ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

The Arizona Diamondbacks have lost the Brandon McCarthy gamble

Aug 22, 2013, 3:10 PM | Updated: 3:11 pm

Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, and in the case of Brandon McCarthy, the Diamondbacks have clearly lost.

The free agent pitcher may have looked good on the rack last year, but when you took him home and tried him on, he resembled a cheap suit — one you paid way too much money for and unfortunately can’t take back to the store for a refund or even store credit.

In one of the biggest, if not the biggest games of the year Wednesday in Cincinnati, McCarthy flopped. He couldn’t get out of the third inning, put his team in a 7-0 hole and completely exhausted Arizona’s bullpen, which used seven pitchers to clean up his mess.

Thus far for $15.5 million — $6.5 million paid this year and $9 million next year (which I’m dreading already) — the Diamondbacks have gotten a whopping two wins in 15 starts and two months on the disabled list. Overall he is a miserable 2-8 with a career high 5.44 ERA. He has failed to get through six innings in six of those 15 starts and failed to complete five innings three times.

Sorry, that’s not good enough, not even close. McCarthy’s been a major disappointment and cause for concern for next season. The right-hander came to Arizona with a career record of 37-39 with a 4.02 ERA, which is nothing to write home about and more in line with a dime a dozen pitcher in this league. But he was 8-6 with a 3.24 ERA for Oakland in 18 starts last year before being hit in the head, so there were some signs that he was getting his career on track.

It’s just not happening here. There is little confidence when he takes the mound. He is now 0-4 with a 6.98 ERA in August and you have to wonder if phenom Archie Bradley was pitching those games would Arizona have given themselves a better chance at the playoffs?

Look, Pittsburgh spent a million on Francisco Liriano this year with the chance to make $3.75 million in incentives. Over the previous two seasons, he went 9-10 with an ERA of 5.09 and 6-12 with an ERA of 5.34. This season, his first in Pittsburgh, he is 14-5 with a 2.53 ERA.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. With Brandon McCarthy, the D-backs have clearly lost.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Ketel Marte celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Ketel Marte to lead off Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day lineup

The Arizona Diamondbacks' Opening Day lineup is set ahead of their matchup against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

4 minutes ago

Jordan Montgomery throws a pitch...

Tyler Drake

Hall: Diamondbacks’ addition of Jordan Montgomery ‘made a lot of sense’

The Diamondbacks' addition of Jordan Montgomery puts a bow on a rotation that should be in the conversation for the top spot across MLB.

1 hour ago

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno...

Arizona Sports

Roundtable picks: One Diamondbacks young player to watch in 2024

Which Arizona Diamondbacks player should continue an upward trend in 2024? Gabriel Moreno, Brandon Pfaadt and Alek Thomas are possibilities.

2 hours ago

Chase Field flyover...

Damon Allred

Diamondbacks’ Hall ‘battling’ to keep Chase Field roof open for Opening Day

The roof at Chase Field continues to be a hot button topic, especially after an exhibition game was rained out on Monday.

3 hours ago

Merrill Kelly throws a pitch...

Alex Weiner

Meet the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2024 Opening Day roster

The Arizona Diamondbacks finalized their 26-man Opening Day roster on Thursday ahead of their matchup against the Rockies.

3 hours ago

Manager Torey Lovullo speaks with Corbin Carroll...

Arizona Sports

Roundtable: Expectations, predictions for the 2024 Arizona Diamondbacks

What are the expectations for the 2024 Arizona Diamondbacks? Arizona Sports show hosts and editors make their predictions.

6 hours ago

The Arizona Diamondbacks have lost the Brandon McCarthy gamble