D-Backs manager Lovullo settles on lineup balance in opener vs. Padres,
SAN DIEGO – After going over so many different lineup combinations that he said he went to sleep and woke up thinking about batting orders, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo settled on an Opening Day lineup that did not include any spots in which there were back-to-back lefties or righties.
“It’s all predicated on the three-batter-minimum,” Lovullo said.
With managers limited in how frequently they can make pitching changes, Lovullo said he wanted to provide as many disincentives as possible for, say, a manager thinking of using a lefty against Kole Calhoun by putting the lefty-mashing Carson Kelly behind him.
There were a couple of interesting twists compared to lineups he used with regularity last season, including hitting left fielder David Peralta second and having Kelly bat seventh.
Peralta rarely hit second last year, but he split up a pair of switch-hitters in Ketel Marte and Eduardo Escobar. Kelly hit eighth almost exclusively last season, but on Friday, with the designated hitter being employed, he was hitting ahead of two different position players.
Lovullo also intimated that he will be quicker to make changes to his lineup based on performance this season, telling reporters this week that he wasn’t planning his lineups –or informing his players of them – as many days in advance as he had in previous years.
He said players will know at least the night before when they will be in the lineup.
Racial justice moments
None of the Diamondbacks players or coaches took a knee during the national anthem on Friday, but nearly all of the players kneeled during a pre-anthem ceremony that featured players from both teams encircling the infield while holding black ribbon.
Diamondbacks players took the field during batting practice wearing shirts featuring either the Black Lives Matter logo or one representing the Negro Leagues, which was formed 100 years old in 1920.
Outfielder Jon Jay, who is of Cuban descent, spoke with reporters prior to the game, explaining that he had decided not to kneel during the anthem in part because of his family’s background as immigrants to the United States. He also shared his support for the Black Lives Matter movement and talked about instances in his life when he was a victim of racism.
Reliever Archie Bradley expressed his support for the cause, as well, writing in a tweet before the game, “It’s not a movement. It’s a way of life. Get with it or get lost. No other meaning here for me (than) supporting my brothers and the black community. Unfollow me or don’t like it... or like I said get lost. Time for a change!”
Bradley and Jay were the first two players to take a knee during the ceremony.
Catching 'Bum'
Carson Kelly was behind the plate to catch Madison Bumgarner on Friday night, and Lovullo seemed to indicate that Kelly would remain Bumgarner’s catcher so long as the results are there.
Lovullo said Bumgarner told him he would throw to anyone and that he did not have a strong preference.
“But there are certain familiarities that pitchers and catchers develop with one another,” Lovullo said. “Obviously we’re going to count on Carson in a very heavy manner. If it goes well, I’m going to continue to stay with it.”
Bumgarner gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings in his Diamondbacks debut.