The Diamondbacks should officially declare themselves as sellers

I hate doing this.

I want to win like everyone else. I would love to see the Arizona Diamondbacks make a fantastic run to the World Series just like the Rockies did in 2007.

There’s just one problem with that dream: REALITY.

The trade deadline is approaching. After Wednesday night, the Diamondbacks should officially declare themselves as sellers.

The Giants are off today (7/21) and the D-backs have Ian Kennedy on the mound against Milwaukee. It’s very plausible Arizona picks up a game today and the D-backs are 4 games out when you’re putting the kids to bed tonight.

No matter what happens today, Kevin Towers’ job is to improve the 2012 club. 2011 is over.

I know everyone will hate me for a month. Someone will say I’m giving up on the team. I’ll get an e-mail with a list of great second half comebacks. After I tweet out the link to this blog a man who claims to be a big D-Backs fan will say he’ll never listen again and I should move back to Ohio.

Here’s the reality of the 2011 D-Backs. They are a team building to be special but they can’t hit with runners in scoring position, they only have Micah Owings to bridge the gap between starter and closer and the fans don’t care if the team wins or not.

In a huge homestand coming off of the buzz of a great All-Star game, the D-backs drew 17 thousand, 17 thousand and 19 thousand in their last three games. With that lack of support, a team can’t possibly take on a major contract so you have to look at small stuff.

In order to make a serious run the D-backs need 2 new pitchers in the bullpen with at least one being a lefty, a No. 3 starter, Josh Collmenter to make a run at rookie of the year, a third baseman with power (that doesn’t strike out 200x a season) and now a clutch-hitting shortstop.

It is impossible to fill all those holes with affordable talent at the trade deadline.

Kevin Towers and Kirk Gibson have been incredible this year. This team has exceeded every expectation. Whether a division championship is in reach or not, the team is still worth the price of admission because of the refuse to lose drive instilled by Kirk Gibson. The team shouldn’t give up on any game they play but the GM has to look ahead.

The talent in the minors is too good to trade for a futile attempt at the division. Kevin Towers has seen too many unrealistic GM’s lie to themselves and buy his best players while he was building the Padres with other team’s best prospects.

He needs to do it again and field the desperate phone calls instead of make them.

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