?</title> <content type="html"> <figure> <img alt="Cleveland Guardians v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jB9ClD0-FTsoJFlT8bXZvA_gwQs=/0x243:4003x2912/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74078185/2201820893.0.jpg" /> <figcaption>Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images</figcaption> </figure> <p>The future is now, apparently...</p> <h4 id="XXi2xz">Recaps</h4><p id="2F3dev"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fmlb%2Fdiamondbacks%2F2025%2F05%2F11%2Fdodgers-diamondbacks-score-pitching-matchup-news%2F83237301007%2F&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2025%2F5%2F12%2F24428343%2Fsnake-bytes-5-12-lawlar-time" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">[AZ Central] Diamondbacks lose finale, split emotion-filled home series</a> - The Diamondbacks (21-20) won the May 8 and May 10 gams, but gained no ground in the National League West Division on the first-place Dodgers. Arizona could have had three wins if not for a blown three-run lead in the ninth inning on May 9. "We played pretty well," said Sunday's starter Zac Gallen, who took Sunday's loss. "Obviously, the second game, letting that one slip away is kind of tough. And then not being able to win the series (May 11), would have been momentum. It's a little bit unfortunate. The positives come from setting the tone early in Game 1 and then bouncing back (May 10). But I still think collectively there's some things we just kind of have to be a little bit better on."</p><p id="V3O7jf"><a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/arizona-diamondbacks-game-day/zac-gallen-diamondbacks-succumb-dodgers-offensive-juggernaut">[SI] Zac Gallen, D-backs Succumb to Dodgers' Offensive Juggernaut</a> - "This was a tough game, this was a tough game to stomach all the way around," said Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo. "We never really got anything going offensively, the Dodgers seemed like they were playing at a very different pace than we were." Zac Gallen dealt with a lot of traffic, much of it coming from the top of the Dodgers' lineup. "I felt like I made some good pitches, I felt like they made some good swings, that's what I think it boils down to," Gallen told Arizona Diamondbacks on SI's Jack Sommers. "Overall, I felt pretty good, I had pretty much everything working. Sometimes you got to tip your cap, they put good swings on decent pitches."</p><h4 id="U64ZTA">Team news</h4><p id="TeyeTX"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fmlb%2Fdiamondbacks%2F2025%2F05%2F11%2Fsources-dbacks-to-promote-top-prospect-jordan-lawlar%2F83575300007%2F&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2025%2F5%2F12%2F24428343%2Fsnake-bytes-5-12-lawlar-time" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">[AZ Central] Sources: Diamondbacks to promote top prospect Jordan Lawlar</a> - The Diamondbacks are set to recall Jordan Lawlar from Triple-A Reno, creating room after the top prospect essentially forced his way to the big leagues with a scorching start to the season, sources said Sunday evening, May 11. In 37 games with Reno, Lawlar, 22, hit .336/.413/.579 with 23 extra-base hits and 13 steals in 14 tries. The move comes on the same day manager Torey Lovullo offered clues to how the club could find at-bats for Lawlar... The one thing Lovullo said he was initially worried about was the potential for Lawlar to struggle defensively at any of the positions, but he made it sound like the club’s internal belief in Lawlar’s versatility has quelled those concerns.</p><p id="3jPXSJ"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Fnews%2Fjordan-lawlar-getting-attention-from-d-backs-torey-lovullo%3Ft%3Dmlb-pipeline-coverage&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2025%2F5%2F12%2F24428343%2Fsnake-bytes-5-12-lawlar-time" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">[Dbacks.com] Lawlar ‘knocking as hard as you can’ on MLB door</a> - “We are very well aware of Jordan Lawlar and his progression and his development, and he is coming on quickly,” Lovullo said. “We know that he’s doing his job, and I’m really proud of him because he is a very talented player that is knocking as hard as you can at the big league door. Based on some of the things I’m telling you — guys needing days off — we could, if we need to, we could probably get [Lawlar in the lineup] 3-4 days a week, and that’s enough at-bats per week. There’s different criteria for different players.” Lovullo mentioned a desire to have a player who impacts the game with the bat — check. Glove — check. On the bases — check. “He is just a different breed,” Lovullo said of Lawlar. </p><p id="Rgoogy"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Fnews%2Ffeatured%2Fdiamondbacks-prospect-jordan-lawlar-mothers-day-hope-lawlar%3Ft%3Dmlb-pipeline-coverage&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2025%2F5%2F12%2F24428343%2Fsnake-bytes-5-12-lawlar-time" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">[MLB] 'Your name is all you have': How mom shaped D-backs' top prospect on and off the field</a> - In the Lawlar household, mom and son didn’t just have a catch, they had full-on batting practice sessions. Hope fed the pitching machines near their home in Carrollton, Texas, and if that didn’t work out as they wanted, she just tossed baseballs herself so the precocious youngster could hone his self-made swing. “I have encountered the high of the highs and the low of the lows and we fought through it,” Hope said. “When those moments come and he walks through the door and he goes, ‘Mom, we did it, we made it,’ it’s always a ‘we.’ Even though he’s playing the sport or he’s got the test, it’s always, ‘Mom, we did it.’”</p><p id="Jgcx4r"><a href="https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/kendall-graveman-return/3583642/">[Arizona Sports] Signs point to Diamondbacks RHP Kendall Graveman returning vs. Giants</a> - Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Kendall Graveman was in the clubhouse at Chase Field before Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and all signs point to his return coming this week at the San Francisco Giants... Graveman pitched two rehab games for Triple-A Reno this week, and his return will provide needed depth to the bullpen for a key series against another division rival. “ I know a guy and it’s a really good sign,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “He’s checked every box possible, so he is here. You guys saw him in the clubhouse. I don’t want to deny that. We feel good about it happening here sooner than later.”</p><h4 id="itNle0">And, elsewhere...</h4><p id="NWbrdB"><a href="https://www.purplerow.com/2025/5/11/24428209/colorado-rockies-dismiss-bud-black-and-mike-redmond-schaeffer">[Purple Row] Rockies dismiss manager Bud Black and bench coach Mike Redmond</a> - The move is one that many Rockies fans have been eager to see after an absolutely abysmal 7-33 start to the 2025 season. Despite the recent win, Colorado finds themselves with the worst record in MLB and dead last in most statistical categories. Black’s managerial tenure ends after nine seasons at the helm.His record with the team stands at 543-690. Under his leadership, Colorado made the postseason in 2017 and 2018, the only time in franchise history that the team made the playoffs in consecutive seasons, but they’ve since finished last place in the NL West for the past four seasons, with a fifth seemingly a foregone conclusion.</p><p id="by8dcE"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fnews%2Fupdated-top-100-prospects-list-for-may-2025%3Ft%3Dmlb-pipeline-coverage&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2025%2F5%2F12%2F24428343%2Fsnake-bytes-5-12-lawlar-time" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">[MLB] See which prospects made big jumps on the freshly updated Top 100 list</a> - This year, graduation day arrived on May 11. That's when prospects who began the 2025 season on Major League Opening Day rosters exceeded 45 days of service time and exhausted their rookie eligibility/prospect status. Around here, we say that's when they graduate from prospectdom. We're taking this opportunity of pomp and circumstance to give the ranking a shakeup, or what we call a market correction. [That includes adding D-backs outfielder Slade Caldwell, at #99]</p><p id="u5kMGA"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thestar.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2Fit-s-a-beautiful-story-maple-leafs-pitcher-ayami-sato-throws-two-hitless-innings-in%2Farticle_58b75089-1708-4d85-b668-42ec3f4505a7.html&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2025%2F5%2F12%2F24428343%2Fsnake-bytes-5-12-lawlar-time" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">[Toronto Star] ‘It’s a beautiful story.’ Maple Leafs pitcher Ayami Sato throws two hitless innings in her historic debut</a> - Sato, 35, is widely considered to be the best female pitcher on the planet and a trail-blazing role model for women in baseball. Her numbers with Japan’s national team and two different teams in the now-defunct Japan Women’s Baseball League have been eye-popping; she has seldom logged an ERA higher than 3.00 and she has won six gold medals at the women’s World Cup, where the Japanese team has won seven of 12 tournaments. She finished the day with one strikeout over two hitless innings, inducing weak contact while pounding the strike zone. She needed just five pitches to retire the side in the first inning, and the Panthers never managed to hit a ball out of the infield in either frame.</p> </content> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/5/12/24428343/snake-bytes-5-12-lawlar-time"/> <id>https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/5/12/24428343/snake-bytes-5-12-lawlar-time</id> <author> <name>Jim McLennan</name> </author> </entry> <entry> <published>2025-05-11T22:00:00-04:00</published> <updated>2025-05-11T22:00:00-04:00</updated> <title>Snakepit Roundtable: Happy Mother’s Day!</title> <content type="html"> <figure> <img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SlHMlQcd1CFUyZ8tnWK6rpqDYn8=/0x0:5591x3727/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74077542/2214299707.0.jpg" /> <figcaption>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption> </figure> <p>Our writers disagree with me about Merrill Kelly, talk about the new jerseys, and share their opinions about Rafael Devers!</p> <h4 id="1anGK5">At the time of writing, it is May 9th. Is this a must win series against the Dodgers, or is it too early for that?</h4><p id="LWap6s"><strong>Preston: </strong>There’s no such thing as a must-win, until there is. No, this is not a must win. However, it <em>feels</em> like a must-win for us, and does not at all for the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>. That’s the difference between fourth and first places. Realistically, even after last night, a split is the most likely option and one we should be satisfied with. Winning the series would be wonderful, sweeping would entirely change the mood of the fanbase.</p><p id="ndLQVc"><strong>James: </strong>I mostly agree with Spencer on this one. I do think that this is a series that, for the morale of the club, the team needs to at least pull a series split out of. If, by some miracle, they can sweep the Dodgers in this series, that will do amazing things for the collective mood of the fanbase. It would also continue to muddy the waters of the hyper-competitive NL West. What the team needs to avoid is being blown out the rest of the way in this series. That will be a very demoralizing time for the fans and also really start to put the pressure on Arizona to stop digging themselves a hole to climb out of for a second season in a row.</p><p id="diSZYo"><strong>Spencer: </strong>While I appreciate the shout out, I believe James means Preston this week. I’m traveling and wasn’t first to answer. </p><p id="TVWAl8"><strong>DBacksEurope: </strong>Probably a bit too early to say it is a must-win, after all it is the Dodgers. I’d say the upcoming series against the Giants is a must-win and against the Rockies a must-sweep. Games against opponents from the NL West are double the stakes, especially in a race as tight as this division is.</p><p id="ilR2ND"><strong>Wesley: </strong>I would generally argue that no individual series is more important than another. However, the combination of the current standings, along with the fact that this is the first NL West opponent the Dbacks have faced this season makes it a golden opportunity. </p><p id="pKNqnS"><strong>Ben: </strong></p><p id="DcFlTC"><strong>Spencer: </strong>No series is a must win against the Dodgers until the playoffs. The odds of overcoming them for the NL West are insurmountable. The upcoming series against the Rockies though? That’s a must win to prove we aren’t smoke and mirrors. Honestly given how horrid they are, I’ll be a bit disappointed if we can’t sweep them. Things happen and sweeps of bad teams are hard, but…</p><p id="wuqb9w"><strong>Makakilo:</strong> Spencer is on target! A Dodgers series win is optional. A sweep against the Rockies is achievable and it’s almost a must sweep! </p><p id="MxkvqS"><strong>Jim</strong>: I <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/1/22/24348617/mlb-is-broken-er">never had any real hopes</a> of winning the division, so no. A split would be nice, but even a loss wouldn’t be the end of the world. Mind you, I could do without losses like Friday night’s. Those are bad enough against the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>, but against FTD? </p><h4 id="O266DK">Merrill Kelly has either been cramping or struggling, with very little in between. How worried are we?</h4><p id="g6fp1n"><strong>Preston: </strong>I disagree strongly with this question. While there have been plenty of cramps, half of Kelly’s starts have been quality starts, one he didn’t go six innings because it was his first start, and two he didn’t go six innings because of cramps. He has literally one bad start: against the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a>. In his other seven starts, his lowest game score is 55. Since the blow up against the Yankees, he’s pitched to a 3.02 FIP and 0.771 WHIP. </p><p id="qM5gUv">My only concern would be if he was changing his pitch mix as part of his anti-cramping agenda. Kelly’s fastball is one of the least valuable pitches in baseball, while his breaking and offspeed stuff is excellent. His first outing since the pickle plan did see him increase his fastball usage quite a bit, but I suspect that had more to do with the game plan.</p><p id="zuGGuz">The fact is, Kelly is very much the pitcher he has been. In 2023, he was hit hard 41.8% of the time. He’s always outperformed his numbers when taking into account quality of contact.</p><p id="p5MacT"><strong>James:</strong> I think Kelly has rather firmly established the sort of pitcher he is. He has regularly outperformed his expected contribution and he, even through injuries, finds a way to eat innings. Sadly, his development took three extra years in Korea, and the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> are now on the waning end of his time as an effective pitcher. I have few worries about him completing this season successfully, giving the Diamondbacks another 160 innings of above league average performance. I do have my concerns about how many more such seasons he has in him. Of all the up-coming free agents that Arizona has, I figure Kelly to be the most likely to return to Arizona. I would hope for something like a one or two year deal, maybe best as a one-year deal with an option for a second year.</p><p id="1h8JQa"><strong>DBacksEurope: </strong>I am a bit worried. He was injured a lot last season and is cramping quite a bit this season. He still pitches well the majority of the time he is out there. He could still be a valuable mid-rotation piece next year but we already have Rodriguez for that role.</p><p id="EJr1U2"><strong>Wesley</strong>: As far as the actual quality of his pitching, Merril Kelly has been slightly above average according to multiple different metrics (103 ERA+, 97 ERA-). The real issue is that having your starting pitcher abruptly leave the game puts the bullpen in a very bad position.</p><p id="lUYqkP"><strong>Ben: </strong></p><p id="7FqmHX"><strong>Spencer: </strong>I’d be less worried if other pitchers were playing well. Kelly isn’t awful this season by any means, but he’s struggling and it’s exacerbated by the fact that Gallen and Burnes and ERod and Ginkel and JMart and Puk all are too. </p><p id="r8WC2q"><strong>Makakilo:</strong> No worries about Kelly.</p><p id="Hz4ms0">Addendum: Let’s look at one fact that reflects positively on Kelly:</p><p id="G1AZRd">This season. he loaded the bases 1 time. Compare him to other Diamondbacks starters: Burnes 5 times, Gallen 4 times, Rodriguez 3 times, Nelson 3 times. </p><p id="jadwwp"><strong>Jim</strong>: It would be nice for him to go deeper into games, but going into play Saturday, his 5.5 innings per start is actually better than MLB average (5.4). You’d think with all the cutting-edge medical support at our disposal, they would be able to find the cause and fix it. </p><h4 id="ZN0IP4">Dbacks have finally taken the field with their new City Connect jerseys. Now that you’ve seen them under the bright lights, what are your final thoughts?</h4><p id="aZWDei"><strong>James:</strong> Meh. I still like the sandy one better.</p><p id="cKSOhW"><strong>DBacksEurope: </strong>It hurts my eyes. I can’t walk around in that, people would tell me where the hack I am going in a disco outfit like that.</p><p id="1fDi0i"><strong>Wesley:</strong> They’re alright, I’d wear one. I wish they’d do some nods towards the old pre-Dbacks minor league teams like the Phoenix Firebirds, or even the Tucson Toros. </p><p id="FHxHh0"><strong>Ben: </strong></p><p id="zxLKzG"><strong>Spencer: </strong>On screen I think they look fine but out of place. In person they don’t pop and the color choices are drab, almost matted instead of the filter-accentuated shine we were led to believe they’d have. I was tepidly pleased when they released, and I’m slowly sinking into “man I miss the creativity of the tan” territory. Won’t keep me from watching and enjoying the games, but there’s zero chance I feel the urge to buy a jersey. I did grab a hat and am actively considering a hoodie though. Anything where the colors actually pop as expected I’m interested in. </p><p id="oG8meX"><strong>Makakilo:</strong> Aaahhh, it’s too bright! Like James, I like the sandy one better!</p><p id="37inTk"><strong>Jim</strong>: My feelings on purple-based uniforms are already well-known. But after Friday night, I feel they are cursed, all evidence of them should be burned, and we should never speak of them again. </p><h4 id="NElGGk"><a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/rafael-devers-unwilling-to-play-first-base.html">Rafael Devers is not pleased</a> with his treatment in Boston right now. How much say do you think players should get in their positions, and is there a point where the team should tell them to just play ball?</h4><p id="mcBCgB"><strong>Preston: </strong>I think it highly unadvisable to move a player to catcher without making sure the player is fine with it. Otherwise? You play where your coach tells you to play in youth ball, high school, and so on. If you’re not the best player, you’re not going to play shortstop. Devers was the best player on every team he was on growing up, but he should recognize that he no longer is.</p><p id="X9Xfxn">Now if there is a psychological reason why he struggles to play first base, the team should take that into account and work with him on it. (Examples would include yips or fear of a collision.) Barring something like that (and why would he air grievances if it is something like that?) he needs to shut up and play ball. Otherwise, they might as well trade him to Pittsburgh, because he’s going to turn into a clubhouse cancer.</p><p id="VS6YI2">James is reminding me of an instance when a player who was a Hall of Famer and a legend with his team (probably still the single-most popular player in franchise history) saw his team sign another player at his position. But despite having over 9000 plate appearances with his organization, Craig Biggio not only moved positions, but went from the infield to the outfield after Jeff Kent was signed. He moved from center field to left field after Carlos Beltran was acquired. If any player has the right to make a demand on an organization, it’s Biggio on the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com">Astros</a>. Maybe if Devers had over 2000 hits and was the single-biggest homegrown star in franchise history (remember that Bagwell, Nolan Ryan, and Mike Scott all started elsewhere, and Berkman wasn’t as established yet) he could make some demands. But Biggio he ain’t, and even Biggio didn’t.</p><p id="qhqofz"><strong>James:</strong> Short of asking a pitcher to play the field or vice versa, players should be playing where the manager tells them to. I will grant an exception for the position of catcher. Catchers need to have some sort of experience at least wearing the gear in a game situation. Outside of that, it is on the manager to deploy the team in a manner that gives the club the best chance to win. When you have Ryne Sandberg, Ozzie Smith, or Ken Griffey Jr. you play them at second, short, and center field respectively. When you have Edgar Martinez or David Ortiz, you have the team’s primary DH. When you’re athletic enough to play multiple positions and have a bat that makes an argument for playing 150+ games (but you aren’t the best at any position), you play where the manager tells you to. The promise made to Devers that he would be the full-time third baseman for the <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a>, regardless of the winter roster development, was made by a front office that is no longer in charge for a reason. Devers should also be taking personal inventory and accepting the fact that Bregman is a far superior infield defender. That pushed Devers to DH. Now, the team needs a healthy body to man first. If Devers is interested in the club succeeding, he should be willing to take on the challenge of playing the least demanding position on the field. Besides, it’s likely that he still only plays about 70% of the games at first - if that much. Devers putting the team behind the eight ball when it comes to finding a healthy alternative for first base is the epitome of a player putting himself before the club.</p><p id="klSXWM"><strong>DBacksEurope: </strong>Well, first of all, I don’t know what they promised him when he signed his extension in Boston. Secondly, I disagree that you just play where the coach tells you. Ketel did that and look at what that brought him: injuries, a weak center fielder and underperformance. A player needs to look out for himself as well. Devers has never played first base and maybe he is afraid to play that position. I also think Devers has an attitude and that doesn’t make things easier, but I also understand his frustration.</p><p id="S0Cb2A"><strong>Wesley: </strong>On one hand, I do understand Devers frustration with being moved around the Diamondbacks, when obviously he’d prefer staying at his natural position. On the other hand, Devers was the worst third baseman defensively in the American League. Bregman is better offensively and defensively there, so of course, you’re going to prefer him over Devers at the hot corner. Aside from that, it’s a baseball TEAM, and he’s not being a team player.</p><p id="0lj4pK"><strong>Ben: </strong></p><p id="vC3qJ7"><strong>Spencer: </strong>He’s letting his ego and frustrations show in the public. That’s not good. I’m pleased to say our team doesn’t have players like that and when we accidentally do, we ship them away pretty quickly. However, I think some of his feelings might be justified assuming he was promised 3B at signing. That said, it’s just not my personality to act the way he has. I am always willing to help where necessary and learn a new task; it keeps me employed! But I’m also not guaranteed hundreds of millions of dollars regardless of if I comply. I think this is a failure of the team to create a culture where this type of obstacle is handled privately and a failure of the person to understand the world doesn’t revolve around them. </p><p id="Ovk4Iy"><strong>Makakilo: </strong> In most cases, the team is justified in telling players what position to play. Nevertheless, this case is different, and my sympathies are with Devers. My thoughts follow:</p><p id="cRFPTW">His contract runs for 9 more seasons (including 2025) for $284 Million. Going forward, it appears he is a 28-years old player who exclusively plays DH. Wow! That’s an expensive luxury that the Diamondbacks can’t afford.</p><p id="WzlSLM">From 2021 to 2024, he played third base with the exception of 3 games (two times at second base in 2021 and one time at shortstop in 2023). </p><p id="zacDym">In 2024, there were 8 third basemen with outs-above-average as-bad-as or worse than Devers. Perhaps Devers thought he could improve his defense. </p><p id="TclMWR">In February, the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman to play third base for 1,2, or 3 seasons (depending on if and when Bregman opts out). Bregman is a better batter and a much better defender at third base. Devers must have noticed that Bregman plays third base!</p><p id="QTSwVg">Per MLBTR, Devers “had been promised by the club that he could stay at the hot corner for the long term.” That broken promise must have stung!</p><p id="qcLoZU">This last week, Devers, as relayed through his translator, said they told him to play DH and “put away my glove.” This season he has only played DH.</p><p id="Z9cX4u">This season, FanGraphs’ Depth Chart projects the Red Sox will win 84 games, giving them realistic (albeit small) playoff chances. My conclusion is that in a future season if Devers returns to third base, the team will be rebuilding and it will no longer have playoff chances. </p><p id="dhZKTJ">There is a reason this team-player disagreement became public. Perhaps he wants to be traded to a team that honors its promises, or a team with better long-term playoff chances, perhaps with chances to reach the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a>. </p><h4 id="35tSEN">If you could choose anything, what historical moment in time would you visit and why?</h4><p id="zIqA2Q"><strong>Preston:</strong> I’m realistic, and I know that most of my lifespan has been a better time for most things than most of human history. If I could be guaranteed health, I might go be a factory worker in the 1940s or 1950s, but let’s be honest, that time sucked for a whole lot of people and thinking that is basically white male privilege. </p><p id="szMAoW">So instead, I’d choose to go back to the 90s as an adult and live through what will likely go down as the peak of American prosperity with the ability to actually take advantage of it. It’s the only time in American history when a decent number of groups had civil rights and there wasn’t a massive war going on.</p><p id="uMVbMa"><strong>James: </strong>I’m a white male with advanced studies in both hard sciences and the liberal arts. I would fit in swimmingly around the turn of the Twentieth Century, assuming that I could avoid the Spanish Flu and the wars. Also, the pace of the world wasn’t what it is today. I do think I was probably born about 75-100 years later than I was supposed to be. If not that, then probably simply going back and reliving the period I grew up in, but hopefully taking better advantage of the opportunities that arise.</p><p id="TWxA7c"><strong>DBacksEurope: </strong>A historical moment is a certain moment, not a time period. I would love to see my parent’s wedding, my grandparent’s wedding etc etc so I can put a picture to all names I have in my genealogical research. But those moments are not historical. If I would need to choose a historical moment, I’d probably pick a moment where the prehistoric paintings were made in Lascaux and have a chat with the painter or painters to find out the who, what, where, when, why and how. I could also go back to 1998 when Dennis Bergkamp scored the winning goal in the World Cup Quarter final against Argentina in the final minute. Never again have I experienced such an explosion of joy, happiness and partying in The Netherlands. People went crazy in the streets.</p><p id="RKcW4S"><strong>Wesley: </strong>I would just go back to the late 90s. Sadly, <em>‘The Matrix’</em> may just have had it right when they called the year 1999 the peak of human civilization. There’s tons of different historical eras that I would love to go to, if I wasn’t limited by too many language barriers. Perhaps I’d go back to the first century CE and show <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_of_Alexandria">Hero of Alexandria</a> that there are many, many more applications to his <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeolipile">aeolipile</a> than simple children’s toys. I suppose I could muck about in Judea and go see what all the fuss is about while I’m in that period. Becoming fluent in Latin and Greek can’t be <em>that</em> hard.</p><p id="PGtXXG"><strong>Ben: </strong></p><p id="LKpNAf"><strong>Spencer: </strong>I would like to go back to (Shrove) Tuesday March 4, 1930 in New Orleans, Louisiana (the backwards L state for any unfamiliar with individual US states). I wrote my thesis in college on Mardi Gras and the significance/meaning of parades. This particular year and day intrigue me for several reasons. Firstly, the celebrations that year were large and opulent but showcased the fear about the recent Stock Market crash. Even the largest and most affluent, elitist groups were worried and publicly showing it. But secondly and perhaps more importantly, I want to see the krewe Zulu perform their parade. An all-Black American parading group, they deftly navigated the racism and need for entertainment to solidify themselves as a powerhouse organization that remains at the top of the heap even today. It started with the 1930 parade when no one stopped them from making fun of themselves and that quickly led to the expectation they’d parade alongside the largest all-White and all-Creole krewes on Mardi Gras Tuesday itself. By the time their biggest opponents even realized they were a threat, it was too late.</p><p id="lcKxkS"> The themes on parade that day would be:</p><ol><li id="bbUEEE">Rex: “King of the Druids” - a magical callback to better, less difficult times</li><li id="0QLFrQ">Comus: “Legends of Faust” - a literary interpretation of the hellfire everyone now knew was coming and would last an indeterminate amount of time</li><li id="cTdK2m">Zulu: “N/A” - a needed comedic interpretation of the black man’s struggle coming to North America as slaves having been kings in their home territories </li></ol><p id="ofkJC8"><strong>Makakilo:</strong> I just watched the movie <em>The Gathering Storm</em>. It’s about Winston Churchill in the political wilderness and speaking against the future danger from England’s actions in the context that Germany was secretly rearming. It’s about discerning truth when Germany’s political lies are common-place. On a personal level, it’s also about Churchill’s perseverance in the face of personal setbacks and difficulties. From my perspective, I liked that although he saw war in the future, he had optimism that England would win. Perhaps a moment when I could hear Churchill’s thoughts when he worked and reworked his words with his secretary on a future speech.</p><p id="AtVb89"><strong>Spencer: </strong>Mak, in Fulton, Missouri you can go to the US National Winston Churchill museum! It’s pretty cool. He gave the Iron Curtain speech there and his daughter’s artwork using the Berlin Wall is there too. Let me know if you ever go, I know the curators and can probably get you access to some of the hidden exhibits that aren’t always out!</p><p id="nQ4mcM"><strong>Makakilo: </strong> Thanks Spencer! Now, it’s on my list of places that I really want to visit!</p><p id="LwNjAp"><strong>Jim</strong>: Historical events? They’re vastly overrated. I’d head for the late eighties, after I first moved to London. I would have a lot more fun, knowing what I do now. Let’s leave it at that, shall we? :)</p> </content> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/5/11/24428215/snakepit-roundtable-happy-mothers-day"/> <id>https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/5/11/24428215/snakepit-roundtable-happy-mothers-day</id> <author> <name>Imstillhungry95</name> </author> </entry> <entry> <published>2025-05-11T15:30:00-04:00</published> <updated>2025-05-11T15:30:00-04:00</updated> <title>Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #41: 5/11 vs. Dodgers</title> <content type="html"> <figure> <img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2ABQTt39zZhR_PpptIrYqNYm6J8=/0x0:1080x720/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74077230/FB_IMG_1746984712845.0.jpg" /> <figcaption>My Mom's Youth Hostel Association membership card from 1954.</figcaption> </figure> <p>The mother of all series finales...</p> <div id="VGsnGb"><div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix"><h3>Today's Lineups</h3><div class="lineup"><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" class="zebra"><thead><tr><th align="left">DODGERS</th><th align="left">DIAMONDBACKS</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Shohei Ohtani - DH</td><td class="td-first td-name">Corbin Carroll - RF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Mookie Betts - SS</td><td class="td-first td-name">Geraldo Perdomo - SS</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Freddie Freeman - 1B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Pavin Smith - 1B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Will Smith - C</td><td class="td-first td-name">Josh Naylor - DH</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Max Muncy - 3B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Eugenio Suarez - 3B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Andy Pages - RF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Lourdes Gurriel - LF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Michael Conforto - LF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Alek Thomas - CF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Hyeseong Kim - 2B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Tim Tawa - 2B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">James Outman - CF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Jose Herrera - C</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name"></td><td class="td-first td-name"></td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Tony Gonsolin - RHP</td><td class="td-first td-name">Zac Gallen - RHP</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><figure class="e-image"> <img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GEsVD3WtuzDMndWnRlTrjyIUr60=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25990496/Capture.JPG"> </figure><hr class="p-entry-hr" id="y3YpXb"><p id="KaLUm8">Last night, Ryne Nelson picked up the save for Arizona, getting a pretty rare six-out save for Arizona. That in itself is not common: excluding saves obtained under the three-inning rule, where the margin doesn’t matter, the last D-back to get a “genuine” six-out save was... um, Scott McGough. Let’s move rapidly, on shall we? But what I found more interesting was Nelson becoming the 27th player for Arizona to start and also get a save in the same season. Having also done so in 2024, he joins a rather more elite group - Josh Colmenter, Patrick Corbin and Randall Delgado - to do it twice. But perhaps the rarest feat was Nelson getting the start and save in consecutive games.</p><p id="mOe0QF">It’s not <em>unprecedented</em>. Jordan Montgomery did it in September last year. But the save in that case was one of those three-inning specials, “saving” a 14-4 blowout win. Indeed, Nelson himself also did it the same month, but there were three weeks between the start and the save, which was also an 11-2 win. Zack Godley did it in May 2019, but he was really more of an opener in the start, going just two innings. Randall Delgado, May 2017? Three inning save. You have to back to early 2014 for a genuinely comparable feat. Trevor Cahill started a game on April 13, pitched four innings and took the loss. His next outing was five days later, and he closed out the 12th inning of a 4-2 win in Los Angeles. </p><p id="is8kkn">It was a little odd seeing Nelson throw only 16 pitches, because his previous outings had all been at least thirty, the team looking to keep his stretched out. Hard to know if this means the team’s intentions for him have changed, or if they were just hoping the Dodgers would take a few more pitches! Anyway, he sealed the win, and we have a chance to take three of four in the series, which would be a fine result. KJKrug is on the guest recap, but she will be at Chase Field for this one, and I’m off to the SnakePitette’s for a Mother’s Day dinner, so it might take a while for it to reach the front page! Talk among yourselves here until it shows up...</p> </content> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/5/11/24428054/diamondbacks-gameday-thread-41-5-11-vs-dodgers"/> <id>https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/5/11/24428054/diamondbacks-gameday-thread-41-5-11-vs-dodgers</id> <author> <name>Jim McLennan</name> </author> </entry> <entry> <published>2025-05-11T10:00:00-04:00</published> <updated>2025-05-11T10:00:00-04:00</updated> <title>Snake Bytes 5/11: Happy Mother’s Day!</title> <content type="html"> <figure> <img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4DPXbNYLsKn_nKKWoT_ZseyQZFM=/0x0:1080x720/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74076864/shutterstock_2277290279_min_1080x720.0.jpg" /> </figure> <h2 id="Z87QK6"><strong>Team News</strong></h2><p id="COx0sz"><br><strong>After missing previous turn, Burnes silences Dodgers in scoreless gem</strong></p><blockquote><p id="kHOsZC">“It’s been a couple years since I’ve been able to kind of throw it like that,” Burnes said. “That’s something that myself and [pitching coach Brian Kaplan] have been working on a lot the last month trying to figure out what is not making its cut. Tonight it was cutting. It’s just consistency, the break of it, the amount of cut, what the numbers are telling you, what the hitters are telling you. So we saw a couple things tonight that were positive signs that we really hadn’t seen in a couple of years.”</p></blockquote><p id="RwYYTg"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Fnews%2Fcorbin-burnes-pitches-7-scoreless-innings-in-d-backs-win&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2025%2F5%2F11%2F24427756%2Fsnake-bytes-5-11-happy-mothers-day" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/corbin-burnes-pitches-7-scoreless-innings-in-d-backs-win</a><br><br><strong>Corbin Burnes blanks Dodgers through 7 innings to earn win</strong></p><blockquote><p id="T8ggE2">“Everything felt good,” Burnes said. “Can’t complain. Missing a start, nine or 10 days, to come out and command the ball the way we did, spin it the way we did, I was happy with it.”</p></blockquote><p id="xPgUFr"><a href="https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/burnes-dodgers/3583600/">https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/burnes-dodgers/3583600/</a><br><br><strong>Corbin Burnes aces test as Arizona Diamondbacks shut down Los Angeles Dodgers</strong></p><p id="sizlkC"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fmlb%2Fdiamondbacks%2F2025%2F05%2F10%2Farizona-diamondbacks-los-angeles-dodgers-updates%2F83237297007%2F&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2025%2F5%2F11%2F24427756%2Fsnake-bytes-5-11-happy-mothers-day" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2025/05/10/arizona-diamondbacks-los-angeles-dodgers-updates/83237297007/</a><br><br><strong>Corbin Burnes Delivers Gem, Diamondbacks Shut Out Dodgers</strong></p><blockquote><p id="XnIK4V">“He said he felt great, and he was ready to go out. What he told me was, if the engine’s running real smooth, just get out of my way. ... At the end of it, I just trusted that he was going to go out there and have really good stuff,” Lovullo said.</p></blockquote><p id="Z488av"><a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/arizona-diamondbacks-game-day/corbin-burnes-delivers-gem-diamondbacks-shut-out-dodgers">https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/arizona-diamondbacks-game-day/corbin-burnes-delivers-gem-diamondbacks-shut-out-dodgers</a><br><br><strong>Torey Lovullo Addresses Eduardo Rodriguez’s Lack of Hustle Friday Night</strong></p><blockquote><p id="x1UEtS">“I’m more upset that he didn’t back up home plate than I am not getting off the mound. So that type of stuff bugs the F out of me.” Lovullo said both he and the coaches spoke to Rodriguez about the situation.<br><br>Roster moves</p><p id="nVENv0">As reported earlier today, the Diamondbacks recalled Joe Mantiply from Triple-A Reno and optioned Cristian Mena back down. Mena threw 46 pitches in 3.1 scoreless inning of long relief Friday night and would not be available for at least 5 days.</p><p id="t9fiOP">Lovullo shared what he told Mena last night. “We mentioned to him last night that this should be a catalyst for him to go down and continue fighting to be the next guy up when there is a need.”</p></blockquote><p id="EVHSUG"><a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/arizona-diamondbacks-news/torey-lovullo-addresses-eduardo-rodriguez-lack-of-hustle-friday-night">https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/arizona-diamondbacks-news/torey-lovullo-addresses-eduardo-rodriguez-lack-of-hustle-friday-night</a><br><br><strong>Diamondbacks recall lefty Joe Mantiply, option Cristian Mena to Triple-A</strong></p><blockquote><p id="iwHWlc">“That’s a true player development success story (about) a guy that comes up here and sits for eight days and keeps himself as ready as he did. It was a great moment for this team and organization and I’m really proud of him.”</p></blockquote><p id="qO7HoY"><br><a href="https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/diamondbacks-7/3583553/">https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/diamondbacks-7/3583553/</a><br></p><div id="1SqQlR"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A truly dominant outing by Corbin Burnes against the Dodgers tonight.<br><br>7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. <a href="https://t.co/X9C6ioIm3o">pic.twitter.com/X9C6ioIm3o</a></p>— Alex D’Agostino (@AlexDagAZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexDagAZ/status/1921383704972218674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><p id="Qgr3gb"></p><div id="2icoR6"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Most 455+ ft home runs in a season, Diamondbacks under Statcast (2015):<br><br>2022 Christian Walker: 4<br>2025 Eugenio Suarez: 2<br>2024 Ketel Marte: 2<br>2018 Marte: 2<br>2015 Paul Goldschmidt: 2 <a href="https://t.co/GbyYdAj0Sl">https://t.co/GbyYdAj0Sl</a></p>— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/SlangsOnSports/status/1921386275170390129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><p id="cmXynz"></p><h2 id="JQMt9A"><strong>Other Baseball</strong></h2><p id="PigWc2"><br><strong>10 Mother’s Day stories that make us thankful for moms</strong></p><p id="4k1IMD"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fnews%2Fmlb-mother-s-day-2025&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2025%2F5%2F11%2F24427756%2Fsnake-bytes-5-11-happy-mothers-day" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-mother-s-day-2025</a><br><br><strong>Jose Altuve Exits Due To Hamstring Tightness</strong></p><p id="jZf6JS"><a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/jose-altuve-exits-due-to-hamstring-tightness.html">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/jose-altuve-exits-due-to-hamstring-tightness.html</a><br><br><strong>Rafael Devers Meets With Red Sox Owner John Henry</strong></p><p id="hZ5y0A"><a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/rafael-devers-meets-with-red-sox-owner-john-henry.html">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/rafael-devers-meets-with-red-sox-owner-john-henry.html</a><br><br><strong>Reds score TEN runs in their biggest first inning since 1989</strong></p><p id="zlKwA1"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Freds%2Fnews%2Freds-score-10-runs-in-first-inning-vs-astros&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2025%2F5%2F11%2F24427756%2Fsnake-bytes-5-11-happy-mothers-day" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.mlb.com/reds/news/reds-score-10-runs-in-first-inning-vs-astros</a><br><br><strong>Kelly ejected in 2nd game as manager ... so who managed the Pirates?!</strong></p><p id="lYw0i9"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fnews%2Fdon-kelly-ejected-in-second-game-as-pirates-manager&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2025%2F5%2F11%2F24427756%2Fsnake-bytes-5-11-happy-mothers-day" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.mlb.com/news/don-kelly-ejected-in-second-game-as-pirates-manager</a><br></p><div id="qb9QUJ"><div style="max-width: 631px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 100.9506%;"><iframe src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft39.30808-6%2F495540138_10162751684946605_3935001343413903292_n.jpg%3Fstp%3Ddst-jpg_p526x296_tt6%26_nc_cat%3D110%26ccb%3D1-7%26_nc_sid%3D833d8c%26_nc_ohc%3DAEQL3FiE8HIQ7kNvwFlL6lJ%26_nc_oc%3DAdm8VVEPpO8kmla5nUIMaacjOtTIpzyNy58QKuz0beHavn-GCYdF-bBtnsTGHcNWDNw%26_nc_zt%3D23%26_nc_ht%3Dscontent-dfw5-1.xx%26_nc_gid%3DScLtJFUOQqhhkrdUjLnznQ%26oh%3D00_AfKi2CMlYC3qzIAgvyaOmF3hVipv8klNm6PSlBpeCe69Ew%26oe%3D68260D93&amp;key=9ef4a209439e42bc59783ba959d50197" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div><p id="fsIek5"><br><strong>Padres rewrite team record books to back Kolek’s shutout</strong></p><p id="8mwrN5"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fnews%2Fpadres-score-21-runs-as-a-stephen-kolek-throws-shutout&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2025%2F5%2F11%2F24427756%2Fsnake-bytes-5-11-happy-mothers-day" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.mlb.com/news/padres-score-21-runs-as-a-stephen-kolek-throws-shutout</a><br></p><div id="NrxNaR"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">21-0! Shutout by Stephen Kolek<br><br>That’s tied for the largest win in a pitcher’s individual shutout since 1900, with:<br><br>8/13/39 Red Ruffing NYY<br>9/15/1901 Ed Siever DET <a href="https://t.co/zGqbSTKWBn">https://t.co/zGqbSTKWBn</a></p>— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/SlangsOnSports/status/1921399129915166975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><h2 id="nfbfyx"><br><strong>Anything Goes</strong><br></h2><p id="MIwJm0">This day in history:<br><a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-11">https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-11</a><br><br>This day in baseball:<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/May_11">https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/May_11</a><br><br><strong>6 Surprising Facts About Mother’s Day</strong></p><p id="v7eggo"><a href="https://time.com/7282196/mothers-day-surprising-facts/">https://time.com/7282196/mothers-day-surprising-facts/</a><br><br>19 Mother’s Day Facts to Share With Your Mom</p><p id="5Wu6BZ"><a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g19561312/mothers-day-facts/">https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g19561312/mothers-day-facts/</a><br></p><figure class="e-image"> <img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aC_Excnpi7yOlaMvg5RdhmAEM58=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25989798/441406692_10161296058261605_8327582056797348180_n.jpg"> </figure><p id="E38MWk"></p><figure class="e-image"> <img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H60-1RbbQRGqCDXBGXXun48iAmY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25989799/280234386_10159845459581605_1515472488597174055_n.jpg"> </figure><h2 id="Ir0qqr"></h2> </content> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/5/11/24427756/snake-bytes-5-11-happy-mothers-day"/> <id>https://www.azsnakepit.com/2025/5/11/24427756/snake-bytes-5-11-happy-mothers-day</id> <author> <name>Justin27</name> </author> </entry> <entry> <published>2025-05-10T23:49:20-04:00</published> <updated>2025-05-10T23:49:20-04:00</updated> <title>Diamondbacks 3, Los Angeles 0: The Ace Has Landed!</title> <content type="html"> <figure> <img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cd8HOavueLxBEBke5kN71FqJNFg=/0x0:3487x2325/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74076419/2214432929.0.jpg" /> <figcaption>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption> </figure> <p>Finally we got to see our team dollars at work....</p> <p id="Rrlvwb">I don’t know about you all, but I was honestly kind of dreading this afternoon’s game—having to watch it all the way through, ride the deeply unpleasant roller coaster through the ups and downs and ups and downs, and then have to write it up afterwards, however it turned out. I mean, let’s face it....thus far, Corbin Burnes hadn’t been all he was cracked up to be. First there was all that business about him pitching fifth in the rotation for the first start, and then the crap results, and then the further crap results, and then after finally we started to see better results there was the “um, his shoulder is tired and he needs to skip a start, but really IT’S ALL <strong>TOTALLY FINE!</strong>” That sort of thing, I find, starts to wear on me, especially given our track record with signing highly priced free agent starters to be our slightly aged “aces”. I mean, Zack Grienke wound up being really good for us, but he was never in any danger of winning a third Cy Young award as the leader of the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> rotation. And as for the Rodeo Clown, well. He has been devoured by the voracious musk oxen of Greenland and shat out and reprocessed as compost if there’s any justice, so no more need be said of him. But I imagine you see my point.</p><p id="Tj9j6N">So anyway. I think I’m no longer worried about Corbin Burnes. He looked like the real deal tonight. I feel confident in stating that the Ace has landed.</p><p id="HNwAun">Why do I feel that confidence? Well. Despite giving up a leadoff single to Shohei Ohtani to start the game, he still faced the minimum through the first two innings, and only needed 20 pitches to do so. He had a bit of traffic to deal with in the third and the fourth, but pitched his way out of it with no real trouble or drama. There was a leadoff single to start the fifth, but he put up another zero anyway, and only needed to throw five pitches total in that inning overall. He pitched around a two-out single in the sixth, and set down the bottom of the Doyers lineup in order to finish the seventh.</p><p id="RpITiE">That’s ace stuff right there. He only struck out five, sure, and he didn’t kill any stray birds with any pitches, but he only needed 91 pitches to record 21 outs. And this is against a team that, while their pitching may well be overpriced trash, has a lineup that is pretty terrifying and put up 14 runs against us last night. </p><p id="yPa5Qv">Finally, watching this game and watching Burnes do his work, I was like, “Oh. Okay. I get it.”</p><p id="hYjD69">Meanwhile, it’s a good thing that Burnes was so very, very good, because our offense seemed to have some difficulty with LA starter Dustin May, who hasn’t put up particularly good numbers so far this year but who seemed to have our number early. Despite two two-out singles in the bottom of the first off the bats of Pavin Smith and Josh Naylor, May still managed to put up a zero with only nine (!) pitches thrown. Tim Tawa singled with two outs in the bottom of the second, but May managed another zero nevertheless.</p><p id="chE1d4">We didn’t get to him until the third, as Corbin Carroll (the <em>other </em>Corbin, tonight) led off the inning with <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Fvideo%2Fcorbin-carroll-triples-5-on-a-sharp-line-drive-to-center-fielder-hyeseong&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2025%2F5%2F10%2F24427801%2Fdiamondbacks-3-los-angeles-0-the-ace-has-landed" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">a triple to center that carried over the head</a> of Doyers’ center fielder (today, anyway) Hyeseong Kim, and scored on a Ketel Marte groundout to second.</p><div id="wmbiVC"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/corbin-carroll-triples-5-on-a-sharp-line-drive-to-center-fielder-hyeseong" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media;"></iframe></div></div><p id="n4viAh">Nothing else happened, but it gave us a lead that, thanks to Corbin Burnes, we would never relinquish. <strong>1-0 D-BACKS</strong></p><p id="c0V09C">Gabriel Moreno managed a one-out single in the bottom of the fourth, and we sat down in order in the bottom of the fifth, but it wasn’t until the sixth, with May still being way more effective than it seemed like he should have been, that we managed to leave another mark. Pavin Smith led off with a bloop single that dropped just fair down the left field line, but was promptly erased by Josh Naylor doing one of his most annoying Josh Naylor things, which is grounding into double plays. That brought Eugenio Suarez to the plate with two outs and nobody on. Folks in the Gameday Thread had been remarking about how May was grooving too many pitches in the middle of the plate and surely, surely, that was going to bite him eventually, though it certainly hadn’t so far. But, you know, we know, it’s Geno. When he’s not flailing at pitches out of the zone while trying to hit a seventeen-run homer, he is perfectly capable of <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fdbacks%2Fvideo%2Feugenio-suarez-homers-12-on-a-fly-ball-to-center-field%3Fq%3Deugenio%2520suarez%2520home%2520run%25206th%2520inning%26cp%3DMIXED%26qt%3DFREETEXT%26p%3D0&amp;referrer=sbnation.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2025%2F5%2F10%2F24427801%2Fdiamondbacks-3-los-angeles-0-the-ace-has-landed" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">doing something like this, launching one over the wall just left of straightaway center</a>:</p><div id="QsSIdO"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/eugenio-suarez-homers-12-on-a-fly-ball-to-center-field" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media;"></iframe></div></div><p id="OhXhT7">Once again, that was it, but it tacked on another run. <strong>2-0 D-BACKS</strong></p><p id="3KKVnE">May wound up getting pulled for Alex Vesia with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, so aside from the runs and the not getting the final out of the frame, he went almost as long as Burnes did. Which was mildly annoying....I’d prefer to see the Doyers bullpen a bit more crisped up going into tomorrow than it looks like they’re gonna be. But it is what it is.</p><p id="41TW7A">But now that brings us to the eighth, and the second burning question that was in my mind, and I’m sure the minds of many of the Diamondbacks’ faithful, especially after last night’s debacle. Burnes was great, he was legitimately ace-like, and he got through seven innings with nary a blip. <em><strong>But who was going to get us the rest of the way to the finish line?</strong></em></p><p id="CEMx2L">Why, Ryne Nelson, of course! Not only did he hit pretty effectively when he was playing his college ball, he was also a closer. So he came out and pitched the top of the eighth, mowing down Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman on 11 pitches total. Then he mowed down the next three batters in the top of the ninth, and done and done.</p><p id="HqtJjn">Except that we also tacked on a third insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, thanks to successive leadoff doubles by Ketel Marte and Pavin Smith, which accounts for the full margin of victory. <strong>3-0 D-BACKS</strong></p><h3 id="nL1tjB">Win Probability Added, courtesy of <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2025-05-10&amp;team=Diamondbacks&amp;dh=0&amp;season=2025">FanGraphs</a></h3><figure class="e-image"> <img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fQV69l9cBuDxj0nkfR0tmE_tC4k=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25989978/chart_35_.png"> </figure><p id="atCTVl"><strong>The Ace: Corbin Burnes (7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 5 K, 2 BB, +44.1% WPA)</strong><br><em><strong>The King: Ryne Nelson (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K, +11.0% WPA)</strong></em></p><p id="J7ui0Q">We had a lovely and well-attended Gameday Thread today, with 352 wide-ranging comments at time of writing. They included plenty of cogent and insightful remarks about the game, as well as some inevitable encouragement (and discouragement) of post-traumatic day drinking, as well as a surprisingly extensive reimagining of D-Day code words that revolved, for whatever reason, around bagels. Maybe it was all the zeroes that Burnes put up. Anyway. I am happy to award today’s Comment of the Game to Sneeeks for this late observation about what an absolute boss the Ryno has been this entire season:</p><figure class="e-image"> <img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4TXVtXZFv05ppnd0hJxUHvjLFbQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25989988/20250510_CotG.jpg"> </figure><p id="ufAQYp">Amen to that. Much respect, and thank you, Ryne, for locking this one down.</p><p id="aAa7hC">So now we’ve got our series split, and it’s time to get ready for tomorrow, when we look to garner a series win against these FTD chuckleheads. Zac Gallen, who has been pretty good his last two starts, takes the mound for us, facing off against Doyers righthander and recent Tommy John returnee (he’ll be making only his third start since August of 2023) Tony Gonsolin. I hope you can join us as we look to remind FTD that, even though they are the best team money can buy, this is our goddamn house. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm AZ time. Hope to see you in the Gameday Thread!</p><p id="IKK4WF">As always, thanks for reading. It’s nice to recap a Saturday win, and such an emphatic one at that. 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