Watch Out For Snakes
Like every other team in the 2005 NL West, the Arizona Diamondbacks were a team with some interesting individual performances undermined by gaping lineup holes. The Snakes got some fine performances from several veterans and showed off some talented young players, but too many inadequate performances pulled them down to a 77-85 record. Over this winter the Diamondbacks have shaken up the roster with several trades, making room for more good young players to break through.
Projected 2006 Lineup:
SS Craig Counsell
CF Eric Byrnes
LF Luis Gonzalez
RF Shawn Green
3B Chad Tracy
1B Connor Jackson/Tony Clark
C Johnny Estrada
2B Orlando Hudson
At least by the standards of the NL West, this is a pretty good lineup. They are old and overcompensated, but Gonzalez, Green, and Counsell are still effective players. What's more, they are now merely placeholders for Carlos Quentin, Carlos Gonzales, and Steven Drew, all of whom are among the best prospects in the game and all of whom will be in the Arizona lineup by next year if not sooner. Byrnes is also merely marking time until Chris Young, obtained from the White Sox system, takes over in center. With Quentin, Gonzalez, Drew, Young, and Connor Jackson, the Snakes are going to have a devastating offense by 2007. This year's team should easily exceed the poor total of 696 runs scored by the 2005 collection, which was held back by dismal production from the catching, shortstop, and centerfield spots. All three positions are now filled by better hitters.
Projected 2006 Starting Rotation and Bullpen:
SP Brandon Webb
SP Orlando Hernandez
SP Brad Halsey
SP Miguel Batista
SP Russ Ortiz/Dustin Nippert
CL Jose Valverde
RP Brandon Medders
RP Brandon Lyon
RP Luis Vizcaino
RP Brian Bruney
With Javier Vazquez gone to the White Sox, Brandon Webb takes over as the staff ace, and is one of the division's best starters, trailing only Jake Peavy and perhaps Jason Schmidt. Valverde had a breakthrough season in 2005, striking out 75 in 66 innings. The rest of the staff needs work. Batista, who is a better pitcher than his 2005 performance in Toronto, should help, and Hernandez will probably be fine in the 12-15 starts he makes in between DL stints. A lot more help is needed here before the Snakes actually become a good team.
Where does Russ Ortiz rank among the worst free agent signings ever? We knew he was going to be a disappointment; we didn't know that he was going to go off a cliff like Wile E. Coyote. In 115 innings, he allowed 147 hits with a BB/K ratio of 65/46. Damn, that's some bad pitching. Good luck dumping the remaining three years of his $33 million deal.
The NL West being what it is, the Diamondbacks will at least be on the fringes of contending. Until they can acquire or develop a few more pitchers, they will remain on the outside of the postseaon window looking in.
Projected 2006 Lineup:
SS Craig Counsell
CF Eric Byrnes
LF Luis Gonzalez
RF Shawn Green
3B Chad Tracy
1B Connor Jackson/Tony Clark
C Johnny Estrada
2B Orlando Hudson
At least by the standards of the NL West, this is a pretty good lineup. They are old and overcompensated, but Gonzalez, Green, and Counsell are still effective players. What's more, they are now merely placeholders for Carlos Quentin, Carlos Gonzales, and Steven Drew, all of whom are among the best prospects in the game and all of whom will be in the Arizona lineup by next year if not sooner. Byrnes is also merely marking time until Chris Young, obtained from the White Sox system, takes over in center. With Quentin, Gonzalez, Drew, Young, and Connor Jackson, the Snakes are going to have a devastating offense by 2007. This year's team should easily exceed the poor total of 696 runs scored by the 2005 collection, which was held back by dismal production from the catching, shortstop, and centerfield spots. All three positions are now filled by better hitters.
Projected 2006 Starting Rotation and Bullpen:
SP Brandon Webb
SP Orlando Hernandez
SP Brad Halsey
SP Miguel Batista
SP Russ Ortiz/Dustin Nippert
CL Jose Valverde
RP Brandon Medders
RP Brandon Lyon
RP Luis Vizcaino
RP Brian Bruney
With Javier Vazquez gone to the White Sox, Brandon Webb takes over as the staff ace, and is one of the division's best starters, trailing only Jake Peavy and perhaps Jason Schmidt. Valverde had a breakthrough season in 2005, striking out 75 in 66 innings. The rest of the staff needs work. Batista, who is a better pitcher than his 2005 performance in Toronto, should help, and Hernandez will probably be fine in the 12-15 starts he makes in between DL stints. A lot more help is needed here before the Snakes actually become a good team.
Where does Russ Ortiz rank among the worst free agent signings ever? We knew he was going to be a disappointment; we didn't know that he was going to go off a cliff like Wile E. Coyote. In 115 innings, he allowed 147 hits with a BB/K ratio of 65/46. Damn, that's some bad pitching. Good luck dumping the remaining three years of his $33 million deal.
The NL West being what it is, the Diamondbacks will at least be on the fringes of contending. Until they can acquire or develop a few more pitchers, they will remain on the outside of the postseaon window looking in.
posted by Jim at
3:38 PM
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