azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Scott Bordow, Tribune Columnist
The Diamondbacks lost 111 games last season. Since then, things only have gotten worse.
Wally Backman was hired, Wally Backman was fired and now Wally Backman is going on ESPN to tell his side of the story — whatever that may be.
Randy Johnson's agent told the Sporting News the Big Unit wants to be traded. First baseman Richie Sexson said he didn't like Arizona's latest contract offer.
Senior assistant general manager Sandy Johnson resigned, and Al Pedrique quit after the Diamondbacks wouldn't give him a two-year contract.
(Considering the size of the bullet Pedrique took for the team as interim manager, he deserved a lifetime deal).
It's been a miserable month, and while a few astute moves in free agency could change the perception of the team, aren't the Diamondbacks concerned they have a serious public relations problem?
“That's a great question,” said general partner Ken Kendrick.
Gee, thanks.
But it's not your friendly neighborhood columnist you need to butter up. What do you say to fans who believe the Diamondbacks are coming apart thread by thread?
“I could say a lot of things, but the real answer will only come based upon how well we do next year and probably even the year after that,” Kendrick said.
Success does Wite-Out the most embarrassing of mistakes. If the Diamondbacks somehow prosper next season or in 2006, their transgressions will be forgotten.
It's true, too, that while the Backman courtship embarrassed the franchise, there were no serious long-term ramifications. Bob Melvin was hired, and the team moved on.
The question is: To where?
The next several weeks will define the organization — and the people running it.
Will the Diamondbacks re-sign Sexson? Can they convince Johnson to stay? If not, will they get more in return in a trade than they did for Curt Schilling?
All that's at stake is the team's future and the franchise's reputation.
No decision will have more impact than how Arizona deals with Johnson. It's no surprise Johnson wants out. He's 41 years old. He has no desire to end his career playing with the Bad News Bears.
Kendrick said Arizona's first choice is to re-negotiate Johnson's contract and have him throw his last pitch as a Diamondback.
But that seems an unlikely scenario, short of Arizona re-signing Sexson and somehow convincing Johnson better days are ahead.
The objective, then, is to make a deal that satisfies Johnson — not an easy task, given his narrow parameters — and benefits the Diamondbacks for years to come.
“At the end of the day, just because Randy wants something doesn't mean it's going to happen,” Kendrick said. “We want to respect his interests, but our greater responsibility is not to him but to our team.”
The thing is, trading Johnson is best for the Diamondbacks. The suits can scheme and dream all they want, but a 111-loss team in 2004 won't be a playoff team in 2005.
Better to deal Johnson for quantity and quality — with the emphasis on quality — take some lumps for a year or two then be in position to contend.
For if the Diamondbacks hold on to Johnson and he plays out his contract, all they'll have done is put lipstick on a pig — the team, not the Big Unit — and jeopardize their future.
Trading an icon is never easy. Some fans will view Johnson's departure as another reason to abandon ship.
But Arizona is not going to win next season. That may be hard for Kendrick, Jeff Moorad and Co. to accept, but the sooner they do, the better off the Diamondbacks will be.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=31672
The Diamondbacks lost 111 games last season. Since then, things only have gotten worse.
Wally Backman was hired, Wally Backman was fired and now Wally Backman is going on ESPN to tell his side of the story — whatever that may be.
Randy Johnson's agent told the Sporting News the Big Unit wants to be traded. First baseman Richie Sexson said he didn't like Arizona's latest contract offer.
Senior assistant general manager Sandy Johnson resigned, and Al Pedrique quit after the Diamondbacks wouldn't give him a two-year contract.
(Considering the size of the bullet Pedrique took for the team as interim manager, he deserved a lifetime deal).
It's been a miserable month, and while a few astute moves in free agency could change the perception of the team, aren't the Diamondbacks concerned they have a serious public relations problem?
“That's a great question,” said general partner Ken Kendrick.
Gee, thanks.
But it's not your friendly neighborhood columnist you need to butter up. What do you say to fans who believe the Diamondbacks are coming apart thread by thread?
“I could say a lot of things, but the real answer will only come based upon how well we do next year and probably even the year after that,” Kendrick said.
Success does Wite-Out the most embarrassing of mistakes. If the Diamondbacks somehow prosper next season or in 2006, their transgressions will be forgotten.
It's true, too, that while the Backman courtship embarrassed the franchise, there were no serious long-term ramifications. Bob Melvin was hired, and the team moved on.
The question is: To where?
The next several weeks will define the organization — and the people running it.
Will the Diamondbacks re-sign Sexson? Can they convince Johnson to stay? If not, will they get more in return in a trade than they did for Curt Schilling?
All that's at stake is the team's future and the franchise's reputation.
No decision will have more impact than how Arizona deals with Johnson. It's no surprise Johnson wants out. He's 41 years old. He has no desire to end his career playing with the Bad News Bears.
Kendrick said Arizona's first choice is to re-negotiate Johnson's contract and have him throw his last pitch as a Diamondback.
But that seems an unlikely scenario, short of Arizona re-signing Sexson and somehow convincing Johnson better days are ahead.
The objective, then, is to make a deal that satisfies Johnson — not an easy task, given his narrow parameters — and benefits the Diamondbacks for years to come.
“At the end of the day, just because Randy wants something doesn't mean it's going to happen,” Kendrick said. “We want to respect his interests, but our greater responsibility is not to him but to our team.”
The thing is, trading Johnson is best for the Diamondbacks. The suits can scheme and dream all they want, but a 111-loss team in 2004 won't be a playoff team in 2005.
Better to deal Johnson for quantity and quality — with the emphasis on quality — take some lumps for a year or two then be in position to contend.
For if the Diamondbacks hold on to Johnson and he plays out his contract, all they'll have done is put lipstick on a pig — the team, not the Big Unit — and jeopardize their future.
Trading an icon is never easy. Some fans will view Johnson's departure as another reason to abandon ship.
But Arizona is not going to win next season. That may be hard for Kendrick, Jeff Moorad and Co. to accept, but the sooner they do, the better off the Diamondbacks will be.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=31672
