Thoughts on Arizona

by MADness on Oct 15, 2007 7:52 PM MDT

Chris Young has incredible range. Watching him more intently than I did during the inter-divisional games his range really caught my attention. The Mike Cameron comparisons seem pretty valid both in terms of range, speed and ability to destroy mistakes and fastballs (but the inability so far to hit other stuff).
Augie Ojeda is a wizard. While no one that I have seen currently is better than Orlando Hudson defensively at 2nd base, Ojeda has made a few plays in this series that I don't know if even Hudson would have made.
Tony Pena is as dominating as I remember him being from early in the season.

Any one else have observations about this team that we will be competing with for the next several years?

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. But the above FanPost does not necessarily reflect the attitudes, opinions, or views of Purple Row's staff (unless, of course, it's written by the staff [and even then, it still might not]).

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I don't think Ojeda sticks

But you're spot on about Young's range, and Pena is definitely doing some damage against us. I like Mark Reynolds' swing, even though he chases high fastballs too much, and he's got a fine glove at third. Drew's still not the defender I thought he'd be, I think he reacts late, so it seems as if he just doesn't have the range of Tulo or Greene, even though I think he's got the good footwork.

Upton's going to be head-case at this rate, but he's definitely a fine baseball player. I don't think Arizona keeps him past his arbitration years, his head will outgrow Phoenix, but he could do a lot of damage against us in the meantime and that outfield defense all around doesn't leave much space to let hits drop. People talk about all the bloops we've been getting, but they don't realize that's about all that Arizona's giving us right now.

by Rox Girl on Oct 15, 2007 8:08 PM MDT reply actions

Ojeda

I don't think he becomes more than what he has been throughout his career but he has been very useful (and fun to watch) for the D-Backs.

by MADness on Oct 15, 2007 9:22 PM MDT up reply actions

I like Reynolds

other than the "wickets" play, he looks solid at third, and like Rox Girl said, he has a nice swing that stays in the zone long, but he could stand to improve his pitch recognition.

Their four outfielders are competitive with anyone in the league. Young's OBP is a concern, but sometimes this is just a trademark of inexperience and overcompensation, and his minor league track record suggests he'll improve in this category. Utpon is more tools than skills, but when it clicks at the big league level, he'll be lethal. I still like Salazar and think he's an excellent fourth outfielder with plus defensive skills, some plate patience and pop.

Long term, Arizona needs to bridge the gap between Webb and Owings with more young talent. They need a two and a three that they can count on for a couple of years, and I think they have those guys in Anderson and Sherzer (Sherzer just needs to get innings in).

Also, get a real first baseman. That position is too easy to fill with power to waste it on a marginal youngster like Jackson, who won't fit for enough pop to be championship caliber.

by David OhNo on Oct 15, 2007 10:18 PM MDT reply actions

Is Todd Helton a real first basemen then?

Helton-.174 ISOP
Jackson-.183 ISOP

D-Backs fan

by Goose on Oct 15, 2007 10:55 PM MDT up reply actions

Sort of

Not a 'real' clean-up hitter and not enough pop for a 1st baseman (same as Jackson).

Fortunately Helton contributes in other ways (gold glove D, high on base %, tons of RBIs, etc.) plus we are stuck with him one way or another.

by MADness on Oct 15, 2007 10:59 PM MDT up reply actions

If you read this board more than once a year

you'd know that most all here realize Todd is not a typical first baseman anymore, and long range. He'll be dangerous to this ball club.

That said, he still has the OBP going for him and his VORP of 51.9 compared to Jackson's 20.5 suggests Conor has a few more flights of stairs before he gets to Helton's level.

Believe me, I'm not 100% satisfied with having Helton's contract for four more years, but that doesn't make Jackson any more appealing.

by David OhNo on Oct 15, 2007 10:59 PM MDT up reply actions

My understanding is that

the D-backs would like to move Jackson, and have Tracy take over 1st base, and give Reynolds 3rd everyday.

My gut take on the D-backs: Chris Young looks like a player, and future star. He could be a 40/40 guy..and not be on 'roids unlike Jose Canseco. Reynolds needs to quit chasing high pitches, and he'll be an all-star. Drew is over rated and may never be the hitter AZ hopes he will be. Tries to pull every thing. Has a HUGE hole on the out side of the plate. Bad pitch recognition. He has work to do. Upton is raw and rushed, but looks like he has potential. The D-Backs have a ton of great young bullpen arms. Pena should be a/the closer. I could make the argument for Cruz as well.

So long as AZ has Byrnes...we've got a rivalry.

And lastly: I'd love to have Tony Clark off the Rockies bench next year, he's the scariest bat on the team, and a class act all the way.

Resign Kazuo Matsui! Hurdle is still an idiot!

by Redhawk on Oct 16, 2007 9:40 AM MDT up reply actions

More on Drew...

His bat definitely leaves something to be desired, he gets exploited easily by trying to pull RHP's too much. They just leave stuff out of reach and his contact winds up being weak, if he gets it at all. If he cheats in on the plate, one brush back pitch is enough to put him in a bad position to hit the outside pitch again. Despite some things I've read from scouts, his power isn't going to be better than Tulo's going forward, and that could be a problem because he swings like he is a power hitter (actually it's kind of a problem for Troy, too).

Drew seems to be a little more careful against LHP's, and I wouldn't be surprised if most of his opposite field hits came from them, but I'd be careful predicting a really big season at the plate from him next year unless he shows he can adjust and settle for a high average, high OBP, low slugging line, but I don't know if it happens.

by Rox Girl on Oct 15, 2007 10:48 PM MDT reply actions

He certainly has some work to do.

But if he can be a little more patient and put up something like .290/20/85 next season, with the solid defense he plays, I'll be fine with it.

Sure, that sounds a lot like Tulowitzki Lite, but you guys know as well as anybody there isn't much wrong with that.

by azdb7 on Oct 16, 2007 12:08 AM MDT up reply actions

Drew

Seems like he could hit for a much higher average than Tulo (though probably less raw power).

It will be interesting to see how he develops.

At the risk of being impolite, it doesn't seem that Arizona has had as much sucess in developing talent as they have had in acquiring it.

BTW, how did Arizona ownership ever let Rizzo leave town?

by MADness on Oct 16, 2007 1:01 AM MDT up reply actions

The best answer is, "Reluctantly."

When the assistant GM position opened up in Washington, Rizzo wanted (and had certainly earned) a chance at that kind of a job. There wasn't anywhere within the Diamondbacks' organization for him to do that...but then again, it didn't seem like much effort was made to keep him. Josh Byrnes' remarks at the time seemed to indicate that the front office was somewhat caught off guard by Rizzo's decision to go.

It's too early to tell on the developing talent card. These kids should be judged around 2008-2009, when they'll have had a bit more experience. Considering how quickly some were rushed to the bigs (Upton/Reynolds in particular), it's too early to tell. But we have had some struggles in that area in the past, so it's a valid point. There's success stories, like Brandon Webb, and disappointing flameouts, like Erubiel Durazo.

by azdb7 on Oct 16, 2007 1:07 AM MDT up reply actions

Rushed

Some guys respond to learning on the fly in the big leagues and some don't. Only time will tell if they made the right call on these young players.

BTW, I really, really liked/respected Bob Melvin in this series. I don't mean that in a sarcastic way either, even though I know some D-backs fans are probably upset at him over leaving Valverde in, etc.

I wouldn't have any concerns at all with him coaching the Rockies and if they had an opening and he was available he would be among my first choices.

I think that it may be getting lost in the glare of the bright lights just how far ahead of schedule AZ was this year and just how well he got a VERY young team to play all season long.

by MADness on Oct 16, 2007 3:15 PM MDT up reply actions

For my money

Bob Melvin is the NL Manager of the Year. Hands down, no questions asked. He took a team of rough around the edges young cowboys and turned them into a baseball team. There's a reason the D'Backs won 32 1-run games this year, and it sure isn't just luck. To not give MOTY to Melvin is an injustice to the fantastic job he has done with such a raw hunk of undeveloped talent.

by oo_nrb on Oct 17, 2007 12:12 AM MDT up reply actions