Sunday, November 25, 2012

Arizona Diamondbacks Season 21 Outlook

Season 20
Won/Loss (place in division) & Playoffs:  77-85 (3rd), missed playoffs
Offense:  810 runs (4th)
Pitching:  5.18 ERA (15th)

Major Changes
1B Freddy Forster, IF Thomas Zorilla, SP Bailey Borders departed via free agency.

Signed FA OF Brian Blair.

Traded SP Harold Bynum to St. Louis for 1B Elijah Perkins.

Promoted from minors:  2B Mariano Lima, OF Willie Flaherty, SP Mark Twitchell

Season 21 Outlook
There's a very nice core of young players here - C Nick Ball, 2B Luis Fernandez, CF Yusmeiro Ortiz (who pulled the rare GG/Silver Slugger in CF last year) - as evidenced by their 810 runs scored in Season 20.  Their newcomers might even help add to that total.

But the 'Backs need pitching desperately.  Closer Don Brooks is top-notch, and then, well...  And there's no more hep from the minors for awhile.  Could do worse than give Bailey Borders a call.

I think the young core keeps this crew ahead of Oakland in the West, but they'll need a big pitching upgrade to compete for the title.

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