Per Cot’s Contracts, the 2014 D-backs payroll was the first nine-figure payroll for the team since its attempt to keep its World Series team intact in 2002. At just over $112 million to finish dead last in the majors, we saw an attempt to “retool” the roster last offseason, with $24 million cut in payroll one result.
Unlike 2015, 2016 …
Continue Reading →The third part of four reveals some surprising breakouts for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ minor league system. Recent draftees have spent a few years in the minor by this point and several posted careers highs and put their names on the map. The ultimate upsides can be debated, but there’s plenty to see here, a good sign for a mediocre system.…
Continue Reading →Former manager Buck Showalter helped to shape the D-backs franchise well before it ever had a major league team take the field in 1998, taking a job in 1996 and helping to build the organization from the ground up. A probably-not-self-described “micro manager,” I’ve always loved the guy despite his role in building a Yankees dynasty — in part because …
Continue Reading →On a Thursday we took a look at the top prospects and performers for the DSL D-backs and AZL D-backs. Continuing that trend, we’ll dive into part two of the four part series, this time evaluating the Missoula Osprey and Hillsboro Hops where things look much, much better. Let’s get started.
Missoula Osprey (Pioneer League)
- 42-33 – 1st (out
This time last year, fringy almost-kinda-sorta major league pitchers were dropping out of the organization like flies, in part because the front office was dead set on remaking the staff (for good reason). This offseason, we may also see a particularly high turnover rate of pitchers in the organization, but not so much because the team is likely to add …
Continue Reading →There are a lot of theories about what drives offense in baseball. We know that on-base percentage is good, but not every team builds it’s team to maximize OBP. Some teams are low-OBP in nature but hit for boatloads of power. Other teams are low-power but also low-strike out. Both approaches can work – just ask the Astros (big …
Continue Reading →It’s that time of year again, the time to look back at the minors and see who broke out, who fizzled and who’s fulfilling their promise. To make this digestible, I’ll break this into four pieces: the Rookie Leagues in two parts (DSL D-backs and AZL D-backs, the Missoula Osprey and Hillsboro Hops), A-Ball (Kane County Cougars and Visalia Rawhide) …
Continue Reading →The D-backs have a great young team of position players, and the makings of a pitching staff that could be at least solid. With the team on the upswing and organizational memory of .500 seasons in both 2013 and 2014, it’s easy to focus on how high the team can go. That’s important, and maybe the most important thing. Still …
Continue Reading →Evaluating managers is really, really difficult. There are so many moving parts, so many factors and so many pieces that it’s seemingly impossible to really understand why every decision is made. Some things are obvious – entering the ninth inning with a two-run lead, bringing in Brad Ziegler makes sense. But putting on the hit-and-run? Creating the lineup every day? …
Continue Reading →If you’re like me, you’ve gotten used to our brave new world of replay challenges. In the two seasons since replay was expanded, 2,664 challenges have been leveled by managers over that span, 1,268 of them successful (47.6%). It’s part of the fabric of the game now, but not of every game; in those two seasons, the D-backs have made …
Continue Reading →Look, the Diamondbacks need a shot in the arm from the pitching staff. While a lot of the offseason talk is sure to focus on which starter the team can sign or trade for, they’ll still need help from within. And a man, now somewhat forgotten in this post-hype world, who may provide that boost is Archie Bradley. You …
Continue Reading →Chase Field is not exactly hospitable for pitchers, but compared to Chase, the Coors Field accommodations are about as nice as an O.co Coliseum clubhouse. Yet from his first MLB game in 2009 through the end of the 2014 season, Jhoulys Chacin managed to pitch to a 3.78 ERA over 672 innings — despite a FIP of 4.03. A …
Continue Reading →There’s this book called Moneyball. You may have heard of it. Oh wait, you saw the movie? Well there was a book before the movie and it was better than anything even Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill could produce. People know I like baseball and most of the time, they start conversation like, “Oh, you write about stuff like …
Continue Reading →Why is Josh Collmenter so good? I’m not saying that because he was the starter on Opening Day, and I’m obviously not saying that because of his 5.24 ERA this season as a starter. The man still pitched a near-full-season’s worth of relief innings (52.1), and once again, the results were spectacular: a 1.89 ERA.
What Collmenter has been able …
Continue Reading →Closers are overrated. Think about it: saves are a made up stat and all closers really are are the best reliever on their respective teams. Can you name a team who used their best reliever consistently in the 8th inning? Yeah, neither can I. And I think we’d all agree that Brad Ziegler was Arizona’s best reliever in 2015. So …
Continue Reading →Want to flummox one of baseball’s best offenses? Try pitching low and away. It seems obvious, and it’s probably true of most teams, to some degree. But only three teams struck out at a higher rate on those pitches than did the D-backs — a 19.4% K rate is not very good. They’ve also avoided doing big time damage in …
Continue Reading →@ryanpmorrison
Best part of Peralta’s 108 mph fliner over the fence, IMHO: that he got that much leverage despite scooping it out… https://t.co/ivBrl76adF, 
RT @OutfieldGrass24: If you're bored of watching Patrick Corbin get dudes out, you can check out my latest for @TheAthleticAZ. https://t.co/k1DymgY7zO, - Of course, they may have overtaken the league lead for outs on the bases just now, also...
But in 2017, Arizona ha… https://t.co/38MBrr2D4b,
- Prior to the games today, there had only been 5 steals of 3rd this season (and no CS) in the National League. The… https://t.co/gVVL84vPQ5,
- RT @OutfieldGrass24: Patrick Corbin has a WPA of .318 and it's only the fifth inning.,
Powered by: Web Designers@outfieldgrass24
- Dance moves are legit https://t.co/sjgyLUZsOf,
RT @sung_minkim: @michaelsclair @Mert_723 @Dbacks oh this was easy
https://t.co/TQqwV2QaN2, 
RT @michaelsclair: I recently got to chat with @Mert_723 about signing with @Dbacks after pitching in Korea. Check out the article and… https://t.co/nqN5Dn8OdP, 
RT @TaylorBlakeWard: Rule-5 Draft is exciting, but here's a reminder of it's value based on last year's - Brad Keller (fifth pick) gave… https://t.co/ybrOrhgzX7, 
RT @OJCarrascoTwo: So @OutfieldGrass24 has apparently been sending me pitches this whole time https://t.co/FMM7S3PWi0,
Powered by: Web Designers
