Jackson will provide needed jacks
01/23/2006
Are the D-Backs going to try to add any power? Chad Tracy seems to be the only hitter with power numbers from last year in the lineup besides Tony Clark, but he doesn't play every day.-- Marvin, Mesa, Ariz.
The Diamondbacks certainly lost a bunch of homers when they traded Troy Glaus and his 37 home runs to the Blue Jays. There are more ways to score runs than just with homers, though, and the Diamondbacks feel, as a whole, their lineup will be better this year.
If you look at what they've added you could make the case that they could be better offensively this year. The acquisition of Orlando Hudson gives them some speed and athleticism in the lineup and I think you would have to give him the edge offensively over Royce Clayton, who he essentially replaces in the lineup with Craig Counsell moving over to short. Eric Byrnes struggled offensively last year, but if he rebounds even just a little bit, he should provide more offense than Jose Cruz Jr. did in center last year. Johnny Estrada's bat behind the plate really improves the production there.
To me, Conor Jackson is a real key. If he hits that would be a real plus for the lineup considering he is replacing someone who hit 30 homers last year. The team will also need Luis Gonzalez and Shawn Green to hit around .280 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs apiece.
Regarding the previous mailbag discussion of left-handed pitching. Every time I watch a manager pull a better pitcher for a lesser "left-handed specialist" it makes me crazy. I understand that, statistically, hitters perform differently depending on the hand of the pitcher. But wouldn't it be better to simply focus on a pitcher who can get batters out, rather than expending all the energy to find someone who happens to be left-handed?-- Richard W., Tucson, Ariz.
Richard, I'm with you on this one. To me this is one trend that has gotten out of hand. Give me a reliever who can get batters out regardless of what hand he throws with. I think part of the reason that the specialist has become such a part of baseball is because it is so hard to come up with effective relievers, so managers try to match up as best they can. There are some situations where a left-handed batter's splits are so skewed that it makes sense to put a lefty on him, or a switch-hitter's power numbers are far worse from the right side. But to me it's a strategy that is employed far too often and has spawned a cottage industry of pitchers who would otherwise not be in the big leagues.
The Diamondbacks just signed Justin Upton to a $6 million contract and now they have two shortstop prospects getting paid large amounts of money. Why are the D-Backs paying so much for Stephen Drew and Upton when they play the same position and have no Major League experience?-- Todd S., Phoenix
The Diamondbacks drafted Drew with their first pick (13th overall) in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft because in their minds he was the best player available when their turn came around. Certainly he's done nothing to disappoint as he performed well at two different levels last year plus the Arizona Fall League. Some scouts think he's ready for the big leagues right now, but the Diamondbacks plan to be cautious and start him out at Triple-A Tucson next year.
Now, as for why they took Upton with the No. 1 overall pick this year when they already had Drew, the answer is simple: They felt he was far and away the best player in the draft; someone who they simply could not pass up on. Whereas Drew was a polished college player close to Major League-ready, Upton is a high schooler who is going to require a little Minor League seasoning. If in a year or two they are both Major League-ready and are both playing shortstop, the Diamondbacks will gladly find room for them on the roster with one of them switching positions.
But that's a big if. Sure, they are both extremely promising prospects, but if you look at the history of the draft, no player is ever a sure thing. If the Diamondbacks have to choose one day between Drew and Upton at short, it's a decision they'll be happy to make.
I was just wondering what Robby Hammock was doing and if he is still part of the Diamondbacks organization? I know he has a couple of surgeries and that's why he missed last year but he was showing good potential to become a real good ballplayer. Do the Diamondbacks still have him in their organization?-- Dominic O., Phoenix
I bumped into Hammock when I was down in Tucson for the Diamondbacks Fantasy Camp a couple of weeks ago. He is in the process of continuing his rehab from last year's shoulder surgery and expects to be ready to go when Minor League Spring Training begins in March. He was not invited to big league camp. Since being named starting catcher after the 2003 season, it's been a tough road for Hammock, with injuries to both his knee and shoulder. He's got a long road to make it back to the big leagues, but he said he was upbeat about his chances and was just looking to get back out on the field.
My guess is that his best bet to make it back to the big leagues at some point will be as a utility player, since he can play both corner infield and outfield positions as well as catch. If he's able to hit a little bit, that would make him a valuable piece for a National League team.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
Are the D-Backs going to try to add any power? Chad Tracy seems to be the only hitter with power numbers from last year in the lineup besides Tony Clark, but he doesn't play every day.-- Marvin, Mesa, Ariz.
The Diamondbacks certainly lost a bunch of homers when they traded Troy Glaus and his 37 home runs to the Blue Jays. There are more ways to score runs than just with homers, though, and the Diamondbacks feel, as a whole, their lineup will be better this year.
If you look at what they've added you could make the case that they could be better offensively this year. The acquisition of Orlando Hudson gives them some speed and athleticism in the lineup and I think you would have to give him the edge offensively over Royce Clayton, who he essentially replaces in the lineup with Craig Counsell moving over to short. Eric Byrnes struggled offensively last year, but if he rebounds even just a little bit, he should provide more offense than Jose Cruz Jr. did in center last year. Johnny Estrada's bat behind the plate really improves the production there.
To me, Conor Jackson is a real key. If he hits that would be a real plus for the lineup considering he is replacing someone who hit 30 homers last year. The team will also need Luis Gonzalez and Shawn Green to hit around .280 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs apiece.
Regarding the previous mailbag discussion of left-handed pitching. Every time I watch a manager pull a better pitcher for a lesser "left-handed specialist" it makes me crazy. I understand that, statistically, hitters perform differently depending on the hand of the pitcher. But wouldn't it be better to simply focus on a pitcher who can get batters out, rather than expending all the energy to find someone who happens to be left-handed?-- Richard W., Tucson, Ariz.
Richard, I'm with you on this one. To me this is one trend that has gotten out of hand. Give me a reliever who can get batters out regardless of what hand he throws with. I think part of the reason that the specialist has become such a part of baseball is because it is so hard to come up with effective relievers, so managers try to match up as best they can. There are some situations where a left-handed batter's splits are so skewed that it makes sense to put a lefty on him, or a switch-hitter's power numbers are far worse from the right side. But to me it's a strategy that is employed far too often and has spawned a cottage industry of pitchers who would otherwise not be in the big leagues.
The Diamondbacks just signed Justin Upton to a $6 million contract and now they have two shortstop prospects getting paid large amounts of money. Why are the D-Backs paying so much for Stephen Drew and Upton when they play the same position and have no Major League experience?-- Todd S., Phoenix
The Diamondbacks drafted Drew with their first pick (13th overall) in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft because in their minds he was the best player available when their turn came around. Certainly he's done nothing to disappoint as he performed well at two different levels last year plus the Arizona Fall League. Some scouts think he's ready for the big leagues right now, but the Diamondbacks plan to be cautious and start him out at Triple-A Tucson next year.
Now, as for why they took Upton with the No. 1 overall pick this year when they already had Drew, the answer is simple: They felt he was far and away the best player in the draft; someone who they simply could not pass up on. Whereas Drew was a polished college player close to Major League-ready, Upton is a high schooler who is going to require a little Minor League seasoning. If in a year or two they are both Major League-ready and are both playing shortstop, the Diamondbacks will gladly find room for them on the roster with one of them switching positions.
But that's a big if. Sure, they are both extremely promising prospects, but if you look at the history of the draft, no player is ever a sure thing. If the Diamondbacks have to choose one day between Drew and Upton at short, it's a decision they'll be happy to make.
I was just wondering what Robby Hammock was doing and if he is still part of the Diamondbacks organization? I know he has a couple of surgeries and that's why he missed last year but he was showing good potential to become a real good ballplayer. Do the Diamondbacks still have him in their organization?-- Dominic O., Phoenix
I bumped into Hammock when I was down in Tucson for the Diamondbacks Fantasy Camp a couple of weeks ago. He is in the process of continuing his rehab from last year's shoulder surgery and expects to be ready to go when Minor League Spring Training begins in March. He was not invited to big league camp. Since being named starting catcher after the 2003 season, it's been a tough road for Hammock, with injuries to both his knee and shoulder. He's got a long road to make it back to the big leagues, but he said he was upbeat about his chances and was just looking to get back out on the field.
My guess is that his best bet to make it back to the big leagues at some point will be as a utility player, since he can play both corner infield and outfield positions as well as catch. If he's able to hit a little bit, that would make him a valuable piece for a National League team.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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