Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers and manager Kirk Gibson get vote of confidence

Mar 31, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

These might be three words no GM or manager ever want to hear, at least through a public arena. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports is reporting that Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson and GM Kevin Towers have both received the “vote of confidence” from team president Derrick Hall. Hall has a simple statement (via Heyman)

"“Right now you can’t place blame on any one person.”"

Not on one, but maybe a few. Actually, blame an elbow (not Patrick Corbin himself), exceptionally poor starting pitching (Randall Delgado and Trevor Cahill have been removed from a starting rotation that owns the MLB’s worst ERA of 7.63).

Of course, when any team struggles (out of the gate or at any time, really), fans have an overwhelming urge to want to point fingers. Doesn’t always tell the story doing such things. Think about this…

Not sure how many experts, prognosticators and/or oddsmakers had Arizona either winning the NL West or even making the postseason parade, but there was a certain level of expectations for a team that has finished 81-81 for the past two seasons. Most of what I have read and seen had Arizona finishing either third of fourth in the NL West.

Yes, the D’backs are the owners of baseball’s worst record at 4-14. It’s too easy to say that changes need to come about now. It’s also too easy to say we can wait, especially in this case. For starters, Corbin isn’t returning this season. Second, while no one is directing any attention to the offense, the bats own a combined OPS+ of 88 (not including pitchers). Entering today’s action, the MLB average is 94.

It’s not been only the starting rotation, and there is certainly enough “blame” – if you’re one to do such things – to pass around the entire roster and not so much Gibson and Towers.

(Call to Hardball Talk)