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)