Team News
‘Tough one to swallow’: D-backs miss chance to gain in WC race “Tough one to swallow,” said starter Ryne Nelson. “I think the guys left it all out there today. I think, regardless of how it ended, it’s really fun to be a part of this team and to be a part of what we have going on here. I think that we never give up, never stop fighting. And I think that’s kind of been the story of the whole season. Tough one to swallow, but all we can do is just go home, get some rest and come back out here ready
to win a game.” https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/d-backs-lose-vs-dodgers-miss-chance-to-gain-in-wild-card-race
Diamondbacks fail to move into playoff position, falling in extras to Dodgers
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2025/09/24/diamondbacks-dodgers-score-news-latest-updates/85979873007/
Torey Lovullo Explains Extra-Inning Decision After Failed Comeback
“How do I feel about it? I feel like when you get a run at third base and less than two outs, you’ve got to find a way to win the baseball game.
“I knew that there was a chance they’d pitch around Corbin. I knew there was a chance they’d load the bases with Gabi. … We secured some things in place that we felt like we were going to score a run. With Jake [McCarthy] at the plate, we just didn’t do it. We didn’t execute,” Lovullo said.
https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/arizona-diamondbacks-news/torey-lovullo-explains-decision-failed-comeback-dodgers
Carroll’s impact on Valley youth leads to Clemente Award nomination
Castaldo still remembers the one word email she got in response.
“Okay,” it said.
Castaldo wasn’t sure what that meant so she sent back an email for clarification. Carroll explained that he was planning on doing them all. Castaldo couldn’t believe it.
“I mean, he just is a person of incredible character, incredible kindness, still very humble,” Castaldo said. “He doesn’t see himself as different than us. He sees himself as just being part of the team, part of the family, which I just think is very unique and very different.”
https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/corbin-carroll-nominated-for-2025-roberto-clemente-award
Is James McCann Becoming D-backs’ Starting Catcher?
“You talk to a lot of experienced Major League catchers. Jeff Mathis, for one, who I’ve had conversations with since he’s left here, and he said there’s no way you can replace time behind the plate in experience. It’s going to take you three or four years before you figure out a lot of stuff, and I believe that,” Lovullo said. “I think [McCann] just creates a sense of ease that when he puts a call down that there’s a reason. It’s probably more experience-based rather than pitch plan-based.”
https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/arizona-diamondbacks-news/james-mccann-becoming-diamondbacks-starting-catcher
Diamondbacks to use opener on Thursday vs. Dodgers, push back Zac Gallen
https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/gallen-padres/3597108/
Diamondbacks’ clubhouse reacts to ABS challenge system: ‘Fans are gonna love it’
https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/abs-challenge/3596993/
Other Baseball
Fry (facial, nasal fractures) to avoid surgery, visited by Skubal at hospital
Manager Stephen Vogt and a number of Guardians went to visit Fry at the Cleveland Clinic Tuesday night — as did Skubal, who caught a ride with Vogt. Fry was in good spirits, all things considered.
“There were a number of us that went over there. It was just to go see him, just to go check on him,” Vogt said. “With his family not being here, you want to make sure [he’s OK]. … We left feeling like he’s himself. He’s injured, and he’s hurting. He’s in a ton of pain. But as far as life goes, he’s going to be OK.
https://www.mlb.com/news/david-fry-injury-update-ball-to-face
Tigers’ Tarik Skubal earns praise from Guardians’ Stephen Vogt after visiting injured David Fry in hospital
“Tarik Skubal is an unbelievable human,” Vogt said. “He actually went and visited David at the hospital last night just to check on him. And that just speaks to, yes, we’re competing, yes, it’s important when we’re out on the field. But some things are bigger than baseball.”
Skubal explained how the visit came together.
“I got (Fry’s) number and then reached out,” he said. “I just assumed he didn’t have his phone — that they took him right from the field, right to the hospital. But I got in touch with (Vogt) and he took me over to the hospital. I was able to get in and see him and just apologize. Obviously nothing intentional, but still apologize about the situation. It’s one of those freak baseball plays. But I’m glad he was doing relatively all right.”
https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2025/09/tigers-tarik-skubal-earns-praise-from-guardians-stephen-vogt-after-visiting-injured-david-fry-in-hospital.html
Paul Skenes strikes out 7 in no-decision in Pirates’ victory
Skenes became the first qualified pitcher with an ERA under 2.00 since Justin Verlander in 2022. He’s the youngest pitcher with a sub-2.00 ERA since 20-year-old Dwight Gooden’s 1.53 in 1985.
“I’m actually worse than I was last year,” Skenes said with a wry smile. “It was 1.96 last year. I’m 1.97 this year. Just got to be better. No, it’s cool. I don’t come into the year with any numerical goals.”
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46372341/paul-skenes-strikes-7-no-decision-pirates-victory
Cal Raleigh hits 59th, 60th HRs as Mariners clinch AL West
“When you look at how he has done it and the position that he plays — I was telling somebody earlier today that when you come off the field, you’re mentally and physically exhausted,” said Mariners manager Dan Wilson, a former major league catcher. “And for him to do what he’s done offensively and to do what he does behind the plate, I honestly don’t think we’ve seen this before. It’s been incredible. I think he deserves the MVP, no question.”
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46372141/mariners-cal-raleigh-hits-mlb-leading-59th-home-run
Judge tops 50 HRs for historic fourth time as Yankees pull even atop AL East
https://www.mlb.com/news/aaron-judge-reaches-50-homers-for-the-fourth-time
Viva Las Vegas: A’s Triple-A affiliate soars to first title since 1988
https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/las-vegas-aviators-2025-pacific-coast-league-championship?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage
‘We have to go all out’: Astros lose 5th straight as playoff hopes dwindle
https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-lose-fifth-straight-game-as-playoff-hopes-dwindle
Tigers lose 8th straight, fall out of 1st place for first time since April
https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/tigers-fall-out-of-first-place-in-division-after-loss-to-guardians
Phillies clinch first-round bye after setting single-game club record for HRs https://www.mlb.com/phillies/news/phillies-clinch-first-round-bye-in-2025-playoffs
Here’s each team’s top Arizona Fall League prospect
D-backs: Jansel Luis, INF (No. 12)
A switch-hitter, Luis can get swing-happy at times and chase pitches, but he can certainly put bat on ball on pitches in the zone, leading to a .304 average and 16.3 percent K rate in 102 games with High-A Hillsboro this season. Three of his five homers in 2025 came as a righty, despite getting 257 fewer plate appearances from that side. The 20-year-old got the lion’s share of his starts at second but also saw time at short and third.
https://www.mlb.com/braves/news/top-arizona-fall-league-prospect-for-each-club-2025?t=arizona-fall-league-coverage
Anything Goes
This day in history:
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/september-25
This day in baseball:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/September_25
Lobsters were not considered a delicacy in colonial America.
By the time that the second world war had begun, lobsters were not rationed. This was because the booming wartime economy allowed wealthy cravers of crustaceans to consume them at amazing rates.
Garlic is known to attract leeches.
Leeches take around 15 seconds to attach themselves to a hand covered in garlic. However, it takes them over 40 seconds to suck the blood dry from its victim.
Uranus takes 84 years to orbit the sun.
This is longer than any of the other planet’s orbits in our solar system. One rotation on Uranus is around 17 hours long. It is also the coldest planet in our solar system.
