After their stunning NL pennant win last season, the Arizona Diamondbacks have struggled to find consistency in 2024. Despite possessing the firepower to win big, with victories of 17-1, 16-1 and 14-1 under their belt this year, the Diamondbacks often find themselves getting beaten by the little things. Their current record stands at 12-14 overall.
On Wednesday, the Diamondbacks fell to the St. Louis Cardinals by a score of 5-1, and the game’s ending was particularly unsightly. Ketel Marte, last season’s NLCS MVP, entered the game as a pinch hitter and bounced into a 3-6-1 double play to seal the defeat. Marte’s lack of effort on the run, which included a leisurely jog up the first-base line, drew criticism on social media.
While Marte may have been safe if he had run harder, his lack of effort was still a very bad look for a player who had really boosted his reputation last postseason. The Diamondbacks’ struggles with the finer points of the game continue to haunt them, and they will need to find a way to improve their consistency if they want to contend for another NL pennant.
