'Like baseball heaven': Torey Lovullo reflects on All-Star Game Experience

ARLINGTON, Texas — When Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper asked to take a picture with Torey Lovullo in his office at Globe Life Field on Monday, Lovullo was convinced that Harper was referring to someone else.

“I looked around, and I thought, is he talking to me?” Lovullo said. “Is there another person behind me in this empty room?”

Harper explained that he had a tradition. Every year that he makes the All-Star team, he takes a picture with his manager. This year, it was Lovullo’s turn; Lovullo obliged.

For a day, Harper was Lovullo’s clean-up hitter. Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani was his DH, and Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes was his starting pitcher.

Lovullo’s NL All-Stars lost Tuesday by a final score of 5-3, but he said that it was still a surreal experience.

“It was like a baseball bender,” Lovullo joked. “About the seventh or eighth inning, I’m like, wait, the game is going to be over; I don’t want it to be over.”

“I just was in the zone of euphoria because this is like baseball heaven. If you’re a baseball fan, you gotta love what was going on.

“I was sitting there in the dugout, amongst some of the greatest players in the world. And I didn’t want it to end.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Lovullo walked down the red carpet with his family. At the recommendation of Torey’s wife Kristen, the whole Lovullo clan donned customized Jordan 1s. The shoes featured cacti on the side, “Snakes Alive” written across the toe cap and a tribute to Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen’s late wife, Nicole.

Torey Lovullo on the custom "Snakes Alive" kicks that his whole family wore at today's red carpet event: 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/xo0aVVqORw

— PHNX Diamondbacks (@PHNX_Dbacks) July 17, 2024

While MLB’s midsummer classic has become more about fun and less about competitiveness in recent years — since 2017, the game has had no ramifications for World Series home field advantage — Lovullo still faced a daunting task on Tuesday: trying to get every player in the game.

That pursuit led Lovullo to make some unconventional pitching changes, such as removing Phillies lefty Cristopher Sánchez after two pitches (and two outs).

“It was a very awkward moment,” Lovullo said. “I ran out there, and I said, ‘Hey, man, this is just how it’s falling right now. I apologize, but you had an unbelievable moment.’

“And he’s like, ‘Hey, man, like, let me finish this. Are you serious?’

“My main goal was to get everybody in the game … You want to be fair to everybody that’s been awarded this opportunity. They’ve earned it, and I don’t want to run from giving them a chance to go out and compete.”

Lovullo was almost successful in his pursuit to get every NL pitcher in the game. Washington Nationals reliever Kyle Finnegan was the only guy left out. Had the American League come up to bat in the ninth inning, he would have pitched.

Arguably the biggest decision that Lovullo had to make for the All-Star festivities was his starting pitcher. By all indications, most people believe that he made the right choice in Skenes.

Lovullo spent a considerable amount of time with Skenes in the 48 hours leading up to the game. He wouldn’t mind taking him to Chicago for the Diamondbacks series against the Cubs this weekend.

“I’ve had a chance to get to know him a little bit differently than some of the other coaches,” Lovullo said of Skenes. “He’s just a very talented kid that does it right. And, like I said yesterday, he does it with a dose of humility.

“I don’t think he knows how good he is yet. It was really fun to watch him compete the way he did.”

Skenes tossed a scoreless first inning before being removed from the game.

Prior to first pitch on Tuesday, Lovullo gave a speech in the NL clubhouse. His main focus? “I just didn’t want to trip and fall as I was walking through that room.”

Lovullo continued: “I get a little starstruck. I’m a fan. But I can switch that gear over and manage a baseball team.

“I love baseball. It’s been a part of my life, and I was just honored to be on this level with this group of players. It was pretty special.”

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Ketel Marte notches hit for Lovullo, NL

The hardest-hit ball of Tuesday’s All-Star Game came off the bat of Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte. In the third inning, he singled on a short-hop grounder at 109.5 mph and scored later in the frame on an Ohtani three-run homer.

Marte’s hit was originally ruled an error on AL second baseman Marcus Semien. The call was later overturned.

“That was not an error,” Marte said after the game. “I hit the ball 110 mph. It’s not easy to catch it. I’m glad I got the hit.”

Ketel Marte on his single that was originally ruled an error:

"That was not an error. I hit the ball 110 mph. It's not easy to catch. I'm glad I got the hit!" pic.twitter.com/ZFeW2Zd9qW

— PHNX Diamondbacks (@PHNX_Dbacks) July 17, 2024

Marte said that the All-Star Game experience helped energize him for the second half of the season.

“I’m excited,” Marte said. “I want to be in the playoffs again. I can’t wait to be there.”

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Top photo: Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports