by Hayden Hughes
1/3/14
First and foremost, Happy
New Year D-Backs and Baseball Fans!
When it comes to how highly
I’d rank the D-Backs, I like to break it down by their depth chart. Take one
position at a time, and compare it to the other NL West team’s positions. For
example, take Paul Goldschmidt and debate whether I like him over LA Dodgers’
first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. That kind of logic just works for me.
But one thing I haven’t
ever considered, is what I’m about to attempt to do: Look at the present day
D-Backs and see where, by position, they are stronger than they have ever been
(or potentially weaker).
I thought I would do
Starting pitching and the closer spot and just omit the relief pitchers, but
I’m not sure I can do pitching at all. That guy named Randy Johnson kind of
messes everything up and leaves it obsolete. So we’ll stick to the offensive
side of things.
Starting with catcher,
mainstay Miguel Montero has been holding the fort down ever since beating out
Chris Snyder for the job in 2009. The Diamondbacks’ longest tenured backstop is
going into his seventh season with the team as the team’s clubhouse leader and
backstop – not counting the 16 AB’s he got in 2006. Almost by default, Montero
wins this debate with honorable mentions from Damian Miller and Chris Snyder.
But here is why Montero beats them out:
·
Neither Miller
or Snyder ever hit over 20 HR in a single season in their 21 combined years.
·
Miguel
Montero’s career WAR of 11.7 beats out Miller’s and Snyder’s career WARs of 9.0
and 4.4
·
Montero’s OBP
tops the other two candidates, and perhaps most impressively, in 2011 and 2012,
Miggy actually received MVP votes. He came in 21st and 32nd
respectively, but that has to count for something.
Next should be the most
exciting for D-Backs fans. First Base. Paul Goldschmidt currently anchors the
position, following past notables Mark Grace, Tony Clark, and…Conor Jackson?
Adam LaRoche made a single year stop in the desert in 2010, as did an
injury-plagued Richie Sexson in 2004, so while notable names, not notable
D-Backs. Tony Clark we can chalk up to a clubhouse veteran-type, who had some
great moments off the bench. Conor Jackson ended up just not panning out for
the Snakes either. So it comes down to Mark Grace, and here’s why Goldschmidt
reigns supreme already:
·
Mark Grace was
a fan favorite in Arizona, just like he was in Chicago and no matter what
off-the-field circumstances occurred, no one can take that away from him.
·
But, Gracie
came to the D-Backs in 2001, when he was 37. He played with the D-Backs through
2003, when he announced his plans to retire two days before the end of the
season.
·
In 2013, Paul
Goldschmidt put up an MVP-caliber season. 2013 alone could make Goldschmidt the
best D-Back First baseman in the club’s history. His 7.1 WAR beats Grace’s
career-high WAR of 5.0
·
One important
thing Grace has over Goldy, however, is his ability to avoid the punch-out. In
Goldy’s second full season at first, he struck out 145 times. In 2012, he
struck out 130 times. The highest total Mark Grace ever struck out in a single
season was…56. However, considering Goldschmidt’s slugging percentage and
overall power, he edges out Gracie.
Second Base is
tricky, because it all comes down to your taste. The D-Backs have never had a
real speed-ster at second base, but they’ve had some real talent prior to Aaron
Hill’s arrival. Going up against fan-favorites Orlando Hudson and Jay Bell and
even Craig Counsell, I figured it would be difficult. To spell out this
position, I’m just going to provide some stats (during their time in Arizona)
and let the numbers do the talking. Some (HR, Combined WAR) stats are skewed in
the other players favors due to number of games played as a D-Back. But the
averages really spell out a good case to be made for Hill…who reluctantly is my
pick over Counsell.
Player
|
OBP
|
SO/BB
Ratio
|
Stolen Bases/Caught Stealing
|
HR
|
SLG %
|
AVG # of Games played in a season
|
Errors
|
Combined
WAR
|
Hudson
|
.365
|
1.327
|
23/9
|
33
|
.448
|
134
|
32
|
10.4
|
Bell
|
.355
|
1.442
|
17/13
|
91
|
.458
|
123
|
86
|
9.7
|
Counsell
|
.348
|
1.227
|
68/35
|
24
|
.357
|
110
|
42
|
12.7
|
Hill
|
.359
|
1.654
|
15/9
|
37
|
.501
|
122
|
8
|
7.5
|
Third Base. Matt Williams
wins. No surprise here and any knowledgeable D-Backs fan would agree. Williams
played with the Snakes from 1998-2003 when he retired. Ever since hanging up
the cleats, Williams’ successors have been plenty: Troy Glaus had a single
season in 2005, Chris Johnson manned third for 44 games in 2012 before going to
Atlanta, and Ryan Roberts proved to be serviceable for a few seasons and became
a fan favorite. Point being, Matt Williams’ presence in the lineup’s 4th
spot is something that D-Backs fans still reminisce about from the hot corner.
**Honorable
Mention to Martin Prado, who lacks the power of Williams, but could have a
similar impact as a clubhouse leader**
Shortstop. Didi Gregorius has
the potential to become the next Derek Jeter according to Kevin Towers, but
potential won’t top this position’s candidates. Fans will immediately recall
Tony Womack, who cemented his place in the position from 1999-2003. After
cameos at the position, in 2006 the Stephen Drew era began, until Drew was
traded in August 2012. That really leaves this position battle to be between
Drew and Womack, as D-Backs fans enter the Gregorius/Chris Owings era up the
middle. For the sake of being fair, we’re taking out Drew’s 2012 campaign where
he was injured and played only 40 games. Similarly, Womack’s 2003 where he was
traded twice will be omitted. Ignoring these seasons is just more fun, as it
makes each case stronger. Looking at their numbers, here’s what fans see:
Player (# of Seasons with AZ)
|
OBP
|
SO/BB Ratio
|
SB/CS
|
HR
|
SLG%
|
AVG # Games (single season)
|
Errors
|
Combined
WAR
|
Womack (4)
|
.319
|
276/151
|
174/43
|
19
|
.364
|
142
|
62
|
.7
|
Drew (6)
|
.330
|
528/256
|
33/13
|
70
|
.442
|
122
|
64
|
13.4
|
Obviously, their different
players and it’s a matter of taste and what the particular fan prefers from
their shortstop. My recollection of Tony Womack is a romantic one. I remember
Womack for his contributions in his 2001 World Series campaign and the Father’s
Day Grand Slam following his father passing. However, despite the lack of speed
on Drew’s part, the combined WAR of each player’s time in Arizona really tells
us the answer. Stephen Drew takes the cake.
Left Field. For some fans,
the name Eric Byrnes bring to memory whimsical flips following throws from Left
field and dirty jerseys as they slid over first base. For other fans, Byrnes’ legacy
is remembered by infield pop ups and a 2009 contract worth $11,666,666 and
another $11 million in 2010, a year in which he was released. Then there’s the
third group of D-Backs fans, and perhaps the majority who read this and wonder
why I don’t just say his name already: Luis Gonzalez. I can still hear Thom
Brennaman’s voice as that ball floated past Jeter…
Center Fielders seem to be the shortest list in the club’s history. Perhaps Arizona is lucky to have
relative stability in Center. Steve Finley played at Gold Glove caliber from
1999-2004, after which Chris Young took over until 2012. Enter Adam Eaton
A.J. Pollock for the future. The battle really is between Finley and Young, the
franchises only mainstays in Center Field. One a Gold-Glover, one an All-star
(and one time Home Run Derby Contestant?!). Queue another grid!
Player (# of seasons in AZ)
|
OBP
|
SO/BB Ratio
|
SB/CS
|
HR
|
SLG%
|
AVG # Games (single season)
|
Errors
|
Combined
WAR
|
Finley (4)
|
.353
|
415/297
|
62/29
|
130
|
.501
|
149
|
11
|
16.3
|
Young (5)
|
.319
|
735/324
|
104/32
|
118
|
.437
|
131
|
21
|
12.7
|
The above stats omit the
players’ seasons in which they were traded. Again, this helps both players’
cases. The numbers lean slightly towards Finley, who played essentially a whole
season less than Young, although if you like speed, Young is your guy. I
personally favor Finley and the 3.6 more games my team will win with him
batting second, sixth, or seventh. But it could be a push.
Finally, Right Field. The Diamondback
faithful may cringe at any Upton praise in this paragraph, but between him and
current D-Back Right Fielder Gerardo Parra, a case really isn’t to be made
between Adam Dunn, David Dellucci, Carlos Quentin, Travis Lee, or Reggie
Sanders. So looking at Upton and Parra, their respective WARs over each players
time with Arizona are 14.2 and 11.6. Both players tend to play over 130 games a
year. With Upton beating out Parra in power and speed on the base baths, my
beef with Upton is in the field. Never did the D-Back fan base see a “WOW!”-play
and at times they witnessed a defeated Upton fumbling in the corner of Chase
Field’s Right Field. Some may chalk that up to the same nonchalant flare that Robinson
Cano plays with, but the only difference – Cano’s bat makes up for it at the
end of the day. Give me Parra and his cannon of a left arm and two Gold Gloves.
Here’s what we can
conclude. Between Parra, Hill, Prado, Montero, and D-Backs MVP Paul Goldschmidt,
as well as the young core in Pollock, Gregorius, Owings, and a heck of a
pitching staff, the D-Backs are doing okay for themselves. We can hope new
acquisition Mark Trumbo takes the reigns in Left and becomes a formidable
outfielder, and we can hope that Miguel Montero finds his swing again in 2014.
You can’t count them out, but I don’t think the “gritty” jokes will continue
through this upcoming season, unless you’re describing Gerardo Parra taking cheap
shots at Yasiel Puig under the pile of brawling grown men.
Another conclusion: My All
Time D’Backs Line Up:
1.
Gerardo Parra RF L
2.
Aaron Hill 2B R
3.
Luis Gonzalez LF L
4.
Paul Goldschmidt
1B R
5.
Matt Williams 3B R
6.
Stephen Drew SS L
7.
Steve Finley CF L
8.
Miguel Montero C L
It’s a little heavy in
terms of left-handed hitting. It certainly couldn't hold up to a similar line up against the Yankees, but at least you wouldn't have to resurrect anyone.
Music Recommendation: The
Gaslight Anthem – the ’59 Sound (2008)
Definitely Download: “The
Backseat,” “Old White Lincoln,” and “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues”
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