ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

D-backs GM Kevin Towers: Players should handle on-field business

Feb 26, 2014, 4:00 PM | Updated: 4:45 pm

LISTEN: Kevin Towers, D-backs GM

If you wanted to describe the relationship between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013, you could do it with one word.

Dramatic.

There were fans being asked to change their clothes, bean balls, bench-clearing brawls, shows of disrespect, and a celebration that may have crossed over the lines of good taste (and sanitation, for that matter.)

Late in the season, on their way to the National League West crown, the Dodgers crushed the Diamondbacks 8-1, hitting six home runs in the process. There was plenty of celebration by the Dodgers in their home park, and very little in terms of fight shown by their Sedona Red-clad opponents.

This irked general manager Kevin Towers, and he vented his frustration on the airwaves of Arizona Sports.

“I was sitting behind home plate that game and when it showed up on the Diamondvision of stuffing bananas down their throats, I felt like we were a punching bag. Literally, if I would have had a carton of baseballs I would have fired them into the dugout from where I was sitting behind home plate.

“That’s not who we are as Diamondbacks, that’s not how — I mean, it’s a reflection on Gibby, on myself, on our entire organization. They slapped us around and we took it.”

The veteran GM also stated that he wasn’t a fan of how D-backs pitchers didn’t retaliate in times when Arizona batters were hit by pitches.

Towers was on the air again Wednesday morning — the same day the Diamondbacks begin their 2014 Cactus League schedule. The opponent? The Los Angeles Dodgers.

Is there unfinished business between the two teams? More to the point, will the bad blood between the two franchises linger into a new season, and should the D-backs be the ones to plunk an opposing hitter, like Yasiel Puig, for instance?

“I don’t think the front office should be ordering players to plunk other players,” Towers told Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “I think baseball players are smart, they’re aware of situations.

“To me, if business is warranted on the field, let the players take care of it.”

Including Spring Training, the D-backs and Dodgers will meet 22 times this season, including a regular-season opening two-game set in Australia in late March.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Ketel Marte celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Ketel Marte to lead off Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day lineup

The Arizona Diamondbacks' Opening Day lineup is set ahead of their matchup against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

1 hour ago

Jordan Montgomery throws a pitch...

Tyler Drake

Hall: Diamondbacks’ addition of Jordan Montgomery ‘made a lot of sense’

The Diamondbacks' addition of Jordan Montgomery puts a bow on a rotation that should be in the conversation for the top spot across MLB.

3 hours ago

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno...

Arizona Sports

Roundtable picks: One Diamondbacks young player to watch in 2024

Which Arizona Diamondbacks player should continue an upward trend in 2024? Gabriel Moreno, Brandon Pfaadt and Alek Thomas are possibilities.

3 hours ago

Chase Field flyover...

Damon Allred

Diamondbacks’ Hall ‘battling’ to keep Chase Field roof open for Opening Day

The roof at Chase Field continues to be a hot button topic, especially after an exhibition game was rained out on Monday.

4 hours ago

Merrill Kelly throws a pitch...

Alex Weiner

Meet the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2024 Opening Day roster

The Arizona Diamondbacks finalized their 26-man Opening Day roster on Thursday ahead of their matchup against the Rockies.

5 hours ago

Manager Torey Lovullo speaks with Corbin Carroll...

Arizona Sports

Roundtable: Expectations, predictions for the 2024 Arizona Diamondbacks

What are the expectations for the 2024 Arizona Diamondbacks? Arizona Sports show hosts and editors make their predictions.

7 hours ago

D-backs GM Kevin Towers: Players should handle on-field business