D-backs weighing battery mates for Bumgarner
D-backs manager Torey Lovullo is still weighing whether to pair one catcher with Madison Bumgarner for all of the veteran left-hander’s starts this year, or if it will vary depending on how each catcher matches up with that day’s opposing pitcher.
“I haven’t come up with that idea yet,” Lovullo said. “I’ll probably start having my conversations here in the next several days on what guys are seeing, what their sightlines are, what things are going right and wrong. That includes talking to pitchers and getting pretty intimate with them. I want to get what’s on their mind and hit it right, put them in the best position to be successful.”
When veteran Zack Greinke pitched for Lovullo from 2016-19, he primarily threw to one catcher. Initially that was Jeff Mathis and then veteran Alex Avila.
While Greinke preferred having just one catcher, Bumgarner has not given Lovullo any indication that would be his preference.
Instead, Bumgarner threw to both catchers during Spring Training -- veteran Stephen Vogt and second-year backstop Carson Kelly. Bumgarner has more of a history with Vogt, having played with him last season in San Francisco, but the left-hander said this spring he was fine throwing to Kelly as well.
“I think we’re pretty good,” Kelly said of his rapport with Bumgarner. “I caught him almost every start now. Stephen has had that relationship from in San Francisco. Mine and [Bumgarner’s] locker -- we’re six feet away but we’re next to each other in a sense. I think that relationship is going to continue to grow.”
Bumgarner mainly threw to All-Star Buster Posey during his first 11 seasons in the big leagues with the Giants.
“I have had no indication that that is going to be his preference,” Lovullo said of one catcher for Bumgarner. “He’s a pretty easy-going guy. Just wants to get the baseball and go out there and compete.”
Bumgarner better
In his second outing of Summer Camp, Bumgarner threw three shutout innings in an intrasquad game, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out four.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled with the progress he made from his last start,” Lovullo said. “It was easy to predict. You see how these pitchers with the type of stuff and experience they have, they improve. Really pleased with his outing.”
Archie Bradley started against Bumgarner and threw one perfect inning, striking out two.
“Archie looked fantastic again,” Lovullo said. “Couldn’t be more pleased with what I saw.”
2021 schedule released
The D-backs will open the 2021 regular season in San Diego with a four-game series against the Padres beginning on April 1.
Arizona is also set to open its 2020 season in San Diego on July 24.
In 2021, the D-backs’ home opener will be April 9 against the Reds, and they will close out the season at home with a three-game series against the Rockies from Oct. 1-3.