PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - Can D-backs Avoid Another EMBARRASSING Season-Ending Collapse with Just 12 Games Left?

Episode Date: September 15, 2026

The Arizona Diamondbacks are running out of time with just 12 games left in the regular season. After dropping a winnable series to the Texas Rangers, the pressure is officially on. We break down the frustrating Rangers series and what went wrong for the D-backs as their playoff hopes hang in the balance. Are we heading towards our third consecutive season of missing the ‘Yoffs by a handful of games? We also look ahead to the must-win series against the Miami Marlins and what Arizona needs to do to get back on track. Plus, it’s Mailbag Monday, and we answer your biggest D-backs questions, hot takes, and everything else surrounding this critical final stretch of the season.BECOME A DIEHARD: gophnx.com/join JOIN THE SUPPORTERS CLUB ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/yc6km2r4An ALLCITY Network ProductionSUBSCRIBE to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/phnx_youtubeALL THINGS PHNX: http://linktr.ee/phnxsports MERCH https://store.allcitynetwork.com/collections/phnx-lockerALLCITY Network, Inc. aka PHNX and PHNX Sports is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the City of PhoenixPHNX Events: Get your tickets to PHNX events and takeovers here: https://gophnx.com/events/ALLCITY — including us here at PHNX — is teaming up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for an exciting three-year partnership. To learn more, visit https://www.bbbs.org/allcity/Branded Bills: Use code BBPHNX15 at https://www.brandedbills.com/ for 15% off your first order!Husband & Wife Law Team: If you’ve had a serious injury, Call The Husband & Wife Law Team first at 602-783-8841 or visithttps://husbandandwifelawteam.com/?utm_source=allcity-padcasts&utm_medium=digital-phx&utm_campaign=allcityShowNotesGametime: Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code PHNX for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.Shady Rays: Head to https://shadyrays.com and use code: PHNX for 40% 2+ pairs of off polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated 5 stars by over 300,000 people.Circle K:  Join Inner Circle for free by downloading the Circle K app today! Head to https://www.circlek.com/store-locator to find Circle Ks near you!New DraftKings customers sign up with code PHNX, spend just five bucks, and get two hundred in rewards within 21 days. That’s code PHNX. In partnership with DraftKings. The Crown Is Yours. Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred NEXT STEP. Twenty-one plus. Arizona only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Fifty dollars in non-withdrawable Bonus Bets issued every seven days via click-to-claim for twenty-one days. Bonus Bets expire seven days after issuance. 1 football Boost per customer. Maximum bet limits and restrictions apply. Tokens expire at the end of the final select game each day when offered. Terms at d k n g dot c o slash offer.  Limited time offer.When you shop through links in the description, we may earn affiliate commissions. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Things aren't great, and I'm not just talking about the status of my fantasy football team after suffering a loss to Johnny venerable of all people. But the Diamondbacks have 12 games left to turn this thing around and avoid another embarrassing season-ending situation where they miss the playoffs. We're going to talk about this. Preview the upcoming series with the Marlins and talk about why, yes, every game is pretty much a must win. Don't you go anywhere we are starting now? even seems inappropriate deals today. That live was maybe the best live of the entire season. You'd think that we like just clinched the playoffs or something.

You're right. You're right. You know what I'm trying to do, right? I'm trying to improve the vibes. I am trying to turn this thing around and I am doing my part. I'm going to try to do my part because the diamondbacks need everything that they can get at this point to somehow salvage this season and make the postseason by taking one of the final wildcard spots. My name is Derek Montia, occasionally known as your mayor of PHNX.

That voice you hear is your dog, my dog, Damon Dog, on the ones and twos, aka the bad boy of PHNX, who is not, he just refused. He's refusing to show his face on camera today because he's not in the mood. He's not in the mood for the Diamondbacks and this whole thing they got going on. And we're going to get into that. But of course, this show is brought to you by our good friends at GameTime. Go download that GameTime app today. use our code of PHNX when you sign up, create an account, and get $20 off your first purchase.

Terms do apply. And we got to ask, are we cooked, chat? Are we cooked? Is it a wrap? I mean, for the most part, there's no E next to the Diamondback's name yet. And as far as things are concerned, I think they still have 10 games until that E would appear. A lot could happen over the next to the next. next 12 games and all we can hope for is that a lot does happen. Diamondbacks,

the clock is is ticking. They're down to their final stretch where there is no more, you know, flush it games. There is no more shortcomings. Every loss, every loss matters, every win matters. They have 12 games left to turn this around. They are 79 and 71 and 2.5 games behind San Diego for the final wildcard spot. A month ago, this team looked like it was heading into October. Now, every single loss is magnified. Every single moment is magnified. I say this as somebody who was on the edge of the ledge, if you would. I tweeted out during the loss on Saturday when Bill Miller missed that missed Brandon Fott stepping on the bag or touching his foot to the side of the bag. And the replay in New York somehow couldn't see what we all could see, which was Fott's foot up against the bag, heel, slightly touching the bag, slightly just up.

Like that moment that double play that didn't get called ended up turning into a four-referring. run inning that lost the diamondbacks that baseball game. You might not believe in the baseball gods. You might not believe in fate. You might not believe in such things, but it's hard to deny that a moment like that was pretty significant as far as that loss was concerned and as far as just the momentum right now for the diamondbacks. Like that that that that not getting called and the subsequent runs scoring in that inning, so many runs scoring, after that point. Just I felt like

completely you know, deflated this team. And now there is no more we have plenty of time. There is no more waiting for things to click into place and for this team to play

its best baseball. Now is the time that this team needs to play their best baseball. Flat out. And there is no time for this team to actually start playing like a playoff team until right now.

Do you guys in the chat believe that this team is making the offs? Right now? I'd love to hear from you guys. Because this Rangers series was a massive miss. It was a massive missed opportunity at home. Losing, especially Sunday's game, a brutal loss losing 7 to 6 after rallying late.

And seeing the Diamondbacks commit so many errors in that game that could have prevented that loss from happening. That is what makes that being a loss so frustrating. They just got to stop beating themselves, man. And they beat themselves on Sunday. I know the runners-in-scoring position thing hasn't been great, but believe it or not,

they're still not even a bad team compared to other teams in baseball when it comes to runners-in-scoring position. But what they don't do is they don't make those kind of defensive mistakes they made on Sunday. They don't, they don't, they just can't. They can't have that be the reason why. They're already missing huge opportunities at the plate.

They're already very bad situational hitting. And, you know, they have plenty of games where they simply don't execute on the offensive side. But everything else holds strong. The starting pitching, the defense, the bullpen. We've lost a lot of close, low scoring games because of our offense not being able to find a groove. Right. But right now, the Padres are. playing like a World Series champion out of nowhere.

They're going to win the World Series. They're going to make the playoffs. They're going to be the most dominant team in the playoffs. I'm throwing this out there. Also, the Phillies aren't missing the playoffs either. None of those, they're not missing the playoffs. Locks. Right?

They're locks. There is no way me saying something like this could impact how things go, right? There's no way. But I'm still going to say them anyway. Just hand the Padres, the World Series. Just give them the World Series. because those ringless bums need one. And, you know, there's no way that their manager

proclaiming that they were going to be champions can't impact them winning the whole thing, right? There's no way. So anyway, the schedule right now is set up for a run for the Diamondbacks if they're good enough, right? They got three games with the Marlins, which we'll preview here shortly. That starts tonight.

And they got three games with the Yankees, three games with the Rockies, and the final three games of the year with the Padres. We've been talking about this schedule for a long time. But now it gets fascinating. Now we are in the playoffs. Now this is the pre-postseason post-season run. This is when they have to go out there and they have to treat each series like a must-win

in order for them to advance because that's quite frankly what it is. I mean, if you don't win the series against the Marlins, it's over. Right? I mean, Damon, you and I have been fearing this series with the Marlins. for quite a while, considering how poorly they've played. They just beat our asses. And they can't afford to have that happen yet again. Yeah, it feels like the state of Florida just owns the Diamondbacks in particular.

So it's not great to see this team on your schedule with your playoff chances potentially on the line. And then, you know, you obviously have the Yankees and all of their fans eventually go to Florida, if not already lived there. So they that that's an important series like an honorary Florida team right And then the Rockies right the Rockies are they they have three games right now with the Padres and it's kind of weird because it's like you I want the pod Rockies to play their worst Best games of the season now and their worst games when they play us But then you know the series with the Padres means everything the the problem here is is that right now with the distance the Padres are creating between them and us they have won seven games in the row. They cannot stop winning. They are unbeatable right now. And the distance they're

creating between the Diamondbacks and them are is problematic. And again, they have, you know, they have themselves a difficult schedule ahead, but not much different from the Diamondbacks. They have four with the Rockies, then three with the Marlins, three with the Dodgers, and three versus us. And the debacks need to start winning now. There is no more. there's there's no more you know waiting to win there's no more waiting for the Padres to lose they can't even attempt that they can't expect anything even in 2023 let's date back these last three seasons even in 2023 they did not win their way into the playoffs and we still had that real fun magical run there when it came to the playoffs but we still did not you know that we didn't win

our way in. So, I mean, even if you want to also consider that season, I mean, this would be now four in a row where the Diamondbacks came very close to making the postseason, but couldn't, could not win their way in to it, could not, I guess, control their own fate and take those games down the stretch. And now the wild card race is, you know, is pretty much a four-team race. You know, you can't, the Pittsburgh Pirates are six and a half back. The Marlins are seven-and-half back, as are the Cardinals. So pretty much at this point, it's about the Diamondbacks and, you know, the Padres.

And there's no way, there's no way that the Phillies could possibly fade out or the Cubs. No way, right? But anyway, they have themselves a tough, you know, Tough road ahead. And all they can do as far as controlling their own fate is winning. They got to win every single series. That's the only way that they can, that's the only way they can treat this going forward is,

is if they don't win each and every series, their season is over. And we are going to take that quick break I was talking about. And when we are back, we're going to get onto the preview with the Marlins. Don't you guys go anywhere? You are watching the broken, but still whole.

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Draft Kings is here. Football is here. And I know it because of every. everything that happened to me yesterday. We had ourselves an exciting Sunday, didn't we? And again, this is just the start. And this September, Draft Kings is giving all customers the opportunity to get boosted every game day. That's right. Every single game day, all month long, Draft King customers can get a profit boost. Plus, you can get extra protection with early exit, something we just took a moment ago. Opt-in, and if your player leaves the game with an eligible

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Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. One football boost per customer. Maximum bet limits and restrictions apply. Tocons expire at the end of the final select game each day when offered. Terms at dkng. slash offer limited time offer the most important game of the year tonight because every game is the most important game of the year going forward every single game is a must win and even though we have said time and time again there's no must win games in june july maybe part of august that that's over now every

game is a must win especially when you're taking on a team like the marlins that are uh three and seven in their last 10 and should be a team that is beatable for the diamondbacks if they want to make their way into the playoffs. So let's take a look at our matchup breakdown presented by Draft Kings. And let's take a look here at the Marlins at a glance. Marlins this season compared with the Diamondbacks again have had themselves, you know, a decent season. They've hung in there.

There are some things that haven't worked for them, including one, Pete Fairbanks, who we were very high on this past offseason. Yeah, he stinks. He's not very good, and let's hope he continues not to be good if the Diamondbacks end up seeing him at all in this three-game series. But this is the first test, three straight against Miami, and the Diamondbacks have to figure out a way to take all three of these, if they're serious about making the postseason,

because it appears the Padres are not going to lose a game for the rest of the year. But yes, we did die, just toast. we did die to the Marlins. They absolutely creamed us. But the Marlins are 74 and 76 this year. Their OPS, thanks mostly to Otto Lopez, is 728 for the team, which is eight best in Major League Baseball. They have a plus six run differential right now, and they are three and seven in their last 10 games. But yes, the Diamondbacks OPS currently stands at 710, which is 21st. I believe that's a slight tick up. Yeah, they were 22nd going into this series, but like it's agreed. Like, but at the same time, it's like, that's really what's holding this team back, as we can all see.

Right. I mean, it's, it's obvious that it's that. I mean, the ERA for the team has actually been pretty decent. The Diamondbacks have a 4.09 team ERA, which is 12th, and the Marlins are right behind them with a 4.10 ERA, which is 13th. They're starting ERA is 4.14, which is 12th in Major League Baseball, and their relief is for 0.08 for their bullpen, which is 15th. The Marlins lead this season series 3 to nothing, and they currently have six outs above average as a team,

which is 14th past a major league. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks continue to hold on to that second position behind the Chicago Cubs with their 44 outs above average. They did have some pretty bad defense, though, in this series against the 10th. Texas Rangers. Yeah, I'm surprised we didn't lose about 20 runs right there, Derek. I mean, unbelievably bad defense out of the debacks. It's, it wasn't good. And considering how badly the Diamondbacks need this win, that's, that's why every series is a playoff series. A two one,

two one series win keeps you alive, a sweep. Now we might be using phrases about being back if we can get a sweep here. You're cooking again. Especially if the Padres could finally lose a baseball game. That would be awesome. That would be great. I mean, basically what it comes down to is don't ask any questions when the next three games. One and two. And it's hard not to envision it being over.

It doesn't get any easier. And if you can't find a way to beat the Marlins, how are you going to figure out how to beat the Yankees with Aaron Judge returning and Chase Field being filled 75% of the way with the Yankees fans? and then go on the road against the Rockies and the Padres and somehow pull off enough wins to get into the postseason. I just can't envision that. So if you don't win this series against the Marlins,

I mean, we might be checking for a pulse and declaring an official time of death, even if they don't have that E next to their name officially. Yeah. Marcus says you go one and two, it's the nail on the coffin. Caesar says, we ain't sweeping, L.O. All, I'm sorry, but I don't see it. Yeah, you're not wrong. I mean, when is this team proven that they can get sweeps, I guess, would be the conversation there.

Four, four sweeps in 2026, which is not good enough. It is definitely not good enough. And it's still shocking how many other teams have four or less themselves. But most of those teams are not in a playoff hunt right now. They're not in a postseason race. Scotty Mac says we haven't seen a sweep. We haven't swept a team in two months. That's what it feels like.

for sure. But, you know, again, the offense kind of got going there. It took a lot of prodding and being down by a lot of runs in order for them to get going against the Rangers, but they did get going. Hopefully, you know, they can find a way to keep that offense going while having that, you know, their starters come in and hold this Marlins team at bay. And let's take a look at how those probable pitchers for this series line up. We got, it's still weird to mean to see. Corvin Burns starting in game one against Sandy Alcantra. Michael Soroka in game two against Jansen Junk.

And game three, Merrill Kelly going against Ryan Gusto. Alcantra is 3.78 ERA this season. He's been pretty damn good for the Marlins. It's 13 and 10 with 143 strikeouts, while Corbyn Burns, an impressive 0.00 ERA. I'm just saying, no runs allowed. Jansen Junk, meanwhile, 4.54 ERA, 6 and 9. Nice in his season going up against Soroka.

There is news that Zach Gallen is going to be moved to the bullpen, and I can only imagine that's a temporary move, maybe not a permanent one. But we do have Ryan Nelson coming back who we'll talk about here in a second. But Soroka is 8 and 5 this year, still with an impressive 3.53 ERA. and then in the finale we got merrill kelly whose e r a finally drops below five it's down to 4.97 he is 9 and 13 this year he is going up there against gusto who has a 4.14 era and a 1 in 5 record so not world beaters not guys that you can't go out and score some runs against right so that's what the diamondbacks have to do is they have to go out there and they have to score some runs all star names though yeah pretty good names Jansen Junk

Jansen Junk That's incredible to me I mean that's like a TV show name That that's that's a pro wrestler name A hundred percent Well he's a relief pit I mean he's a pitcher though Like that's that's perfect pitcher name Oh yeah

Yeah unless your name was like Lenny fastball Or something like that Jansen junk Lenny Fastball It's pretty good You know Tim Shubs I always thought like Tim Duncan was pretty cool Oh yeah, Tim Duncan was amazing.

I didn't even think that was a real guy when I first heard. Duncan? Duncan? His name's Tim Duncan? That's awesome. Let's see. We did get something brought up here in the chat that I was going to talk about. Yeah, Lordus Guriel Jr. designated for assignment over the weekend. Pave and Smith recalled from AAA Reno, and we have a lot of questions in the mailbag. I'm not even, don't even get started on a Pave and Smith. We'll get to that. but yeah, Lourdes was DFA'd.

And I mean, I think it goes to show how serious they are to trying to win here down the stretch. It also shows that they'd already made the decision to not bring Lourdes back during the offseason. And that was something we'd figured was a foregone conclusion. So no surprises there when it comes to, you know, that situation. But a little surprise, a little surprise that they did designate. Lordus for assignment. However, he's been struggling. And honestly, I know we're going to talk about Paven's numbers in AAA, but Lordus was the opposite. Lordus struggled in AAA. So if you can't find a way to put up some decent numbers in Reno in the PCL, then there might be a serious problem.

And yeah, that's where we're at. That's where the Diamondbacks are. But like I said, Don't we're not getting started on pavement just yet. We'll do that here shortly because it's Monday and you know what we do on Monday. But first, but first, I think we got the husband and wife law team injury update, which guys, let's, I'm not, I'm not, it's shockingly low. We're almost having a hard time finding things to talk about during the injury report here presented by the husband and wife law team. But we do have an update on Ryan Nelson after,

His last outing, Ryan Nelson, went out for their AAA Reno Aces on the 12th, which was Saturday, I believe. And he gave the Reno Aces an updown, which was encouraging for his progress and him coming back. He had a clean first inning. Then he came out in the second inning. He did give up a couple of hits and runs, which wasn't great. But he did end up going one and two thirds innings pitched. Four hits allowed two runs, zero walks, two strikeouts. The most important part of the outing is that his fastball was maxed out at 97.2 miles per hour, which is up from his season average and is right where his fastball is at for it to be at its best. He flashed some other good secondary pitches as well. The results weren't great, but the results aren't really what we care about as much as we care about Nellie being healthy and being able to throw again. So some good news here in regards to Ryan Nelson.

coming back from that injury and rejoining this team, there's a good chance that Ryan Nelson is going to be back on the roster when, you know, for this particular series or at the latest, probably for the Yankee series. But I would see, I would see Nellie being back on,

you know, back on the major league roster by the end of this series with the Marlins. That'd be nice. A little boost for the team. And I feel like right now with the way that things are going as well, with the Padreys winning all their games, Like this team just needs a motivational boost more than anything, right? Like a little bit of just a pick me up and getting a guy back from injury that's been gone for all season could provide something like that, potentially?

Could be. It could be. I mean, anything at this point, any spark, any kind of encouraging sign, anything that can help this team, you know, just get on a roll. They need to get hot. now would be the ideal time to get hot, not just to make the playoffs, but entering the postseason, right? So it still feels like it's not great

when you have to say that this particular series with the Marlins is a must win or we're doing a time of death situation. So maybe Ryan Nelson can come back and help this team secure this series victory. But we're going to take a quick break. On the other side of this break, we're going to do what we do every single Monday

on this show and we'll until the end of the time, Don't you go anywhere. You were watching the PHNX Diamondback show. Powerball, the pick, and pick three. Arizona lottery games. You know them, you love them. They're the Arizona lottery. Draw games, in fact, but now they're better than ever.

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to sit. And GameTime will help you save even more with zone deals. So take the guestwork out of buying MLB tickets with GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code PHNX for $20 off your first purchase. Terms do apply. Again, create an account and redeem code P. HNX for $20 off. Download the Game Time app today. Damon, what time is it? Game time? It is game time. It is game time. Time for our software to work properly is really what it is. All right. I'm not taking any more attacks at technology because technology will fight back and and smite me. So we're going to do what we do on this program every single year and every single month and every single day and every single week and mostly on Mondays because every year on the pHNX Diamondback show is our year. even though right now it's not really feeling like it's our year.

Every year on this show is the year of the snake. Every month on this podcast is Black History Month. Every single month on this podcast is Women's History Month. And every single month on the PHNX Diamondbacks baseball podcast is Black Women's History Month. Every single week is Shark Week. Every single day is Earth Day because Damon and I recycle still. And on Mondays, we go to the mailbag. Damon, let's go to the mailbag now.

My mail box. Always something interesting in my mailbox. I try to get to everything in my mailbox. And then once in a while there's a letter that makes me go out. The mailbag song's broken. The dog's broken. Everything's broken. We are not in a good place, you guys.

We really aren't. We really, really aren't. Starting off the mailbag, we got Travis Moore, who says, can I elaborate on my position last week with Carol's struggles being more frustrating than March. Tate's issues. Carol is trying to do all of the right things, and that's why it's more frustrating outside of more rest. If he's hurt, how do you tell him what he needs to change?

No, I get what he's saying. I think we understood that. My reason why the Marte stuff was more frustrating is because Ketel is not trying to do all the things he can correctly necessarily. You know what I mean? That's actually why I'm more frustrated by it. I see why it can be more frustrating from your angle as well, but I think that we're just kind of saying the same things, but just with different takes on it, Travis.

But in regards to what he's saying with Carol's struggles, I get why he's saying it's more frustrating because Carol is doing everything right and the results aren't there. And that's baseball. Baseball is so frustrating in general for that exact reason for some guys. You know, and I mean, perhaps the problem is because the results aren't there, the tinkering continues, the self-doubt continues. And more importantly, the fact that Horbin, probably feels like it's something in his mechanics that he needs to change versus just like

lightning up you know like not pressing as much not demanding results or not trying to figure it out like it's a math problem of some kind you know just relaxing perhaps a little bit that's very hard to do though when you're in a slump and that's the reason why especially in baseball slumps continue. They are, you know, they definitely are, you know, a compounding situation where the slump itself is a factor making you worse in the slump. Sucks, you know, and I think again, for Corbyn up to this point in his life and in his baseball career, he probably has been able to use coaching advice and make adjustments in order to improve. And that's how he got to the elite level that he's been at in his career.

And now he's just trying to figure out once again how he can make those adjustments to improve. And perhaps he's gone, you know, just overcorrecting onto the other side of things where, you know, the tinkering perhaps is too much. You know, I don't know. Yeah, it's very frustrating with Corbyn. I mean, I think we all have expected him

to break out of this slump for months now. And he hasn't been able to do so. So, yeah, I don't want to make it seem like it's not a valid sort of interpretation of the frustration here. For you personally, it's more frustrating when the guy is doing it himself by choice. Correct. Rather than Corbyn just having what happens to Corbyn happen to a lot of baseball players, whereas, you know, suddenly they go from being incredible to not being so good

or struggling for a period of their career. I mean, he's still a valuable player, you know. He definitely, his slug is still high, like his base running. his defense, but it's not the MVP caliber player that he was for the first half of the season. Right. And he's not the MVP caliber that we know him to be, right? I mean, look at all the, look at all the like things he set this weekend and all the stuff that he continues to do, man. I mean, I had like a billion notes about Corbyn Carroll. Corbyn Carroll now is, makes, you know, major league history. Carol is the first player with 20 plus home runs, 20 plus stolen bases,

and 15 or more triples in a season. And he did so in 2025 and is the first player with two such seasons according to Sarah Slangs. So man, it's, it's incredible what he's been able to do, but yet when we're seeing him struggle right now when we need him, you know, to be at his best the most he's not and perhaps that's also adding to it you know maybe just the the fact that he wants to be right for this team during this time is a big factor you know that's also kind of weighing him down yeah what else we got yeah moving on from the stupidity of the chat michael rukickegee evil michael says allow evil michael to put the e in his name by saying i know things don't look great but is there an e next to their name no not dead yet yeah i don't like this coming from this man

because this man's taunting fate with being at like five of the last seven home games that the diamondbacks have left in their season. He got the name evil Michael for a reason. He's evil. And even if he, even if the team wins the game that he's there present for, I still feel like the residual spirit of him left in that building is bringing this team down. So I think you should all ask Michael Rokickey slash. evil Michael why he hates this baseball team and why he wants to see them fail. I think that's the bigger mailbag Monday question.

In fact, I don't even think Michael asked the question. So since he didn't, I'll propose one. Why is Michael a driving force against this team? I think it's a valid question. All right, let's go on to the next one. What else we got? Next question is from Stephen, who says, in the end, the biggest weakness from the beginning of the season to the last 10 to 12

game stuck out, and that was not being able to score with runners in scoring position. Seems like we lost a lot of games by one darn big hit this past weekend against Texas, that one game at home versus L.A., another home game versus L.A., etc. Yeah. I mean, that's been the biggest problem with this team. They've not, it's not about the opportunities not being there. It's just they haven't had, especially lately, those big moments. And we got, you know, we got a few. We got them from Kattel.

We got him from Ryan Walschmidt. But, man, like how. uplifting and how much of a, you know, driving force could it be for this team to get a walk off, you know, win tonight, for instance, just that kind of big thing that that makes them believe again, that reinvigorates them and gives them, you know, just something to, to feel great about. They need that right now. They need that or they need like a big blowout victory. I don't even know if a blowout victory does the same thing, right? Like, it's fair to say that like a walkoff win late seems to, you know, kind of energize this team in a way that nothing else can.

But hey, I don't know. We'll see what happens. Overall, though, the factor about runners in scoring position is absolutely correct. It continues to be their biggest problem in so many of these big moments, not having that, not only that, you know, decent batting average with runners and scoring position over the course of a game, but most importantly, getting those big hits with those runners in scoring position at, you know, the timely hits, the beginning, you know, that's something that they haven't had many of lately. All right. Well, so we got, Damon.

Our next question here is from Gabriel, who says since Pavin was called up, where O and two, is that a coincidence? Also, now that Gowan is going to the bullpen, do we really want him to come up at any point of the game with the season on the line? Oh, God, no. No? No, but he's probably going to. It's going to be interesting to see how they use gallon out of the bullpen. Yeah, that's weird. You know, that's going to be weird.

But in regards to the first part of your question, I mean, Paveen Smith is Paveen Smith. I know we all want to believe that he's like a curse on this team and, you know, that they can't succeed with him being here. But when you take a look at what Pavan, again, was hitting, you know, Paving slash 301, 425, 500 for a 925 OPS. in 43 games for the AAA Reno Aces was much better than how Lordus Guerriel Jr. did when he was down. And that's the reason why, even though they gave Lourdes an opportunity, they DFAed him and they recalled Jose Fernandez from this team for the roster.

And then Pave and Smith obviously was called up. I think Adrian Del Castillo was optioned. But, you know, again, they are just looking for some source of some source of power, some sorts of hitting, some source of offense. And if they believe it's going to be from Pavin, I think at the very least they feel like they're going to get more from him than they're getting from some of their other options. Is him being here and then being 0 and 2 in his time on the roster of coincidence? Maybe. Let's see if they go 0 in 3 tonight. and then we'll have a discussion on it on tomorrow's show tomorrow's post game show by the way that we're doing so make sure to join us for that what else we got i i know i know we have more paving questions damon i just know we do yeah did you want to hit the final three questions here did you want to hit our last break um let's let's go ahead and let's uh take a quick break and then we'll get back to the questions on the other side don't you guys go anywhere you are watching the p h and x diamond back show

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If you've had a serious injury, call the husband and wife law team first at 602, 783, 8841, or visit their website at the link and our show notes and tell them PHMX sent you. All right. Let's get back to the mailbag, Damon. What else we got? Our next question here is from Craig Jr. And Craig Jr. says 44 comeback wins this year. What is that hiding in our team structure?

Awesome game management hiding the glaring offensive problem. Because our offense doesn't suggest 44 comebacks. No, that's true. Yeah, being that OPS being as low as it is and everything. I think it's the bullpen, a lot of it, right? Yeah, that's a great answer, honestly. That's a great answer. The bullpen essentially being able to hold the opposing team scoreless and give this team a chance to come back is a big reason why they've been able to have 44 comeback victories.

I think a lot of it is in general the pitching. I think that certain guys like Michael Soroka and Eduardo Rodriguez have been outstanding. And there have been a lot of low scoring games when it comes to the Diamondbacks who they're playing, right? So the fact that the opposition can be kept within five runs feels like that makes it gives this team a chance. I do think they have a belief in themselves. I do think that once you start having so many comeback wins, you start believing that you're not out of it because you've literally seen it happen time and time again. You've been a part of it. The bat has been in your hand or you've been sitting in the dugout watching your teammates win the game.

So I do think that the more that they come back and win, the more they believe, believe that they're never out of a situation. Considering, as Damon said, how good the bullpen has been this year, then yeah, I mean, you definitely feel like, you know, that that has been what's been keeping it, you know, at least close enough to have these comeback victories happen, right? What else we got? Our next question is from Basinga Sports. He says, why does the same circumstances keep happening year after year?

Oh, man. Which is a great question. It really is. because it does just feel like we're living in Groundhog Day. I mean, this answer is going to probably please kill the Rex entirely too much, but is it Tori? I mean, you got to start questioning it when the result is the same, regardless of the reasons for the result being there. It could just be that this team is a mediocre team in comparison to the competition. That's no, I'm not slamming this roster.

I'm not slamming, you know, the way things are built, but, you know, looking across this league, right, few teams have the weaknesses that the Diamondbacks had. And again, crediting Damon, he was screaming about this stuff during the off season, right? So if those problems persisted during the off season and they were glaring and obvious so much so that we on this show were discussing them, then there's no reason for the organization. and not have not have tried to do more to address those glaring weaknesses. Obviously, the DH first base situation is a huge impact overall on the production of this team. They swung and missed many times. In fact, you know, credit to Nolan Aronado for having a renaissance of a year here. Because if that move didn't work, then it would almost look like every offensive move they made this offseason didn't work.

Not to mention, you know, we are guys here on this podcast that we're very much against them treating Cotel Marte in any way, shape, or form and still kind of are, but hard not to watch Peyton Tolly have an immaculate inning and smile in the middle of him doing it and not think like, it would be nice to have that guy and his beautiful mustache and his just wonderful demeanor, right? He is a splendid person that makes the game of baseball more fun. But yeah, overall, I can't really answer why it keeps happening because this particular year, we've discussed, it's different. In the past, it was their offense was one of the best in the league, and their pitching, you know, sucked and was unreliable, especially the bullpen. Now it's kind of the opposite.

You know, their offense is completely unreliable, and their pitching has been the only thing that's been keeping them in baseball games. So I don't know. But again, the common denominator would be the manager, which at this point, if the Diamondbacks don't make the postseason, Tori Lavello most likely won't be the manager of this team any longer. And while that pleases some, it also upsets some. And at the end of the day, I think that the change would probably be just to try to not have this happen once again.

Right. But just wait. Wait until you see how many teams literally clobber each other over the head to try to get Tori to be their new manager, if that's the case. But we'll see. What else we got? our last question is from kellen who says how confident are you guys at the debacks make the playoffs after attending yesterday's game i feel like i'm out on this team you hate to hear it not very yeah i as of right now it feels pretty bad man feels pretty bad that that ranger series was big

you needed to win that series with your pitching that you had on the mound yeah and especially coming so close in the comeback in the seven six games game and the way that that game also just got away from them as well. You know, Eduardo Rodriguez, of all people, Erod? Like, ugh, it's disappointing that the guy that has been the ace of this staff was not that in the day when the Diamondbacks needed him to be the most, you know? At least they did make it a close game. But I think that even makes it more heartbreaking that they lost it,

that they came just within one run and couldn't get the job done. but oh all right that's all we got you guys thank you for sticking with us through all of our technical difficulties well i don't know did we have questions i thought we had questions from the um discord but i guess we did none that i saw oh you had some you dropped six discord questions in as well i mean we don't have to get to all of them because a bunch of them are about pavement smith and again circling back to that for the for the discord questions. I will say that it's you know it is a thing where this team has to find some offense somewhere.

But again, we have, you know, Pavin who was DFAed from this team and they brought them back. They definitely, you know, are just looking at this point for anybody with major league experience in the organization that could get hot at the right time. they still believe in Pavin and I know that he is you know he is a guy that frustrates a lot of fans and I know that the team tends to not win when he is you know here right but I don't know I still think that overall I know a lot of people again we have like two of them I'm just going to answer that overall uh Pavean Smith uh is uh as much as Katie May wants to wants to make it out to be. She says we all agree. Paveen Smith is the reason we lost the last two games. Who made that decision we D-Avibed him earlier in the season? Immediately started winning,

bring him back, and immediately start losing. He's cursed. No, he's not. But I know a lot of people feel that way. I think we have Gabe Ape the Gota also in there doing it as well. But I know, I know. I know a lot of people feel this way. But if Pavan can, you know, add something, offer something to this team if he can be a spark for this offense. I mean, he had an RBI single in his first at bat in his first game back. So I just produce, produce,

and I think people will stop. I think people won't care if you produce. But yeah, we just need somebody to figure it out. What else we got, Damon? Sorry for that late notice on those questions. Sorry for. continuing to blow it here. Deborah asks, what do you foresee

happening in the off season? I mean, obviously it's going to be vastly different if the Diamondbacks make the postseason versus not making the postseason. I don't even know what the Diamondbacks would need to do for the Diamondbacks organization to want to bring Tori back. But if they have a postseason run

and they can go deep, I imagine Tori's back. But the biggest problem is the looming CBA, you know, negotiation and the lockout that's most likely going to happen. Should that happen? I think that I don't think the Diamondbacks are going to do much until all is that, you know, all is, all is figured out in regards to that. And that could be a while before we see moves made and, you know,

players acquired. They have a lot of holes that they're going to need to fill with some players that won't be on this team next year. and a lot of it is going to, I think, revolve around trying to fix this offense. Hopefully. Hopefully. But yeah, that's what I foresee happening in the offseason. If they don't make the postseason,

then I wouldn't expect Tori to be back. And I mean, I wouldn't be that shocked to see the Diamondbacks even possibly search for a new GM, even though I think that would be a mistake. But it wouldn't be a complete shock. All right, what else we get? Gary, the cat said, how much more patience do you think Ken Kendrick has if we miss the postseason for the third

straight season since our World Series run he's been opening up his pocketbook and I'm worried that that won't continue or happen if this yoffless run continues or do you think he'll keep the payroll where it is and make changes from the top GM and skipper at some point someone has to be held accountable yeah you're right I mean this goes back to all I think all of these questions have a central theme which is this keeps happening time and time again so how do we prevent it from happening, right? What's the main cause? Part of it is that this team on paper, when you look at the power rankings and you look at the guys that are here, aren't performing. You know, like we know how good Perdomo and Marte and Carol and Gabby can all be, but they're not

that right now collectively as a group. I think that's more of what is missing is for the guys that we know can perform at a certain level to get to that level and all be there at the same time. Maybe that's asking a lot, but I do feel like that's what happens with good teams. And maybe, you know, maybe the biggest problem is the inconsistency that we're getting out of our stars where they're not, you know, all handing the baton off to the next person and given this team the kind of performance that we know that they should be. All right. What else we got? We got one more? Yeah, our last one is from Richard Perry.

he says, I know D-backs need to win their games, but scoreboard watching, who do you think has the toughest games left of the Cubs, Phillies and Padres? Can we please jump one of these teams and make the MF and Yoffs? Well, honestly, I think the Cubs have a pretty tough schedule ahead. They start a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves today,

and the Braves are desperately trying to pass the Dodgers to get a first round by in the wild card round, right, and not have to play that wild card round. They still have something to play for. The Dodgers still very much have something to play for. So those teams battling the teams that are ahead of us are a big part of how we could pass them. We need those teams to step up, right? We need the Braves to play well against the Cubs.

We need, you know, the Dodgers to play extremely well against the Padres when they take them on in that last three-game series before we take them on for the final series of the year. And if that was the case, then, you know, we definitely could jump a team or two. but like I said earlier, the Cubs are making it in. They're a lock. The Phillies, they're a lock. Padres are winning the World Series. So how do we fit in?

I don't know. But maybe just maybe the stupid things I say on this show can help get us there. I once again am willing to do whatever it takes, including breaking this podcast like we did earlier. We're all broken right now. Like I said, this dog broken.

May this, this, we knew things were bad when this happened. This might have been, the actual nail in the coffin for this team. I can't even figure it out. I'm going to take this thing apart today and make it work again so that hopefully it'll bring the exact kind of positive vibes and mojo that this team needs to finish the season strong. But again, we thank you guys all. Love you. Appreciate you for sticking through all of our technical difficulties today. We can't thank you enough. Sorry sincerely about that. We'll be back tomorrow with another postgame show after game two between the Diamondbacks and the Marlins. Make sure to join us for that. Until then, you can

follow us on social media. I am at cap underscore Kate Man with a K. Damon is at Damon Dog with a D-A-W-G and we're all we're all Damon's dogs. Bark, bark. Our show is that P-H-N-X underscore D-Backs but as always all roads lead to at P-H-N-X

underscore sports on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Love you guys. Thank you for sharing your time with us today. It's your most valuable commodity as you know. Be careful who you share it with. We'll see you back here tomorrow. Behave yourselves and remember kids. Baseball is fun. But it's so much more fun when you realize that this is the 11th hour with 12 games left and you just have to win.