Skid at a halt?

The Diamondbacks made me proud this weekend with two shut out games.  True, both were at home and both were against the hapless Nationals (now at 24-34, .414), but hopefully it’s the ticket out of the skid they started.  They’re going to Milwaukee now, and although the Brewers aren’t baseball’s top team at the moment, they are sitting just above 500 and certainly have their moments.  If the DBacks can pull it together and bag this series, it will be a good omen that the troubles of May just might be behind them. 

Of course, what do I know?

Here’s what is sure:  Mark “The Teflon Kid” Reynolds put in two very solid games over the weekend, hitting and fielding with the gusto we like to see.  How about that diving catch in the 9th on Saturday?  Hence the nickname.  Nothing seems to hurt him, even if it should.  The kid can wear his bruises.   You have to respect that.  And unlike some players, his drama can’t be mistaken for theatrics; in the end, Mark Reynold plays every game like that Double-A kid who randomly appeared on the field one day with the single goal of proving he belonged there, and he does so hot or cold.

It was nice to see Webbie complete a game — nay, a shutout.  It should help him shake off the last two starts and hopefully, will be a positive influence on him in the next few.

One of the reasons I enjoy the Diamondbacks is that their players are just a bunch of goofy guys who enjoy being goofy guys.  Such things were demonstrated last week during the nationally televised (wohoo!) game again Atlanta when Web and Snyder did the line-up.  It was also demonstrated again this weekend by the 1970s cop spoof that Byrnesie and Co’Jack made (to make the point that big $$ don’t necessarily equal big stats as far as the teams go) and showed at the start of the Fox Saturday baseball show (we’ll ignore the EB’s $30 mil contract at the moment). Sadly, I couldn’t find it on youtube, though I’ll confess I didn’t look particularly hard.  Instead, I found this, which demonstrates similar points.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRN8g1D8L2o

In a similar note, I’m glad the Randy Johnson will be surpassing Clemens on Tuesday to for the number 2 spot on the all time strike outs record.  No one’s catching Ryan, so in this case #2 is as good as #1, and also, so what you want about RJ, you know the Unit isn’t tainted by the crap that Rocket is.  It’s made better by the fact that Johnson is finally becoming a human being.  He’s opening up, talking civilly to the press, and being a real part of the DBacks pitching staff, contributing to the growth of the junior players, etc.  It’s nice to see.  I think going to New York was actually a good thing in that it put things into perspective for him.  He’s never been my favorite and never will be — I have to say, I was even angry when we took him back before last season — but I think he may actually be growing on me a little bit.  I no longer actively dislike him and may actually start watching his games again.

Heading back home

Any loss is upsetting, especially when the team is having as difficult a road trip as the D’backs have.  The past seven game, eight day run has been exhausting for players and fans alike, seeing only two wins and a sweep from Florida. 

For some reason, being swept by the Marlins smarts — losing to the Marlins at all stings a little bit; I think it’s because, while every couple of years they assemble a great team, there’s always those years after they’ve traded everyone away for top dollar that they suck.  So it is difficult to get over the feeling of “ouch, we were just beat by one of the worst teams in baseball” regardless of its validity. 

Today’s loss to Atlanta is little hard to swallow too, though more because of what it says of our play than anything else.  It’s true that Atlanta has some amazing players — Chipper Jones, Tex, etc. — who make them a solid opponent.  They also have the solid and devoted fan base certain other teams lack, which can make a huge difference.

Maybe “hard to swallow” is too strong for my feelings on today’s loss.  Perhaps “trepidatious” is a better description.  It was a tough way to end a not-so-brilliant road trip, one which has done little but demonstrate the weaknesses in the Diamondback’s play.

Earlier in the season, they seemed almost unstoppable.  Webbie couldn’t be beat, Micah was ably holding his own against everyone’s expectations, Haren and the others were also putting in solid starts, and the bull-pen was backing them all up.  Supplement that with amazing scoring from tireless bats, and the DBacks were surprising everyone by being on top. 

But this road trip saw Webb’s winning streak come to an end at nine.  Nine winning starts is amazing, it’s been done only a handful of times, and I know for sure it’s at least the first in the past 18 seasons. 

What concerns me about this — and I don’t want to jinx him, I have full faith in Webb’s abilities — but the last time his streak toward shattering records was broken, he went into a slump.  Remember his 42-straight scoreless innings last year?  Afterward, there was a not entirely insignificant cold period.  I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that we don’t fall into that here.  Only 4 and a half innings doesn’t necessarily bode well though. 

There was one thing to smile about from the road trip however: Byrnesie’s grand slam to ensure Micah his win in last night’s game.  First in his career and a great way to show Hotlanta that the DBacks do mean business.  Hopefully that will help get him out of his slump. 

I have to admit, though, the slump was a little bit deserved: I like Eric Byrnes as much as the next person and he definitely makes for some fun baseball, but every once in a while the theatrics and acrobatics irritate me as I think that they can as much harm as anything.  Case in point: the hamstring injury.  Or the several potential homeruns/RBIs this season alone that he sacrificed by the so-called “flying nun” or more appropriately, “I’m going to watch it go out — oh **** it’s not going out” maneuver at the plate.  Sometimes I think he was asleep the day his little league coach taught him to always always always run on contact just in case. 

Regardless.  Maybe this Grand Slam will be the medicine he needs to get back into gear and in the Batting Gods good graces.  ‘Stache or no ‘stache (and please — no ‘stache).