There’s a lot to like about this year’s Diamondbacks

There’s a lot to like about the Arizona Diamondbacks as
they head into the 2012 season.

They followed up a 94-win season with what most think was
an excellent off-season, with some “experts” even picking
the team to reach the World Series.

So, it should come as no surprise that manager Kirk
Gibson, on the day pitchers and catchers reported, had
some nice things to say about his club.

“On paper it seems like we’d be better,” the skipper said.
“We feel good about it, no question about it, but you get
into ballgames and how do we all come together? We like
where we are today.”

Ever one to not get too high or too low, Gibson cautioned
that it’s important not to let success get to their heads.

“Successes can be very dangerous,” he said. “We have to
kind of continue to do the same things that we did last
year, I think, plus more.

“What we did last year was good, but obviously it wasn’t
good enough, and we have to get better.”

And that’s why GM Kevin Towers went out and traded for
pitchers Trevor Cahill and Craig Breslow while signing
Takashi Saito and Jason Kubel, adding to last year’s
squad. Oh yeah, the team returns all its key parts, too.

Kubel, specifically, was a bit of a surprise signing,
coming over from the Minnesota Twins after an injury-
riddled 2011 where he hit just 12 home runs in 366 at
bats. However, the 29-year-old outfielder has a trio of
20+ home run seasons on his resume, and will provide some
extra power in a lineup that could use a little more.

“Any way you look at it, one through nine, we’re pretty
good,” Gibson said of his batting order, noting his
pitchers can hit, too. “He adds a tremendous bat to our
lineup; he comes from a great organization in the Twins,
which means something.”

But while Gibson is excited about the proven players on
his roster, he said the team will get contributions from
players no one is really thinking about right now, just as
no one was talking about Paul Goldschmidt, Bryan Shaw and
Josh Collmenter one year ago.

“There are Goldies, Shaws and Collmenters in our locker
room,” he said. “Who are they? That’s one of the things
that Spring Training is all about.”

We, like Gibson, are looking forward to seeing who steps
up for the Diamondbacks as they embark on a season that
begins with promise and expectations.

Follow @theAdamGreen