Chip Hale, Arizona Diamondbacks offering ‘right answers’ to questions about season ahead

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In the wake of a 98-loss campaign in 2014 and a winter in which the public persisted in leveling its opprobrium upon the Arizona Diamondbacks, the organization’s pitchers and catchers reported to spring training Thursday with something of a millstone hanging around their collective neck. They sought to lighten the burden with frequent allusions to “fresh starts,” quoting a number of baseball’s go-to truisms.

Some pointed to the myriad of new players and the new leadership in the organization. Others footnoted injuries in their account of last year’s woes. Several talked of the top-to-bottom talent in the organization. And they all seemed to believe what they were saying.

First-year D-backs manager Chip Hale was pleased with the general outlook his team is sharing.

“The things (they’re saying) are the right answers,” he said smiling.

Hale, who was hired by the D-backs in October, played his part in that effort Thursday, rattling off positive, honest answers one after another. He spoke of the motivation that comes with low expectations, the luxury of depth, his hopes for individual rebounds, the value of players who “respect the game.” He addressed reporters by name after entering the room laughing, upbeat.

“We have such a great amount of talent in the organization and if we’re healthy, we feel like we’re going to be able to compete,” he said. “I feel good about it.”

Hale’s players — several of whom hadn’t met him in person until Thursday — sounded alike.

“It’s a fresh start for a lot of reasons,” projected Opening Day starting pitcher Josh Collmenter told media gathered around his locker. “For one, we’re 0-0 right now — no one’s in first, no one’s in last.”

Technically, Collmenter’s right, but things sure don’t look level in the D-backs’ National League West division.

The defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants are set to play the favorite with the division-winning Los Angeles Dodgers trailing closely behind. A third California team, the San Diego Padres, look to be baseball’s most-improved team, adding all of Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, James Shields and Justin Upton, among others, over the winter.

The D-backs say they’re not paying attention to that.

First baseman Paul Goldschmidt was tracked down in the clubhouse Thursday, though not required to officially report to camp until next week, when position players are expected at Salt River Fields. He was asked if he agreed with a sentiment that Hale cast out over the offseason — that the D-backs would surprise critics.