ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

At 0-0 it’s time for Diamondbacks to go to work

Mar 31, 2011, 3:14 AM | Updated: 4:23 am

The theme was obvious.

The Arizona Diamondbacks, following their final tune-up
game before the regular season begins, tended to share a
similar outlook when it came to judging what Spring
Training meant in regards to their season’s prospects.

“It doesn’t really matter what happened before
[Wednesday], starting Friday it’s a clean slate and
everybody’s very excited about it,” closer J.J. Putz said.

With a Cactus League-worst 12-25 record it’s no wonder the
team wants to forget about the last month or so and focus
on the season ahead.

“We start 0-0 with everybody on Friday,” manager Kirk
Gibson said.

Indeed, Friday marks the team’s chance to wash away the
bad taste the last couple seasons left in everyone’s
mouths and replace it with delicious optimism, an annual
rite for pretty much every team in Major League Baseball.

But, if the prognosticators are right, this is going to be
another long season in the Valley of the Sun. Without a
doubt the team enters the season with more questions than
answers, as neither first nor third bases are currently
manned by an everyday player and with left field
continuing its impressive streak of chewing up and
spitting out options since Luis Gonzalez roamed that
territory. Factor in a young-but-talented-but-probably-
lacking-an-ace pitching staff and, well, you have all the
ingredients for a rough year.

However, there is hope.

The Diamondbacks can claim above-average talent at second
base, shortstop, centerfield and right field, and at the
very least guys like Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson and Barry
Enright have potential to be solid starting pitchers. If a
player from the group of Kelly Johnson, Stephen Drew,
Chris Young and Justin Upton emerge as a legitimate stars,
and one or more of the pitchers develops into a much-
needed ace, this team will be more dangerous than people
think.

What does it all add up to? We’ll have at least 162 games
to find out. The first one is in Colorado, and at least
one of this year’s newcomers is optimistic about the
team’s chances going forward.

“I think we’ve got a ball-club here that can go out and
compete and really do something in this Western division,”
veteran Russell Branyan said.

Competing and doing something. That could work.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

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. 

4 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.

7 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.

11 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.

14 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.

16 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.

17 hours ago

At 0-0 it’s time for Diamondbacks to go to work