I’ll tell you something right off the bat: before the season started, I had a feeling that the Diamondbacks had the potential to have a big season. It’s not for nothing that I predicted them the titles of Rookie of the Year (Corbin Carroll), Cy Young (Zac Gallen) and Manager of the Year (Torey Lovullo).
Carroll will win it, Lovullo will be considered and Gallen came close. I’m quite proud, especially since I predicted the National MVP for Ronald Acuna Jr.
On the other hand, I admit that I didn’t expect to see them in the position they currently find themselves in. Trailing 0-2 to the Phillies in the Championship Series, they put on their work boots and brought the series back to 2-2.
And when we look at the recipe that got them this far, we very often (rightly) talk about the trade that brought Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno to town. Daulton Varsho may be a good ball player, but Answerbacks wouldn’t be in this position without Moreno, right now.
That said, I want to tell you about the other transaction that changed everything in Arizona. A transaction that goes a little under the radar, but whose importance has been of capital until now for the DBacks.
I’m talking about the one that brought Paul Sewald to town at the trade deadline.
One of the big problems in Arizona this year has been the bullpen. The club had no closer worthy of the name, so much so that guys like Kevin Ginkel, Scott McGough and Miguel Castro often found themselves with the ball in the ninth inning.
And while these guys aren’t bad relievers, we’re mostly talking about depth arms. They were good, but they weren’t in the right chair.
By getting their hands on Sewald, on the other hand, everyone ended up finding their chair. Ginkel has become the eighth-inning specialist, Castro is used in less intense situations and McGough is unfortunately injured, but his end to the season was not great.
Meanwhile, Sewald responds. He throws fastballs at 92 miles per hour right into the heart of the plate repeatedly, but he never gets hit.
Yesterday, it was Trea Turner who was surprised by Sewald’s “fire ball”. I will never get tired of seeing guys being passed by bullets that barely pass 100 90 miles per hour.
If you want a more rational explanation, it’s the location of Sewald’s arm when he lets the ball go that makes his shots difficult to hit. It adds an effect that can be mixing, a bit according to the same principle as Alexis Diaz in Cincinnati.
But beyond his performances on the field, Sewald has become a rallying figure in Arizona. He exudes great confidence and the guys are not afraid when it comes time to close the books.
And what’s more, the organization has adopted THE even “It’s time for Paul Sewald to pitch”a joke that dates back to when Sewald was a member of the Mariners and his manager routinely sent him out to pitch in the ninth inning, no matter what the advanced stats said.
We are far from the philosophy of the Rays and Kevin Cash, let’s say.
Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. have been essential to the success of the Cinderella team in the 2023 playoffs, no one will say otherwise. That said, we must also recognize the impact of Paul Sewald, who arrived at a big price (Josh Rojas as well as hopefuls Dominic Canzone and Ryan Bliss went the opposite way), but who ultimately offered an arm of confidence to his manager in the ninth inning.
And tonight, if the Diamondbacks have the lead in the ninth inning, I’ll tell you right now: it will be Paul Sewald’s time to pitch.
