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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo thought his team made a statement with its series victory over the Rockies this week.
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Diamondbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt talks about his team’s ability to bounce back from a tough loss on Friday.
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Zack Godley talks about the importance of shutdown innings after going seven innings to beat the Rockies on Thursday.
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Diamondbacks right-hander Taijuan Walker threw six innings and his offense did the rest in a 16-4 win at Coors Field on Wednesday.
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about his team’s 10-run fourth inning against the Rockies on Wednesday night.
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo explains why he stuck with Zack Grienke in the eighth inning on Tuesday night.
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Diamondbacks right-hander Zack Greinke talks about how his outing against the Rockies got away from him on Tuesday night at Coors Field.
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Both the Diamondbacks and Rockies overcame deficits in the eighth inning, with Colorado pulling out a 4-3 win on Tuesday.
Wochit
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azcentral sports’ Greg Moore and Mark Faller discuss the Diamondbacks’ upcoming three-game series against the Rockies and Diana Taurasi becoming the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer.
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about the home run Rey Fuentes hit to help beat the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.
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Rey Fuentes’ first career home run was a big one, helping the Diamondbacks beat the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.
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Diamondbacks lefty Robbie Ray talks about why he wasn’t at his best on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia.
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about his team’s 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday evening. Nick Piecoro/azcentral sports
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Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb drove in a run on Saturday to help the Diamondbacks beat the Phillies 5-1. Nick Piecoro/azcentral sports
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo discusses his late father’s support and guidance and how that relates to the Diamondbacks’ success this season. David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about his unusual upbringing, given his father’s job in television with the TV show “Hee Haw.” David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about his team’s comeback over the Phillies, including Gregor Blanco’s key two-run home run.
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Diamondbacks outfielder Gregor Blanco cracked a game-tying home run in the seventh inning on Friday night.
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Diamondbacks lefty Patrick Corbin beat the Phillies on Friday night, his first road win since June 21, 2016.
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about Taijuan Walker’s return from the DL and Randall Delgado’s relief performance in a win over the Tigers.
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Diamondbacks right-hander Taijuan Walker gave up just one run in five innings in his first start back from the disabled list after missing nearly a month with a blister.
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Outfielder David Peralta discusses his go-ahead home run in the Diamondbacks’ wild 7-6 win over the Detroit Tigers. Nick Piecoro/azcentral sports
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Torey Lovullo talks about the Diamondbacks’ back-and-forth game against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night. Nick Piecoro/azcentral sports
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Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray speaks with the media following his team’s 11-1 win over the Brewers on Sunday. Richard Morin/azcentral sports
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Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt speaks with reporters after a 11-1 win over the Brewers on Sunday.
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Diamondbacks starter Zack Godley discusses his performance in Arizona’s 3-2 win on Saturday at Chase Field. Scott Bordow/azcentral sports
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo discusses his team’s win over the Brewers on Saturday at home. Scott Bordow/azcentral sports
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Diamondbacks starter Randall Delgado reacts to Friday’s loss to the Brewers.
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo discusses Friday’s 8-6 loss to the Brewers
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Diamondbacks catcher Chris Iannetta, batting in the No. 2 hole for the first time this season, homered and doubled twice, driving in seven runs in a win over the Padres, June 8, 2017. Nick Piecoro/azcentral sports
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Torey Lovullo after D-Backs win series vs. Rockies
Paul Goldschmidt on D-Backs’ offensive outburst
Zack Godley on strong outing at Coors Field
D-Backs’ Taijuan Walker on win over Rockies
Torey Lovullo after blowout win vs. Rockies
Torey Lovullo on decision to stick with Zack Greinke
Zack Greinke after loss vs. Rockies
D-Backs suffer tough loss in Denver
Shot Clock: D-Backs, Rockies set for showdown
Torey Lovullo on Rey Fuentes’ go-ahead homer
Rey Fuentes on hitting his first career home run
Robbie Ray on his outing vs. Phillies
Manager Torey Lovullo after D-Backs’ sixth consecutive win
Jake Lamb on D-Backs’ latest win over Phillies
Torey Lovullo talks about his late father’s support, guidance
Torey Lovullo on his father’s job in television
Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ come-from-behind win over Phillies
Gregor Blanco discusses his game-tying homer vs. Phillies
Patrick Corbin on his performance vs. Phillies
Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ latest one-run win
Taijuan Walker on his first outing back from the disabled list
David Peralta on his go-ahead homer in win over Tigers
Torey Lovullo after D-Backs’ win over Tigers
Robbie Ray on D-Backs’ win over Brewers
Paul Goldschmidt on grand slam, offensive outburst
Godley on taking advantage of opportunity after D-Backs win
Torey Lovullo after D-Backs’ win over Brewers
Randall Delgado on his rough outing against Brewers
Lovullo on Diamondbacks’ loss to Brewers
Chris Iannetta on his career-high 7 RBIs vs. Padres
Chris Owings has moved around so much for the Diamondbacks this season that he’s starting to grow handles. He’s like a human set of luggage on wheels.
To call him versatile is an understatement.
If it weren’t for Owings’ ability to not only master the challenge of being Arizona’s starting shortstop, but to be proficient enough to also make regular appearances at second base and right field, the Diamondbacks might not be one of the biggest surprise stories in baseball.
Not only has been a dependable defensive player at each one of his stops, but he’s carried with him a sizzling hot bat to every position he’s played. Manager Torey Lovullo has been able to play Owings anywhere without it ever coming back to bite him or the ball club.
One can make an argument that as All-Star worthy as a handful of certain performers have been – from first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and third baseman Jake Lamb to pitchers Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray – Owings could join them in the conversation for the team’s Most Valuable Player honors.
Think of where they’d be without him?
Entering Friday’s game against the visiting Phillies to open a 10-game homestand at Chase Field, Owings ranked third on the team behind Goldschmidt (64) and Lamb (61) in RBIs with 43. His career-high nine home runs were also third behind Goldschmidt (18) and Lamb (16).
He’s been exceptionally hot at home, where the Diamondbacks have been absolutely torrid. In his first 33 games at Chase Field, Owings was hitting .342 with five homers and 30 RBIs. He was hitting .291 overall, which isn’t too shabby, either, for Mr. Jack of all Trades.
That’s the thing, though. Everyone always knew Chris Owings could handle a bat. They just weren’t sure how much they could really trust him with a glove. He’s earned that trust – and more – this season. And believe it or not, he’s actually happy about being asked to roam from one position to the other.
That’s not always the case with a 25-year-old kid.
“Oh, I love it,” Owings said about constantly being on the move. “I mean, if you probably would have told me last year, ‘Hey, you’re going to be the starting center fielder on Opening Day,’ I would have said, ‘Dude, what are you talking about?’
“But I feel like that helped me out. If I could be confident and comfortable playing center field last year on Opening Day, I feel I can move around and play right, second, short, whatever the case may be.”
Owings hasn’t played any center field yet this season, although he did log a couple innings in left. He knew he was going to cover a lot of ground, however, based on a conversation he had with Lovullo before the start of spring training.
“Torey sat me down in spring training and basically ran me through the scenario of how things have gone up to this point, and it’s been awesome for me,” Owings said. “He told me I’d be moving around a little bit, that I’d primarily be playing short, but if the time comes and guys need some days off, maybe it would be best if certain days I’m in right field or giving Dru (Brandon Drury) a day off at second.
“It was really awesome just to hear that communication, and that’s how it’s played out. The biggest thing is it just helps the team. I’m happy to do it. I told Torey I just want to be in the lineup, and it’s worked out so far.”
Lovullo makes it a point to try and always give his flexible players a couple days’ notice before moving them from one position to another. If the manager doesn’t do it himself, he has one of his assistants get the message out to the player.
“Yeah, there’s always someone after games who will tell you where you’re playing the next day, and that’s all I really need to know,” Owings said. “That’s peace of mind, to know where you’ll be playing the next day. It’s nice to know where you’re going to be at and what glove you’re going to use the next day.
“It gives you a little confidence and a little comfort about where you’re going to be running out to the next day.”
MORE: David Peralta hitting left-handed pitching hard
MORE: Diamondbacks made statement with wins over Rockies
Reach McManaman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Wednesday night between 7-9 on Fox Sports 910-AM on The Freaks with Kenny and Crash.
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