SI's Top 15 Bounceback players

[Dback Jon]

Four Dbacks on the list - Glaus, Counsell, Vasquez and Estes.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mu.../2005/05/23/bounceback.players/content.1.html

 

[Dback Jon]

#4) Troy Glaus

Troy Glaus
Diamondbacks

The slugging third baseman is justifying his big offseason contract in a big way. After missing 175 games over the past two seasons with shoulder troubles, Glaus has helped stoke a D'backs' resurgence in the NL West with 12 homers in 42 games.

 

[Dback Jon]

#9) Craig Counsell

Craig Counsell
Diamondbacks

The versatile Counsell can play anywhere on the infield but has settled in at second base for the first-place D'backs. His .424 on-base percentage ranks sixth in the National League and is nearly 100 points more than his OBP for the Brewers last season.

 

[Dback Jon]

##11 Javy Vasquez

Javier Vazquez
D'backs

Think the D'backs have any second thoughts about trading away Randy Johnson? Probably not, thanks to Vazquez's performance this season. Acquired in the trade with the Yankees, Vazquez has been better than the Big Unit in '05. Vazquez's 5-3 record and 3.49 ERA don't tell the whole story -- look at his strikeouts (63) to walks issued (8). "I got traded for a future Hall of Famer," Vazquez said recently. "It's not like I got traded for a rookie. I'm past that." The only regrets now may belong to the Yankees.

 

[Dback Jon]

#15 Shawn Estes

Shawn Estes
Diamondbacks

Leaving Coors Field can do wonders for a pitcher. Estes' ERA last season was as high as you would expect from a Rockies starter -- 5.84. Now his numbers look better all the way around as a member of the D'backs. Estes is 4-3 with a 3.56 ERA and has 37 strikeouts and only 18 walks in 55 2/3 innings.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

MFY homer Buster Olney of ESPN.com writes:

Javier Vazquez is pretty good, as the Tigers discovered for themselves. In time, the Yankees' Randy Johnson trade might turn out to be one of the worst of the decade, considering the swap of Brad Halsey and Vazquez and the outlay of huge dollars.

The Diamondbacks should aggressively ask around about a closer, focusing on Danys Baez of the D-Rays; there's no guarantee they can find a solution from within, and they're going to be in this race for the long haul.

I agree with him in that we desperately need bullpen help, but I want to see what Lyon looks like after coming off the DL before we overpay for a closer.

 

[The Commish]

MFY homer Buster Olney of ESPN.com writes:

Javier Vazquez is pretty good, as the Tigers discovered for themselves. In time, the Yankees' Randy Johnson trade might turn out to be one of the worst of the decade, considering the swap of Brad Halsey and Vazquez and the outlay of huge dollars.

The Diamondbacks should aggressively ask around about a closer, focusing on Danys Baez of the D-Rays; there's no guarantee they can find a solution from within, and they're going to be in this race for the long haul.

I agree with him in that we desperately need bullpen help, but I want to see what Lyon looks like after coming off the DL before we overpay for a closer.

We still have Aquino who will be coming off the DL soon. No need to hit the panic button just yet. Besides, its not like we have that many blown saves. Although having Bruney as our closer right now does scare me somewhat.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Javier Vazquez
D'backs

Think the D'backs have any second thoughts about trading away Randy Johnson? Probably not, thanks to Vazquez's performance this season. Acquired in the trade with the Yankees, Vazquez has been better than the Big Unit in '05. Vazquez's 5-3 record and 3.49 ERA don't tell the whole story -- look at his strikeouts (63) to walks issued (8). "I got traded for a future Hall of Famer," Vazquez said recently. "It's not like I got traded for a rookie. I'm past that." The only regrets now may belong to the Yankees.

63 Ks to 8 Walks? Wow.

 

[devilalum]

We still have Aquino who will be coming off the DL soon. No need to hit the panic button just yet. Besides, its not like we have that many blown saves. Although having Bruney as our closer right now does scare me somewhat.

Bruney closing is like Napoleon Dynamite performing your vasectomy.