A very very dark cloud has settled over Chase Field in the past week, and it will most likely remain there until the end of the season. While the team has not fallen off the map just yet, still sitting at 8th, it's starting to look like the fall will come soon. The Diamondbacks and Braves are basically neck and neck for the final Wild Card spot with Cincinnati firmly in 4th, this could come down to the performance of backups and the pitching staff.
Paul Goldschmidt, leading the team in just about every offensive stat, was diagnosed with a broken hand and will miss 8-10 weeks of the season. The injury occurred during a game against the Indians when Ernesto Frieri hit Goldschmidt on the hand. The length of recovery time essentially ends Goldschmidt's season. The Diamondbacks will move Matt Adams from DH to 1B and look to a number of players, mostly Didi Gregorious, to fill in at DH until Chris Owings comes back from injury. The loss of Goldschmidt is devastating, and no doubt prompted the Diamondbacks to start putting important pieced of their team on waivers.
The only good news is that stud 3B Jake Lamb has been called up to the majors. Lamb shot through AA and barely had time to play in AAA before management sent him up. The team isn't expecting him to replace Goldschmidt, but with Didi Gregorious hitting like... Didi Gregorious he might get a chance to play more often at DH or 3B.
The waiver period opened and closed with little action. The Diamondbacks did manage to win a claim on Oakland's Francisco Rodriguez, but the A's declined to negotiate a trade or pull him back. Everyone the Diamondbacks placed on waivers (Jim Johnson, Joakim Soria, and R.A. Dickey) cleared them, but no trades came about.
The pitching staff is starting to look like a mess, and Gio Gonzalez is right at the center of it. Gonzalez has gone 0-5 in his last 7 games and has failed to pitch 5 innings or more in three of them. Arrieta, the new ace of the staff, has been 1-3 in his last 7 games with all of them very good starts aside from a 5 inning 9R drubbing at Colorado. The bullpen isn't much better with Pat Neshek the only pitcher doing well, and Joakim Soria is now on the DL with Neshek assuming his role as closer.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Sunday, August 3, 2014
MLB.com Updated Top 100 Features Four Diamondbacks
More good news from the farm as the MLB squad struggles to stay within reach of the playoffs. Four Diamondbacks, including the just drafted Touki Toussaint, have made their way on to MLB.com's updated Top 100 list.
Braden Shipley (47) - Not a shock as Shipley started the year in the Top 100, but he's moved up into the top half of the list and is now Arizona's #1 prospect. Numerous teams asked about the RHP with the trade deadline looming, but Arizona is very dedicated to their 2013 1st rounder.
Touki Toussiant (85) - The ink on his contract is still wet and he's making a Top 100 list already. Toussaint has only tossed 12 innings this year and scouts are already buzzing about his potential, but the organization isn't ready to anoint him their future ace just yet. Coaches need to see how he fares outside of the AZL Diamondbacks rookie level.
Aaron Blair (87) - Another subject of trade discussions that Arizona refused to part with, Blair has been on the edges of the rankings until this season. Blair has moved through three levels of the farm system (A, A-Advanced, and AA Mobile) this season, and along with Shipley looks to be the future of Arizona's rotation.
Jake Lamb (98) - This is also an expected ranking after Lamb made Baseball America's Midseason Top 50 list. He has managed to turn heads by hitting .318 with 14HR and 79RBI this year at AA Mobile, and if he keeps it up he could be in the majors before you know it. Lamb was also ranked as the #9 3B prospect by MLB.com.
Braden Shipley (47) - Not a shock as Shipley started the year in the Top 100, but he's moved up into the top half of the list and is now Arizona's #1 prospect. Numerous teams asked about the RHP with the trade deadline looming, but Arizona is very dedicated to their 2013 1st rounder.
Touki Toussiant (85) - The ink on his contract is still wet and he's making a Top 100 list already. Toussaint has only tossed 12 innings this year and scouts are already buzzing about his potential, but the organization isn't ready to anoint him their future ace just yet. Coaches need to see how he fares outside of the AZL Diamondbacks rookie level.
Aaron Blair (87) - Another subject of trade discussions that Arizona refused to part with, Blair has been on the edges of the rankings until this season. Blair has moved through three levels of the farm system (A, A-Advanced, and AA Mobile) this season, and along with Shipley looks to be the future of Arizona's rotation.
Jake Lamb (98) - This is also an expected ranking after Lamb made Baseball America's Midseason Top 50 list. He has managed to turn heads by hitting .318 with 14HR and 79RBI this year at AA Mobile, and if he keeps it up he could be in the majors before you know it. Lamb was also ranked as the #9 3B prospect by MLB.com.
2014 Season Report (100-110 Games)
The Trade Deadline has come and gone, but nothing happened in Arizona. The Diamondbacks, refusing to give up high-end prospects, found themselves stuck between trying to make the playoffs and building for the future. Some reports, hopefully false rumors, actually had the Diamondbacks discussing a trade to bring Jayson Werth back after trading him to the Cubs. It's starting to look like the failure to bolster the team has cost them a shot at the playoffs. The team is just outside the cutoff (6th in the NL, 58-52), but the offense has struggled just as their rotation appears to be improving.
The big news at the plate is Carlos Santana, who seems to have remembered that he has some power. Santana managed to hit 14HR in June and July after hitting 6HR in the two previous months, he has also spent the last two months hitting .300+ after hitting well under .200. His 20HR now knock Paul Goldschmidt off his statistical perch. Goldschmidt continues to power the team on offense, but the disappearance (injuries) of Aaron Hill and Chris Owings have left the Diamondbacks shuffling players around. Domonic Brown has found himself on Kirk Gibson's hate list and is now riding the pine in favor of Peter Bourjos at CF and David Peralta in LF. Arizona desperately needs Owings to come back and give the team more speed on the base paths.
On the mound it's become the Arrieta-Alvarez-Kennedy show with Gio Gonzalez looking like he isn't 100% yet, he might not even be 50% with the way he has been lit up recently. Gonzalez has sandwiched a decent ND start (7.0IP 8K ER) in between two losses where he couldn't even get out of the 4th inning. Pat Neshek continues to be excellent, but the rest of Arizona's bullpen has turned into BP machines. Nobody is getting it done, not even Joakim "The Mexicutioner" Soria, and rumor is that Jim Johnson and his horrible contract will be placed on waivers. The team is starting to circle the drain, and a rapid dismantling of this roster could start as soon as this next week.
The big news at the plate is Carlos Santana, who seems to have remembered that he has some power. Santana managed to hit 14HR in June and July after hitting 6HR in the two previous months, he has also spent the last two months hitting .300+ after hitting well under .200. His 20HR now knock Paul Goldschmidt off his statistical perch. Goldschmidt continues to power the team on offense, but the disappearance (injuries) of Aaron Hill and Chris Owings have left the Diamondbacks shuffling players around. Domonic Brown has found himself on Kirk Gibson's hate list and is now riding the pine in favor of Peter Bourjos at CF and David Peralta in LF. Arizona desperately needs Owings to come back and give the team more speed on the base paths.
On the mound it's become the Arrieta-Alvarez-Kennedy show with Gio Gonzalez looking like he isn't 100% yet, he might not even be 50% with the way he has been lit up recently. Gonzalez has sandwiched a decent ND start (7.0IP 8K ER) in between two losses where he couldn't even get out of the 4th inning. Pat Neshek continues to be excellent, but the rest of Arizona's bullpen has turned into BP machines. Nobody is getting it done, not even Joakim "The Mexicutioner" Soria, and rumor is that Jim Johnson and his horrible contract will be placed on waivers. The team is starting to circle the drain, and a rapid dismantling of this roster could start as soon as this next week.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
2014 Season Report (90 Games)
A little over the half way point, and it's time to put up or shut up in Arizona. Things are looking good for a final run that will decide their playoff fates, injuries could be the difference between golf and baseball in October. Arizona, so full of promise before the season, fell on seriously hard times through the first few months. It's hard to believe they have recovered to sit in 9th overall (49-41) and 6th in the NL. The rest of the NL West fills out the bottom of the NL, and the Giants are leaving the Diamondbacks in the dust, looks like the only route to October is the Wild Card.
Who is David Peralta? No, seriously, who is David Peralta?! The 27 year old OF from Venezuela has bounced around the league since being in the Cardinals system for Rookie ball in 2006. After some time on three different teams in the independent leagues he landed at Class A-Advanced Visalia in 2013 and managed to work his way to the majors this season. With Peter Bourjos playing poorly, and Ender Inciarte not doing much better, Peralta got a shot at CF and seems to have it under wraps. Peralta is hitting a healthy .325 with 3HR and 16RBI in only 34 games, which is almost more than Bourjos and Inciarte combined. Goldschmidt continues to lead the team in basically every category; runs, HR, RBI, SB for heaven's sake, D-Bat Dogs eaten, awesomeness, you name it he leads it.
Chris Owings continues to sit out a shoulder problem with JJ Hardy filling in admirably, finally finding his groove at the plate. Hardy's power isn't really there, but if Arizona had to depend on Didi Gregorious they might be out of playoff contention. Owings is currently second on the team in SB to, again... I can't stress how crazy this is, Paul Goldschmidt.
After looking like a flaming wreck the pitching staff is starting to be very respectable. A huge season from Jake Arrieta has helped paper over the absence of Gio Gonzalez, but Gonzalez is back to give the Diamondbacks a very solid rotation that goes five deep. This staff looked like Gonzalez and some guys to start the season, but some trades and a little luck have seriously changed their fortunes. R.A. Dickey looked like he was toast after coming over from the Blue Jays, but his 7-8 record and 3.86ERA / 1.32WHIP comes courtesy of a 1.20ERA in the month of July. The rotation, in it's current form, could definitely carry this team to the playoffs.
Another big difference that has gone under the radar is the re-tooling of the bullpen. Jim Johnson has basically been banished, and the Soria-Neshek-Marshall-Stites foursome has really brought things under control. Neshek, Stites, and Marshall didn't start the season in Arizona, but at this rate they may never leave. Things appear to be falling in line for Arizona, but the Baseball Gods can be fickle, so nobody is booking tickets for October just yet.
Who is David Peralta? No, seriously, who is David Peralta?! The 27 year old OF from Venezuela has bounced around the league since being in the Cardinals system for Rookie ball in 2006. After some time on three different teams in the independent leagues he landed at Class A-Advanced Visalia in 2013 and managed to work his way to the majors this season. With Peter Bourjos playing poorly, and Ender Inciarte not doing much better, Peralta got a shot at CF and seems to have it under wraps. Peralta is hitting a healthy .325 with 3HR and 16RBI in only 34 games, which is almost more than Bourjos and Inciarte combined. Goldschmidt continues to lead the team in basically every category; runs, HR, RBI, SB for heaven's sake, D-Bat Dogs eaten, awesomeness, you name it he leads it.
Peralta has been a valuable addition to the outfield.
Chris Owings continues to sit out a shoulder problem with JJ Hardy filling in admirably, finally finding his groove at the plate. Hardy's power isn't really there, but if Arizona had to depend on Didi Gregorious they might be out of playoff contention. Owings is currently second on the team in SB to, again... I can't stress how crazy this is, Paul Goldschmidt.
After looking like a flaming wreck the pitching staff is starting to be very respectable. A huge season from Jake Arrieta has helped paper over the absence of Gio Gonzalez, but Gonzalez is back to give the Diamondbacks a very solid rotation that goes five deep. This staff looked like Gonzalez and some guys to start the season, but some trades and a little luck have seriously changed their fortunes. R.A. Dickey looked like he was toast after coming over from the Blue Jays, but his 7-8 record and 3.86ERA / 1.32WHIP comes courtesy of a 1.20ERA in the month of July. The rotation, in it's current form, could definitely carry this team to the playoffs.
Another big difference that has gone under the radar is the re-tooling of the bullpen. Jim Johnson has basically been banished, and the Soria-Neshek-Marshall-Stites foursome has really brought things under control. Neshek, Stites, and Marshall didn't start the season in Arizona, but at this rate they may never leave. Things appear to be falling in line for Arizona, but the Baseball Gods can be fickle, so nobody is booking tickets for October just yet.
2014 Season Report (All-Star Game)
The Mid-summer classic is here, and it's a lonely trip for the Arizona Diamondbacks. After starting off the season looking like one of the worst teams in baseball the team has really come together, especially the pitching, and salvaged a run at the playoffs. Despite all of the good will generated from sitting at 5th in the NL only two Diamondbacks received a call for the 2014 All-Star Game.
During Spring Training it looked like Arizona had an outside chance at sending four guys to Minnesota; Paul Goldschmidt, Carlos Santana, Gio Gonzalez, and Patrick Corbin. One for four isn't bad, especially considering what injuries have done to Gonzalez and Corbin.
Few are surprised that an MVP candidate playing like an MVP candidate would get elected. Goldschmidt makes his second straight ASG appearance and he will be the first Diamondbacks player to start since Luis Gonzalez in 2001. The second selection comes as a real surprise; Pat Neshek. Neshek, a mid-season free agent signing and notable non-closer, gets the nod with stellar numbers (0.70ERA, 0.57WHIP) that helped shore up an ailing Diamondbacks bullpen.
Arizona doesn't have all the much to complain about considering how most of the individuals have played, but that won't stop some fans from calling 'foul' on the voting process. The Diamondbacks biggest snub is someone who is currently being wronged by the "one inning pitched per team game" rule, and falls just a few starts short of qualification. Jake Arrieta, holder of a 7-5 record, is right up there with Clayton Kershaw in ERA (1.78), WHIP (1.02), and a K/9 (10.06) that would make anyone jealous. Arrieta is joined by Ian Kennedy, who isn't having quite the season Arrieta is, but he is 5th in strike outs (125) just behind Kershaw.
Perhaps having most of the team stay away from the ASG festivities will be good, they definitely need the time to recover from injuries. Getting Chris Owings back healthy will be huge, hopefully he can round the bases on his ROY campaign.
During Spring Training it looked like Arizona had an outside chance at sending four guys to Minnesota; Paul Goldschmidt, Carlos Santana, Gio Gonzalez, and Patrick Corbin. One for four isn't bad, especially considering what injuries have done to Gonzalez and Corbin.
Few are surprised that an MVP candidate playing like an MVP candidate would get elected. Goldschmidt makes his second straight ASG appearance and he will be the first Diamondbacks player to start since Luis Gonzalez in 2001. The second selection comes as a real surprise; Pat Neshek. Neshek, a mid-season free agent signing and notable non-closer, gets the nod with stellar numbers (0.70ERA, 0.57WHIP) that helped shore up an ailing Diamondbacks bullpen.
Arizona doesn't have all the much to complain about considering how most of the individuals have played, but that won't stop some fans from calling 'foul' on the voting process. The Diamondbacks biggest snub is someone who is currently being wronged by the "one inning pitched per team game" rule, and falls just a few starts short of qualification. Jake Arrieta, holder of a 7-5 record, is right up there with Clayton Kershaw in ERA (1.78), WHIP (1.02), and a K/9 (10.06) that would make anyone jealous. Arrieta is joined by Ian Kennedy, who isn't having quite the season Arrieta is, but he is 5th in strike outs (125) just behind Kershaw.
Perhaps having most of the team stay away from the ASG festivities will be good, they definitely need the time to recover from injuries. Getting Chris Owings back healthy will be huge, hopefully he can round the bases on his ROY campaign.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Shipley & Blair Make BA Midseason Top 50
Braden Shipley and Aaron Blair, both recently promoted to Advanced-A Visalia, have been elected to Baseball America's Midseason Top 50 list. The two RHP are Arizona's only prospects to make the list with current major leaguer Chris Owings making the Pre-Season Top 100. Shipley has jumped up to 36th from 62nd, and Blair has flown up the ranks by going from outside the Top 100 to 44th.
Perhaps the questionable trades that sent away Archie Bradley, Trevor Bauer, and Tyler Skaggs are not going to be the end of the world after all.
In somewhat related news Mobile 3B Jake Lamb was named to Baseball America's MiLB All-Surprise Team on the back of an impressive season.
Perhaps the questionable trades that sent away Archie Bradley, Trevor Bauer, and Tyler Skaggs are not going to be the end of the world after all.
In somewhat related news Mobile 3B Jake Lamb was named to Baseball America's MiLB All-Surprise Team on the back of an impressive season.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
2014 Season Report (80 Games)
With the half-way point just behind us the Diamondbacks' season is looking very different. A year that had started out so poorly is suddenly full of promise and the Wild Card is in reach. A hot streak has landed Arizona in 9th (44-36), 5th in the NL and just barely above the Marlins and Braves for the final Wild Card slot. 2nd in the NL West is basically a lock with the rest of the division owning the bottom of the NL (13th through 15th) and ranking as some of the worst in baseball (25th, 26th, and 28th). Colorado, Los Angeles, and San Diego are gearing up for the future, but Arizona is still trying to hang on for one last shot.
The offense has remained steady overall, but the big story is the explosion of power from Carlos Santana. Still hitting a shameful .204, Santana went to town on pitchers by hitting as many HR in June (6) as the first two months combined. Santana also hit a healthy .308 in June after hitting around .160 from March to May.
Santana's burst in production has helped cover for Aaron Hill slowing down and the recent injury to Chris Owings. Owings will be out until mid-July, but JJ Hardy has (finally) started hitting HRs to go with his healthy batting average (.294), so Arizona should have some cover until Owings returns. The other big story was Matt Adams clubbing the ball like crazy, also hitting 6HR in the moth of June. Adams has been dealing with defensive shifts all season by hitting weak singles to the opposite field, which explains his toothless .324 average, hopefully he can keep the power coming. Peter Bourjos has basically been excommunicated, now being left out of the lineup in favor of Ender Inciarte who's feeble BA (.238) is slightly higher than Bourjos' (.204) but comes with the same SB upside. The outfield continues to be a mess, but winning can make those kind of issues seem smaller.
The pitching staff continues to be the Diamondbacks' weakest point, but at the very least the starters are picking things up. Once an afterthought behind Gonzalez, Kennedy, and Corbin, Jake Arrieta is having an incredible breakout season. The 28-year-old Arrieta is 5-1 with a 1.81ERA / 1.01WHIP and 74K in 11 starts. He has flirted with no-hitters deep into games twice, and has struck out 9 or more in his last four starts. Arrieta is helping management get over trading away Phil Hughes, but they are going to need him to keep it up if the Wild Card is a reality.
Gio Gonzalez is back from the DL, and the Alvarez-Kennedy duo continue to exceed expectations. RA Dickey is still struggling, but his ERA/WHIP have becomes a bit more respectable and his continued presence will be vital in making it to October.
The offense has remained steady overall, but the big story is the explosion of power from Carlos Santana. Still hitting a shameful .204, Santana went to town on pitchers by hitting as many HR in June (6) as the first two months combined. Santana also hit a healthy .308 in June after hitting around .160 from March to May.
Santana might be turning his season around.
Santana's burst in production has helped cover for Aaron Hill slowing down and the recent injury to Chris Owings. Owings will be out until mid-July, but JJ Hardy has (finally) started hitting HRs to go with his healthy batting average (.294), so Arizona should have some cover until Owings returns. The other big story was Matt Adams clubbing the ball like crazy, also hitting 6HR in the moth of June. Adams has been dealing with defensive shifts all season by hitting weak singles to the opposite field, which explains his toothless .324 average, hopefully he can keep the power coming. Peter Bourjos has basically been excommunicated, now being left out of the lineup in favor of Ender Inciarte who's feeble BA (.238) is slightly higher than Bourjos' (.204) but comes with the same SB upside. The outfield continues to be a mess, but winning can make those kind of issues seem smaller.
The pitching staff continues to be the Diamondbacks' weakest point, but at the very least the starters are picking things up. Once an afterthought behind Gonzalez, Kennedy, and Corbin, Jake Arrieta is having an incredible breakout season. The 28-year-old Arrieta is 5-1 with a 1.81ERA / 1.01WHIP and 74K in 11 starts. He has flirted with no-hitters deep into games twice, and has struck out 9 or more in his last four starts. Arrieta is helping management get over trading away Phil Hughes, but they are going to need him to keep it up if the Wild Card is a reality.
Jake Arrieta has been amazing.
Gio Gonzalez is back from the DL, and the Alvarez-Kennedy duo continue to exceed expectations. RA Dickey is still struggling, but his ERA/WHIP have becomes a bit more respectable and his continued presence will be vital in making it to October.
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