Hale tones down criticism of players

WASHINGTON -- One day after criticizing his team's energy level, D-backs manager Chip Hale said his comments were made in the heat of the moment, though, he did remind the players during the team's usual hitter's meeting before batting practice Monday.

The D-backs managed just one run Sunday afternoon against Houston's Collin McHugh in dropping the series to the Astros.

Video: 8/2/15: McHugh's strong outing lifts Astros"Our energy yesterday I didn't feel was up to par," Hale said. "You've got to give McHugh credit. He pitched really well. Sometimes that's just the perception you get as a coach, as a manager, because you're not getting a lot of hits you're not getting a lot of action. We talked about all those things. It's just a reminder. In a 162-game season, you're not going to be able to have your energy be at the highest level all the time. You'd like it to be, you preach it, but it's a fact that you're going to have these clunkers."

One of the things that D-backs chief baseball officer Tony La Russa and general manager Dave Stewart liked about Hale when he interviewed for the manager's job last fall was his energy and intensity, and at times that comes across in his postgame comments.

"I think I just lost my temper," he said. "Not probably fair to you guys or even to the [players]. But certain things bother you. Getting picked off, not having competitive at-bats at times bothered me. Just got fed up with it."