As he pondered what to do with struggling left-hander Madison Bumgarner, Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen kept coming back to the word “urgency.”

“I ask our players and staff to urgently think about how we will play and attack,” said Hazen on Thursday. “And so I must do the same. I can’t be a hypocrite and ask for it and not do it in my job.”

The Diamondbacks drafted Bumgarner Thursday, a move that means the team is likely to eat up more than $34 million in salary over the next two seasons. Her willingness to walk away from him despite the financial loss was partly based on how poorly Bumgarner pitched and how enticing the options the young pitcher had behind him were.

But it was also done because of what the Diamondbacks seem to think about themselves. Sitting in first place in the National League West three weeks into the season despite losing three of Bumgarner’s four starts might justify that belief.

“Where we are right now,” Hazen said, “requires a sense of urgency.”

Bumgarner’s struggles weren’t new this season. He posted a 7.12 ERA in his last 10 starts last year. His stuff often didn’t seem competitive; According to one source, players on an opposing team talked about adjusting to the quality of his stuff the same way they would adjust to a positional player.

It was a steep fall for Bumgarner, the former San Francisco Giants postseason hero. Though his decline had already begun when the Diamondbacks signed him to an $85 million fie-year deal in December 2019, they had hoped certain adjustments could get him back in tip-top shape. It never came to that.

“I don’t know,” Hazen said when asked to understand Bumgarner’s downfall. “And honestly, we’ve all lost a lot of sleep trying to answer that question. I haven’t replied to that yet. And we are here today. I have no answer for you. It just didn’t work out.”

Bumgarner’s relationship with the coaching staff had deteriorated; He and pitching coach Brent Strom never agreed. Bumgarner rarely used the fixture lists provided to him by the team’s support staff.

His stuff never seemed to reach a level that would allow him to be as successful as he has been at San Francisco for so long, perhaps a result of the considerable mileage he has accumulated for years with the Giants, both during the regular season as well, often well into October.

“He’s been an elite competitor in this league for a long time,” said Hazen. “He knows what he has to do to prepare. I felt like he was in the best shape he’s ever come into spring training this year. He looks amazing. … We were struggling with controlling the ball and we were struggling with some stuff swinging in the zone and missing.”

Based on the way the Diamondbacks talked about Bumgarner before taking him on, they thought they were getting a player who would lead a young pitching team both on and off the field. Club officials have complained that they received neither version.

“I think we need a better process for our reviews,” said Hazen. “We need a better process to determine where things stand when we add guys to our team.

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“We’re going to be deconstructing a number of different areas, both on the performance side of things, the coaching side of things, the front office side of things, all of those things. But in the end, look, unfortunately – I’ve been doing this for more than 20 years – I’ve been a part of some of the ones that didn’t work. Sometimes you don’t really assume, ‘That’s exactly what happened.’”

For now, the first leap in Bumgarner’s job goes to Tommy Henry, the young left-hander who started nine games for the Diamondbacks last season. But at some point, right-hander Brandon Pfaadt should also get a chance. Both pitchers, Hazen said, factored in the decision to part ways with Bumgarner.

Pfaadt is the more respected prospect of the pair — and one of the most anticipated pitching prospects in the majors. Hazen understood questions about why it wasn’t Pfaadt before assuring reporters his time will come.

“Brandon will serve here and he will be a very good player for us,” said Hazen. “And it will come. But this second it will not come right.”

By cutting ties with Bumgarner, the Diamondbacks set a new club dead-money record, surpassing the $22 million they expended in firing right-hander Russ Ortiz in the 2006 season.

But while the move caught some in the game off guard, it seemed less surprising to those close to the Diamondbacks. Hazen kept coming back to the way his club played – and the need to reciprocate that effort.

“Our competitiveness has been proven every day that I’ve watched us go out and play,” said Hazen. “I think that’s been the manager’s calling card since he got here. And I think the players believe in that. I think there is an energy about this group that they are motivated to play together.

He later added: “These guys play really hard and well and they deserve that we show the same urgency as they do.”

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ATLANTA (AP) – Madison Bumgarner definitely had no hits, even if the Major League Baseball record book said he didn’t.

Bumgarner tossed a seven-inning no-hitter, an achievement that doesn’t officially count but ended a dominant day for the Arizona Diamondbacks battling for a 7-0 win over the Atlanta Braves and a double-header sweep on Sunday.

Could he have kept the magic going for a nine innings game?

“I don’t know. There are too many variables,” said Bumgarner. “If it worked for seven, it’s hard to imagine it wouldn’t work for two more.”

After Zac Gallen threw a one-hitter to win the opener 5-0, Bumgarner did even better.

Bumgarner hit seven and the only Braves batter to reach base against him came on shortstop Nick Ahmed’s throwing error in the second inning.

Bumgarner casually shook hands with catcher Carson Kelly after Marcell Ozuna reached out to finish it off. Then the rest of the Diamondbacks joined in and the celebration came alive around the hill.

“I like it very cautious,” said the stoic leftist. “They definitely didn’t do that, which is fine and I appreciate that too. It’s very special for all of us and as I said, I’m just blessed and happy to be able to do that and be a part of it. “

Bumgarner’s jewel is not included in the official list of no-hitters. The MLB’s eight-member Statistical Accuracy Committee decided in 1991 that a no-hitter was a game of nine or more innings that ended with no hits.

Other pitchers had come close since Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLB switched to double headers with seven innings last year during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It feels good. I just want to say two things before I celebrate with the boys,” said Bumgarner in a TV interview after the game. “I want to thank these shadows in Atlanta. They helped me a lot. That was wonderful. And I want to thank Rob Manfred for playing those seven-inning games. “

There have already been two official no-hitters this season.

Joe Musgrove hit the first no-no in the history of the San Diego Padres when he defeated Texas on April 9th. Carlos Rodón of the Chicago White Sox no-hit Cleveland on April 14th.

Atlanta’s only hit in the afternoon was the reigning NL MVP Freddie Freeman, who scored a clean single in the right midfield in front of Gallen in the sixth of the opening game.

However, shutouts are officially attributed to Bumgarner and Gallen. This made Arizona the first team since Reggie Cleveland of Boston and Don Aase in Toronto to throw a pair of shutouts for a full game in a double header on September 5, 1977.

Bumgarner (2-2) beat Ronald Acuña Jr. to start seventh place and then retired to Freeman in a popup that Ahmed had come a long way for. Ozuna lined a light fly to right fielder Josh Rojas for the final.

The 31-year-old Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP with San Francisco, pulled the last 17 thugs back after Ozzie Albies finished second on Ahmed’s mistake.

Bumgarner is making his 300th career start and has won his last two starts with a 0.75 ERA. In his first three starts this season, he posted an 11:19 ERA.

Bumgarner enjoys swinging the club, and he hit the plate before throwing a pitch when the Diamondbacks scored five runs in the first Drew Smyly (0-1). Pavin Smith and David Peralta homered during the outbreak.

Eduardo Escobar added his seventh homer to make it 6-0 in the third.

Smyly, who was struck off the injury list on Saturday after missing six games with a left elbow infection, went four innings.

In the first game, Gallen beat six (1-0), went two and hit a batter.

Gallen found out after the game that he would not have qualified for an official no-hitter in a game with seven innings.

“It wouldn’t have counted, so I feel better that it wasn’t a no-hitter anyway,” said 29-year-old Righty. “The shutout for the entire game works. It’s good. We won. It really doesn’t matter. That’s the most important part. “

Gallen, who finished ninth at the NL Cy Young Award last year, threw his first full game after 30 starts in the Major League.

Arizona won six out of seven and seven out of ten. The Diamondbacks went 7-3 on their road trip.

Stephen Vogt and Kole Calhoun homered Bryse Wilson (1: 1).

Braves manager Brian Snitker said he couldn’t explain exactly why his team had such big problems with the record all afternoon, but he’s grateful that his club, even though he was 9-12 years old after joining the division won three years in a row, has not fallen far behind in NL-Ost.

“Nobody runs away with anything, and that’s a good thing,” said Snitker. “At some point we will make progress here. It’s good that we’re sticking with it. We still have five months. It’s been a long time doing some really good things. “

But on Sunday it was all about the Diamondbacks and their pitching.

“What an incredible day,” said Arizona manager Torey Lovullo. “First, Zac goes out and takes, throws a one-hitter and the Bum follows with a basically perfect game. Aside from one defensive mistake, it was an incredible effort on his part and he had to face the minimum number of thugs – wow, what else can you say? It was a special day for him. ”

TRAINER ROOM

Ronald Acuña Jr. was hit by bad luck in the left hand in the first. … Braves LHP Max Fried, who was added to the list of injured on April 14 with a right hamstring strain, threw a side session and is nearing his return.

ROSTER MOVES

The D-Backs released RHP Anthony Swarzak, who was scheduled for deployment on April 18. … The Braves made C William Contreras the club’s 27th man for the double header. Arizona recalled RHP Riley Smith of the alternative training facility as his 27th husband.

NEXT

RHP Charlie Morton (1-1, 3.91) will face the Cubs RHP Zach Davies (1-2, 8.80) when Atlanta and Chicago begin a four-game series on Monday. RHP Merrill Kelly (1-2, 7.71) will play for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday while Arizona host San Diego to open a two-game series. The starter of the Padres has not yet been determined.

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