azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Scott Bordow, Tribune Columnist
The Diamondbacks are under new ownership but apparently they’ve borrowed some pants from Jerry Colangelo. The ones with holes burned in the pockets.
Baseball’s winter meetings weren’t 24 hours old before Arizona spent a combined $78 million on third baseman Troy Glaus and starting pitcher Russ Ortiz.
So much for those rumors that the Diamondbacks would have to file for bankruptcy.
File in the waste basket, too, the notion that the general partnership, led by Ken Kendrick, would be more interested in profit than performance.
Arizona isn’t done shopping. Soon to come, if the rumors are true: Shortstop Royce Clayton, infielder Craig Counsell and, possibly, outfielders Jeromy Burnitz and David Dellucci.
That’s quite a haul, and you can be sure the Diamondbacks won’t lose 111 games again next season.
"We have told you over the last couple of months repeatedly that our intent is not to rebuild but to reload," Kendrick said.
That’s good to hear, but one has to wonder if the Diamondbacks’ desire to be competitive is clouding their judgment.
The lavish contracts given to Glaus and Ortiz, in particular, are open to question.
Glaus hit 41 homers as recently as 2001, and with Richie Sexson apparently headed elsewhere, he’s a much-needed big bat in the middle of the lineup.
But Glaus played just 149 games the past two seasons because of shoulder problems, and the Anaheim Angels weren’t convinced he could play third base again.
Yet the Diamondbacks gave Glaus a $45 million deal that didn’t include provisions protecting them financially if Glaus reinjures his shoulder.
The same provisions, by the way, Arizona included in offers to Sexson, who is coming off shoulder surgery as well.
It’s a huge risk, and if Glaus spends more time in the trainer’s room than he does on the field, the Diamondbacks will have some explaining to do.
Ortiz never has had injury problems. In fact, he hasn’t missed a start in three years, and he’s a fit as the No. 2 starter, behind Randy Johnson and ahead of Brandon Webb.
But Ortiz’s ERA has risen each of the past three years, from a career-low 3.29 in 2001 to 4.13 last season. He had a 6.11 ERA in his final 12 starts last year.
Alarms go off, but the Diamondbacks gave Ortiz, 30, a four-year, $33 million deal. As of Saturday, no free agent pitcher had gotten a longer contract this offseason, and only Minnesota’s Brad Radke received a higher average salary.
Arizona’s largesse also seems curious in light of the continuing uncertainty surrounding Johnson.
If Johnson, through his agents, continues to insist on a trade, and the Diamondbacks try to honor his request, why write so many large checks?
Arizona is doomed to mediocrity — at best — if Johnson leaves. The near future won’t include a National League West title or a wild card berth.
Wouldn’t it make more sense, then, to temporarily plug a few holes with lowerpriced veterans, such as Clayton and Counsell, rather than tie up the payroll with longterm contracts?
Ortiz, for example, might be past his prime when the Diamondbacks are competitive again.
Now, if Arizona can somehow convince Johnson to stay — and grant him the contract extension he desires — the Glaus and Ortiz signings make some sense. There’s no dominant team in the NL West. If everything went right — and everyone stayed healthy — the Diamondbacks might be able to contend for a division title in 2005.
But that’s a lot of ifs, and a lot to ask of a club that had the worst record in baseball last season. It’s good to know the Diamondbacks’ ownership group is willing to be a player in a sport where money doesn’t just talk, it screams. But money isn’t worth much if it’s not spent wisely.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=33022
The Diamondbacks are under new ownership but apparently they’ve borrowed some pants from Jerry Colangelo. The ones with holes burned in the pockets.
Baseball’s winter meetings weren’t 24 hours old before Arizona spent a combined $78 million on third baseman Troy Glaus and starting pitcher Russ Ortiz.
So much for those rumors that the Diamondbacks would have to file for bankruptcy.
File in the waste basket, too, the notion that the general partnership, led by Ken Kendrick, would be more interested in profit than performance.
Arizona isn’t done shopping. Soon to come, if the rumors are true: Shortstop Royce Clayton, infielder Craig Counsell and, possibly, outfielders Jeromy Burnitz and David Dellucci.
That’s quite a haul, and you can be sure the Diamondbacks won’t lose 111 games again next season.
"We have told you over the last couple of months repeatedly that our intent is not to rebuild but to reload," Kendrick said.
That’s good to hear, but one has to wonder if the Diamondbacks’ desire to be competitive is clouding their judgment.
The lavish contracts given to Glaus and Ortiz, in particular, are open to question.
Glaus hit 41 homers as recently as 2001, and with Richie Sexson apparently headed elsewhere, he’s a much-needed big bat in the middle of the lineup.
But Glaus played just 149 games the past two seasons because of shoulder problems, and the Anaheim Angels weren’t convinced he could play third base again.
Yet the Diamondbacks gave Glaus a $45 million deal that didn’t include provisions protecting them financially if Glaus reinjures his shoulder.
The same provisions, by the way, Arizona included in offers to Sexson, who is coming off shoulder surgery as well.
It’s a huge risk, and if Glaus spends more time in the trainer’s room than he does on the field, the Diamondbacks will have some explaining to do.
Ortiz never has had injury problems. In fact, he hasn’t missed a start in three years, and he’s a fit as the No. 2 starter, behind Randy Johnson and ahead of Brandon Webb.
But Ortiz’s ERA has risen each of the past three years, from a career-low 3.29 in 2001 to 4.13 last season. He had a 6.11 ERA in his final 12 starts last year.
Alarms go off, but the Diamondbacks gave Ortiz, 30, a four-year, $33 million deal. As of Saturday, no free agent pitcher had gotten a longer contract this offseason, and only Minnesota’s Brad Radke received a higher average salary.
Arizona’s largesse also seems curious in light of the continuing uncertainty surrounding Johnson.
If Johnson, through his agents, continues to insist on a trade, and the Diamondbacks try to honor his request, why write so many large checks?
Arizona is doomed to mediocrity — at best — if Johnson leaves. The near future won’t include a National League West title or a wild card berth.
Wouldn’t it make more sense, then, to temporarily plug a few holes with lowerpriced veterans, such as Clayton and Counsell, rather than tie up the payroll with longterm contracts?
Ortiz, for example, might be past his prime when the Diamondbacks are competitive again.
Now, if Arizona can somehow convince Johnson to stay — and grant him the contract extension he desires — the Glaus and Ortiz signings make some sense. There’s no dominant team in the NL West. If everything went right — and everyone stayed healthy — the Diamondbacks might be able to contend for a division title in 2005.
But that’s a lot of ifs, and a lot to ask of a club that had the worst record in baseball last season. It’s good to know the Diamondbacks’ ownership group is willing to be a player in a sport where money doesn’t just talk, it screams. But money isn’t worth much if it’s not spent wisely.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=33022
