The Diamondbacks did many things right in their 74-win 2022 season. The bullpen was not one of them. This problem is not new. The Diamondbacks have had persistent bullpen issues since the franchise’s inception in 1998. It is no secret that last year was especially bad, though. In 2022, the D-backs’ bullpen led the National League with 41 bullpen losses…
It was the bottom of the ninth on a cool Tuesday evening at Petco Park. The Padres had runners at first and second with two outs, as nervous excitement stirred in the stands. The Diamondbacks led, 5-4, and were an out away from sealing their fourth consecutive series win against a playoff contender. That out never came.
With a walk to Jose Azocar — Ian Kennedy’s second walk of the inning — the Diamondbacks’ righty had loaded the bases for Jorge Alfaro. Alfaro smacked the first pitch he saw up the middle. Two runs scored. Despite leading 5-0 half-way through the game, the D-backs lost, 6-5.
It was like a movie Diamondbacks fans had seen too many times over — the type of movie you would love were it not for that damn ending that always leaves you unsatisfied.
Since joining Major League Baseball in 1998, the Diamondbacks have held their own with a World Series title, five division titles and even a Hall-of-Fame pitcher wearing their logo on his way to Cooperstown. There’s one thing the D-backs have almost never gotten right in their time as a big league franchise: the bullpen. We saw this firsthand in 2021,…...
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