Descalso shows off power vs. Dodgers
LOS ANGELES – For those who haven’t seen much of Daniel Descalso in recent years, the sight of him launching home runs, putting together consistently tough at-bats or turning into something of a run-producer for the Diamondbacks might come as a surprise. Descalso figures it would be a surprise even to his former self.
“If you asked me five years ago if I would ever hit cleanup in the big leagues, I would have laughed in your face, probably,” said Descalso, who has hit there three times this season. “Over the course of my career, I felt like I had more in there. So maybe I’m finally tapping into that.”
Descalso delivered another big hit for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night, connecting on the go-ahead, three-run homer in the 12th inning of an 8-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was his fourth homer of the year and gave him 18 RBIs, the thirdmost on the team.
He has not had the same kind of results as A.J. Pollock. He has not provided the same spark to the lineup as David Peralta. But it could be argued that Descalso has provided the most
consistently competitive at-bats of any Diamondbacks hitter through the season’s first six weeks. Though that might be hard to believe for those who remember him from when he first broke in as a utility infielder with the St. Louis Cardinals almost a decade ago.
Back then, he was known as a hardnosed, fundamentally sound player. He also carried the reputation of being a light hitter. It wasn’t undeserved. Through his first 1,408 career at-bats, Descalso hit just .238 with a meager .339 slugging.
But over the past three years, he has gradually turned himself into more of a threat at the plate. Three offseasons ago, he made swing changes that allowed him to tap into more power. He believes that, at age 31, he has gained a better idea of how pitchers attack him. He thinks he now has a better idea of what he is capable of doing in a given at-bat.
“I’m trying to get a pitch to hit and lay off the ones I can’t hit,” he said. “It’s as simple as that. I think my walks have gone up the last couple of years and I think I’ve just done a better job of recognizing pitches and laying off those balls or those chase pitches and doing a better job of getting good pitches to hit.”
With third baseman Jake Lamb out with a shoulder injury, Descalso has received close to everyday at-bats through the season’s first 35 games. Time and again, he has delivered key hits for the Diamondbacks. His .259/ .362/.518 slash line gives him an .880 OPS, tied for the second-best on the team.
“He’s in a really nice place right now,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “I know that he’s been a hot hitter for us, and he can step up in those moments. He doesn’t get intimidated. He can step up and execute.”
Descalso understands the dichotomy between how he has looked recently and the hitter most remember.
“I’m aware of what my career numbers are,” he said.
But he also believes he has turned himself into a different hitter – even if he’s not ready to make any sweeping declarations.
“I hesitate to use the phrase ‘figured some things out,’ (but) I’ve gotten to a point where I’m more comfortable with my approach and what I’m trying to do up there,” he said. “Instead of worrying about mechanics or approach or different stuff like that, I feel like I’ve gotten to a point in my career where I’m just more comfortable in the box.”