David Hernandez pitches in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. IMAGE: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

So what’s been behind the turnaround? It appears that he’s altered his pitch selection yet again and we can’t argue with the results. Over his last six outings, he’s using the four-seam fastball more, the two-seamer less and he’s hasn’t thrown a changeup over his last five appearances. Looking at his previous usage patterns, this is a clear shift.

Perhaps what’s stood out more than anything else is David’s efficient use of the curveball. He’s not necessarily using it more often, but he’s using it more effectively. Rather than using the two-seamer to try and set up the changeup, he appears to be using the four-seamer to set up the curveball. This is more similar to his strategy of the past and the results have been very good. Hernandez throws his power curve from the same arm-slot as his fastball, making it difficult for hitters to pick up until it dives out of the zone or simply become unhittable.

In his last six appearances, David has thrown the curve 33 times with 25 going for strikes (76%) and 8 for balls (24%). He’s allowed two singles while recording seven outs on the pitch. Better yet, he’s recorded five strikeouts via the curveball over that short span. It’s back to being an out pitch for him and that should make him much, much more lethal on opposing hitters.

Case in point: on the 14^th, against the Braves, he struck out Brian McCann by alternating between his fastball and curveball, throwing all three curves for strikes and getting McCann to chase a curve for strike three. The next batter was Justin Upton, who the had gone 4-5 the day before, and Hernandez threw him three curveballs in a row, all three for strikes, and froze Upton with a curve on the outside corner for strike three to end the 8^thand protect Patrick Corbin’s stellar performance.

Hernandez appears to have ironed out his approach and is executing his pitches. If it seems like we’ve been seeing the David Hernandez of old lately, it’s because he pitching much more like he has in the past. He’s successfully turning leads over to Heath Bell to finish the job and his stability means a lot for the bullpen. There was nothing but dismay two weeks ago when the ‘pen was getting crushed. It’s far from perfect, but Hernandez’ stability is a good sign for the Diamondbacks moving forward.

*Pitch F/X data accessed 5/16 from mlb.com and fangraphs.com 

The future is now.

Didi Gregorius is batting .354 in 17 games, igniting a sometimes stale D’back lineup. Image: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

After missing a good portion of Spring Training with an elbow strain, the Netherlands native began the season with Triple A Reno.  However, the injury to Aaron Hill coupled with Willie Bloomquist opening 2013 on the disabled list  allowed the team to bring up Gregorius.  He made an immediate impact in his first game on April 18th as he hit his first career home run and went 2 for 6 as the Snakes salvaged their series with the New York Yankees with a 6-2, 12 inning victory.  His play in the field has been living up to its billing but it is the bat that is really turning some heads.  Gregorius began the season with a 10 game hitting streak and has had at least one hit in all but three of his 17 games thus far.   He currently is batting .354 in 72 total plate appearances with three home runs.  His two-run single last night was all the scoring as Arizona defeated the Atlanta Braves 2-0.  Even a stay on the 7 day DL for a concussion didn’t slow him down as in his first game back, he provided all the D’back offense going 2 for 3 with a home run during a 5-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on May 5th.  When Hill and Bloomquist are ready to return, there is no way management can send down the youngster who at times is the team’s only offense after Paul Goldschmidt.

As the season wears on,  I don’t expect Gregorius to keep up his current pace.  However, I believe that with his better-than-expected production at the plate that he is now an important part of the D’back present.  His bat has become too valuable.  The only time I want to hear Didi Gregorius and Reno in the same sentence is if he has to go rehab an injury. 

Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @venomstrikes

Follow me on Twitter @ltj41 and at www.clearthebases.net

Matt Reynolds, with his 0.00 ERA has been the best D’back reliever. Image: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports

I admit it, I didn’t know much about the 28-year old Reynolds when the D’backs acquired him last November from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for 3rd base prospect Ryan Wheeler.  It certainly was not of the magnitude of the deals involving Justin Upton and Trevor Bauer.   His numbers, particularly his two full seasons in Denver and skewed by Coors Field, were about average.  Reynolds appeared to be falling under the category of the dreaded “lefty specialist” as his 165 career appearances covered only 126 innings.  However, it is obvious General Manager Kevin Towers saw something in him other than a needed lefty in the bullpen.  The strikeout to walk ratio with the Rockies indicated he was a guy that would at least not be issuing many free passes.  Also, he was durable in Colorado appearing in over 70 games the previous two seasons.  Finally, Rockies’ pitching has been bad so that while the ERA was over 4.00, it could be attributed to his other ‘pen mates failing to pick him up.  With Wheeler in still in Triple A Colorado Springs, this trade has turned out to be a steal for Arizona right now.

Matt Reynolds has proven to be more than just a situational guy.  He is the Snakes’ most reliable member of the bullpen who should be getting into more setup situations instead of David Hernandez.  Maybe if J.J. Putz continues to struggle, Kirk Gibson could call on Reynolds to record the final three outs.  I only hope that by writing this piece that I did not jinx the rest of Reynolds’s season.

Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @venomstrikes

Follow me on Twitter @ltj41 and at www.clearthebases.net