Mailbag: D-Backs' potential for 2006
02/27/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Cactus League games are right around the corner and that's when the battle for the fifth spot in the rotation, as well as the final few spots in the bullpen, will begin. It should be an interesting spring, as manager Bob Melvin plans to experiment with numerous lineup combinations.
Now on to your questions.
Does the Diamondbacks organization expect to win this year? Or is this team just set up to conserve money for when there is a good market for free agents? -- Scott Kraemer, Tucson
Scott, I think when the new baseball operations department took over during the offseason, it took a look at the roster and determined what a lot of folks who looked at it did: That it wasn't good enough to compete in the National League West if there were a team that won more than 81 or so games. Also, this was not a team that was one free agent away from being a team that could win 90-plus games on a consistent basis. Add to that the trade demand by Javier Vazquez, and it was pretty obvious that some retooling needed to be done.
Some will say this team isn't improved over last year's version, and only time will tell on that. But I think what the D-Backs have tried to do is make the team as competitive as possible for this year, while at the same time setting up to have some financial flexibility going forward. Don't discount the fact that they got Chris Young back in that Vazquez deal, because he's an immense talent. And it will be interesting to see the kind of numbers Miguel Batista puts up in comparison with what Vazquez has been doing.
That's a long answer to your question, but the bottom line is that it's possible this team could be better than last year's, but it definitely looks poised for a run of consistent success given the promising young players and financial flexibility.
What's the word on Casey Daigle this season? I understand he had a good season in Double-A as a closer, but with Jose Valverde locking up that position, does Casey have a spot in the bullpen? -- Tim W., Phoenix
Daigle has impressed the staff so far this spring. He re-invented himself as a closer last year at Double-A Tennessee, and the role seems to suit him. For one, it allows him to focus on just throwing two pitches -- his fastball and slider -- without having to worry about developing a consistent third pitch.
It's an uphill battle for him to make the team out of Spring Training because he's no longer on the 40-man roster, and clearing spots on the roster could be problematic. That's not to say that he won't, just that it's somewhat of a long shot. If he were to go to Triple-A Tucson and continue pitching as he has, he could certainly be in the big leagues this year.
Why is Brandon Lyon not being talked about as the closer for this year? He looked to be one of the breakout performers of the Majors last year before his injury. I just think he should be getting a little more consideration than he seems to be getting. -- Danny E., Hampton, Va.
Danny, while Lyon was on the disabled list last year, Jose Valverde stepped up and grabbed the closer's role. Lyon wasn't the same pitcher when he returned that he was at the beginning of the season. He's thrown the ball well this spring, and if that continues, he will be an important part of the bullpen. As we saw with him last year, the closer's role can change in a heartbeat, so you never know what will happen if he regains the form he showed last April.
From what I have seen, Chris Young has been slated to be the last outfielder on the big-league depth chart. But, with his hand injury, it is apparent that he will start in the Minors. Does that mean that Carlos Quentin will start on the big-league roster and get that shot we are all so excited to see him get? -- Nick Verderame, Phoenix
Young had an outside shot at making the team as the starting center fielder before injuring his hand. More than likely, he will start the year at Triple-A Tucson. The team hopes to have Young back on the field by March 15 or so, and that should give him plenty of time to be ready for the beginning of the Triple-A season.
With Luis Gonzalez in left and Shawn Green in right, there really isn't a spot for Quentin right now, despite how well he's played in the Minors. They will not keep Quentin as a reserve, so he will start the 2006 season at Triple-A Tucson, where he will play every day.
Do you really think the Diamondbacks' starting pitching is good enough to get the team to the playoffs? -- Jack W., Maricopa, Ariz.
For me, the rotation is the real question mark on the team. It has some potential, but there are some serious questions. Can Russ Ortiz bounce back? Can Orlando Hernandez stay healthy and be effective? Can Miguel Batista be a consistent winner? If Brad Halsey wins the fifth spot, will he continue the progression he began last year? If the majority of the answers to these questions are yes, then the rotation will be good enough. If not, then they could be in trouble.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Cactus League games are right around the corner and that's when the battle for the fifth spot in the rotation, as well as the final few spots in the bullpen, will begin. It should be an interesting spring, as manager Bob Melvin plans to experiment with numerous lineup combinations.
Now on to your questions.
Does the Diamondbacks organization expect to win this year? Or is this team just set up to conserve money for when there is a good market for free agents? -- Scott Kraemer, Tucson
Scott, I think when the new baseball operations department took over during the offseason, it took a look at the roster and determined what a lot of folks who looked at it did: That it wasn't good enough to compete in the National League West if there were a team that won more than 81 or so games. Also, this was not a team that was one free agent away from being a team that could win 90-plus games on a consistent basis. Add to that the trade demand by Javier Vazquez, and it was pretty obvious that some retooling needed to be done.
Some will say this team isn't improved over last year's version, and only time will tell on that. But I think what the D-Backs have tried to do is make the team as competitive as possible for this year, while at the same time setting up to have some financial flexibility going forward. Don't discount the fact that they got Chris Young back in that Vazquez deal, because he's an immense talent. And it will be interesting to see the kind of numbers Miguel Batista puts up in comparison with what Vazquez has been doing.
That's a long answer to your question, but the bottom line is that it's possible this team could be better than last year's, but it definitely looks poised for a run of consistent success given the promising young players and financial flexibility.
What's the word on Casey Daigle this season? I understand he had a good season in Double-A as a closer, but with Jose Valverde locking up that position, does Casey have a spot in the bullpen? -- Tim W., Phoenix
Daigle has impressed the staff so far this spring. He re-invented himself as a closer last year at Double-A Tennessee, and the role seems to suit him. For one, it allows him to focus on just throwing two pitches -- his fastball and slider -- without having to worry about developing a consistent third pitch.
It's an uphill battle for him to make the team out of Spring Training because he's no longer on the 40-man roster, and clearing spots on the roster could be problematic. That's not to say that he won't, just that it's somewhat of a long shot. If he were to go to Triple-A Tucson and continue pitching as he has, he could certainly be in the big leagues this year.
Why is Brandon Lyon not being talked about as the closer for this year? He looked to be one of the breakout performers of the Majors last year before his injury. I just think he should be getting a little more consideration than he seems to be getting. -- Danny E., Hampton, Va.
Danny, while Lyon was on the disabled list last year, Jose Valverde stepped up and grabbed the closer's role. Lyon wasn't the same pitcher when he returned that he was at the beginning of the season. He's thrown the ball well this spring, and if that continues, he will be an important part of the bullpen. As we saw with him last year, the closer's role can change in a heartbeat, so you never know what will happen if he regains the form he showed last April.
From what I have seen, Chris Young has been slated to be the last outfielder on the big-league depth chart. But, with his hand injury, it is apparent that he will start in the Minors. Does that mean that Carlos Quentin will start on the big-league roster and get that shot we are all so excited to see him get? -- Nick Verderame, Phoenix
Young had an outside shot at making the team as the starting center fielder before injuring his hand. More than likely, he will start the year at Triple-A Tucson. The team hopes to have Young back on the field by March 15 or so, and that should give him plenty of time to be ready for the beginning of the Triple-A season.
With Luis Gonzalez in left and Shawn Green in right, there really isn't a spot for Quentin right now, despite how well he's played in the Minors. They will not keep Quentin as a reserve, so he will start the 2006 season at Triple-A Tucson, where he will play every day.
Do you really think the Diamondbacks' starting pitching is good enough to get the team to the playoffs? -- Jack W., Maricopa, Ariz.
For me, the rotation is the real question mark on the team. It has some potential, but there are some serious questions. Can Russ Ortiz bounce back? Can Orlando Hernandez stay healthy and be effective? Can Miguel Batista be a consistent winner? If Brad Halsey wins the fifth spot, will he continue the progression he began last year? If the majority of the answers to these questions are yes, then the rotation will be good enough. If not, then they could be in trouble.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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