First, I like to admit that I was extremely elated when I heard that Wally Backman was hired since he would have instilled the necessary ingrediants that the Dbacks organization have been lacking since the "Showalter Era".... A fiery "field leader" who always garnishes the fullest level of play out of all his players and is fundamentally sound....Would know how to convey all those elements without using "kid-gloves"........Someone who is willing to hold his players accountable for their actions and wouldnt constantly deflect any blame off of them (which is something that Brenly was known for and since Melvin is a "Brenly clone", that is something that we may expect). Players then become too complacent whenever that happens, which would have been completely averted if Backman's past didnt come back to haunt him........
Regardless now of the manager situation, the Dbacks must continue the "youth-movement" that was thrusted upon them..... Here's my position-by-position hopes.....
1st Base:
Yes, I'm totally against bringing back Sexson since I'm not fully convinced he'll ever revert back to the form he had prior to his injury. He's also such a one-dimensional player and even if he's their only 'legit power threat, he still wouldnt see many decent pitches since the Dbacks lack anyone that could hit behind him..... Most still contend that the Dbacks erred heavily in the trade that brought Sexson over here, however, most of those players (besides Capuano) were interchangable....replaceable.....Kata, Snyder, and Hairston are a lot better than Counsell, Spivey, and Moeller...especially in the over-all long-term situation....Overbay had a flukey 1st half for the Brewers and returned "back to life...back to reality" in the 2nd half.....1st base is a position in which there's never a shortage of anyways....Plus, the Dbacks line-of-thinking was that Sexson would be their savior there for many years to come......Well, out of necessity....Hillenbrand was forced to become their every day 1B....I know he's obviously not a prototypical 1B and that he's currently a FA, but it would be more fiscally sound that they sign him to a 1-2 year deal....Obviously what he would earn would be less than half of what they were offering Sexson, which would free-up money for needs I would address later..... Long-term...if the Dbacks do acquire Major League ready 1B in a Randy Johnson deal....Hillenbrand would just serve as a stop-gap....or they could platoon Hammock, Olson, and perhaps Andy Green.....I would still convert Sergio Santos to 1B, especially if they manage to sign Stephen Drew.....
2B......I liked the power and speed that Hairston exhibited...I just hope that he'll maintain some focus with Melvin at the helm.....I expect that Hairston will become a perennial 20/20 player and his defense will improve tremendeously.....
SS... I am in favor of signing someone like Aurilia for a 1-yr contract because Cintron isnt the answer (and I contend that Cintron will be involve with some sort of package deal before Spring Training)....We got a brief glimpse of Jerry Gil toward the end of this past-season, but he needs another year of seasoning in the Minors.....If Stephen Drew is signed...he possibly might be the Opening Day SS, however, that might be decided after the fact when Aurilia is signed.....
3B....Chad Tracy...enough said....he's the Dbacks answer to Wade Boggs... He did improve his defense as the season progressed, but we all know how solid he is offensively that his sometimes erratic arm can be overlooked....
C....I loved the addition of Koyie Hill and Chris Snyder is a capable back-up...That tandem will "lock-up" this position for years to come....And definitely no Juan Brito in '05.....
RF.....No reports of Danny Bautista re-signing...which is promising since he had one of those "last year of a contract years".... The Dbacks could this year platoon Hammock/DeVore/Kroeger, or sign a stop-gap for a mininmal contract to play the 1st half of the season until either C. Jackson or C. Quentin are primed-and-ready for ML action......
CF....Terrero is the answer there and no way possible would I derail his progress by bringing back Steve Finley.....Terrero's speed, hustle in the outfield, and power will be present in the Dbacks line-up for several years to come....
LF...."Gonzo's" "last hurrah" in LF until C. Quentin or other prospects are ready to replace him....I recall that many suggests that Gonzo plays 1B, which is something I do foresee in '06 if Santos isnt converted or they dont deal Randy Johnson to begin with......
Kata will be "Counsell Part II".....Dont know who else out of Baerga or Colbrunn will return.... McCracken could be the stop-gap in RF that I mentioned earlier.....
Starting Pitching.....
If they Dbacks elect to keep a low payroll, Johnson must be traded... In light of the recent manager debacle and witnessing his "rival" Schilling "one-up" in the amount of WS rings makes him even more eager to be dealt to a contender rather than being involved in a "rebuilding process"... Johnson would be dealt for both a ML ready 1B and pitcher and perhaps a Class AA pitcher who will dominate w/in the next 2-years.....
The money earmarked for Johnson will go to acquiring 2-top level starters who are available in this deep FA pitching crop...... Webb would be the #3 starter (which he is best suited for), and then Fossum, Bill Murphy, Villareal, Gosling, or Gonzalez vying for 4th and 5th respectively.....
BP....
This is where the money they're saving by not signing Sexson and trading Johnson will benefit them considerably.....The Dbacks better not hope that
Valverde, Choate, Bruney, Randolph, Koplove, Nance, Lyon, and Fassero can all manage to pitch 50-100 + innings each.....Especially since most were on the DL last season for various arm ailments.....They must obtain a reliever who throughout his career has consistently exhibited a "rubber arm" without sustaining injuries and has been solid.....No more "quick-fixes" like Fetters and Service either.....
I do like Aquino as the closer and he'll serve in that role for the next 5 or so years....
Yes, I would concede that this roster wont guarantee too many wins in '05, but will enable the team to be competitive and fiscally viable.....This is how though the likes of the Minnesota Twins turned their team around, which should be the model approach for many organizations......
The Dbacks need a true direction and must maintain that course...rather than languish around in nothingess...... If they do follow this type of blue-print, they could be winners sooner than we know it......
Regardless now of the manager situation, the Dbacks must continue the "youth-movement" that was thrusted upon them..... Here's my position-by-position hopes.....
1st Base:
Yes, I'm totally against bringing back Sexson since I'm not fully convinced he'll ever revert back to the form he had prior to his injury. He's also such a one-dimensional player and even if he's their only 'legit power threat, he still wouldnt see many decent pitches since the Dbacks lack anyone that could hit behind him..... Most still contend that the Dbacks erred heavily in the trade that brought Sexson over here, however, most of those players (besides Capuano) were interchangable....replaceable.....Kata, Snyder, and Hairston are a lot better than Counsell, Spivey, and Moeller...especially in the over-all long-term situation....Overbay had a flukey 1st half for the Brewers and returned "back to life...back to reality" in the 2nd half.....1st base is a position in which there's never a shortage of anyways....Plus, the Dbacks line-of-thinking was that Sexson would be their savior there for many years to come......Well, out of necessity....Hillenbrand was forced to become their every day 1B....I know he's obviously not a prototypical 1B and that he's currently a FA, but it would be more fiscally sound that they sign him to a 1-2 year deal....Obviously what he would earn would be less than half of what they were offering Sexson, which would free-up money for needs I would address later..... Long-term...if the Dbacks do acquire Major League ready 1B in a Randy Johnson deal....Hillenbrand would just serve as a stop-gap....or they could platoon Hammock, Olson, and perhaps Andy Green.....I would still convert Sergio Santos to 1B, especially if they manage to sign Stephen Drew.....
2B......I liked the power and speed that Hairston exhibited...I just hope that he'll maintain some focus with Melvin at the helm.....I expect that Hairston will become a perennial 20/20 player and his defense will improve tremendeously.....
SS... I am in favor of signing someone like Aurilia for a 1-yr contract because Cintron isnt the answer (and I contend that Cintron will be involve with some sort of package deal before Spring Training)....We got a brief glimpse of Jerry Gil toward the end of this past-season, but he needs another year of seasoning in the Minors.....If Stephen Drew is signed...he possibly might be the Opening Day SS, however, that might be decided after the fact when Aurilia is signed.....
3B....Chad Tracy...enough said....he's the Dbacks answer to Wade Boggs... He did improve his defense as the season progressed, but we all know how solid he is offensively that his sometimes erratic arm can be overlooked....
C....I loved the addition of Koyie Hill and Chris Snyder is a capable back-up...That tandem will "lock-up" this position for years to come....And definitely no Juan Brito in '05.....
RF.....No reports of Danny Bautista re-signing...which is promising since he had one of those "last year of a contract years".... The Dbacks could this year platoon Hammock/DeVore/Kroeger, or sign a stop-gap for a mininmal contract to play the 1st half of the season until either C. Jackson or C. Quentin are primed-and-ready for ML action......
CF....Terrero is the answer there and no way possible would I derail his progress by bringing back Steve Finley.....Terrero's speed, hustle in the outfield, and power will be present in the Dbacks line-up for several years to come....
LF...."Gonzo's" "last hurrah" in LF until C. Quentin or other prospects are ready to replace him....I recall that many suggests that Gonzo plays 1B, which is something I do foresee in '06 if Santos isnt converted or they dont deal Randy Johnson to begin with......
Kata will be "Counsell Part II".....Dont know who else out of Baerga or Colbrunn will return.... McCracken could be the stop-gap in RF that I mentioned earlier.....
Starting Pitching.....
If they Dbacks elect to keep a low payroll, Johnson must be traded... In light of the recent manager debacle and witnessing his "rival" Schilling "one-up" in the amount of WS rings makes him even more eager to be dealt to a contender rather than being involved in a "rebuilding process"... Johnson would be dealt for both a ML ready 1B and pitcher and perhaps a Class AA pitcher who will dominate w/in the next 2-years.....
The money earmarked for Johnson will go to acquiring 2-top level starters who are available in this deep FA pitching crop...... Webb would be the #3 starter (which he is best suited for), and then Fossum, Bill Murphy, Villareal, Gosling, or Gonzalez vying for 4th and 5th respectively.....
BP....
This is where the money they're saving by not signing Sexson and trading Johnson will benefit them considerably.....The Dbacks better not hope that
Valverde, Choate, Bruney, Randolph, Koplove, Nance, Lyon, and Fassero can all manage to pitch 50-100 + innings each.....Especially since most were on the DL last season for various arm ailments.....They must obtain a reliever who throughout his career has consistently exhibited a "rubber arm" without sustaining injuries and has been solid.....No more "quick-fixes" like Fetters and Service either.....
I do like Aquino as the closer and he'll serve in that role for the next 5 or so years....
Yes, I would concede that this roster wont guarantee too many wins in '05, but will enable the team to be competitive and fiscally viable.....This is how though the likes of the Minnesota Twins turned their team around, which should be the model approach for many organizations......
The Dbacks need a true direction and must maintain that course...rather than languish around in nothingess...... If they do follow this type of blue-print, they could be winners sooner than we know it......
