ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

ESPN analyst Boone: Diamondbacks can win with pitching

Feb 19, 2013, 10:42 PM | Updated: 11:28 pm

LISTEN: Aaron Boone, ESPN analyst

Somewhat lost in the flurry of moves made by the Arizona Diamondbacks over the offseason is that their pitching staff could be one of the best in baseball.

“First and foremost the Diamondbacks have a pretty good nucleus of starting pitching,” ESPN MLB analyst Aaron Boone told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf Tuesday when asked if the D-backs could win as presently constrcuted. “They have a chance to pitch.”

Ian Kennedy, Wade Miley, Brandon McCarthy and Trevor Cahill will be part of the rotation, with Tyler Skaggs, Patrick Corbin and Randall Delgado vying for the fifth spot. Following them, Arizona’s bullpen figures to be quite good, too.

The team will need it.

Boone pointed to the improvements made by the Los Angeles Dodgers and the reigning world champion San Francisco Giants — along with a San Diego Padres team he believes will surprise people — as reasons for why the NL West will be a difficult division.

But while many point to the losses of players like Justin Upton and Chris Young as reason for why the offense may take a hit, the team’s ability to limit the hits opponents get may keep them in most games.

“But the Diamondbacks have good, solid every day players and a chance, in their rotation, to compete with the upper echelon teams,” Boone said. “So I think they’re a classic case of if things break right for them they have a chance in the National League West.”

Arizona Diamondbacks

Lourdes Gurriel Jr....

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks keep good times rolling with 14-run inning, Opening Day rout of Rockies

What the Diamondbacks accomplished in the third inning against the Rockies on Thursday night was completely new for those in the ballpark. 

5 hours ago

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. flips his bat during Arizona Diamondbacks' 2024 Opening Day...

Arizona Sports

Diamondbacks score 14 runs in a single inning to beat Rockies on Opening Day

The Arizona Diamondbacks set franchise marks with 13 hits and 14 runs in the third inning of their 2024 Opening Day game against the Rockies.

8 hours ago

Blaze Alexander...

Alex Weiner

Blaze Alexander did all he could to make Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster

Diamondbacks infielder Blaze Alexander put together a spring that made it too difficult for the team to send him back to the minor leagues.

12 hours ago

Ketel Marte celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Ketel Marte to lead off Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day lineup

The Arizona Diamondbacks' Opening Day lineup is set ahead of their matchup against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

15 hours ago

Jordan Montgomery throws a pitch...

Tyler Drake

Hall: Diamondbacks’ addition of Jordan Montgomery ‘made a lot of sense’

The Diamondbacks' addition of Jordan Montgomery puts a bow on a rotation that should be in the conversation for the top spot across MLB.

17 hours ago

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno...

Arizona Sports

Roundtable picks: One Diamondbacks young player to watch in 2024

Which Arizona Diamondbacks player should continue an upward trend in 2024? Gabriel Moreno, Brandon Pfaadt and Alek Thomas are possibilities.

18 hours ago

ESPN analyst Boone: Diamondbacks can win with pitching