2014 Season Report (50 Games)

It shouldn't surprise anyone following the Diamondbacks this season, but things continue to get worse. The injury bug has come back, this time biting the offense and pitching. The RA Dickey trade is probably going to soften the blow, but it's still going to sting. The Diamondbacks have come up a bit in the standing (17th, 22-28), but they now sit just ahead of the Colorado Rockies for 2nd in the NL West. The Rockies have used a MONSTER season from SS Troy Tulowitzki to push the Diamondbacks, but they should lose some steam in the coming months.

Offensively the Diamondbacks seem to be coming alive, especially with Paul Goldschmidt continuing to be an MVP candidate. Goldschmidt smashed two HRs on May 16th to bring his season total to 9, but his BB total has lagged so far. Things should balance out, but Goldschmidt will have to keep things going while the rest of the team comes around. RF Domonic Brown finally hit his 2nd HR, but he continues to hit under .250, much like Carlos Santana (.159) and Peter Bourjos (.218). Aaron Hill has (finally) found himself on the trainers table with shoulder issues, it is unknown if this is a long term issue or just a short term nuisance. Santana is also suffering from something, possibly concussion symptoms, either way it isn't helping.

Goldschmidt continues to be excellent

The problems on the mound got much worse when Gio Gonzalez was placed on the 15-Day DL with shoulder inflammation, not good news. AA call-up Chase Anderson managed to win his second start, but not without difficulty, giving up 5ER in 5.1IP with only 2K. A win is a win, but performances like that are going to get him sent back to Mobile. Ian Kennedy has taken over as the best starter (72K, 3.59ERA, 1.14WHIP) but still only has three wins on the season

Diamondbacks Hire Tony LaRussa

The Arizona Diamondbacks confused everyone this week by announcing that they have hired Tony La Russa as Chief Baseball Officer. The legendary 69-year-old former manager and three time World Series champion (1989 Oakland, 2006 & 2011 St. Louis) joins a team desperately in need of some guidance.

Can La Russa help build a winning organization?

The title of "Chief Baseball Officer" sounds made up, but what it might signify is a major shake-up in management. Perhaps the dual GM experiment isn't working, as rumors fly surrounding one of the GM's level of involvement in team decisions. If the team were to remove one of the acting General Managers, likely Mr. Schroeer, La Russa could take on a bigger role in the organization.


Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall has made it clear that La Russa will report directly to him, placing him above the beleaguered GMs, and control the entire Baseball Operations department. Hall spoke to the media regarding La Russa's involvement :

“The entire organization is obviously frustrated with the results on the field and we are looking to improve… Tony brings us a wealth of knowledge, experience and success, and will work closely with Bert, Andrew and Kirk in evaluating our current state to determine the future of our baseball operations. He is excited and enthusiastic about the challenge, and we are fortunate to have this Hall of Famer on board and a part of the team.”

Few, if any, believe that La Russa has been brought in to take over for Manager Kirk Gibson, but things could be looking bad for him as well if the team continues to struggle. The 50 years of baseball experience La Russa brings to Arizona will be valuable, but it isn't clear if that experience is going to help engineer a total rebuild or just an executive clean out.

Diamondbacks Unviel New Uniforms For 2014... In May?

Better late than never, the Arizona Diamondbacks released new uniform designs for the rest of the 2014 season today. The team had initially planned to release them for the start of the season, but decided to hold off until 2015. Perhaps their slow start changed things, maybe some new uniforms will help fans forget about their record.


Ownership decided to keep the bones of their current design, the font and two of their base colors. Their primary color is now a truer red instead of the darker / rust red. The black jerseys and highlights are now gone, and they switch from a lighter 'Old Gold' to a brighter metallic gold for a secondary color.

 

 2014 Home Uniform

 

2014 Road Uniform

2014 Third Uniform

Most importantly the cartoonish snake 'D' logo is gone. Ownership explored revising the previous 'D' logo, but ultimately decided against reusing it. There are also rumors, via leaked images, that they had experimented with a new script 'Arizona' and 'Diamondbacks' logo. Based on the leaked images it appears they were unable to fit 'Diamondbacks' and opted to stick with something similar to their most recent wordmarks.

Leaked 2014 Design Concept

The retention of the 'DBacks' wordmark is unfortunate as it has spawned 'DBags' jokes, but the previous wordmarks do manage to capture a snake / southwestern feel that the team was eager to keep. Overall it's an improvement, hardly the best uniforms in baseball, but it's hard to beat established classics like the Cardinals and Dodgers. At least they didn't go back to the purple and teal uniforms circa 2001, that would have driven fans away faster than losing.

Recent Design Concepts

2014 Season Report (40 Games)

The roster churn continues in Phoenix, but the wins just aren't coming ad Arizona plummets in the standings. Poor hitting performances and even worse pitching is slowly sinking the Diamondbacks as they risk becoming one of the worst teams in baseball. A brutal 2-8 stretch leaves the Diamondbacks 21st (17-23) and closer to the #1 pick in the draft than the playoffs.

The only highlight of the stretch was Henderson Alvarez tossing a complete game shutout that was backed up by Aaron Hill, Chris Owings, and Paul Goldschmidt slamming HRs to win the game. Paul Goldschmidt continues to be gold, hitting .321 with 7HR, and Dayan Viciedo has surprised everyone with a hitting streak. Viciedo now boasts 18R 2HR 13RB and a healthy .297BA after looking like he might be riding the pine. Another surprise is Chris Owings supplanting JJ Hardy as the starting SS as Hardy is off to a horrible start (.265, no HR and only 9RBI) and barely playing. This team has gone from hopeful to hopeless is only 10 games.

Kennedy continues to pitch well, but the wins aren't coming.

Nothing new on the mound in Phoenix; the pitching is bad. RP are racking up more wins than starters, with the floundering Jim Johnson tied for 1st (3) with Gio Gonzalez. Ian Kennedy has been excellent lately, highlighted by a 12K performance that brings his total to 56 and a team best. Mid-level AAA prospect Chase Anderson was called up to start last weekend and he performed admirably, allowing a single run and striking out 6, but he may not stick in the rotation. Hopefully he will do better than Michael Bolsinger, who did well at first but was sent down after getting hammered for 4 runs or more in three of his five starts. RA Dickey cannot take the mound soon enough, and that is faint praise at his current pace.

Diamondbacks Acquire R.A. Dickey

In a move to shore up their faltering pitching staff the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired SP R.A. Dickey from the Toronto Blue Jays. With Michael Bolsinger pitching poorly, and being optioned back to AAA Reno, and Trevor Cahill still out of the rotation the Diamondbacks were desperate for pitching help.

Dickey has not pitched particularly well this season (2-3, 5.08ERA), but Arizona is in need of an experienced pitcher with some upside. Dickey probably won't return to the heights of his 2012 AL Cy Young season, but the knuckleballer's durability over the past three seasons will be very welcomed.

Dickey doesn't have to be great to save Arizona's staff

Arizona sent 2B Brian Roberts, OF Marc Krauss, OF Jaff Decker, LHP T.J. House, and RHP Jose Campos (currently recovering from Tommy John surgery) in exchange for the 39 year old starter. Dickey is due $24 million over the remainder of his contract which expires after the 2016 season. Financially the trade represents a slight reduction in overall salary for 2014, thanks to Brian Roberts $8 million contract, but Dickey is going to be on the books for a while. If Arizona continues to be well out of playoff contention around the trade deadline, look for the Diamondbacks to put Dickey on the block.

2014 Season - Down On The Farm (April)

It's that time of year, time to head on down to the farm and take a look at how the Arizona farm system is doing. More specifically, we will be looking at the progress of the Diamondbacks most promising prospects. With the way the season has started for the MLB club, we may see alot of these guys in the bigs sooner than expected.

RHP, Braden Shipley (Grade : B+, A South Bend)

Braden has become the crown jewel of the Diamondbacks farm system pitching with Archie Bradley getting shipped off to the Yankees in 2013. Shipley isn't nearly as major league ready as Bradley, starting his second season in A ball, but the former SS pitched well enough in two levels of A ball to get the attention of scouts. Shipley utilizes three quality pitches (90's fastball, change, curve) to throw strikes, if he continues to improve he should see some time in AA or AAA. Many expect Shipley to make his MLB debut in 2015 which means they need to see what he can do in Reno.

RHP Aaron Blair (Grade : B, Class A South Bend)

A teammate of Shipley, and fellow 1st rounder out of college, Blair is a few steps behind and figures to make the majors in 2016. Blair's secondary offerings aren't as polished as some, but he has pitched well to start the season (1-2, 4.04ERA, 1.09WHIP) by striking out more than a batter per inning (35.2IP : 44K) in six starts.

RHP Matt Barnes (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)

Shoulder tenderness, which shut him down during Spring Training, has prevented Barnes from pitching yet much in 2014. 

RHP Jake Barrett (Grade : B-, Double-A Mobile)

Originally drafted in the 3rd round by Arizona in 2012, Barrett returned to the Diamondbacks in the Werth trade. He has been his usual self to start the season; throwing hard for strikes. Why Arizona hasn't called him up or given him a shot to close is a mystery, but he could very well be up in 2015 if Jim Johnson and Joakim Soria don't pan out. Barrett has 7K in 9.0IP so far.

RHP Alex Colome (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)

Alex Colome is currently serving a 50-game ban for PEDs.

LHP David Holmberg (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)

He isn't seen as a front end starter due to his average stuff, be he throws strikes and projects as a durable pitching option. Unfortunately the jump from Double-Mobile to Triple-A Reno has not been kind, starting the season with an 0-3 mark in only 9.1IP (14.46ERA, 2.57WHIP). Fans shouldn't sleep on Holmberg, if he can right the ship and get back to throwing strikes he might be a valuable call-up toward the end of the season or in 2015.

3B Jake Lamb (Grade : B-, Double-A Mobile)

Lamb has been a pleasant surprise for Diamondbacks fans. Over the last two seasons, through rookie ball and Class-A Advance, Lamb has shown he can hit for power, average, and has good plate discipline. He has also shown he can stick at the hot corner as a good defender. Yes, he looked good at the plate in the hitter friendly California league, but his power has stayed with him through the start of the season in Double-A Mobile. His slash line has taken a hit against more advanced pitching, but at 23 he still has room for growth. With Lonnie Chisenhall looking vulnerable, Lamb could be the 3B of the future for Arizona.

SS Luis Sardinas (Grade : B-, Double-A Mobile)

Sardinas, who came over from the Cubs in the Jayson Werth trade, has not hit very well to start 2014. His hitting isn't turning heads, but his defense has been solid enough to earn a call-up to the bigs. Injuries to Brian Roberts and JJ Hardy forced the Diamondbacks to call him up as a utility man, passing over the more seasoned Grant Green, but with his bat needing development they sent him back down soon after. Sardinas' speed (32SB in 2012 and 2013) and glove are very dependable, his hitting will help determine if he is a future All-Star or a career utility man.

SS Sergio Alcantara (Grade : C+, Rookie AZL)

High potential rookie showed excellent plate discipline in 2013 (44BB in 48GP), but did not hit particularly well. Still 17, projects to be a good defender, has yet to play this season.

RHP Jimmy Sherfy (Grade : C+, Class-A Advanced Visalia)

Sherfy started off the season a little under the radar, but he has absolutely torched hitters to start the season. Sherfy is 2-0 (3.27ERA, 1.00WHIP) with an eye watering 23K in 11.0IP, which continues his trend of striking out nearly two batters per inning (52K in 28.1IP).

RHP Matt Stites (Grade : C+, Double-A Mobile)

Stites is in competition with Jake Barrett to take over the closer / set-up man role for the Diamondbacks.  Through 12.0IP he has looked good, striking out just under a batter per inning and posting a 1.08WHIP. If Stites can keep it up for the remainder of the season he should see a call-up to Triple-A Reno and possibly a trip to Phoenix.


OF Justin Williams (Grade : C+, Class A South Bend)

Williams has a similar profile to Alcantara, but they are almost total opposites at the plate and on defense. Williams, 17 at the time, struggled on defense often showing his age. At the plate, Williams showed a lack of plate discipline but flat-out raked when he wasn't striking out. He has considerable flaws to overcome, but he also has considerable potential. Williams has yet to play in 2014.

2014 Season Report (30 Games)

Things are looking up in Phoenix, but the Diamondbacks are still stuck in the standings. Technically they are on the right half of the overall standing (15th), but the 9th best in the NL and well out of the playoffs. The only bright side is they are still the 2nd best in the NL West, with the Rockies (13th) and the Padres (14th) some of the NL's worst teams.

The Diamondbacks have been able to drag themselves to .500 (15-15) thanks to the sudden burst in hitting. Paul Goldschmidt leads the offensive, as expected, with 4HR 18RBI and a solid .322BA. At this pace Goldschmidt will certainly finish the season as one of the best players in baseball, but a hot streak to balance out his slow start could push him into the MVP conversation. Carlos Santana has found his power, now with 3HR, but he continues to hit a disturbing .150 which is going to keep killing the offense. Matt Adams has also found a groove lately, despite already hitting .320, he has finally started hitting HRs (2) and will need to keep it up. So far most of the moves have been to the bench or to the minors, as Peter Bourjos finds himself behind the speedy Tony Campana at CF and stand-in Luis Sardinas as been sent back to AAA Reno.

Will Goldschmidt have to carry the offense all season?

The pitching staff continues to be a massive wreck, it's so bad that rumors are floating around that Arizona is in negotiations with free agent SP Kevin Slowey. Joakim Soria has taken over the closer role, recording 6SV for the season, and Nick Maronde has resumed his role in the pen for now. The only thing to be happy about is Gio Gonzalez (3-1) and Ian Kennedy (2-3) propping up the rotation. Outside of those two, it's been ugly, so ugly that the addition of Slowey and the return of Arrieta might boost the Diamondbacks into the Top 10 and possibly within striking distance of a playoff slot.