This isn’t just a homestand for the Diamondbacks. It marks the last stand of Torey Lovullo.
The Diamondbacks manager has fewer than 50 games to prove he is worthy of a 10th season at the helm in Arizona. Odds are against him. Fans are turning on him. Chances are he will be fired with grace and mercy, with deep appreciation for a great man and some great memories.
Candidly, it feels like the time for change.
I have deep affection for Lovullo. I believe the courageous lead with their heart while the cowardly lean on fear tactics. Lovullo is an empath who has chosen the hard path, the road most vulnerable.
It also feels like all the free love in Arizona has dulled the edge of his baseball team, enabling them to become a shell of the group that once caused chaos on the basepaths and ruthless discomfort for their opponents.
During their magical run to the World Series in 2023, the Diamondbacks stole 166 bases, the second-most in Major League Baseball. The next season, they stole 119, dipping below league average.
This year, they’ve stolen 76. They have morphed into a slug-first team with more than a losing record. They’ve lost everything that made them special.
Did the 2025 Diamondbacks tune out Lovullo’s eternal sunshine? Did he ever have control of the priciest roster in Diamondbacks history, a beefed-up team that featured veteran newcomers? Consider the embarrassing episode of Lovullo’s choice for Opening Day starter, when the manager was so torn he polled 32 staff members for their opinion.
The vote came back 16-16, and in the end, the issue wasn’t that the manager chose loyalty over current reputation and status. It was that he delegated a thorny decision, asking others to share in the outcome and the hurt feelings. Very poor leadership.
After leading MLB in fewest errors for the previous two seasons, the Diamondbacks have committed 57 errors in 2025, tied for 13th place in the sport. They are perfectly average yet grotesque for the standard once set in Arizona. They were not crisp or locked in at the start of the season. A sense of entitlement coursed through a team that should’ve been feeling urgent and desperate.
Finally, the uncomfortable case of Ketel Marte and the PTO requests, where the manager’s coddling nature has surely caused some problems, from the clubhouse to the very top of the organization. Remember, Sparky Anderson won four pennants and two World Series and only lasted nine seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. Only 117 managers have survived 10 or more seasons with the same club.
Those with 12 or more consecutive seasons have usually won a World Series championship.
That said, Lovullo’s last stand isn’t a lost cause. Not yet. The Diamondbacks posted three wins entering Tuesday’s game against the Padres, and a series victory over rival San Diego might spark renewed hope, maybe even a rebellion. Imagine the plot twist if these young guys start running and never stop, where Jordan Lawlar ignites and Zac Gallen leads the way, catching fire after no one wanted him at the trade deadline.
Dreams are all we have left in Arizona. Lovullo has one last Hail Mary.
Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7.
