Pollock returning to form ahead of break
Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock looked like A.J. Pollock.
He stole a base, stretched out to make an impressive diving catch and clubbed a home run to account for the Diamondbacks’ lone tally in a 2-1 loss to the Reds Sunday at Chase Field.
It was perhaps his best game since he returned last Tuesday from almost two months on the disabled list with a strained right groin.
But Pollock won’t be able to build off that momentum in the next few days. He’ll have to wait until after the All-Star break, a layoff that may be coming at an opportune time for a Diamondbacks team that has dropped eight of its past 11, but is also pausing Pollock just when he seems to be finding a groove.
“I feel like I’m just getting in a rhythm,” he said. “But nah, it’s good. Got a couple games in. Take a couple days off and excited to get back at it.”
Sunday was Pollock’s fourth start since he rejoined the team. He’s gone 3for-16 and while he hasn’t been able to make much contact, he's felt he's had some solid at-bats.
“Just kind of getting back up here and getting adjusted again,” Pollock said.
More reps rather than rest would seem to be what Pollock needs most right now, but manager Torey Lovullo believes the break will be helpful because of how hard Pollock worked during his rehab to get healthy.
“He’s been grinding, trying to get back here for us,” Lovullo said. “So I look for good things in the second half from A.J.”
Rotation set
Right-hander Taijuan Walker will start the Diamondbacks’ first game after the All-Star break Friday in Atlanta against the Braves with left-hander Patrick Corbin going Saturday and righthander Zack Godley slotting Sunday.
The team’s rotation for its next series is designed this way to give All-Stars Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray rest coming out of the break.
Break plans
The team’s crew of All-Stars aren’t the only players leaving the Valley for the break.
Catcher Jeff Mathis is off to Florida with his family where he plans to go to the beach and play a few rounds of golf. Reliever Archie Bradley is visiting Block Island near Rhode Island.
“Definitely no schedule. No agenda,” Bradley said. “Sleep in as late as I can and stay up as late as I can. Some good food, some relaxation and really just clear the mind.”
Lovullo will also be on the move, going to California. He’ll use the downtime to rehash the first half but also prepare for the rest of the season.
“I’ll definitely reflect on a few things and ask myself what I can do to improve and make sure I’m giving this organization everything that I possibly can for the most important part of the year,” Lovullo said. “I’m going to reflect, and I’ll also look forward to what some of my own personal expectations are, as well as what the team’s expectations should be.”
Memorable start
Arizona may have sputtered into the break, but the team’s overwhelming success to date will define its first half. And Lovullo feels the team’s first 10 days of the season “validated what direction we were going in,” with an Opening-Day triumph over the Giants the first of many gutsy wins.
“I was really satisfied with the way we started because we worked so hard in spring training, and it was a reward for these players to understand all that hard work they put in was going to pay off in the way it did,” Lovullo said. “Opening Day seemed to set a very good tone for us. It was a huge walk-off win. I know we beat Madison Bumgarner, and nobody’s giving us a chance in that game except for the 25 guys in that room. That’s probably the tone that it set from that win and that day is that 25 guys are ready to battle every single day.”