Do you guys think it will be a long season again next year?

[Lefty]

I am kind of disappointed that the Diamondbacks have not made any moves to improve their pitching staff. They can't go into next season with the starting five they have now and expect to compete with the Dodgers. I just hope the front office makes a move or two to bolster the rotation.

 

[Espo]

Next offseason is the big one. 2008 is when this team should really compete and they will have to add a few people next year to truly be a contender.

 

[boondockdrunk]

I am kind of disappointed that the Diamondbacks have not made any moves to improve their pitching staff. They can't go into next season with the starting five they have now and expect to compete with the Dodgers. I just hope the front office makes a move or two to bolster the rotation.

I do not know if it will be as long a year as this past one. The top three of the rotation is pretty solid with Webb, Livan, and Davis.

With that being said, the D'backs have a number of options to fill in the final two spots in the rotation. The following list shows that six possible starting pitchers could shore up the staff:
RHP Micah Owings
RHP Edgar Gonzalez
RHP Enrique Gonzalez
RHP Dustin Nippert
LHP Dana Eveland
RHP Ross Ohlendorf

Either one of these guys should be able to claim the #4 and #5 spot. While I was not impressed by either Enrique or Nippert during their times here, the other three are really interesting. I think the Front Office is conceding one spot to Edgar because of how he pitched at the end of the year and they also want to see who can win the other spot during spring training. I would like to see Owings and Ohlendorf get some more time in Triple-A instead of rushing them to the bigs. I do not think that either Nippert or Enrique will ever succeed in the majors but they could possibly be used as trade bait.

So, this pretty much leaves one spot in the rotation to be taken by either a rookie or a possible acquisition prior to spring.

All in all, I do not think it is likely that our team wins the NL West; however, as we are in a rebuilding mode, that is not really expected. This team has a ton of talent, which will help make the year exciting as younger players fight for a chance to prove themselves.

 

[Phxchris1989]

I've got my hopes up that next year will be better, I'm not expecting a World Series, but I'd love a wild card, or hell a division title. I just wish we do something in the offseason, the Dodgers have schmitt, the Padres have Maddux (although, we always seem to hit him well) we need Mulder, but we also need to not focus on one player this offseason.
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[HooverDam]

I doubt the Dbacks make the playoffs, but that doensn't mean it will be a long season. I had a great time watching the youth movement at the end of last season. So watching guys like Drew develop will probably be enough to keep me entertained this year.

 

[Lefty]

I'm hoping Owings can make the rotation and give this team 10-12 wins.

 

[az240zz]

I think that we will be looking at another .500 season, We have done nothing to improve the bullpen and the only known starter is Webb. We don't know what the others will do.

The front office said t6hat by not sighning Gonzo they would be able to free up money to sign some front line pitchers. Well they haven't. Because they lied about this I may not renew my season tickets.

Two seasons of crappy baseball with out any effort to improve is really disappointing me.

 

[green machine]

I think that we will be looking at another .500 season, We have done nothing to improve the bullpen and the only known starter is Webb. We don't know what the others will do.

The front office said t6hat by not sighning Gonzo they would be able to free up money to sign some front line pitchers. Well they haven't. Because they lied about this I may not renew my season tickets.

Two seasons of crappy baseball with out any effort to improve is really disappointing me.

I agree, why didn't the team join the amazingly high priced free agent spending spree for guys who are either mediocre or old or both?

 

[az240zz]

Do you really think that we have a pitching staff? I know its early but who do we trade and for whom? Who pitches after Webb that has shown any degree of success and who is going to releive them?

If the price of a starting picture is now 10,000,000 then that the price that has to be paid. We haven't paid anyone anything. At least the Dodgers are trying.

WHAT THE HECK ARE WE DOING................

 

[green machine]

Do you really think that we have a pitching staff? I know its early but who do we trade and for whom? Who pitches after Webb that has shown any degree of success and who is going to releive them?

If the price of a starting picture is now 10,000,000 then that the price that has to be paid. We haven't paid anyone anything. At least the Dodgers are trying.

WHAT THE HECK ARE WE DOING................

We are building a team full of young prospects who have a decent chance of succeeding, and when the team is finally "One pitcher short" then they'll go and spend the money to get him. In the meantime what we are not doing is getting another Russ Ortiz.

 

[overseascardfan]

We are building a team full of young prospects who have a decent chance of succeeding, and when the team is finally "One pitcher short" then they'll go and spend the money to get him. In the meantime what we are not doing is getting another Russ Ortiz.

While I agree that we don't want another Ortiz situation and many of this years FA's are mediocre, Jason Schmidt should have been one of our targets, he will be worth that contract.

 

[Lefty]

While I agree that we don't want another Ortiz situation and many of this years FA's are mediocre, Jason Schmidt should have been one of our targets, he will be worth that contract.

If Byrnes signs Wells I will be off his bandwagon. Why in the world would they even consider guy? I'm losing confidence in the front office.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=80382

 

[az240zz]

We are building a team full of young prospects who have a decent chance of succeeding, and when the team is finally "One pitcher short" then they'll go and spend the money to get him. In the meantime what we are not doing is getting another Russ Ortiz.

Nor am i infavor of another Orrtiz but there were some good pitchers including Schmidt [ who should have been a Diamonback years ago] or Lilly that would have improved the team.

We more than 1 pitcher away and the minors hasn't shown that they have any one who can help. Additionally the bullpen needed alot and we haven't done anything there either.

I expext more for my $ than what I have gotten the last few years.

 

[Espo]

If Byrnes signs Wells I will be off his bandwagon. Why in the world would they even consider guy? I'm losing confidence in the front office.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=80382

He's driving the price up for another teams in the division like the Giants and Padres. I doubt there is any real interest in Wells unless all we have to do is pay for his meals as the contract.

 

[abomb]

I agree, why didn't the team join the amazingly high priced free agent spending spree for guys who are either mediocre or old or both?

You hit it on the head.

 

[The Commish]

We don't have the type of money that teams like LA and Boston have. Thus we build our team around prospects and younger guys. While it is a longer process that isn't sexy, it is efficient. The Twins, A's and Marlins use this "moneyball" type strategy and it works really well for teams like us who can't afford to piss away money.

 

[Stallion]

How "long" 2007 is will depend on how well the young lineup does over the full season.

This rotation isn't going to dominate anybody. All we can hope for is "decent" and "good enough to compete." If we can score a lot of runs, we can make things interesting. If the young guys aren't there yet, we just need to be patient and - as many of you are saying - wait until 2008.

Whatever we do we can't overreact and call for an overhaul. We need to give all these young hitters a chance to develop.