"We'll sit down and talk about the Dodgers" - Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo on the team's focus after their latest series
Torey Lovullo, skipper of the Arizona Diamondbacks, talked about his side's upcoming series with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. The D-backs come into the series after losing their previous game to the New York Mets at home.
In August, the team has been in good form, with a 18-7 win/loss record. Their upcoming opponents, the Dodgers, also have a similar record for the month, going 17-8. With both sides occupying the top two places in the NL West standings, the forthcoming series has all the makings of a proper thriller.
Lovullo told MLB Network Radio how his team were preparing for the crucial series ahead of Friday's opening game at Chase Field:
"We get on these things quickly, we talk about things quickly. I have unbelievable coaches that are around me every single day. A lot of the times, I don't even have to say things or do things, because they're already on it immediately.
We'll re-emphasise it in a group setting, probably the following day (after a game), and we'll sit down and we'll talk about the Dodgers for a good 20 minutes as a group. We'll go over some of the things that went well and some of the things that didn't go well, and they understand what the goals are and what the targets are." (0:15)
Lovullo talked about how his side will be looking to rectify the mistakes that led to a disappointing loss against the Mets last time:
"Not making mistakes and playing full throttle baseball is probably one of the things that stands out for this team. We make mistakes, it hurts us, and that's what happened this past series [against the Mets]." (0:33)
Diamondbacks will look to bounceback after disappointing series loss
The Diamondbacks slumped to a disappointing 3-2 loss to the New York Mets at home on Thursday, as the visitors clinched the series. After leading at the halfway point, the hosts surrendered late as the Mets got the winning run in the top of the ninth.
With an offence that is clicking despite the absence of key players such as Ketel Marte and Christian Walker, the Diamondbacks will look to get back to winning ways on Friday as they open another series at home.
Facing divisional rivals the Dodgers, and with the race for the wildcard spots heating up with every passing day, Lovullo will know they can ill-afford any more slip ups at this crucial juncture of the season.