ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Arizona Diamondbacks are looking to strengthen their pitching staff

Jul 20, 2011, 4:00 PM | Updated: 5:17 pm

The San Francisco Giants have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. The same can’t be said about the Arizona Diamondbacks.

As divisional races heat up and the trade deadline approaches, the D-backs will look to improve their pitching staff in an attempt to close the four-and-a-half game gap between them and the division leading Giants.

“We plan on being as active as we can,” Arizona Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers said on Sports 620 KTAR’s Doug and Wolf. “For us, it’s about pitching. We have to improve our pitching and that’s really been our focus.”

While Arizona fans certainly want to acquire a big name player and win the division, Towers mentioned that he needs to evaluate his current team and assess realistic goals before parting ways with promising prospects.

“Do you have a realistic chance of passing the clubs in front of you and if you think you do then you go for it,” Towers said. “If you think you have a 50-50 chance then you do not mortgage your future, but make a few small moves to improve your club.”

D-backs fans may be excited about the trade deadline, but it won’t matter if the team does not play good baseball over the next couple weeks.

After the D-backs finish up their current series with the Brewers they will play 15 straight games against divisional opponents.

If Arizona struggles during that stretch they may fall out of the race as the Giants, who will likely acquire some bats at the deadline, already have the necessary pitching to hold on to the division lead.

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