Players To Watch: Diamondbacks-Phillies
By Blake Benard
Obviously the last player any Diamondback fan wants to watch right now is the estranged closer Addison Reed. Who are the players that every fan needs to be focused on? Not exactly who you might think.
Archie Bradley
Apr 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley throws in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
On April 26th, Archie Bradley was laying on the pitchers mound in agony after being struck in the face by a Carlos Gonzalez line drive. Smashcut to this series against the Phillies and Bradley most likely will be returning from the DL and back to full health. What first appeared to be an utter disaster for the Diamondbacks undisputed ace now appears to be a minor pothole in the grand scheme of the season.
Bradley was already putting together a remarkable start to his young career. Through his first four starts he had only allowed four runs, while beating two of baseball’s best pitchers in the process: Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner. No doubt, Bradley will simply be marching out on Saturday for a quality start to get back into the rhythm of things.
Nick Ahmed
Apr 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Ahmed cannot hit big league pitching. Plain and simple. Through 29 games, he is hitting a paltry .153 with only one extra base hit. Well then, you would ask, why is he still on the Diamondbacks? The answer: this youngster has gold-glove potential as shortstop and that is the only reason he is still on a big league roster.
But sadly, Ahmed is becoming a near-automatic out every time he comes to the dish and that’s why this series against the Philles is paramount. Philadelphia is one of the worse pitching teams in baseball and if Ahmed continues to show no signs of offensive life these next three games, he could very well see himself on a minor league roster come Sunday night.
Aaron Hill
May 10, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Aaron Hill against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Hill is currently the definition of ‘en fuego.’ Over his last ten games he’s hitting .452 and producing the power with three home runs and nine RBI’s. But what’s almost more impressive is that Hill has struck out only three times over that same span and raised his batting average a near 100 points from .185 to .284. His ridiculous play is calling for more consistent playing time which also could factor in Ahmed’s future.
Freddy Galvis
May 14, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis (13) in the dugout during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
There hasn’t been many bright spots for the Phillies this year but one of them has been the emergence of young shortstop Freddy Galvis. Taking the place of the departing Phillies legend Jimmy Rollins, Galvis is currently among the National League leaders in batting average and hits.