Since the start of spring training, manager Torey Lovullo of the Arizona Diamondbacks tells listeners that his team functions as one, unified unit. Perhaps overworked to a particular degree, Lovullo likes to use the word “family” to describe the bonding of the current edition of the Diamondbacks.
If there was a time or opportunity to demonstrate this feeling, that occurred on Saturday. On a day when the Diamondbacks received the news that starting pitcher Shelby Miller will undergo season-ending surgery, there was a concerted effort to pick up their teammate.
More than both the need and desire to come to Miller’s side, perhaps a greater necessity is to pick up closer Fernando Rodney.