Happy Thursday! Almost through the week!

I’ll get to the Diamondbacks and Shaun Larkin below, but first, have you started researching your fantasy football team yet, or are you waiting one more weekend? Honestly, I’ve stopped doing a crazy amount of research because every year seems to feel the same — I prepare for days (if not weeks), I have my list heading into the draft, and then the person before me promptly takes my selections and I’m left scrambling for two minutes trying to find a replacement.

None of that research has really added up to a win, either. I think I’ve won my league three times in the 15 years or so that I’ve been playing. Hey, I never claimed to be the world’s best manager, but I’ve never finished last!

Whatever your method, good luck to you and your fantasy football team this season.

On to the show!

Diamondbacks Remove Larkin From 3rd Base Coaching Duties

The winds of change are starting to blow around Chase Field.

Third base coach Shaun Larkin was the first domino to fall, but may not be the last.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo announced Larkin’s removal following Wednesday’s come-from-behind win over the Cleveland Guardians, a somewhat surprising development with just over a month left in the regular season. Arizona’s failure to meet expectations has been well-documented, and this change comes after Brian Kaplan replaced Brent Strom as pitching coach following last season.

That’s two coaching changes in under a year.

Lovullo said Larkin will remain on staff as an infield coach, but the search for a new third base coach is already well underway, as the Diamondbacks kick off a three-game set against Cincinnati tomorrow night at Chase Field.

Is it too little, too late?

Diamondbacks Remove Larkin After Another IN-Game Gaffe

Though the timing of the move is a surprise, the actual move is something fans and pundits have been clamoring for throughout the season. Wednesday afternoon’s win over the Guardians featured another poor decision, as Alek Thomas was thrown out in the fifth inning of yesterday’s win after getting the green light.

Lovullo said that mistake was essentially the final nail in Larkin’s proverbial coffin.

“He understood,” Lovullo said. “He knew that it was creating a lot of noise for this organization, a lot of noise for me, and he was embarrassed by that, and he takes full responsibility for that.”

It should be noted, Larkin had never coached third base at the Major League level, taking over this season following the departure of Tony Perezchica. Larkin was the D-backs’ Director of Player Development last year, and he spent 13 combined years before that with the Dodgers and Guardians before finding his way to the desert.

Lovullo said Larkin’s inexperience coaching the position just proved to be too much in the end, despite trying to give him “a little bit of runway” to settle in.

That runway, though, has run out.

“Coaching third base is a really difficult thing at the Major League level,” Lovullo said. “The ball gets reversed really fast. Infielders are quick. They try to embarrass people. And you know the fact that the center fielder’s [Martínez’s] legs were up in the air and he stands up, picks up the ball, throws a strike to Arias, who throws another strike to home plate. It was an unbelievable play, but that’s what happens here.”

Though he’ll remain with the club for the rest of the season, it will be interesting to see how things shake out at the end of yet another disappointing D-backs’ season.

My Take: I think I fall in line with most of the reactions out there, as the timing for this was surprising. Even so, it has been a rough week for the Diamondbacks between the Ketel Marte drama and now this — but there is still plenty of good out there! Check out the Quick Hits section below to see what the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation is doing for local veterans in our community. That’s truly the stuff that matters!

Thank You For Your Service: The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Bob’s Discount Furniture are surprising local veterans with a newly renovated space today, at Catholic Charities MANA House. MANA House is peer-run by veterans, and provides shelter for homeless veterans that provides community and resources to overcome obstacles faced after serving.

The newly renovated space, which features new furniture, décor, a television, a reading area and a game area, was donated by the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Bob’s Discount Furniture as part of the team’s continued commitment to helping veterans in need. In 2017, MANA House was the recipient of a Ken Kendrick Grand Slam Award grant, which was used to establish a community dining area, the Diamondbacks Home Plate Kitchen, at the facility.

Love seeing these teams give back!

Quick Turnaround: The Mercury wrap up their three-game road trip in Vegas tonight (7 pm, 3TV) while riding a two-game winning streak. Phoenix then returns home on Friday night to host Golden State — who it beat on Tuesday — and it also marks the night of our PHNX Mercury takeover! Hope to see you there!

Shaq Attack: The Wildcats are set to welcome DJ Diesel — Shaquille O’Neal — at Bear Down Field on Oct. 3. The show is a joint venture between Arizona Athletics and DUSK Music Festival, and will also feature the Beastie Boys’ Mix Master Mike and a cameo from men’s basketball coach Tommy “DJ Tomm-e” Lloyd, as well. Anyone interested in attending can purchase tickets at ArizonaWildcats.com/PostMove.

Sounds fun!

Hear from Lovullo about the decision to replace Larkin