‘Striking Out’ With The D-Backs: Late-February Will the D-Backs young lineup bounce back after a 2008 in which they trailed off? Who will be the fifth starter and can they get better consistency out of their bullpen?
Baby Backs Struggling Down The Stretch After scorching the major leagues for the better part of the first month, the Arizona Diamondbacks have fallen hard back to earth. One of their problems have been the lack of development from their younger players.
2008 Season Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks When a team gives up more runs than it scores and still makes the playoffs, a lot of things must have gone right at opportune times.
Upton's Age Puts Him In Unique Territory Justin Upton is certainly no Jimmie Foxx, nor is he a Mel Ott or even a Cesar Cedeno, but he is amongst very elite company when it comes to modern players who burst onto the scene as a teenager.
Young Guns Turning Things Around Out West The Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves in an unfamiliar situation after one week of play. The D-backs have started the 2007 season with a 7-4 mark. As of right now, they stand in second place in the NL West and fourth in the NL, a position they have not enjoyed in over three years.
Arizona Building A Future Dynasty? The youth movement is alive and well in Arizona. Consider the position players already set in stone: Conor Jackson 1B, Orlando Hudson 2B, Stephen Drew SS, Chad Tracy 3B and Carlos Quentin OF. Add in 30 year old veteran Johnny Estrada (.309 BA) and the entire infield is set.
Diamondbacks At Crossroads Rich in position depth in the minor leagues, the Diamondbacks have ammunition to go after starting pitching, if they choose to trade. A major weakness since Schilling and the Big Unit departed, the Diamondbacks drafted pitching with eleven of their first thirteen picks in the 2006 amateur draft last month.
Battery Is Charged And Ready In Arizona In five short years, the Diamondbacks went from being a team powered by the two-headed monster of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling and winning the world series, to being a team still trying to find its identity, all while staying competitive. One place to start this identity change is the battery combination of Brandon Webb and Johnny Estrada, who should be classified as one of the best young players at their respective positions.
