15. Arizona Diamondbacks
by Nick Opich
3/3/2014
Mediocre. After back-to-back .500 seasons, it’s the only way to describe this team.
In lieu of an official slogan, Arizona should just play this song during
all home games:
After improving their record by 29 games, winning 94 games, and
winning the NL West division in 2011, (Kevin Tower
Since winning the division, Towers has overhauled Arizona ’s roster,
trading away stars Justin Upton, Chris Young, and Ian Kennedy. Only nine
players remain on the roster from the 2011 NL West division championship.
It can be asked, what kind of philosophy is Towers using to
run this organization?
Is he looking for grit? Power? Speed? Pitching?
What seems evident is that Towers is not fond of guys that
he didn’t personally bring into the organization. Upton, Young, Kennedy, along
with Stephen Drew, players who were in Arizona
when Towers first arrived, all were regarded as staples of the Diamondback’s
future. He has since traded them all.
He has also traded an array of once highly regard prospects:
Tyler Skaggs, Jarrod Parker, Trevor Bauer, Ryan Cook, Adam Eaton, Matt
Davidson, and David Holmberg. All players (with the exception of Bauer) who were
either acquired by Josh Byrnes or Jerry DiPoto, the previous General Managers.
What have these deals brought back as of today?
Mediocrity and uncertainty.
Going into the 2013-14 offseason, Towers was looking to
change the narrative. He made it loud and clear his team was going to acquire
an “ace” to pair with Patrick Corbin at the top of the rotation. They ended up
signing veteran innings eater and non-ace, Bronson Arroyo, shortly before
Spring Training.
Towers said he wanted to bring in a power bat that he could
slot in behind perennial MVP-candidate, Paul Goldschmidt. He acquired Mark
Trumbo, a guy who hit 34 homeruns a year ago. Trumbo also owns a -7 UZR/150 as
an outfielder, meaning he will be a major defensive liability. He also does this:
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| Score that as an RBI for Mark |
After shuffling through four closers last season, (Brad
Ziegler, J.J. Putz, Heath Bell, and David Hernandez) Towers traded for Addison
Reed to shore up the end of games. Reed, 25, saved 40 games last season and
soon will enter his first arbitration eligible season in 2015. Translation: he
will soon become very expensive. There also questions about the young reliever’s
fastball velocity after it dropped from 94.6 mph in 2012 to 92.8 mph last year.
Trading for an established closer isn’t a terrible idea. But
when you give up a young, power hitting third baseman, who was also named the
Future’s Game MVP, for a reliever whose salary is due to inflate, questions are
going to be asked.
Despite receiving undisclosed extensions this offseason, it
is clear that Towers and Manager Kirk Gibson jobs are on the line as they are
being pressured by ownership to produce a playoff-caliber club in 2014. What’s
sad, is that it appears Towers is clearly willing to mortgage the future of the
organization as long as he keeps his job.
It’ll be difficult for the Diamondbacks to compete with the
star-studded roster and payroll of Los
Angeles . Maybe
they can compete for one of the Wild Card spots but in all seriousness, can
this team really compete against the likes of the Nationals, Pirates, or
Braves?
Try as they might, Arizona
is trapped in perpetual mediocrity and Diamondback fans are stuck rooting for a
team mired in purgatory.
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| Dbacks fan protecting the sanctity of the pool |
1.
Last Season and Offseason
a.
81-81 – two straight years
b.
Traded Matt Davidson to CHW for Addison Reed
c.
Traded Adam Eaton to CHW; Tyler Skaggs to ANA
for Mark Trumbo
d.
Traded Heath Bell to TB; David Holmberg to CIN
e.
Signed Bronson Arroyo – 2 yr/ $23M guaranteed
2.
Line Up/Rotation
a.
Gerardo Parra RF
b.
Martin Prado 3B
c.
Paul Goldschmidt 1B
d.
Mark Trumbo LF
e.
Aaron Hill 2B
f.
Miguel Montero C
g.
A.J. Pollock CF
h.
Didi Gregorius/Chris Owings SS
i.
Patrick Corbin
j.
Trevor Cahill
k.
Bronson Arroyo
l.
Wade Miley
m.
Brandon McCarthy
n.
Randall Delgado*
3.
Fav/Least Fav
a.
H Fav –Trumbo protecting Goldy; Health
b.
N Fav – Full season from Aaron Hill
c.
H Least – Gave farm to CHW; Little return for
trades (No Courtney Hawkins); never got that Ace
d.
N Least – Nothing seems to be a game changer –
banking on a lot of improvements
4.
Impact Player
a.
Miguel Montero
i.
Earn your Money
ii.
Hit better
iii.
Get on base like 2011 and 2012; Walk more
iv.
.391 OBP in 2012 to .319 in 2013.
v.
.344 SLG in 2013; .438 in 2012.
vi.
Career-low .282 BABIP
5.
Impact Prospect
a.
Archie Bradley
i.
Top RH prospect (debatable with Taijuan Walker)
ii.
Tops out at 95 mph on fastball that sinks
iii.
Sharp bite on curve
iv.
Needs to work on control
v.
Someone would have to move bullpen
6.
Midseason Status
a.
Race for first with LA
b.
Owings won SS job
c.
Success depends on Montero finding swing
7.
Bold Predictions
a.
87-75
b.
Will
compete through early August before tapering off
c.
Trade Wade Miley, Cahill/Delgado to CLE for Justin
Masterson and RHP Cody Anderson
i.
Yankees get Didi, and RHP Spruill and LHP
Hagadone
ii.
Yanks send C Gary Sanchez, OF Slade Heathcott
d.
Archie Bradley debuts and does well
Podcast Playlist:
"The Great American T-Shirt Racket" - Envy on the Coast
"I Don't Want to Know" - Fleetwood Mac
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