The season has come to a close, with the exception of the Arizona Fall League, but for the most part the Diamondbacks system is quiet. It was a disappointing season for the Diamondbacks, but there is some hope brewing the minors. Thanks to some players taking some serious steps forward, and some promising draft picks, it looks like the strength of the system is pitching.
RHP, Braden Shipley (Grade : B+, Double-A Mobile)
Made his way through three levels (Class-A, Class-A Advanced, and Double-A) and looked good everywhere. Slowed down a bit in Double-A and finished the year with a 7-8 record, but his stock is holding steady going into 2015.
RHP Aaron Blair (Grade : B, Double-A Mobile)
Basically shadowed Shipley through three levels, but had better results and pitched well enough that his stock is on the way up. Should enter 2015 as a B+, but there is some chatter that Blair (not Shipley) is the best pitching prospect in Arizona.
RHP Matt Barnes (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno / Diamondbacks)
Barnes finished 2014 well and probably improved his stock going forward, but at age 24 he probably doesn't have much left to prove in the minors. Came up to the Diamondbacks during roster expansion, threw a few innings out of the bullpen, might get a shot at the rotation in 2015.
RHP Jake Barrett (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)
Solid season through two levels (Double-A, Triple-A) and probably holds steady with a B- grade, which is high praise for a reliever. Looks like he has nothing left to prove in the minors and should be ready for a major league trial in 2015 similar to fellow reliever Matt Stites.
RHP Alex Colome (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)
Had a decent suspension shortened season in Triple-A posting a 3.77ERA in 86IP, pitched sparsely for the Diamondbacks (17IP). Continues to be promising but health and command are a concern.
LHP David Holmberg (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno / Diamondbacks)
Really bad season, just did not look like his usual self. Was hammered in multiple call-ups, which wasn't a surprise considering his MiLB numbers. Hopefully just an aberration, 2015 should be better.
3B Jake Lamb (Grade : B-, Arizona Diamondbacks)
Lamb just shot right through Reno to the majors after a surprising season in Double-A. Didn't look like the next Mike Trout, especially after missing some time due to injury, but he looks like a viable replacement for Lonnie Chisenhall at 3B.
SS Luis Sardinas (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno / Diamondbacks)
Spent most of his year between Mobile and Reno with a few stints on the Diamondbacks. Still relies on defense to get himself in the lineup, but he hit .271 in 96AB while in the majors which is better than expected. Could benefit from the potential turnover at 2B with Gregorious and Hill figuring to be potential trade targets this off season.
SS Sergio Alcantara (Grade : C+, Rookie PL)
Mostly shined on defense and didn't have much power to speak of. Drew walks, but struck out at an unpleasant pace. He is still just 18 so there is time for the power and plate discipline to develop.
RHP Jimmy Sherfy (Grade : C+, Double-A Mobile)
Sherfy flew into the season under the radar but went on a tear and turned some heads. He couldn't keep things together and regressed, especially once promoted to Double-A, but his 68K in 49IP stands out. Could see time in the majors out of the bullpen in 2015, or he could spend more time in the minors.
RHP Matt Stites (Grade : C+, Triple-A Reno / Diamondbacks)
Pitched very well in Triple-A and moved up to the majors for 33 innings of work, but he was hit pretty hard during that stretch. Doesn't seem to have much left to prove in the minors so he should be back in the Diamondbacks pen for 2015, if he can get his command back he could be a valuable reliever with potential-closer upside.
OF Justin Williams (Grade : C+, Rookie PL)
Excelled in rookie ball and played well when promoted to Class-A South Bend. Still only 19, and figures to move up prospect lists for 2015.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
2014 Season Report (End of Season)
The season has finally come to an end, and the Super Karate Monkey Death Car has parked in Kirk Gibson's spot. Despite a healthy 88-74 record (9th overall) the Goldschmidt-less Diamondbacks failed to make the playoffs and ownership decided to move in a different direction. In another front office shakeup ownership opted to terminate it's dual-GM experiment by firing Mr. Schroeer and retaining Mr. Ayers. The team is already hunting for a new coach and fielding trade offers for basically everyone on the roster.
The biggest surprise of the closing days was the status of Chris Owings' shoulder. The team had him rehab and let him come back at the end of the season only to post a sad slash line (.208/.256/.236), but it turns out that his injury was worse than originally thought. Owings is scheduled to undergo surgery on his left shoulder, hopefully Dr. James Andrews can work his magic in a non-Tommy John procedure.
The Diamondbacks' MVP was... Paul Goldschmidt! Even after missing most of the 2nd half he finished with one of the best stat lines on the team. Carlos Santana made it hard on voters with 27HR and 85RBI, but the .231BA wasn't working in his favor. David Peralta and Ender Inciarte also looked good, finishing the season with better-than-expected numbers, but ultimately it was the loss of Goldschmidt that doomed their season.
On the mound things get even muddier in terms of who was the 'best' pitcher. Ian Kennedy is the front runner with a full season under his belt and a career mark in K's (207), but a 13-13 record and a 1.29WHIP makes his 3.63ERA look much worse. Gio Gonzalez, the staff ace, missed a number of starts and didn't look sharp during a long stretch after returning. Gonzalez finished the season strong, but at that point it was too little too late in the face of a late season charge by the Braves. It actually looks like the best pitcher in Arizona was Pat Neshek, an early season free agent, who only tossed 67.1 inning but did more with them than just about anyone not named Jake Arrieta. Arrieta started the season late himself, but posted low win and K totals, and his 0.99WHIP and 2.53ERA were just what the team needed.
With so many people getting fired, and management looking to rebuild, it's hard to believe everyone will be back for the 2015 season. Most expect the GM to gut this team and look toward the future by stockpiling prospects.
The biggest surprise of the closing days was the status of Chris Owings' shoulder. The team had him rehab and let him come back at the end of the season only to post a sad slash line (.208/.256/.236), but it turns out that his injury was worse than originally thought. Owings is scheduled to undergo surgery on his left shoulder, hopefully Dr. James Andrews can work his magic in a non-Tommy John procedure.
The Diamondbacks' MVP was... Paul Goldschmidt! Even after missing most of the 2nd half he finished with one of the best stat lines on the team. Carlos Santana made it hard on voters with 27HR and 85RBI, but the .231BA wasn't working in his favor. David Peralta and Ender Inciarte also looked good, finishing the season with better-than-expected numbers, but ultimately it was the loss of Goldschmidt that doomed their season.
On the mound things get even muddier in terms of who was the 'best' pitcher. Ian Kennedy is the front runner with a full season under his belt and a career mark in K's (207), but a 13-13 record and a 1.29WHIP makes his 3.63ERA look much worse. Gio Gonzalez, the staff ace, missed a number of starts and didn't look sharp during a long stretch after returning. Gonzalez finished the season strong, but at that point it was too little too late in the face of a late season charge by the Braves. It actually looks like the best pitcher in Arizona was Pat Neshek, an early season free agent, who only tossed 67.1 inning but did more with them than just about anyone not named Jake Arrieta. Arrieta started the season late himself, but posted low win and K totals, and his 0.99WHIP and 2.53ERA were just what the team needed.
With so many people getting fired, and management looking to rebuild, it's hard to believe everyone will be back for the 2015 season. Most expect the GM to gut this team and look toward the future by stockpiling prospects.
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