Inbox: What's D-backs' plan for Duplantier?

I’ve seen that the D-backs are thinking about sending Jon Duplantier down to Triple-A Reno. Unless I’m missing something, he hasn’t allowed a run yet in two appearances, so why would he get sent down?
-- Karl, Tempe, Ariz.

We’ll see what the D-backs end up doing after Monday’s off-day with regards to the roster. They would like to get back to the more normal 12-pitcher, 13-position-player alignment after carrying an extra pitcher for a week.

You are correct that Duplantier has pitched very well since coming up. One reason he might end up going back down to Reno is because he is the organization’s top pitching prospect (as ranked by MLB Pipeline) and the team sees his future as a starter. It would probably be best for his development if he were to be at Reno starting every fifth day as opposed to filling a long role in the bullpen. As a long man in the ‘pen, his innings would be sporadic -- remember he threw last Monday and then not again until Sunday -- and he warmed up but did not get into games a couple of times in between that. That’s not ideal for development. Again, no doubt he’s pitched well, and the organization could decide to keep him in the big leagues. But if the D-backs don’t, it will simply be about doing what they think is best for his development and not a reflection of how he has performed.

Is there an update on Jake Lamb and when he might return?
-- Sebastian, Pasadena, Calif.

The team estimated six weeks until Lamb was able to return. It could end up being shorter or longer as players heal differently, but six weeks is a good working timeframe.

Is there any free-agent veteran position players the D-backs can still pick up? With Lamb’s recent injury, is this something that should be done if possible?
-- Chuck Warren, Phoenix

We asked D-backs general manager Mike Hazen about whether or not there had been players on waivers that the team was interested in. To sum up what he said, the team would look to the waiver wire if there was a player there that they thought could be a long-term solution to either Steven Souza Jr.’s absence or Lamb’s. One thing the organization did not want to do, Hazen said, was pick up a stop gap player on the waiver wire rather than give someone in their system like Ildemaro Vargas an opportunity. I would expect you’ll see Vargas get some more opportunities to play. In the meantime, they’ll keep checking the waiver wire to see if anyone fits long term.

How come Adam Jones wasn’t credited a double in Saturday’s game when he came off the base at second? He beat the throw and made it safely into second, then his foot came off. Would think this is a double, not a single.
-- Jonas, Portland

According to Rule 9.06(c): When the batter attempts to make a two-base hit or a three-base hit by sliding, he must hold the last base to which he advances. If a batter-runner overslides and is tagged out before getting back to the base safely, he shall be credited with only as many bases as he attained safely. If a batter-runner overslides second base and is tagged out, the Official Scorer shall credited him with a one-base hit.

Hope that helps explain it.