2014 Season Report (20 Games)

If the first 10 games of the season were rough for the Diamondbacks, the next 10 were brutal. It's easy to shake off the first few series of the season, sometimes good teams start 5-5 or 3-7 based on the way things break, but after 20 games a clearer picture starts to form. Teams who still look bad might just be bad, and Arizona is starting to look that way.

The highway from Scottsdale to Reno is already well worn, and it won't get any easier. Pitching continues to be an issue for the Diamondbacks as RP Will Harris was optioned to AAA and RHP Michael Bolsinger was called up. Bolsinger first appeared in a relief effort but was scheduled to start in place of the floundering Trevor Cahill. Cahill has been moved to the pen after getting hammered for 6ER in only 4IP, he will have to work his way back into the rotation. The Diamondbacks also optioned RP Nick Mardonde, and the putrid Lucas Harrell, making the pen even thinner.

Cahill has been horrible, can he work his way back to the rotation?

Gio Gonzalez continues to be solid, posting a 3-1 record with 24K and a 2.88ERA. One small ray of sunshine in the desert is the looming return of Jake Arrieta. Arrieta has completed a number of rehab starts and will slot right into the starting rotation when ready. The only other options available to Arizona are to make a trade or make call ups, neither will do much to help this season.

The offense has looked a little better as Paul Goldschmidt has come alive, Matt Adams and Domonic Brown both hit their first HRs of the season, but the good news ends there. Carlos Santana, Peter Bourjos, and Aaron Hill continue to be ice cold at the plate. If only to make things worse 2B Brian Roberts and SS JJ Hardy have already been hit with the "questionable" tag, not a good sign for the remainder of the season. Chris Owings has played well with Hardy ailing, but Hardy's power is more valuable than Owings' glove and speed.