Diamond(Back)s In The Rough
http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/760/1/DiamondBacks-In-The-Rough/DiamondBacks-In-The-Rough.html
Steven Michalovich
Steven Michalovich has been writing for Atomic Sports Media since February 2006 and is a senior at The Ohio state University.Michalovich will graduate in June 2007 with a degree in strategic communication and a minor in business. He is a huge Ohio State, Cleveland sports and Columbus Blue Jackets fan, and his ideal career would be to work in public relations and marketing for a major sports franchise.
By Steven Michalovich
Published on 03/6/2007
The Big Unit is back in the desert, but Arizona fans should be happier about the youth movement that's finally showing results. In the lastest installment of ASM's 30 in 30, Steve Michalovich sees reason for excitement but doesn't think the D-Backs are quite ready for a repeat of their 2001 title.
The Big Unit is back in the desert, but Arizona fans should be happier about the youth movement that's finally showing results. In the lastest installment of ASM's 30 in 30, Steve Michalovich sees reason for excitement but doesn't think the D-Backs are quite ready for a repeat of their 2001 title.
Diamond(Back)s In The Rough
The sign came when Luis Gonzalez, the most popular player in Arizona Diamondbacks history, left as a free agent to join division rival Los Angeles.
It was a sign of rebuilding, which is something Arizona has never truly done. In only the team’s second season they won 100 games and the NL West, and two years later they won the World Series.
Managed well, the D-Backs never seemed to be a struggling expansion franchise, unlike their contemporary, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In a short period of time, Arizona was able to assemble a championship club with big-time players like Gonzalez, Matt Williams, Curt Schilling, Jay Bell and Randy Johnson.
All of those players have since left the D-Backs and, though Johnson has returned, this team belongs to Brandon Webb, Conor Jackson and Chad Tracy now.
Wait, who?
General Manager Josh Byrnes, now in his second year, has done a great job with a limited budget. This team needed to rebuild as it watched its 2001 World Series winning club age into retirement or move on. Byrnes and the rest of Arizona management are doing everything to create a new image for this team; they even changed the colors from purple and green to black and red. The Diamondbacks are committed to rebuilding and appear to be doing a pretty good job at it.
Bob Melvin picks up the reigns as manager for a third year after winning 76 games last year, looking to improve upon the club’s fourth-place finish.
The rotation got a boost in the offseason with the acquisition of the aforementioned Johnson via trade after two ill-fated seasons in the Bronx. Johnson won four Cy Young Awards during his first stint with Arizona and experienced his greatest success with the D-Backs. The Big Unit seems to be most comfortable in a Diamondbacks uniform but he returns not as an ace, but as a number two starter, as Webb has emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball. He won his first Cy Young in 2006, and shouldn’t miss a beat after going 16-8 with a 3.10 ERA a season ago. Livan Hernandez, one of the best inning-eaters in the game and a pitcher with quality postseason experience, is a lock for the number three spot. Hernandez pitched well for Arizona after a midseason trade from Washington. Doug Davis is another inning-eating workhorse in the fourth spot. One through four in this rotation will certainly keep the team in games, but the fifth spot is up for grabs among five or six in-house candidates.
Flamethrower Jose Valverde is the closer - for now – but saved only 18 games in an inconsistent 2006. If that trend continues, he may find himself demoted from closer and perhaps all the way back to Triple-A. Jorge Julio and youngster Tony Pena have shown that they have back-of-the-pen type stuff and could work the ninth if Valverde struggles. Doug Slaten didn’t give up a run in nine appearances last year as a left-handed specialist and will return to the same duty. The two Brandons, Lyon and Medders, find themselves in set-up roles.
It was a sign of rebuilding, which is something Arizona has never truly done. In only the team’s second season they won 100 games and the NL West, and two years later they won the World Series.
Managed well, the D-Backs never seemed to be a struggling expansion franchise, unlike their contemporary, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In a short period of time, Arizona was able to assemble a championship club with big-time players like Gonzalez, Matt Williams, Curt Schilling, Jay Bell and Randy Johnson.
All of those players have since left the D-Backs and, though Johnson has returned, this team belongs to Brandon Webb, Conor Jackson and Chad Tracy now.
Wait, who?
General Manager Josh Byrnes, now in his second year, has done a great job with a limited budget. This team needed to rebuild as it watched its 2001 World Series winning club age into retirement or move on. Byrnes and the rest of Arizona management are doing everything to create a new image for this team; they even changed the colors from purple and green to black and red. The Diamondbacks are committed to rebuilding and appear to be doing a pretty good job at it.
Bob Melvin picks up the reigns as manager for a third year after winning 76 games last year, looking to improve upon the club’s fourth-place finish.
The rotation got a boost in the offseason with the acquisition of the aforementioned Johnson via trade after two ill-fated seasons in the Bronx. Johnson won four Cy Young Awards during his first stint with Arizona and experienced his greatest success with the D-Backs. The Big Unit seems to be most comfortable in a Diamondbacks uniform but he returns not as an ace, but as a number two starter, as Webb has emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball. He won his first Cy Young in 2006, and shouldn’t miss a beat after going 16-8 with a 3.10 ERA a season ago. Livan Hernandez, one of the best inning-eaters in the game and a pitcher with quality postseason experience, is a lock for the number three spot. Hernandez pitched well for Arizona after a midseason trade from Washington. Doug Davis is another inning-eating workhorse in the fourth spot. One through four in this rotation will certainly keep the team in games, but the fifth spot is up for grabs among five or six in-house candidates.
Flamethrower Jose Valverde is the closer - for now – but saved only 18 games in an inconsistent 2006. If that trend continues, he may find himself demoted from closer and perhaps all the way back to Triple-A. Jorge Julio and youngster Tony Pena have shown that they have back-of-the-pen type stuff and could work the ninth if Valverde struggles. Doug Slaten didn’t give up a run in nine appearances last year as a left-handed specialist and will return to the same duty. The two Brandons, Lyon and Medders, find themselves in set-up roles.
Diamond(Back)s In The Rough
Without Gonzalez, this team lost more than just their most prolific heart-of-the-order bat, but that shouldn’t stop this from being a potent offense. Jackson and Tracy are the new boppers on this team, and both are young and solid defensively. Arizona has built the offense around Tracy and he rewarded them with 20 home runs and 80 runs batted in last year. They expect him to produce even more and become a star. Jackson hit .291 in his first full season as the D-Backs’ first baseman. He too, should increase his production. Nearly forgotten in Toronto, second baseman Orlando Hudson moved on to Arizona last season, had his best season in the pros, and won the loyalty of fans and management. Hudson plays hard and is a great clubhouse guy to boot. Stephen Drew will celebrate his twenty-fourth birthday during Spring Training and J.D.’s younger brother will be handed the starting shortstop job in 2007. In 59 games last season, his line of .316/5/23 showed he can hit, and his arm and range defensively showed he can handle the position.
Veteran Eric Byrnes will lead off and play left field. He stays in the lineup by doing the little things like stealing bases and playing a gritty outfield. He relinquishes his center field position to Chris Young, an accomplished minor league player and another above-average defender who will finally get the chance to play every day. Carlos Quentin will be in right, has a great glove and hits for power (9 home runs in 57 games in 2007).
The D-Backs may be forced to use a platoon at the catcher position. Chris Snyder caught 61 games last season and proved that he calls a great game and that he can hit, but Miguel Montero has moved into the major league picture quickly. The top four spots in the order are set, but it is uncertain where Young, Quentin, Drew and the catcher’s spot will fit.
The bench consists of the still potent bat of Tony Clark and arguably the best fourth outfielder in the game in Jeff DaVanon. They’ll get plenty of at-bats and playing time with a lot of inexperienced players on this club.
The time is now to see if the Diamondbacks’ rebuilt farm system can bar fruit. In the past, this team has purchased its players and hasn’t built up homegrown prospects. Their current budge is limited because of deferred payments from past contracts, and as a result, talent evaluation has become more important than ever. We’re at the point now where we’ve begun to see the results of that commitment to young players and the early results look good.
Webb and Johnson will be a superb one-two punch and it will be interesting to watch this young offense grow. They will be a fun team to watch, but they’ll be middle of the pack in the NL West behind powerhouses L.A. and San Diego. But watch out, 2008 might be the year.
2006: 76-86 (Tied for 4th in NL West)
Veteran Eric Byrnes will lead off and play left field. He stays in the lineup by doing the little things like stealing bases and playing a gritty outfield. He relinquishes his center field position to Chris Young, an accomplished minor league player and another above-average defender who will finally get the chance to play every day. Carlos Quentin will be in right, has a great glove and hits for power (9 home runs in 57 games in 2007).
The D-Backs may be forced to use a platoon at the catcher position. Chris Snyder caught 61 games last season and proved that he calls a great game and that he can hit, but Miguel Montero has moved into the major league picture quickly. The top four spots in the order are set, but it is uncertain where Young, Quentin, Drew and the catcher’s spot will fit.
The bench consists of the still potent bat of Tony Clark and arguably the best fourth outfielder in the game in Jeff DaVanon. They’ll get plenty of at-bats and playing time with a lot of inexperienced players on this club.
The time is now to see if the Diamondbacks’ rebuilt farm system can bar fruit. In the past, this team has purchased its players and hasn’t built up homegrown prospects. Their current budge is limited because of deferred payments from past contracts, and as a result, talent evaluation has become more important than ever. We’re at the point now where we’ve begun to see the results of that commitment to young players and the early results look good.
Webb and Johnson will be a superb one-two punch and it will be interesting to watch this young offense grow. They will be a fun team to watch, but they’ll be middle of the pack in the NL West behind powerhouses L.A. and San Diego. But watch out, 2008 might be the year.
2006: 76-86 (Tied for 4th in NL West)