The Arizona Diamondbacks have lost their last three games and you know, they've looked darn good doing it.
↵Consider:
↵-
↵
- The Diamondbacks lost the three games by a total of four runs; the first two were one-run games and today's loss came after 10 scoreless innings when the Giants pushed two across in the 11th. ↵
- Two of the losses can be hung not just on the bullpen -- which has been dismal this season but improved over the past few weeks -- but on one Mr. Aaron Heilman. ↵
- Of the the 11 runs the team gave up over the past three games, Heilman is responsible for six of them. Rodrigo Lopez is responsible for three more in a game that he started and went six innings (five scoreless). ↵
- The bats haven't been on fire over this latest stretch, but the team has been without a banged up Justin Upton (shoulder), and Mark Reynolds (hand) and Adam LaRoche (knee) are battling injuries. ↵
- In the seven games (all against division leaders San Diego and San Francisco) prior to the last three losses, the Diamondbacks scored a total of 54 runs and won every game but one. ↵
- The defense, especially in the outfield, continues to be a strong point for this team, which is giving the young pitchers confidence to throw for contact. ↵
- The team is playing with confidence that they can hold a lead or come back from a deficit. Fans feel it too, with the earlier sense of helplessness replaced by hope that each game very will could turn out well. ↵
Baseball is unique in that how you lose (or win) is almost important as the actual result, especially when you are talking about a young team trying to end a horrible season on a positive note and learn what winning is all about.
↵So congratulations, Diamondbacks, on your three recent losses. You are learning how to lose like a winner and that matters (almost) as much as winning itself.