The Arizona Diamondbacks will look to have a much better year in 2017 than they did in 2016. In their attempt to rebound, these are five Diamondbacks predictions for the upcoming season.
The 2016 MLB season was a rather disappointing one for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Some very big offseason transactions along with the addition of notable front office staff made it a year in which the Diamondbacks should have competed for a title. Many predicted a playoff berth. Instead, the Diamondbacks won only 69 games and were a single win above the last-place San Diego Padres.
The 2017 season has a chance to be different. Although it’s unlikely they head to the World Series, there are positives to look out for. There are also a few negatives as well with some of their top performers from last season regressing. As a generally young team, there are bright spots in many areas.
Already, new men have taken over as the team’s general manager and manager. Dave Stewart and Chip Hale have both been fired as the apparent scapegoats for the team’s poor performance. Change is afoot in the desert. Some of it is for the best. Some of it is for the worst.
This year, we should expect the Diamondbacks to at least give us a better idea of what they are. It’s a season where they need to stay less neutral and accept the losing. The 2017 campaign must be one where they either push forward or take a step back and focus on future seasons.