ASUCHRIS
ONE HEART BEAT!!!
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2002
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I happen to agree with a lot of it.
The D-Backs management is apparently trying to do their part to save Social Security. That is the only reason I can come up with amid their obsession of turning this season's roster into an early AARP convention, bringing in veteran after veteran.
The final piece of the puzzle looks to be placed sometime this week when the D-Backs pull off a trade for a center fielder, basically ending the Luis Terrero experiment, at least for this year.
The free-agent signings of players like Troy Glaus, Shawn Green, Royce Clayton, Craig Counsell, Russ Ortiz and Tony Clark have not only changed the face of the D-Backs but effectively have told the rest of Major League Baseball that this new management team doesn't have the patience to put another young team on the field.
Management gritted its teeth last season through 111 losses and decided to ditch any rebuilding plan that happened to involve their farm system.
Signing after signing goes to show that the D-Backs have zero confidence in the farm system that scouting director Mike Rizzo has established in the minor leagues. Having prospects might be nice, but the D-Backs react to it as a nuisance.
The examples go on and on:
Scott Hairston
Hairston hits .323 over four minor league seasons, is rushed to the Major Leagues last season, hits .243 then suddenly finds himself without a job at the Major League level. After being shuffled from the infield to the outfield throughout his minor league career, Hairston finds himself blocked by the Green and Counsell signings.
And with the signing of Clark, any pinch-hit at-bats that Hairston might have received have just been soaked up. Barring injury to any of those players, Hairston probably will start the season in Triple A, where his development will surely stall out.
Yes, Hairston's attitude and lack of a clear-cut position have hurt him, but I wonder how many organizations would have so easily cast aside one of their best young players.
Alex Cintron
At this time last season, Cintron had not only solidified his place as the starting shortstop, but also had earned the confidence of Bob Brenly, who thought enough of him to have him protect Richie Sexson in the fifth spot in the lineup.
While Cintron's defense at shortstop left a lot to be desired, he still hit a respectable .264 last season, including a .331 batting average in September and October.
With the signings of Clayton and Counsell, Cintron is also a player without a position. If he isn't traded before the end of spring training, he will battle Matt Kata for Counsell's leftovers at second base.
At 26 years old, Cintron, who should be about to enter his prime, is being displaced by Counsell, who at best will be an average fielder and a below-average hitting second baseman.
If the D-Backs had signed a Ryne Sandberg, Lou Whitaker or Craig Biggio in their prime, I would understand moving Cintron, but Counsell is far from that.
Luis Terrero
There is no one in the starting lineup that the D-Backs have wanted to replace more than Luis Terrero. While Terrero's erratic behavior has lead many to question his ability to stay in the Major Leagues, there is little doubt that the 24-year-old has the potential to be a star. He is a five-tool player, who has little to prove in the minor leagues. But that hasn't stopped the D-Backs from looking under every rock for a replacement.
The names of Mike Cameron of the Mets and Eric Byrnes of the A's have been bandied about, and more recently Preston Wilson of the Rockies. Jeromy Burnitz may have fallen off the radar screen a bit, since the Cubs seem to be in a desperate position to fill one of the outfield spots after losing Moises Alou and Sammy Sosa.
Whatever direction they go, it is apparent that the D-Backs want no part of Terrero, expect as another prospect to get blocked by a veteran, be it Byrnes, Cameron, Wilson or even Jay Payton of the Red Sox.
The fact that the D-Backs have lost confidence in their young players is nothing new, you just need to rewind a couple of seasons and you can see the same thing happening to players like Lyle Overbay and Junior Spivey.
Green's extension has also blocked whatever chance Conor Jackson had finding a spot in the outfield this season or next.
Jackson should start the season at Triple A and even if he tears the cover off the ball in Tucson, he won't have anywhere to play in the D-Backs outfield until 2007 at the earliest. That is, of course, unless the D-Backs decide to trade him, which wouldn't surprise me at all.
Now don't get me wrong, the team that the D-Backs will field in 2005 will be better than last year's. But the roster at present is probably no better than an 85-win team, clearly middle of the road in the National League West.
So instead of having a vision for the future based on young players you can build around, the D-Backs have decided to overreact to last season and have turned themselves into a retirement home for baseball players who happen to live in the Valley. I'm sure Matt Williams or Devon White are just a phone call away.
The D-Backs management is apparently trying to do their part to save Social Security. That is the only reason I can come up with amid their obsession of turning this season's roster into an early AARP convention, bringing in veteran after veteran.
The final piece of the puzzle looks to be placed sometime this week when the D-Backs pull off a trade for a center fielder, basically ending the Luis Terrero experiment, at least for this year.
The free-agent signings of players like Troy Glaus, Shawn Green, Royce Clayton, Craig Counsell, Russ Ortiz and Tony Clark have not only changed the face of the D-Backs but effectively have told the rest of Major League Baseball that this new management team doesn't have the patience to put another young team on the field.
Management gritted its teeth last season through 111 losses and decided to ditch any rebuilding plan that happened to involve their farm system.
Signing after signing goes to show that the D-Backs have zero confidence in the farm system that scouting director Mike Rizzo has established in the minor leagues. Having prospects might be nice, but the D-Backs react to it as a nuisance.
The examples go on and on:
Scott Hairston
Hairston hits .323 over four minor league seasons, is rushed to the Major Leagues last season, hits .243 then suddenly finds himself without a job at the Major League level. After being shuffled from the infield to the outfield throughout his minor league career, Hairston finds himself blocked by the Green and Counsell signings.
And with the signing of Clark, any pinch-hit at-bats that Hairston might have received have just been soaked up. Barring injury to any of those players, Hairston probably will start the season in Triple A, where his development will surely stall out.
Yes, Hairston's attitude and lack of a clear-cut position have hurt him, but I wonder how many organizations would have so easily cast aside one of their best young players.
Alex Cintron
At this time last season, Cintron had not only solidified his place as the starting shortstop, but also had earned the confidence of Bob Brenly, who thought enough of him to have him protect Richie Sexson in the fifth spot in the lineup.
While Cintron's defense at shortstop left a lot to be desired, he still hit a respectable .264 last season, including a .331 batting average in September and October.
With the signings of Clayton and Counsell, Cintron is also a player without a position. If he isn't traded before the end of spring training, he will battle Matt Kata for Counsell's leftovers at second base.
At 26 years old, Cintron, who should be about to enter his prime, is being displaced by Counsell, who at best will be an average fielder and a below-average hitting second baseman.
If the D-Backs had signed a Ryne Sandberg, Lou Whitaker or Craig Biggio in their prime, I would understand moving Cintron, but Counsell is far from that.
Luis Terrero
There is no one in the starting lineup that the D-Backs have wanted to replace more than Luis Terrero. While Terrero's erratic behavior has lead many to question his ability to stay in the Major Leagues, there is little doubt that the 24-year-old has the potential to be a star. He is a five-tool player, who has little to prove in the minor leagues. But that hasn't stopped the D-Backs from looking under every rock for a replacement.
The names of Mike Cameron of the Mets and Eric Byrnes of the A's have been bandied about, and more recently Preston Wilson of the Rockies. Jeromy Burnitz may have fallen off the radar screen a bit, since the Cubs seem to be in a desperate position to fill one of the outfield spots after losing Moises Alou and Sammy Sosa.
Whatever direction they go, it is apparent that the D-Backs want no part of Terrero, expect as another prospect to get blocked by a veteran, be it Byrnes, Cameron, Wilson or even Jay Payton of the Red Sox.
The fact that the D-Backs have lost confidence in their young players is nothing new, you just need to rewind a couple of seasons and you can see the same thing happening to players like Lyle Overbay and Junior Spivey.
Green's extension has also blocked whatever chance Conor Jackson had finding a spot in the outfield this season or next.
Jackson should start the season at Triple A and even if he tears the cover off the ball in Tucson, he won't have anywhere to play in the D-Backs outfield until 2007 at the earliest. That is, of course, unless the D-Backs decide to trade him, which wouldn't surprise me at all.
Now don't get me wrong, the team that the D-Backs will field in 2005 will be better than last year's. But the roster at present is probably no better than an 85-win team, clearly middle of the road in the National League West.
So instead of having a vision for the future based on young players you can build around, the D-Backs have decided to overreact to last season and have turned themselves into a retirement home for baseball players who happen to live in the Valley. I'm sure Matt Williams or Devon White are just a phone call away.
