2012 MLB Season Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks
Who are these guys? That had to be the thought from many outside Phoenix as the Diamondbacks just kept winning last year. They battled with the Giants for most of the season before pulling away down the stretch. The combination of new GM, Kevin Towers, and new manager, Kirk Gibson infused new life into this underachieving club. With players like Chris Young and Justin Upton, the Diamondbacks should have been better much sooner. But they finally put it all together last season.
The year, though, was not without struggles. The biggest piece of adversity facing the Diamondbacks last season was the loss of their star shortstop. Stephen Drew severely fractured his ankle while sliding into home plate. He would miss most of the season and is still not back to 100% now. At the time, it wasn’t clear whether the Dbacks could continue to compete with San Francisco after the loss of Drew. Instead, Kevin Towers made the unorthodox move of sending mainstay Kelly Johnson to the Blue Jays for light-hitting Aaron Hill and utility man John McDonald. The move worked.
Hill hit .315/.386/.492 in 33 games with the Diamondbacks. McDonald fared far worse, but he played in far fewer games. His impact was less important than that of Hill. As the Diamondbacks marched past the Giants into the postseason, Hill continued hitting. In the play-offs, Hill hit .278/.435/.444.
The Diamondbacks ultimately were bounced by the Brewers in game five of the National League Division Series, but their improbable run last season has fans in Arizona hopeful. The turnaround has been incredible. Arizona went from 65 wins in 2010 to 94 last season. This was due in large part to a change in philosophy after Kevin Towers took over.
Towers hates strikeouts. He moved fan-favorite Mark Reynolds. Towers really hates strikeouts. He moved fan-favorite Kelly Johnson. The moves worked. In 2010, the Diamondbacks struck out 1529 times. In 2011, they struck out just 1249 times.
The changes, both in the team and in management, clearly paid off. The Diamondbacks became one of those rare worst to first stories, and they look poised to maintain their spot atop the National League West.
Arizona Diamondbacks Offseason Additions and Subtractions
Additions
OF Jason Kubel
Subtractions
1B Xavier Nady
SP Zach Duke
Arizona Diamondbacks Projected Starting Lineup, Rotation, and Bullpen
Lineup
1. SS Willie Bloomquist
2. 2B Aaron Hill
3. RF Justin Upton
4. C Miguel Montero
5. 1B Paul Goldschmidt
6. LF Jason Kubel
7. CF Chris Young
8. 3B Ryan Roberts
*Stephen Drew will replace Bloomquist when he returns, and the lineup will likely shift.
Rotation
1. Ian Kennedy
2. Trevor Cahill
4. Joe Saunders
Bullpen
CL J.J. Putz
RP Brad Ziegler
RP Bryan Shaw
RP Joe Paterson
2012 Arizona Diamondback Season Outlook
The Diamondbacks didn’t make very many changes in the offseason, but the changes they did make will help. They added Jason Kubel and Trevor Cahill. Both will be great additions to this club. Cahill, if he performs up to expectations, should allow the Dbacks to institute a one-two-three punch at pitcher. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but all the great teams are going towards dominant pitching (Phillies, Rays, Tigers, Brewers, Giants, etc). Both Daniel Hudson and Ian Kennedy were two of the game’s best pitchers last season. Certainly there were better pitchers out there, but not many. Now, with the addition of Cahill, the Diamondbacks may find themselves with the best rotation in the National League West.
The one thing to keep an eye on this year is how the Diamondbacks progress. They are no longer a “young” team. In 2009 and 2010, it was easy to say, “oh, this is just a young team trying to figure it all out.” Now, they’ve tasted postseason success, most of them have been together for years now, and aside from Paul Goldschmidt and a few others, these are seasoned major leaguers. Team chemistry can be shattered in an instant, and while it doesn’t seem this team will have that problem, the older they get, the more opportunity there is for things to blow up if the season isn’t going well. It’s just an added element Kirk Gibson and the entire coaching staff will have to monitor this year.
All that said, there should be little concern about this season. Last year was no fluke, and the team has not lost any key pieces. In fact, they’ve added a couple pieces that will continue them in the right direction. In addition, they have a guy by the name of Trevor Bauer who is just itching for a chance to show off his stuff at the major league level.
The biggest threat to the Diamondbacks repeating as division champs is just the overall improvement of the division. I cover the division on a daily basis while writing for Chicken Friars, and while many outside still feel this is a weak division, the truth is it is one of the most competitive in baseball. The Dodger, new owners and all, should be more competitive without their cloud of scandal hovering everywhere they go. The Giants are getting Buster Posey and Freddy Sanchez back. The Padres have one of the best farm systems in baseball. And they Rockies are building. Any slip up by this Diamondbacks team could open the door for any number of teams in the National League West to swoop in and steal the division.
Despite the additional challenges of an improved division, the Diamondbacks should win anywhere from 90-96 games this season. With the implementation of the second Wild Card in each league, they would be hard pressed to miss the postseason with that many wins. Just don’t be shocked if they don’t win the division. This is a good team, but they play in one of baseball’s strangest divisions. Anything can happen in the NL West, and probably will. The Diamondbacks are still a play-off caliber team, they may just have to work much harder to defend their division crown.