When played right, D-backs have fun on defense
PHOENIX -- Pitching is sporadic and even the best hitters run into slumps or a dominant opposing hurler. But the Diamondbacks expect to play solid, above-average defense on a consistent basis.
That is part of what was so frustrating about the weekend sweep at the hands of the Giants. The D-backs committed a pair of errors in the series and just weren't as crisp as they would have liked.
But behind shortstop Nick Ahmed on Monday, the D-backs were back at the level they expect -- and not coincidentally back in the win column.
"It's just fun to play defense. It's fun to go out and let our athleticism as a team come out," said Ahmed, who recorded 10 assists against the Marlins, one shy of the team record. "Any time I get a lot of action like that it's a lot of fun. I hate those games where I got out there and don't touch the ball for nine innings."
Defense fun?
For Ahmed it has been for a long time.
"My dad would come home from work and I would beg him to go outside in the yard and hit me groundballs," Ahmed said. "My high school coach would always stay after practice and hit me groundballs."
But Ahmed plays a premium defensive position and his known first for his glove work. Is defense fun to one of the game's best hitters?
"It's definitely fun," first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said. "Defense is completely for the team, too; it's not like, 'Hey, let me get a hit right here and help my stats.' It saves the pitcher's ERA and helps us as a team win the game. You see a guy make a great play it's going to fire you up no matter what. It can definitely carry over. Any time you're stopping them from scoring runs -- maybe it keeps the game tied or keeps the lead -- there's a little less pressure on the offense.
"Guys take a lot of pride in it. It's something we talked about in spring training: We want to be the best defensive team and have a chance to impact the game."
The D-backs ranked third in baseball entering Tuesday with a .987 fielding percentage. Their 44 errors are tied for third fewest.
Since June 27, the D-backs lead the majors with a .993 fielding percentage and second baseman Chris Owings has a 58-game errorless streak.
"Those guys are unbelievable every night," closer Brad Ziegler said specifically of the Arizona infield. "Everybody kind of takes it for granted but the guys that play the game, they understand how special those guys are, up the middle especially. It gives everybody confidence."
On Monday, Rubby De La Rosa and Ziegler combined to induce 17 groundball outs compared to just two in the air. The D-backs turned four double plays.
"When we can get groundballs and let those infielders work we're a much better team," Hale said.