azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Scott Bordow, Tribune Columnist
LOS ANGELES - Steve Finley signed with Arizona six years ago because he thought the Diamondbacks could win a World Series.
If he’s going to do a second tour of duty at Bank One Ballpark, the Diamondbacks will have to persuade him they can win it all again.
Finley on Saturday left open the option of playing for Arizona in 2005 — if the Diamondbacks can somehow transform a 111-loss team into a postseason threat.
"I’m not going to waste any years rebuilding right now," Finley said before the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals met in Game 3 of the National League division series. "I want to be with a team I feel has a chance to win it all."
There’s little doubt the Diamondbacks want Finley back. Ken Kendrick, one of Arizona’s four majority owners, recently told the Tribune the club’s intention is to win in ’05.
That means re-signing first baseman Richie Sexson, adding a No. 2 starter (Russ Ortiz, perhaps), a slick-fielding shortstop (Royce Clayton, maybe), a power-hitting right fielder (Jeromy Burnitz comes to mind), and then making a pitch to the center fielder who, at the age of 39, continues to play as if he’s 29.
Finley blasted a career-high 36 homers this season, had 94 RBIs and played in 162 games. He collected 13 homers and 46 RBIs in just 56 games for the Dodgers, who acquired him in the July 31 deal that brought catcher Koyie Hill to Arizona.
"He’s done amazingly well for an old guy," said St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Larry Walker. "He came to the Dodgers, and it was lights out the whole time."
There was persistent speculation that the Dodgers were just renting Finley for a few months, and he would return to Arizona to finish his career.
Nice thought — if it was true.
"Too much was made of that," Finley said. "I’m not ruling out any team."
The bidding for Finley, who wants to stay on or near the West Coast, likely will come down to three teams — the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres.
Los Angeles wants to sign Finley, but the cost-conscious Dodgers may not have any money left after negotiations with third baseman Adrian Beltre, who likely will command at least $10 million per season.
L.A. also wants to shop for starting pitching in the offseason, further dropping Finley on its priority list.
San Diego seems a logical destination. The Padres need a center fielder — Jay Payton was a bust — and Finley would be going home. He played for the Padres from 1995 to 1998 and lives in nearby Del Mar, Calif.
San Diego might also appeal to Finley because it’s a team on the upswing. The Padres lost 98 games in 2003 but finished 87-75 this year and were in contention for a wild-card bid until the final few days of the season.
Then there’s the Diamondbacks. How a team with 111 losses fits Finley’s criteria stretches the imagination, but Finley believes Arizona can go from losers to winners as quickly as it dropped off baseball’s map.
"They’re not that far away from being a very good team," Finley said. "Look at their record and you go, ‘Oh my God, that’s a terrible team.’ Then go back and look at how many one-, two- and three-run losses they had. And a majority of those were lost on inexperience."
Which, of course, wouldn’t happen as much if the Diamondbacks spackled their lineup with a few veterans like Finley, Burnitz and Clayton.
Two things have to happen for Finley and Arizona to renew their relationship. First, Arizona must re-sign Sexson. If the first baseman goes elsewhere, the Diamondbacks will rebuild and Finley will wish them well.
Second, the Diamondbacks will have to offer Finley a twoyear deal. Finley believes he has "good years left," and he wants to play for a team that feels the same way.
"The good thing about the way I played this year is that I’ll have opportunities," Finley said. "Now I have a decision to make."
Much has changed since the winter of 1998, when the Diamondbacks signed six free agents for $119 million and started their run toward a World Series title.
In Finley’s case, however, nothing has changed. He wants to play for a winner.
The question is, can Arizona make a quality pitch to him?
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=29497
LOS ANGELES - Steve Finley signed with Arizona six years ago because he thought the Diamondbacks could win a World Series.
If he’s going to do a second tour of duty at Bank One Ballpark, the Diamondbacks will have to persuade him they can win it all again.
Finley on Saturday left open the option of playing for Arizona in 2005 — if the Diamondbacks can somehow transform a 111-loss team into a postseason threat.
"I’m not going to waste any years rebuilding right now," Finley said before the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals met in Game 3 of the National League division series. "I want to be with a team I feel has a chance to win it all."
There’s little doubt the Diamondbacks want Finley back. Ken Kendrick, one of Arizona’s four majority owners, recently told the Tribune the club’s intention is to win in ’05.
That means re-signing first baseman Richie Sexson, adding a No. 2 starter (Russ Ortiz, perhaps), a slick-fielding shortstop (Royce Clayton, maybe), a power-hitting right fielder (Jeromy Burnitz comes to mind), and then making a pitch to the center fielder who, at the age of 39, continues to play as if he’s 29.
Finley blasted a career-high 36 homers this season, had 94 RBIs and played in 162 games. He collected 13 homers and 46 RBIs in just 56 games for the Dodgers, who acquired him in the July 31 deal that brought catcher Koyie Hill to Arizona.
"He’s done amazingly well for an old guy," said St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Larry Walker. "He came to the Dodgers, and it was lights out the whole time."
There was persistent speculation that the Dodgers were just renting Finley for a few months, and he would return to Arizona to finish his career.
Nice thought — if it was true.
"Too much was made of that," Finley said. "I’m not ruling out any team."
The bidding for Finley, who wants to stay on or near the West Coast, likely will come down to three teams — the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres.
Los Angeles wants to sign Finley, but the cost-conscious Dodgers may not have any money left after negotiations with third baseman Adrian Beltre, who likely will command at least $10 million per season.
L.A. also wants to shop for starting pitching in the offseason, further dropping Finley on its priority list.
San Diego seems a logical destination. The Padres need a center fielder — Jay Payton was a bust — and Finley would be going home. He played for the Padres from 1995 to 1998 and lives in nearby Del Mar, Calif.
San Diego might also appeal to Finley because it’s a team on the upswing. The Padres lost 98 games in 2003 but finished 87-75 this year and were in contention for a wild-card bid until the final few days of the season.
Then there’s the Diamondbacks. How a team with 111 losses fits Finley’s criteria stretches the imagination, but Finley believes Arizona can go from losers to winners as quickly as it dropped off baseball’s map.
"They’re not that far away from being a very good team," Finley said. "Look at their record and you go, ‘Oh my God, that’s a terrible team.’ Then go back and look at how many one-, two- and three-run losses they had. And a majority of those were lost on inexperience."
Which, of course, wouldn’t happen as much if the Diamondbacks spackled their lineup with a few veterans like Finley, Burnitz and Clayton.
Two things have to happen for Finley and Arizona to renew their relationship. First, Arizona must re-sign Sexson. If the first baseman goes elsewhere, the Diamondbacks will rebuild and Finley will wish them well.
Second, the Diamondbacks will have to offer Finley a twoyear deal. Finley believes he has "good years left," and he wants to play for a team that feels the same way.
"The good thing about the way I played this year is that I’ll have opportunities," Finley said. "Now I have a decision to make."
Much has changed since the winter of 1998, when the Diamondbacks signed six free agents for $119 million and started their run toward a World Series title.
In Finley’s case, however, nothing has changed. He wants to play for a winner.
The question is, can Arizona make a quality pitch to him?
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=29497
