Slade Cecconi's up-and-down season continues as Arizona Diamondbacks fall to Reds

In his first at-bat, Reds leadoff hitter Will Benson harmlessly popped a fastball from Slade Cecconi up for an easy out. In his second at-bat, Benson smoked a fastball directly into the glove of Christian Walker. He saw Cecconi better but didn’t get the result to follow. In his third at-bat, he got yet another fastball and made no mistake, pulling it out to right field for a home run.

The two-run shot gave the Reds a lead they would never relinquish as they beat the Diamondbacks, 6-2. It also served as a microcosm for an issue that has plagued Cecconi all season.

In five starts, Cecconi has flashed encouraging signs. Three of those starts have been solid and he’s helped the Diamondbacks to two wins. This is all from a pitcher who would have begun the season as the club’s eighth starter of choice, had its rotation been at full health. Given where he stood in the organizational pecking order then, Cecconi’s performance has been a boon.

But that’s the macro view. The micro view reveals a tale of two pitchers.

The first time through the order, opposing hitters are 1 for 43 against Cecconi. After that, they’re hitting .339 with a 1.085 OPS. His strikeout rate drops from 28.9% to 10.9%. Split the numbers however you want, the reality is this: When hitters haven’t seen Cecconi, he’s been elite. Once they have a read on him, he’s been disastrous.

“The biggest thing with him is knowing how his fastball plays,” Benson said, providing an opposing hitter’s view. “His fastball is going to play with a little run and honestly, a little ride, so you’ve really got to stay behind it. When you get that fastball, get to it.”

That explains Benson’s success. With enough looks at Cecconi’s fastball, he was able to figure out how to square it up.

But it doesn’t explain everything. At times this year, Cecconi has been able to flummox hitters with his new changeup. His slider has been a plus pitch. Early in games, that combination has produced endless weak contact. Plus, the Reds didn’t only hammer Cecconi’s fastball. They finished with seven hits against him, including a single on the changeup and a double on the slider.

To the Diamondbacks, the issue was a lack of aggression.

Standing in front of his locker, a reflective Cecconi said, “there was good and bad” in his outing, then warned, “I’m not gonna talk about the good.”

His assessment of the bad?

“The thing that I've noticed in myself that needs to change and that will change moving forward is when I find myself getting hit is when I find myself looking to place the ball,” Cecconi said. “And I'll usually maybe take a mile per hour or two off a pitch to try to execute it. And I'm learning that that can't happen. That's not going to play at this level.”

Cecconi pointed specifically to a fourth-inning at-bat against Jeimer Candelario. After falling into a full count, he threw a 91.7 mph fastball that the Reds first baseman lined for a run-scoring single. Contrast that to Candelario’s first at-bat, when he popped out on a 94 mph fastball, and the difference is obvious.

Why Cecconi has been less aggressive, the Diamondbacks can’t quite explain. He insisted that the issue is not physical, citing a 96.6 mph fastball to Jonathan India, the last batter he faced. This off-season, he focused extensively on his stamina, aiming to maintain his strength throughout starts and prevent a move to the bullpen. So far, he feels the work paying off.

Instead, both Cecconi and manager Torey Lovullo believe the issue is more approach-based — a change that pops up once he falls behind in counts and his starts begin to go awry.

“We’re going to try to get to the bottom of it and allow him to get us those 21 outs that I expect starting pitchers to give us,” Lovullo said. “He’s got the stuff, it’s just about maintaining it and staying focused.”

Whatever the issue, it cost the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night. They’re hoping it won’t cost them again.

“I'm looking to use today,” Cecconi said, “as the day that I take the mental leap.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks fall to Reds in latest start of Cecconi's up-and-down year