D-backs GM Towers happy with his roster
Feb 21, 2012, 1:06 AM | Updated: 1:07 am
One year ago we (the media) sat in a room at Salt River
Fields and asked new manager Kirk Gibson how he was going
to change the culture of the clubhouse, and we asked
general manager Kevin Towers if the Diamondbacks had the
talent to reach .500.
This spring started out a little different. Scratch that…
a lot different. I pulled into a full parking lot at the
ballpark this afternoon and walked through a throng of
fans that gathered to watch the very first day of pitchers
and catchers “official” workouts.
Not only did the D-backs have enough talent to reach .500
last season, they had enough talent, heart and hard work
to win the National League West.
So why fix it if it ain’t broke? Towers said complacency
is NOT an option.
“First of all we didn’t want to stand pat,” he said. “We
knew the Division was going to get better and I think they
have.”
The Diamondbacks added lef-thanded pitcher Craig Breslow,
leftfielder Jason Kubel and righty Trevor Cahill. Breslow
and Cahill came over from the A’s in the D-backs offseason
trade and Kubel was acquired via free agency from the
Twins.
Towers did say there are still some positions that need
evaluating.
“Still the one area that we have kind of identified and I
don’t think there are any secrets, is we lack catching
depth, upper level catching depth in the system as well as
middle infield,” he said. “That’s still an area probably
in spring training as we go forward through the draft and
if we make trades we’ve targeted some of the top catchers
and top shortstops with other organizations.”
Towers still agreed that the team is in a much different
position than last spring.
“Confidence is much higher probably at this point in time
right now compared to where it was last year. Now it’s
just keeping the guys humble and grinding. We want to be
where St. Louis is right now — coming off a World
Championship.”