Today’s Lineups
Well, at least we have a line-up at a reasonable time today. It appears everybody actually made it to the ballpark in good order this afternoon for the Diamondbacks, so we are clearly already ahead of yesterday. I suppose I should give you the latest updates on the Ketel Marte saga, from today’s pre-game media session. Though in terms of actual facts there is not a great deal more to report. According to Jody Jackson, manager Torey Lovullo has not talked to Ketel today. “He was asked if he was surprised at the lack of communication. “A little bit, yes” given their close relationship.”
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Marte is said to be on his way back to Arizona for an MRI on his knee, though John Gambadoro says he is “not back yet.” Steve Gilbert reports that Lovullo “thinks the reason Marte is getting MRI back in Phx instead of here was Ketel’s choice but not sure.” I think that’s just about all the information to come out today, and it all seems incredibly vague. I understand exactly why the team doesn’t want to say too much – and perhaps can’t, once you get into health. But the lack of reliable information is pouring gasoline on the fires of speculation. It’s also interesting that even long-term reporters with contacts in the organization have nothing publicly to offer on what’s happening.
Oh, well. In the ongoing absence of Marte, I’d expect it to be mostly Ildemaro Vargas, since he’s the only player apart from Ketel to have started at second-base for the D-backs this season. Tim Tawa has 3.2 innings there, and we saw Jordan Lawlar there in the ninth inning yesterday, when Vargas was on the mound. Not many other options on the 40-man roster with experience. Tommy Troy has played there for the Aces, but he’s still on the IL with a sprained right shoulder after crashing into a wall at Chavez Ravine. This evening’s infield of Tawa, Vargas, Geraldo Perdomo and Jose Fernandez is not exactly what we expected at the start of the season…
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