Tony Clark.  Gone.

Felipe Lopez.  Gone.

Those three guys have either been traded or released in lieu of minor league prospects over the past two weeks.  Before you get all up in arms, yes, Josh Whitesell is still considered a prospect to me.  He is hitting .206 through Monday’s game.  You’ve got issues when the percentage of hits you are getting is less than the legal drinking age.  Paying attention Chris Young?

Although general manager Josh Byrnes is reluctant to confirm the team is looking more moves before the trade deadline, it is clear he is listening to offers due to the lack of straight denials.  The problem with trying to get younger is you have to move all the older dead weight in front of that young talent.

If you asked me two weeks ago, I would have told you starting pitcher Doug Davis is a great candidate to be moved, even with a 4-8 record, now 4-9 after his worst outing of the year last night in Colorado.  Now I’m not so sure.  He has looked like his old self the last couple of times out.  Right now Yusmeiro Petit is pitching better and I never thought I’d be able to say he is a better pitcher than even Howard Stern producer Gary Dell’Abate, who as some know, threw a ceremonial first pitch earlier this season before a New York Mets game and was about as close to home plate as New York is to Los Angeles.

At this point, I might even want Dell’Abate pitching for the Dbacks as bad as they are.  Maybe they can give him a tryout when the Dbacks visit New York the weekend after next.  Can’t be any worse than Blaine Boyer, who’s been about as impressive as Joe Buck trying to reign in Artie Lange on The Joe Buck Show.

One thing is for sure.  This season is a lost cause.  At 39-54 going into this evening’s showdown at Coors Field, I’d rather watch the 2008 World Series of Poker on ESPN than watch Max Scherzer get lit up in the thin air of Denver.

Next in line to leave the desert if not Davis, should be Chad Tracy.  Problem is no one wants him.  Young needs to go back to the minors – for the rest of the season.  Maybe they can trade Chad Tracy for a bag of marbles.  Byrnes will need his marbles if they consider getting rid of Brandon Webb in the off-season.

There is one thing to look forward to this week when it comes to the Dbacks.  They do come home to face the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend.  No, I have no interest in watching the AAA Pirates play the AAA Dbacks.  I have more interest in going and watching a Los Angeles Lakers summer game in Las Vegas.  You gotta know things are bad when it comes down to that.

You see, my wife is singing the national anthem with a church choir group on Friday at Chase Field.  That will be the best part of the game.  I look forward to getting my hot dogs, watching the anthem, and being gone by the third inning.

Go get ‘em ‘Drea!

Well, that was more than enough trust me.  The Arizona Diamondbacks once again failed to surprise us by wasting yet another great effort by starter Dan Haren. Today’s goats were Juan Gutierrez and Chad Qualls.  The two of them combined to allow the San Diego Padres to score five runs in the ninth to tie the game at 6-6.

After a disasterous ninth, the Dbacks bullpen pitched a no hitter.  Not a single hit given up in nine innings of extra inning relief.  Amazing.  I’m surprised that Dan Haren hasn’t asked for his release yet.  He’ll probably tell you that he shouldn’t have give up a solo home run or kept his pitch count down so he could have finished the game on his own.  That is who he is.  However, one must think it is just eating him inside to see several of his efforts wasted this season including today’s.  It bugs me, it has to be bugging him.

There were low lights other than Gutierrez and Qualls in this one though.

• Justin Upton hurt himself on a 10th inning swing, one that would never have had to be taken if not for the ninth inning blow up.
• The Dbacks defense was too slow to complete two possible plays to end the game in the ninth, keeping the game alive for David Eckstein’s 3-run home run.
• Base running.  Oh man, without poor base running, this game could have easily been out of reach early.  Two pick-offs and an overrun of second base by Miguel Montero cost them dearly in the first three innings.

There were highlights outside of Haren as well though:

• Stephen Drew went 4 for 8 to raise his batting average up to .248.  He has an 11 game hitting streak now.
• Montero did his best to atone for the baserunning blunder by going 4 for  7 at the plate.
• Josh Whitesell only went 1 for 6, but his one was a bases clearing 3-run  double
• Mark Reynolds went 1 for 7, but it was a big one.  The three run job that finished off the Padres in the 18th.

The Diamondbacks are now 8-0 all time in games that last 15 innings or longer.  Who knew?  I didn’t until it was pointed out to me in a Twitter from FOXSPORTSAZ

We probably should expect much more of the same drama tomorrow.  Then again, Jake Peavy is pitching.  It could be over before it starts.  Then again, it could be much more of the same that we’ve been watching this road trip.

Tonight might be something different.  Whitesell had a double and two RBI in his first at bat tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Nice to see him finally come through.  It could have been more had Stephen Drew not got caught napping after a double.  He was safe, but was called out.  Dbacks broadcaster Mark Grace thought he was out.  Nope – wrong Gracie.  Man, I see him too many times pro Dbacks opponent.  He needs to start towing the company line.  I love Gracie, but he is starting to get on my nerves.

Dbacks starter Billy Buckner went 6 innings of shutout ball.  Let’s see if the bullpen can hold a 2-0 lead in the 7th.  I’m guessing doubtful.  After a 2-2 series against the Atlanta Braves this past weekend, the Dbacks need to start this seven game road trip with a win.