With his team teetering on the brink of elimination, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo’s job status is again a topic of discussion. Lovullo understands. For him, it’s nothing new.
“It seems to be a very important part of the conversation for a lot of people,” Lovullo said on Saturday, Sept. 19, a day after his team lost for the third consecutive day to drop five games out of a playoff spot with eight games remaining.
“For me, it’s real, I understand it, but it’s the realities of this game. You’ve got to win. That’s what it comes down to. Have we won enough? You know, I want to win every game that we play.”
Lovullo, in his 10th season as Diamondbacks manager, has worked as a “lame-duck” manager in four of the past six seasons. He seemed to reference
that history, as well as the fact that he had to “fight for everything” during his playing career.
But he said that, for now, at least, he remains focused on doing what he can to help his players and coaches finish out the season.
“When it’s time to worry about it or think about it, whether that’s sooner than later, I will,” he said. “I’ve got to do my job. If I'm worried about different things that I can’t control, then I'm not doing my job for that group in there. I’m doing fine. I’m doing fine. Because I've lived in this space for a long time. I understand the playbook. I understand the realities of this game.”
Last year, Lovullo went into the final weekend of the year with similar questions surrounding him. He found out a day after the season ended that he would be coming back for another year.
The situation is believed to be similar to then: Lovullo has strong support from the baseball operations department and general manager Mike Hazen, but how he is viewed by ownership is less certain.
Lovullo has two postseason appearances — 2017 and 2023 — during his managerial tenure, but he also has presided over multiple late-season collapses. If this year's team continues to stumble, it would mark a third consecutive year the Diamondbacks fell short in September.
Hazen is working under the five-year extension he signed in September 2023. His deal runs through 2028.
The Diamondbacks entered Saturday, Sept. 19, facing long odds at a postseason berth. FanGraphs put their chances at claiming a wild-card spot at about 5%.
—Nick Piecoro
Justin Martinez leaves impression on manager
Members of the 2001 Diamondbacks World Series team milled about in front of the home dugout at Chase Field on Friday, Sept. 18, catching up, taking photos and conducting interviews.
Justin Martinez walked among them, asking each one he approached to sign a baseball. The Diamondbacks reliever later put the ball in a case he had with him in the team clubhouse.
Lovullo said Martinez seeking autographs of veterans is a throwback to a previous generation of players.
“I love it,” Lovullo said. “There was probably seven fistfights between those teammates, firstfights don’t happen anymore. It’s just a different level of camaraderie. But players care about the same thing, and that’s to win the world championship.
“So ‘J-Mart’ was probably just getting a feel for the common denominator based on what drove that team, and that’s a brotherhood that you can’t replace.”
Lovullo added that he's happy that the current team has players that are fans of baseball on that level.
“That he gets to touch their emotions makes it even better. That’s vintage J-Mart," Lovullo said.
— José M. Romero
Yankees at Diamondbacks, 5:10 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (7-3, 3.77) vs. Yankees RHP Cam Schlittler (14-6, 1.95).
At Chase Field: Pfaadt gave up six runs in 6⅔ innings against the Rangers in his most recent start. All six runs came in the fifth inning, in which Pfaadt was ruled to have missed the bag while covering first, opening the door for the final four runs of the inning to score. … Pfaadt has had a strong past few months overall, but his past five starts have been rough. He has posted a 5.74 ERA in 31⅓ innings in that stretch. … He has faced the Yankees only once in his career, giving up six runs (five earned) in 4⅓ innings in a game in 2023. … Schlittler looks like the favorite to win the American League Cy Young Award. He has the lowest ERA and WHIP and has logged 184⅔. … He has never faced the Diamondbacks. … Schlittler averages 98 mph with his four-seam fastball. He primarily throws that, his sinker and cutter, only occasionally sprinkling in curveballs and a rare slider.
Coming up
Sunday, Sept. 20: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Corbin Burnes (0-0, 5.87) vs. Yankees RHP Will Warren (10-6, 3.89).
Monday, Sept. 21: Off.
Tuesday, Sept. 22: At Colorado, 5:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (8-5, 3.45) vs. Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (4-10, 6.38).
Wednesday, Sept. 23: At Colorado, 5:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (9-14, 5.00) vs. Rockies RHP Mason Adams (0-1, 5.09).
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Yankees at Diamondbacks. Lovullo on job status, Martinez honors past
