Do the Diamondbacks need a star hitter?

[DiamondBacks5117]

They have star pitchers with Johnson and Webb but they just really above average to average hitters. They have good young talent that might grow into stars like young upton reynolds and drew. Hudson is great and a vet but isnt really that big name. i think we can get it done with what we have but just wondering what everyone else thinks. do we need that big name player.

 

[boondockdrunk]

The overall problem with the team offensively is that we live and die by the home-run ball. The D'backs need to play more small ball in order to win games when they are struggling to hit homers. There are players with speed on this team, but they do not utilize it to their advantage.

Take for example Orlando Hudson. Just watch him when he is standing on first base. More times than not, when the pitcher is throwing it to the plate he will be leaning back towards first. While he is not the best base stealer on the team, he does have the speed to be a threat... but, for some reason, he chooses not to use it. The exact same can be said about Upton and Drew.

 

[az240zz]

The overall problem with the team offensively is that we live and die by the home-run ball. The D'backs need to play more small ball in order to win games when they are struggling to hit homers. There are players with speed on this team, but they do not utilize it to their advantage.

Take for example Orlando Hudson. Just watch him when he is standing on first base. More times than not, when the pitcher is throwing it to the plate he will be leaning back towards first. While he is not the best base stealer on the team, he does have the speed to be a threat... but, for some reason, he chooses not to use it. The exact same can be said about Upton and Drew.

Don't forget Young. He supposedly has the green light to steal whenever he wants. Asto Hudson I notice he retreats when there are lefty's pitching, as if he doesn't read the pitcher well.

The offense needs to be taught to hit off speed pitches as well as the fast ball. It also help if they would think Pete Rose and just get the ball on the bat; short swings to the opposite field.



az240z

 

[Ryanwb]

As I said before in another thread.... this team strikes out way too much. How many runners in scoring position has this team failed to move because of a strikeout?

 

[TJ]

Skill wise, they need players that can play fundamental baseball. You know; not swinging for the fences every time up, hit and run, stealing bases, etc.

Economically, they could sell more tickets if they had that sexy name in the line up capable of mashing 50-60 HRs a year. This has been my argument as to why they have problems selling half their seats per game despite being a 1st place team

 

[BC867]

Don't forget Young. He supposedly has the green light to steal whenever he wants.

Letting him steal is one thing. Teaching him how to steal is something else.

Also Hudson. I notice he retreats when there are lefty's pitching, as if he doesn't read the pitcher well.

See above.

The offense needs to be taught to hit off speed pitches as well as the fast ball. It also help if they would think Pete Rose and just get the ball on the bat; short swings to the opposite field.

See above.

And yes, the D'backs do need a marquis hitter for cleanup. Look what adding Mark Teixeira to bat cleanup has done for Chipper Jones and his .400 batting average.

It legitimizes the rest of the lineup. And brings fans to the ballpark.

I like that CoJack has shown the discipline to not hit every ball into the air batting cleanup for the D'backs. Maybe he should be a Player/Batting Coach.

Unfortunately, he needs a Player/Fielding Coach to work with him.

 

[devilalum]

They need a heart transplant!

 

[AZZenny]

Oh, like Richie Sexson? Troy Glaus? ERIC BYRNES? Or how about that kid whose name I won't mention because a couple people said they'd puke if we mentioned him again?
A single big bat is overrated both as a game-winner and as a fan draw, and we've gone that route (unsuccessfully) before.

They wouldn't get any more fannies in the seats with Texiera or the like -- people I know find gas prices and parking and so on are major determinants of how often they go, along with general sense of team energy. (And they avoid Doug Davis games because he's so damn slow.)

We have a number of young guys now who very likely will mature into power hitters, which often takes 3-4 years. And the majority of true power hitters have high strikeouts, so get used to it. (But weren't some of you guys complaining that Conor Jackson, who doesn't strike out or swing from the heels -- just gets on base and drives in runs -- should be traded for a power hitter?)

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Letting him steal is one thing. Teaching him how to steal is something else.

Funny, considering that its Kirk Gibson who runs the baserunning drills.

 

[BC867]

Funny, considering that its Kirk Gibson who runs the baserunning drills.

Which is why I want to see a proven Championship caliber Manager, Chip Hale, manage the Diamondbacks, rather than trying Gibson.

The great majority of Kirk Gibson's playing experience was in the American League, which is the way the Bob's (Brenley and Melvin -- that's Bob Brelvin) have manage the D'Backs.

Even if Gibson wanted this to become a skilled running club, is he going to override the Manager? I think not.

 

[Ryanwb]

Which is why I want to see a proven Championship caliber Manager, Chip Hale, manage the Diamondbacks, rather than trying Gibson.

WTF? What championship did Chip Hale ever win? First you accuse Kendrick of saying Gonzo took steroids which he did not. Now Chip Hale has managed a team to the World Series?

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Which is why I want to see a proven Championship caliber Manager, Chip Hale, manage the Diamondbacks, rather than trying Gibson.

The great majority of Kirk Gibson's playing experience was in the American League, which is the way the Bob's (Brenley and Melvin -- that's Bob Brelvin) have manage the D'Backs.

Even if Gibson wanted this to become a skilled running club, is he going to override the Manager? I think not.

You're just running around in circles. First the problem was Melvin doesn't allow the players to run (the proof of which escapes me), then after finding out that certain players have the green light it was Melvin's fault for not teaching the players to run. Now after finding out that's Gibson's responsibility, its back to the manager is forcing the players to not steal nonsense. Its cute how the story changes in order to squeeze into your blinders.

 

[CardEd]

WTF? What championship did Chip Hale ever win? First you accuse Kendrick of saying Gonzo took steroids which he did not. Now Chip Hale has managed a team to the World Series?

He's talking about the Sidwinders PCL championship in 06. With some of the same talent that's on the team now.

I don't think that translates into the Major league. Otherwise he'd already be a head coach

 

[BC867]

WTF? What championship did Chip Hale ever win? First you accuse Kendrick of saying Gonzo took steroids which he did not. Now Chip Hale has managed a team to the World Series?

From the Diamondbacks/MLB site:

MANAGING CAREER:Chip Hale served as skipper for the Tucson Sidewinders from 2004-2006, leading the club to the PCL & Triple-A Championships before being named the Arizona Diamondbacks Third Base Coach for 2007.

Hale guided the Sidewinders to a franchise best 91-53 record during the 2006 regular season before rolling through the playoffs with a postseason 7-1 mark.

In three seasons with Tucson, he totaled 220 wins and a .542 winning percentage to pace all Sidewinders managers.

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=ari&coachorstaffid=115330

Apology accepted, Ryanwb.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

He's talking about the Sidwinders PCL championship in 06. With some of the same talent that's on the team now.

I don't think that translates into the Major league. Otherwise he'd already be a head coach

Yep, just ask Tony DeFrancesco, holder of three PCL titles in the last five years. So much for "championship caliber."

 

[BC867]

Yep, just ask Tony DeFrancesco, holder of three PCL titles in the last five years. So much for "championship caliber".

Has Melvin done better?

And, remember, Chip Hale accomplished the Championship while the D'backs were stripping his roster of BabyBacks Part I.

No, I don't Tony DeFrancesco is the key to the Diamondbacks recovery.

I do see Chip Hale filling that role. If you disagree, that's fine.

Stranger things have happened . . . as in Coach of the Year Mike D'Antoni.

Think about it.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I seem to recall Melvin winning a certain championship as a member of the coaching staff as well. Further evidence that there seems to be little correlation between being a winning minor league manager and becoming a good major league manager:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Minor_League_Manager_of_the_Year

Not exactly a very good success rate the last 20 years or so.

 

[BC867]

I seem to recall Melvin winning a certain championship as a member of the coaching staff as well. Further evidence that there seems to be little correlation between being a winning minor league manager and becoming a good major league manager ...

I'm glad you made the point about Bob Melvin being the Bench Coach of the Diamondbacks World Series Championship team.

I sincerely believe that Bob Melvin is a career Bench Coach -- behind the scenes Administrative Assistant to the Manager.

Not the team leader. Not the motivator. Not the face of the team to the Press and the public.

It's just not his karma.

Part II: I also believe that the Bob Brenly/Bob Melvin 135 different batting orders each season did not bring us a Championship.

It was the killer 2-man rotation of Johnson and Schilling and the batting of Gonzo.

If you disagree with either of those two points, I'd be interested to see your specific counter-points.

Edit: I do commend Bob Brenly for starting (and relieving) Randy Johnson only in the Arizona games, not in NY. It was a lucky break that we had the home field advantage -- 4 of the 7 games.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

The point is that I think that one can argue that being a World Series winning bench coach is just as relevant (or irrelevant, if you prefer) to Major League managerial success as being a championship winner as a AAA manager. Looking at the list of names above seems to agree with such a stance. Thus, I don't see how Chip Hale can possibly be called "championship caliber" based on that accomplishment any more than Bob Melvin (who has obviously won a much bigger prize) can.

 

[Ryanwb]

From the Diamondbacks/MLB site:

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=ari&coachorstaffid=115330

Apology accepted, Ryanwb.

I'm sorry, but the PCL championship is no better then me winning my bowling league. Get that "championship caliber" nonsense out of here. The minor league rosters turnover so much during a year is more about luck of the draw then it is coaching players up.

 

[Ryanwb]

I should say I do think Chip Hale would be the better manager then the ones listed.... of course I wanted Joe Girardi, so what do I know.

 

[BC867]

Thus, I don't see how Chip Hale can possibly be called "championship caliber" based on that accomplishment any more than Bob Melvin (who has obviously won a much bigger prize) can.

I'm trying to understand your point of view. Chip Hale went up against every other Manager at his level and managed the Championship team.

Bob Melvin was the behind-the-scenes-assistant, and he won the prize?

We're talking about who is better skilled to lead a group of 30-45 coaches and players to the prize. Who could best lead the Diamondbacks going forward. Who could get this team believing in themselves.

Who could develop young players better. Chip Hale has. Bob Melvin hasn't.

My choice is Chip Hale. And I haven't seen anything yet in this thread to change that opinion.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I'm trying to understand your point of view. Chip Hale went up against every other Manager at his level and managed the Championship team.

Bob Melvin was the behind-the-scenes-assistant, and he won the prize?

The list above doesn't show that being a "championship caliber" minor league manager has little to no discernible impact on making a quality major league manager?

 

[azsouthendzone]

Is this team 5.5 up or 5.5 back? It's hard to tell.

 

[BC867]

Is this team 5.5 up or 5.5 back? It's hard to tell.

The Suns were "up" during the regular season, too. And their Coach of the Year was encouraged to leave, because he had reached his limit.

The Peter Principle -- In a hierarchy, every employee tends to reach his level of incompetence.

5.5 games up in the worst Division in baseball doesn't equate to developing young players or planning the Big Picture.

Here's the latest approach to Bob Melvin's ultra-passive approach to Managing. "...a lot of times it takes a homer. Everyone's trying to hit one it seems like."

"Everyone's trying to hit one it seems like."? Is he doing color commentary or running the team? He's his own worst critic and doesn't even seem to know it.

Our only offense in the past two games has been two swings of the bat. One by Mark Reynolds and one by Chad Tracy in, what, 20 innings.

Perhaps Bob Melvin would have been more accurate in saying that the only way he knows how to manage is to wait for everyone to hit a home run.

That's what ticks me off.