ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

SI: Anonymous MLB scout gives insights on Diamondbacks

Mar 29, 2017, 5:00 PM

Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Drury, middle, gets high-fives from teammates after he scored on a tw...

Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Drury, middle, gets high-fives from teammates after he scored on a two-run home run by Jake Lamb, left, during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, March 23, 2017, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Despite the team’s disappointing 69-93 record last season, a new season means a blank slate for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

However, in order to get a better idea of what is probable to happen, Sports Illustrated asked anonymous scouts from MLB clubs to give their impressions on a team in the league.

The scout who gave his input on Arizona had very mixed feelings on the organization.

His profile of the Diamondbacks starts out by praising the “good energy under (new manager) Torey Lovullo,” but he still thinks the club isn’t capable of “much more than 75 wins” and could “dismantle things a bit” at the trade deadline.

He went on to analyze the different elements of the Diamondbacks’ core entering the season.

Rotation

I expect Zack Greinke to continue to be a mainstay in the rotation…. Shelby Miller has been filthy, up to 99 mph, with a nasty slider. His mechanics got away from him last year…. Taijuan Walker has huge stuff, but he’s been searching in his delivery. I think he’ll help, but is he a front-of-the-rotation guy? No…. Patrick Corbin’s stuff doesn’t seem quite as crisp. He’s a fringy command guy, so he’s had to learn to be more creative…. The time is now for Archie Bradley. He doesn’t have the stuff he had when he came out of high school. He’s throwing a two-seamer more, which is helping his command.

Greinke disappointed during his first season of a six-year, $206.5 million contract, but he still was the only Arizona pitcher with double-digit wins, going 13-7 with a 4.37 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 134 strikeouts. His velocity has been down this spring, but this scout, along with Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen, isn’t worried.

Miller joined Greinke as a high-profile pitcher acquired last offseason who failed to live up to expectations, after the Diamondbacks traded three quality prospects for him. He finished the year 3-12 with a 6.15 ERA and 1.67 WHIP – by far the worst marks of his career. The 26-year-old also accumulated more runs allowed (72) than strikeouts (70).

This scout isn’t the only person to have faith that Miller can bounce back, however, as Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal agrees.

An offseason acquisition, Walker was a major part of the deal that sent shortstop Jean Segura to the Seattle Mariners and has had an up-and-down spring. He went 8-11 with a 4.22 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 119 strikeouts last year with the Mariners.

Corbin is a formerly highly-touted prospect who struggled to a 5-13 record last season in his first full year removed from Tommy John surgery. He added a career-worst 5.15 ERA and 1.56 WHIP along with 131 strikeouts and was sent to the bullpen in August.

Lovullo announced Friday that the rotation will consist of the aforementioned four starters and Robbie Ray, leaving Bradley on the outside looking in for now. ESPN called this a make-or-break season for the 24-year-old after he finished with a 5.02 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 143 strikeouts last year.

Bullpen

The biggest concern is the bullpen. It’s tough to count on Fernando Rodney…. Jake Barrett is nursing a shoulder injury, and he’s their setup guy…. Jared Miller has been surprising. He’s a 6’7″ guy with deception.

Last season was a tale of two halves for Rodney, as he made the All-Star game after posting a 0.31 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with the Padres but imploded after being traded to the Marlins, slumping to a 5.89 ERA and 1.80 WHIP with them. He also blew three of 11 save chances in Miami after 17 unblemished chances with the Padres.

Barrett, on the other hand, played well as a rookie last year, finishing with a 3.49 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. However, he is expected to not be ready for Opening Day.

Miller spent last year jumping around the minors, accumulating a 2.64 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings in Class A, A+, AA and AAA.

The scout definitely isn’t alone in his assessment, as two ESPN analysts also pinpointed the Diamondbacks’ bullpen as a major problem area Tuesday.

Lineup

A.J. Pollock looks healthy. His timing isn’t great. But in BP, the ball is jumping off his bat…. Paul Goldschmidt has looked good. His power was down last year, but he’s the heart and soul of the lineup. He’ll be fine…. Brandon Drury is coming off a big year, and I don’t expect him to slow down…. Defense could be a problem: Jake Lamb’s range is fringy at third; in leftfield Yasmany Tomás is adequate at best…. Ketel Marté has shown flashes. He’s got great actions on defense, but the bat has a ways to go.

Center fielder Pollock missed most of last season with a fractured right elbow but looks to recapture the magic of his 2015 campaign, in which he batted .315 with 20 home runs, 111 runs and 76 RBI while adding 39 steals.

The Diamondbacks’ real franchise player is the first baseman Goldschmidt. The 29-year-old is in his prime and has made the past four All-Star games. Despite disappointment in his power numbers last year, Goldschmidt still finished with a .297 average, 24 home runs and 95 RBI. He also set career-highs with 106 runs scored and 32 stolen bases.

Another bright spot on offense is Drury, who hit .282 with 16 home runs, 59 runs and 53 RBI as a rookie last season. Lovullo stated last Tuesday that he will be the regular second baseman this season after moving between positions last year.

For all the offensive firepower they provide, Lamb and Tomas’s issues defensively are concerning, especially with Tomas, who is projected by one source to be the fourth-worst defender in the league next season.

Another player acquired in the Segura trade, Marte will open the season in Triple-A after being optioned there Tuesday.

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SI: Anonymous MLB scout gives insights on Diamondbacks