Currently viewing the tag: "Allen Webster"

2015’s Best & Worst Pitches by D-backs Starters

On December 1, 2015 By

They say you have to have at least two pitches to make the majors. Three if you want to start. Having any number of “average” major league pitches is impressive, really, but they’re certainly not all created equal. Some guys have one “plus” pitch they can lean on to get the job done most of the time – a pitch …

Continue Reading →

40-Man Decisions and Why the D-backs Protected A.J. Schugel

On November 23, 2015 By

A year after doing an excellent job protecting its players from the Rule 5 draft, the D-backs had their work cut out for them this season. After cutting Jamie Romak, trading for Chris Herrmann and trading Jeremy Hellickson away, the team had just two spots to use if it kept everyone else on the 40 man roster. All that …

Continue Reading →

The Dan Warthen Slider Could Be the Missing Piece for Robbie Ray

On July 20, 2015 By

If you read everything Eno Sarris writes (recommended), you already learned about the Mets and the Dan Warthen slider about 10 days ago (required). If you don’t and/or haven’t, go do that. I’ll still be here when you hopefully get back. And actually, knowing the title of this piece, I’m pretty sure you’ll come back if you do go do …

Continue Reading →

Roundup: Collmenter Out; Webster In; More Vectors Pointing to 2017

On June 15, 2015 By

Chase Anderson has a 2.82 ERA, thanks in no small part to seven innings of one-hit ball on Friday. He’s had only two blowups this season, a 5 ER, 5.1 inning performance against Colorado at the end of April and the 6 ER stinker he put up in Milwaukee. With Tuffy Gosewisch out for the season, it was Jarrod Saltalamacchia…

Continue Reading →

Roundup: Roster in Focus; Tomas Contract Discussions; Six Man Rotation?

On March 23, 2015 By

If you know me even a little, you can probably appreciate just how much I enjoyed thinking about the idea of a six-man rotation, a question put to us by two people (Joseph Gonzol and Jon Klingman) for the last episode of The Pool Shot. It’s not that a six man rotation would necessarily be a good idea for most …

Continue Reading →

Remaking Fireballers: Is Dave Stewart Building the Rotation in His Own Image?

On February 18, 2015 By

It’s been just six months, but the new front office regime of Tony La Russa, Dave Stewart and De Jon Watson has dramatically altered the D-backs depth chart at starting pitcher. With Archie Bradley already on the verge of the majors, the team has added four more pitchers with high ceilings and spotty results: Robbie Ray, Allen Webster…

Continue Reading →

Roundup: Cliff Pennington Signed; Overthinking the Dan Runzler, Jordan Pacheco Signings

On December 29, 2014 By

It was not so long ago that the D-backs were making significant moves so frequently that we were fighting off worthy topics with sticks. In the last days of December, we get to return to doing what we do best: analyzing to death on-field performance and the finest minutiae the transactions list has to offer.

Matt Swartz and MLBTradeRumors projected …

Continue Reading →

Can the D-backs Improve Their New, Young Pitching Assets?

On December 23, 2014 By

The 2014-15 offseason hasn’t disappointed one bit from an entertainment standpoint. There have been some massive trades (thank you A.J. Preller) and major free agent signings (remember when Jon Lester held everyone captive for two days?). Some teams were expected to push for contention this offseason (Cubs) while other clubs have surprised people with their aggressiveness (White Sox and Padres). …

Continue Reading →

The D-backs’ Rotation has a Long Way to Go

On December 16, 2014 By

The Diamondbacks made a bevy of moves last week. In fact, it’s been a pretty exciting offseason thus far, and given where things stand right now, I’d suggest that they’re far from done making moves. As a fan, this is mighty exciting as the status quo was surely destined for failure. Just getting healthy was bound to improve the team, …

Continue Reading →

Roundup: Order Among Winter Meetings Chaos; Humidor the Key to the Offseason?

On December 15, 2014 By

If you’ve never given our podcast (The Pool Shot) a try, now would be a really good time — Jeff and I worked our way through both major trades last week, and had a ton of fun doing it. We also hit the Oscar Hernandez acquisition through the Rule 5 draft, catching in general, and the potential weakness of having …

Continue Reading →

Are the Diamondbacks Rebuilding, Retooling, or Doing Something Else?

On December 12, 2014 By

An offseason of unusual activity in the sport has been fueled by a significant number of teams that had a regime change in the front office, and the D-backs are no exception. What originally looked like an offseason of tweaks now looks like something quite different — but what is it, really? Remember, Chief Baseball Officer expressed confidence exactly one …

Continue Reading →

D-backs Place Enormous Bet on Themselves by Trading Wade Miley

On December 11, 2014 By

What was under-acknowledged before last summer’s Brandon McCarthy trade became one of baseball’s worst-kept secrets after McCarthy dominated in New York: be it rigid pitching plans, hot air, dry baseballs, or something different, Phoenix and/or the team that plays there have had as bad an effect on pitchers as has Denver and the Rockies. The D-backs’ desire and ultimate decision …

Continue Reading →