Tuesday, 1 March 2016

2016 MLB Team Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks

                Today, Top Of The Third begins its season preview. Every team will be analyzed, starting with the National League West and ending with the American League East. Each team preview will feature an “arrivals and departures” list, a quick summary on their 2015 season and a prediction on what 2016 will hold. As always, I welcome feedback to topofthethird@gmail.com. Enjoy.

Arizona Diamondbacks


2015 Win/Loss Record: 79-83, 3rd in National League West
Last Postseason Appearance: 2011
Last World Series Championship: 2001
Key Arrivals: Zach Greinke (SP), Shelby Miller (SP), Jean Segura (SS)
Key Departures: Aaron Hill (2B), Ender Inciarte (OF), Chase Anderson (SP)
Manager: Chip Hale, first year

Overall Review: The Arizona Diamondbacks finished in the middle of the NL West in 2015 and they made two significant transactions in the off-season to try and improve their position in the standings. At the end of January, they made a five-player trade with the Milwaukee Brewers in which they sent second baseman Aaron Hill, pitcher Chase Anderson and prospect infielder Isan Diaz to Milwaukee in return for shortstop Jean Segura and pitcher Tyler Wagner.
                But the biggest acquisition for Arizona would be highly sought after starting pitcher, Zach Greinke, who the D-Backs managed to sign as a free agent from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Greinke automatically gives the rotation a shot in the arm in their attempt to regain the division crown.
               
Offense: First year manager, Chip Hale, has the tools to work with as the Diamondbacks prepare to improve on their third-place finish from a year ago. Offensively, the team is led by the hitting exploits of first baseman, Paul Goldschmidt. In 2015, the All-Star slugger bashed 33 home runs, drove in 110, batted .321 and stole 21 bases, good enough to finish second to Washington’s Bryce Harper in the National League MVP vote. He also won a Glove Glove Award to prove that he is not just a one-dimensional player. If not for some injuries suffered in 2014, Goldschmdit would more than likely have three consecutive 30 home run, 100 RBI seasons.
                Centre-fielder A.J. Pollack and left-fielder David Peralta are the other big guns in the D-Back lineup. In 2015, Pollack batted .315, hit 20 home runs and added 76 RBIs, while Peralta hit .312, 20 homers and 78 RBIs. Pollack also stole 39 bases. Arizona will miss the bat of right-fielder Ender Inciarte, who was traded to the Atlanta Braves, but they’re hoping Yasmany Tomas (.273, 9 homers, 48 RBI in 118 games) will be more than able to replace him in the outfield.

Pitching: It begins and ends with Greinke. He will be required to be the ace of the starting staff and he should have no problem filling that role. In 2015, he had 19-3 win/loss record, 1.66 ERA, struck out 200 batters in 222 2/3 innings and finished second to Jake Arrieta of the Cubs in the Cy Young Award voting. He also proved adept at fielding by winning the Gold Glove Award for pitchers.
                He will be joined in the rotation by Shelby Miller (acquired from Atlanta) who had a less-than impressive 6-17 record with the Braves in 2015, but had a respectable 3.02 ERA in 205 1/3 innings. Miller suffered from lack of run support in Atlanta, something that shouldn’t happen in Arizona. Patrick Corbin (6-5, 3.60 ERA, 78 strike outs), Rubby de la Rosa (14-9, 4.67, 150) and Robbie Ray (5-12, 3.52, 119) should round out the starting staff.
                As for the bullpen, Brad Ziegler returns to the closer’s role for the second year in a row after posting 30 saves, a 1.85 ERA and 36 strike outs in 68 innings. He’ll be joined in the pen by Daniel Hudson Randall and Delgado who won 12 games and saved five between them last season.

D-backs left-fielder David Peralta
Prediction: The addition of Greinke, although an expensive one, should pay dividends in 2016. At 32 years old, he should have plenty of years left to earn the money the Diamondbacks gave him. The offense should continue to be a strength for the club. However, the team will be hard pressed to catch the Dodgers or the Giants at the top of the division and will, in all likelihood, finish in third spot in the division once again.

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