What this team needs to do

[mark1]

I would be interested in what everybody thinks the D-Backs need to do to turn this terrible start around. This team has won the NL West the last two years with basically the same team. Is it just that we need another bat? Do we need to strengthen the bullpen? Is there somebody out there you would like to see the Diamondbacks go after?

 

[Dback Jon]

Originally posted by mark1
I would be interested in what everybody thinks the D-Backs need to do to turn this terrible start around. This team has won the NL West the last two years with basically the same team. Is it just that we need another bat? Do we need to strengthen the bullpen? Is there somebody out there you would like to see the Diamondbacks go after?

Well, playing Milwaukee will help.......

 

[DbaxJ]

They have just been sloppy. Curt and RJ both had good outings and NO O! You cant win if you dont score. Even our horses give up runs... thank god its not like 16 or so... but it can happen. Stop pressing, get back to basics and play ball. Have fun and it will iron itself out. Its only been 1.5 weeks... no we cant afford to get too far back, but playing teams like Mil can help sweeten a bad start.

 

[DWKB]

How about reduce the strikeouts by about 6% and/or increase the walks by about 2 more %.

In other words, make less outs.

This includes not stealing bases at a 50% clip. That is counter-productive.

 

[AZZenny]

When I checked yesterday we were bottom of the NL for walks, and top for Strokeouts - no, wait, that's what the FANS are doing.... Strikeouts. That's not like this club, generally, although they do get into group streaks like that every so often. I assume that's mainly a mental and not a mechanical problem?

 

[DbaxJ]

Originally posted by AZZenny
Strokeouts

Thought I was gonna have to edit you there Zen.....

 

[az240zz]

I don't know what to recommend but if they don't get 4 or 5 wins in this home stand its going to be a long year. Assuming the Giants contimue winning we can't go down 9 or 10 games this early.

az240z

 

[moviegeekjn]

Somebody can look this up, but didn't the Giants go 8-9 games down early in the year in 2000?

 

[AZZenny]

In 2001 we were 4 and 8 in our first twelve games, at which point we started stringing wins together more regularly.

2000 Gnats were 4 and 11 in their first 15 games before getting their act together.

Angels were in fact 6 and 14 to start last season, at which point they started winning pretty steadily.

Doesn't mean it's any less frustrating for us, but maybe shouldn't be quite as horrifying as many of us take it to be.

 

[BC867]

I don't understand Brenly's obsession with batting Junior Spivey 3rd in the order. His production has nosedived ever since he was moved there last season.

Apparently Finley is the #2 batter vs. righty pitchers. Last year, Steve had 3 less HR's than Gonzo.

At least, move Junior back to 2nd in the batting order, and bat Fins third. Either way, there'll be 2 lefties back-to-back in the 1-4 slots.

 

[RLakin]

Originally posted by BC867


Apparently Finley is the #2 batter vs. righty pitchers.

This baffles me as well.

 

[Forrestham]

There is more than one problem. This team has ridden Johnson and Schilling the last 2 years. They have both been so good that they cover up other team weakensses. They have both struggled so far. The biggest problem I see is too many players go up and swing at the 1st pitch and become easy outs. Womack. Bautista and Williams are the biggest offenders. Even if players make an out and work a count they are making the pitcher work and earn an out. If my memory is correct after Baerga got a hit, Womack swung at the 1st pitch and hit in a DP. In his next ab he worked the count well and tripled in two runs. IF any of you have a tape, watch his AB in the 9th inning of game 7. IT was an excellent AB which he worked the count. This team needs to learn how to take pitches and wait on good pitches rather than take a bad swing at the 1st pitch

 

[AZZenny]

Amen, Amen, Amen - but Forrestham, you are preaching to the choir! I was appalled when in the fifth or sixth inning the Brewer's pitcher had thrown around 25 pitches LESS than Schilling. I almost blew a brain gasket when Womack and Baerga came up in the ninth - And I think to some extent you may have identified one part of the problem - the two aces have allowed a lot of other stuff to get overlooked - but the lack of sound fundamentals was never characteristic of this team before. We hit as well as any team in the NL last year, and we took lots of walks. That's nothing to do with the aces. FINE THE BATTERS if they don't work the friggin' count!

I'm ready for some heads to roll. Put 'em on pikes in Copper Square!

 

[mark1]

This team can't hit. They were 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position last night. This team needs to make a trade and shake things up. Do whatever it takes and bring in a consistent run producer, somebody to hit 3rd in the lineup (easier said then done). I think the pitching will be fine. Unless this team beefs up the lineup, third place or lower in the NL West is a distinct possibility. The Diamondbacks knew they had a hole in their lineup, thats why they tried to trade for Walker. After that fiasco they completely abandoned the thought of adding another bat. In my opinion Joe Jr and Jerry better get their head out of their ass and realize this team the way it sits right now is just not good enough. Every Diamondback fan that I talked to before the year began, knew this team would struggle to score runs, so It shouldn't surprise any of us that their offense is offensive. Diamondback management needs to show this team that they are committed to winning by improving the lineup.

BTW...Why doesn't Counsell start at third against righthanders? The Diamondbacks have won the last two years in spite of Brenly, not because of him.

 

[Forrestham]

Why wasn't Counsell playing. He does make an effort to get on base and work counts. How come MAtt Williams never sits down. He is a sacred cow whom people constantly make excuses for him. Hitting him agter Gonzalez is a joke. Protection? Give me a break. Teams are not going to pitch to Gonzo if this continues. There needs to be trades made for a couple of bats. The curret players bats are not cutting it. Yes there have been problems with fielding, baserunning and some pitching. These items are magnified because this team can't score runs

 

[schillingfan]

I really think that BB is not as big a Counsell fan as everyone else is. When has he played Counsell consistently instead of either Womack or Williams? He played Counsell when Williams was hurt, played him when Bell and Spivey weren't doing good at 2B in 2001

 

[AZZenny]

I agree - I think he repeatedly forgets how good CC is, because he always sounds surprised when Counce does what he always does. Heck, BB is the guy who wanted Hanley Frias instead of Counsell. If Glenn Sherlock had replaced that unspeakable Womack with Counsell last night, after he brilliantly engineered the bullpen through the bases-loaded situation, I'd be demanding he replace Brenly on the spot.

My ex always said Brenly manages fine when everything is going well and we're winning, but he shows the lack of real skill when things get tough - he manages from panic, which means either illogical rigidity, or illogical flailing. I guess he was right about something.

 

[BC867]

Short of a trade, the D'backs need an immediate band-aid in the 1-2-3 slots in the batting order, to get back on track.

1- With Womack off to his 3rd consecutive poor start, move him to reserve (where is it written that he has to start?) and put Counsell to SS and leadoff -- until the All-Star break. Then we'll see what happens.

2- With Spivey's loss of confidence since being moved from the 2nd slot to 3rd last season, send him down to Tucson to get it back together. Put Carlos to 2B and 2nd in the order. When Junior comes back (Carlos will probably need a rest anyway), bat him 2nd, 6th, or 7th, but not 3rd.

3- With Bautista's emergence as a .300 hitter and clutch hitter last season, move him to 3rd, ahead of Gonzo. Now that Overbay is producing as we thought he would, he might be a good candidate later on.

4- Play Dellucci in CF and bat him behind Gonzo for awhile. Finley is a hot and cold hitter. When he shows signs of coming alive, put him back in. (Once again, where is it written that he has to start? Both he and Womack have no contracts with us for next year.

When will Womack and Williams (the 2 "W" boys who don't help bring "W's" to the D'backs) realize that if you go up hacking at every pitch, your're going to pop up and strike out alot?

Despite Williams good start, he's already leaving runners on base. I can't believe that, leading off the 9th inning yesterday and down by one run, he popped up! The odds of starting a rally in that spot are much better than swinging for the fences.

Bob Brenly can put his starting rotation back on track with fresh ideas in the lineup!

I have followed National League baseball since 1952, and I have never seen two batters with less common sense than Womack and Williams!

 

[Forrestham]

Nice performance today. Notice they were taking more pitches and got 17 hits. Took a lot of pressure off of everyone. Great to see Bautista start to hit. All 3 of his hits were on 3 ball counts.
Robbie Hammock may be lightening in a bottle. He keeps up like this he will stay on the team. He gvies more flexiblity since he plays several positions

 

[Moose Lady]

Originally posted by BC867

4- Play Dellucci in CF and bat him behind Gonzo for awhile. Finley is a hot and cold hitter. When he shows signs of coming alive, put him back in. (Once again, where is it written that he has to start? Both he and Womack have no contracts with us for next year.

Steve signed for 2 years. So we have him for this year and next.

 

[BC867]

Originally posted by BC867
1- With Womack off to his 3rd consecutive poor start, move him to reserve (where is it written that he has to start?) and put Counsell to SS and leadoff -- until the All-Star break. Then we'll see what happens.

2- With Spivey's loss of confidence since being moved from the 2nd slot to 3rd last season, send him down to Tucson to get it back together. Put Carlos to 2B and 2nd in the order. When Junior comes back (Carlos will probably need a rest anyway), bat him 2nd, 6th, or 7th, but not 3rd.

I'm a happy camper! Counsell played SS and hit leadoff, and had a stolen base.

Spivey returned to the #2 spot in the batting order.

I hope that Brenly gives it some time to gel!