Heading into the Wild Card game, manager Torey Lovullo of the Arizona Diamondbacks wants to keep his team on task.
The major issue for manager Torey Lovullo of the Arizona Diamondbacks is to keep his team focused. The fear of complacency and contentment, Lovullo told Call to the Pen, can not only be overwhelming, but a significant distraction.
With that prevailing approach, Lovullo told Call to the Pen before Monday’s home game against the San Francisco Giants that he will continue to place his foot on the gas, and make sure the Diamondbacks’ engine roars forward.
Including Monday’s game, the Diamondbacks have six to play, and Lovullo outlined his map before the home contest with the Giants. Given the accomplishment of gaining home field in the National League Wild Card game on Oct. 4, Lovullo allowed his everyday players and principal bench players the night off. In a lineup which resembled a spring training “B” game, the only player in the starting lineup which could be considered a regular was Brandon Drury, who hit third and started at second base.
Otherwise, Lovullo pointed out he wanted to give players, who may or may not be on the Wild Card roster, experience. Over the remaining five games, he will sprinkle the lineup with regulars and use this Wednesday’s afternoon game for what he called, “a dress rehearsal.”
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That means Zack Greinke, who is slated to start Wednesday, would likely keep his appointed day along with Lovullo’s everyday players.
After Monday’s game, that changed.
Lovullo told Call to the Pen and other reporters in his post-game media session that Greinke will be held back for a weekend start in Kansas City. That puts the veteran right-hander on target to start the Wild Card game at Chase Field on Oct. 4. Lovullo then promised he would name a starter for Wednesday on Tuesday.
At the same time, Lovullo told Call to the Pen that Greinke tends to be more effective with added rest. Now, Greinke goes into his final start of the regular season with his normal five days rest until his start in the Wild Card assignment. That’s contingent upon starting Friday night in Kansas City.
With players taking Monday off, that falls right on target with Lovullo’s criteria. He explained to Call to the Pen the obvious approach.
"“The post-season is completely different, and everything, each pitch, each out, each swing of the bat, is magnified,” he said. “No team can be that ready to turn a switch on and off. The plan is to continue as we have been doing all season. No change in our preparation or routine.”"
On the diamond Monday night
With a lineup populated essentially with players called up to the majors after September 1, the Arizona Diamondbacks turned in a lackluster effort, and fell to the San Francisco Giants, 9-2 before 22,813 at Chase Field.
Starter Zack Godley allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings and that was the second-highest total allowed by Godley this season. Previously, he gave the Atlanta Braves seven runs, six earned, during a 7-1 defeat on July 16.
After he was pulled in the fifth inning, an emotional Godley charged into the dugout and then stormed directly into the tunnel leading to the clubhouse.
Later, Godley told Call to the Pen he was disappointed in his effort and needed space to think about his performance.
"“This was not a good outing for me,” he said. “I just wanted time to collect my thoughts. They took advantage of some bad pitches, and made me pay.”"
Here Godley referenced a three-run homer to catcher Nick Hundley in the fourth and a solo shot by Hunter Pence, both in a four-run, fourth inning.
Going, going, gone
Tickets for the National League Wild Card contest at Chase Field went on sale Monday morning. The game was sold out in less than one hour.
Capacity at Chase Field is listed as 48,686. For the 2017 season, the Diamondbacks drew six crowds of 40,000 or above and 39,256 on Sept. 23 against the Miami Marlins.
Opening day against the Giants on April 2 was a sellout and the announced crowd was 49,016, standing room only.
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The gang’s all here
With entry into postseason play, the Diamondbacks drew a plethora of scouts to Monday’s game.
During a normal contest, around 10 scouts can be spotted directly behind home plate. Easy to detect, they are the ones with radar guns pointed directly at the mound.
On Monday night, scouts completely occupied four rows directly behind the plate, and 15 seats constitute a row in Chase Field.
In the current baseball world of analytics, data on the Diamondbacks should be copious.