Arizona Diamondbacks: Torey Lovullo simply tweaked what was there
Manager Torey Lovullo of the Arizona Diamondbacks said he found a team in place, and ready to compete.
No one would blame manager Torey Lovullo of the Arizona Diamondbacks for picking a broom and begin sweeping.
What he found in the days after accepting an offer to manage the Diamondbacks could be best described as chaos, disorder, and disarray. Here’s a team which finished 24 games under .500, and had only one season above the .500 mark in the last eight years.
Time to get out the bucket, mop, and boom, and start cleaning out the residue.
Above all, the finances were mystifying, because of the previous regime of general manager Dave Stewart, assistant GM De Jon Watson and Hall of Fame icon Tony La Russa, the organization’s Chief Baseball Officer, shelled out nearly $300 million on three players. That clearly compromised the effort to restructure Paul Goldschmidt’s contract and attract viable free agents.
Plus, field manager Chip Hale, fired the day after the 2016 season, establish troubled relationships with many pitchers, including Patrick Corbin, whom he banished to the bullpen for the remaining two months of the 2016 season.
Immediately, Lovullo walked into the situation clearly devoid of energy, incentive, and purpose. Yet, that was okay with the native of Santa Monica, Calif., because Lovullo brought a clear and sweeping approach.
Quite the introduction
During his introductory news conference last October, as the Arizona Diamondbacks eighth manager in franchise history, Lovulllo said at the time, “what matters to the players, matters to me.” That open invitation to communicate began to resonate throughout the clubhouse.
By the end of this past season, and his Arizona players tasting the sweet waters of post-season participation, pitcher Archie Bradley told Call to the Pen, “I don’t want to play for another manager than Torey Lovullo.”
That sentiment permeated through the walls of Chase Field, and by season’s end, became a common refrain.
For his part, Lovullo found what was essentially the core of a highly competitive team. Speaking to Call to the Pen last Friday before a Diamondbacks charity golf tournament to benefit veterans, Lovullo pointed out he did not have to look far for quality players.
“When I got here, I knew we had a special group of guys,” he said. “It didn’t take long to see how special they were, and we would be okay.”
Beginning with Goldschmidt at the core, the nucleus of strength down the middle was evident. Those close to the game argue the strength of any team is down the middle and that includes the center fielder, the double play combination, and stability behind the plate.
Faith in his team
Lovullo knew he had A. J. Pollock, a Gold Glove winner, in centerfield and the double play combination of Chris Owings or Nick Ahmed at shortstop with Brandon Drury at second, was adequate.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Picking up a veteran presence in Jeff Mathis and Chris Iannetta behind the plate strengthened that position over Wellington Castillo from the previous season.
All of which presented Lovullo with a foundation which was capable of winning.
Though the roster appeared competitive, Lovullo instituted a policy of communication and accountability. Quickly, the players bought into his open message and a desire to discuss matters, other than baseball, with each player.
Yet, Lovullo represented one component within the perspective of the moment. Speaking to Call to the Pen during the Arizona Diamondbacks postseason run, Bradley put an exclamation mark to that point.
“I think it starts at the top,” he said. “No offense to Torey, there was a lot of pressure on him the first time he addressed us. We thought, what was going to be his message.? What was his tone going to be, his demeanor, and how he went about talking to us? From the first meeting we had with him, and the words he spoke, they kind of hit me. It was the first time in a while when your leader or coach, the guy you’re going to follow for the season, says something and you stood up a little straighter. The hair on the back of neck stood up a little, and it’s from that moment forward I saw a real change for the better.”
While the Arizona Diamondbacks players recognize the value of his words and the deeds of his actions, now the baseball world takes stock of Torey Lovullo.
Next: Arizona Diamondbacks: 2017 season in review
Only one of three candidates for National League manager-of-the-year, Lovullo clearly received the support of his players and the Arizona organization for this honor. Later this week, pundits and fans will see if the baseball world, in its voting, follow in like appreciation.