Diamondbacks shaping up to resemble their manager

[BC867]

This is the season that will define how far Kirk Gibson can take the D'backs. The front office has assembled a gritty team to resemble their manager.

They have a potentially great pitching staff and very good defense. And now, an offense that . . . well, in the words of Gibby:

We want to be gritty; we want to be a team that pressures our opponent. We want to be relentless, highly dedicated, determined and undeterred in our goals.

As the articles says, "They don't want to rely on the long ball anymore, even though they play in a hitter-friendly ballpark. They want to hit and run, take chances, use what Kevin Towers calls "the speed dynamic" and bring the fight to their opponents."

It continues, "Great pitching and defense wins championships, and the Diamondbacks seem to have much of that in place, but they also want to play with real fire and raw emotion. That sells to the paying public, who didn't see nearly enough of it last season during an 81-81 campaign. Prado, the key component the Diamondbacks bring in the Upton deal, exemplifies that trait as much as anyone. 'He's a guy you want up when the game is on the line.' Towers said of the the team's new starting third baseman."

And, "Towers didn't say Upton wasn't that type of player. He didn't have to. Upton's trade to the Atlanta Braves in a seven-player deal said it all."

No more watching popup after popup, living or dying with the home run. I love it! I'll even try and be comfortable with Gibson's mystery batting orders. But there appears to be a clear lead person at each position except shortstop and with four outfielders sharing the three positions.

So Towers and Gibson have a plan and it makes sense. There will be no excuse for not reaching the World Series this season, just as we were expected to last season.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/20130125gritty-like-gibby.html

 

[devilalum]

I like not relying on the long ball. Every since the MLB cracked down on PEDs the long ball has been MUCH less reliable even at Chase.

Manufacturing runs through contact hitting and smart base running is much more reliable.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Still think we need to find a true, legit consistent 30+ homerun guy for right field or 3B. Prado will be a nice addition as he is a good defender and tremdendous contact hitter.
However, as in years past, this team will continue to place a huge amoount of pressure on our starters... As a unit, they will need to consistently go deep into a game. I don't see our offense ranking in the top 10 or 12 in the NL for runs scored, which will mean our pitchers will have to be near perfect with each start... gonna be tough...

 

[devilalum]

Still think we need to find a true, legit consistent 30+ homerun guy for right field or 3B. Prado will be a nice addition as he is a good defender and tremdendous contact hitter.
However, as in years past, this team will continue to place a huge amoount of pressure on our starters... As a unit, they will need to consistently go deep into a game. I don't see our offense ranking in the top 10 or 12 in the NL for runs scored, which will mean our pitchers will have to be near perfect with each start... gonna be tough...

22 players in MLB hit 30 or more HRs last season and we had one of them. We also had the #37 guy in Hill.

Oh and Upton had 17, Prado might hit that many at Chase.

 

[BC867]

22 players in MLB hit 30 or more HRs last season and we had one of them. We also had the #37 guy in Hill.

Oh and Upton had 17, Prado might hit that many at Chase.

Besides Kubel's 30 and Hill's 26, Goldschmidt had 20 and, as he further develops, we certainly expect him to become a legitimate 30+ HR hitter.

As long as none of them tries to hit every pitch, every at-bat into the air. Selective home runs and line drive home runs.

We'll have balance with this roster. Especially with Miggy's clutch line drive RBI performance expected to continue in the middle of the order.

 

[devilalum]

Besides Kubel's 30 and Hill's 26, Goldschmidt had 20 and, as he further develops, we certainly expect him to become a legitimate 30+ HR hitter.

As long as none of them tries to hit every pitch, every at-bat into the air. Selective home runs and line drive home runs.

We'll have balance with this roster. Especially with Miggy's clutch line drive RBI performance expected to continue in the middle of the order.

He would have had 80 if he could hit against Lincecum every day.

 

[BC867]

He would have had 80 if he could hit against Lincecum every day.

If Lincecum had to pitch every day, maybe you're right.

 

[devilalum]

Prediction: If Adam gets 500 at bats in this new system he's gonna steal 50.

 

[BC867]

D'backs FanFest

I didn't want to start a new thread for this, so I'll slip it in here.

I visited Chase Field today for the D'backs FanFest which was open to the public. It was fun. Beside the activities on the field, I toured the clubhouse.

I even found a free parking spot on Monroe Street (as I've been lucky to do for many D'backs and Suns games over the years).

Standing in front of the dugout, looking up at the scoreboard. OK, I'm ready for Spring Training to begin.

Speaking of that, having seen the D'backs play at Talking Stick and the Dodgers play at Camelback Ranch, it is surprising how much more professional Talking Stick is. The D'backs scoreboard makes the Dodgers scoreboard look like a Little League park.

 

[CardEd]

what was in Uptown?

 

[BC867]

what was in Uptown?

Y'know, I didn't UPproach right field. But there was nothing going on in the UPper deck.

Please don't be UPset and UPchuck. Or throw an UPpercut. Or get UPtight. Stay UPbeat. And, of course, UPwind. But don't stay UP late. Or say UP yours. Onward and UPward.

BTW, check out who is on the far left in this Athletes as rock stars DEVO photo.

http://sports.yahoo.com/photos/phot...ars-slideshow/mlb-devo-photo--1337335747.html