D-backs GM Kevin Towers: Team will rely more on speed in 2013
Feb 13, 2013, 3:17 AM | Updated: 2:20 pm
With offseason acquisitions like Martin Prado, Eric Chavez, Cody Ross and Didi Gregorius, the Arizona Diamondbacks garnered a lot of attention regarding their perceived desire to replace star power with grit and headiness.
During his media session Tuesday, general manager Kevin Towers offered up a different label: not home run-dependent.
“With (Adam) Eaton at the top of the lineup and potentially (Gerardo) Parra when he’s in there, I think there’s a speed dynamic that we haven’t had the last couple of years,” Towers said. “Hopefully it’s not a ball club that relies on the three-run home run to get back into games or win ballgames.
“I think when you look at our lineup, we’re still going to hit a lot of home runs. But, we have more contact-type hitters, hopefully higher on-base (percentage) early in our lineup and an ability to apply pressure.”
In 2012, the D-backs finished seventh-best in the league in OBP (.328) and 15th-best in home runs (165).
Speed, however, was a much bigger issue during the team’s 81-81 campaign.
Arizona finished last season ranked second-worst in stolen bases percentage (successful only 65 percent of the time) and eighth-worst in stolen bases (93).
“I think it’s now a more well-rounded club,” said Towers. “I think there’s a little more speed with the ball club offensively, a ton of versatility, great character, great makeup.”
