Arizona Diamondbacks Season In Review
By Cody Fincher
R.I.P. to the Arizona Diamondbacks season thank God it’s over. It was a disappointing season for the D-Backs, who finished with a record of 64-98. Injuries plagued them all season long, which contributed to their lack of success.
Star left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin didn’t pitch all year after tearing the UCL in his elbow during his last spring training start before the team headed to Australia to face the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 25-year-old Corbin underwent Tommy John surgery in April, and the D-Backs front office doesn’t expect him to be back until midway through the 2015 season. Talk about a major blow to the pitching rotation.
The Tommy John bug also found its way to relief pitchers Matt Reynolds and David Hernandez before the season even started. Reynolds is a quality lefty who can get good left-handed batters out and Hernandez is a key in the D-Backs bullpen, occupying the setup role the past two seasons. Look for these two to have bounce-back seasons next year.
Aug 6, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Mark Trumbo against the Kansas City Royals at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The D-Backs’ key offseason move was acquiring OF/1B Mark Trumbo from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in exchange for one of their top pitching prospects, Tyler Skaggs, and other minor leaguers. The D-Backs were looking to add a power-hitting bat in the outfield, but what they didn’t think about was how Trumbo would be able to play defensively in left field. Trumbo was having a solid first two months offensively before he fractured his foot. He played only 88 games this year and finished the season batting .235 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI’s. It will be interesting to see what the D-Backs decide to do with Trumbo going forward as he is only under contract through next year.
The trading deadline was an interesting time for the Diamondbacks as they made it obvious that they were selling, having been out of the playoff race for quite some time. They gave away assets to teams who were trying to make a push for the postseason.
First, Brandon McCarthy was traded to the New York Yankees in exchange for starter Vidal Nuño. While Nuño couldn’t get a win in any starts for the D-Backs, McCarthy was great for the Yankees as his stats improved drastically.
In a separate deal, 3B Martin Prado was also traded to the Yankees in exchange for prospects. This move seemed to be all about dumping salary, as Prado was making quite a bit of money in his current contract. One thing that the D-Backs and their fans will miss is the chemistry Prado had with his teammates here, and of course the dirt baths he would give guys after any walk-off hits.
Gold Glove award winner Gerardo Parra was also traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for prospects. While Parra seemed to struggle at the plate during his time here in Arizona, one thing that was always there was his defense. He won two Gold Gloves, one in left field in 2011 and another in 2013 for his play in right field.
The silver lining in these moves is that the D-Backs were able to get looks at their young outfielders, such as Ender Inciarte and David Peralta. Inciarte is a speedy, good defending center fielder who can occasionally show some pop with his bat.
David Peralta is going to be a great player in this league (you heard it here first.) After coming up in August, Peralta hit .286 with eight home runs and 36 RBI’s and what’s most impressive is that Peralta finished with nine triples, which tied for fifth place in the National League. Expect Peralta to take over starting duties in right field for the D-Backs next year. He’s going to be something special.
Of course, you can’t overlook the team’s franchise player, Paul Goldschmidt. After an MVP-type season in 2013 in which Goldschmidt hit .302 with 36 home runs and 125 RBI’s, opposing pitchers seemed to figure him out a bit. But even then, Goldy was still putting up good numbers. Before being struck in the hand by a pitch in a game against Pittsburgh, which ended his season, Goldschmidt was hitting an even .300 with 19 home runs and 69 RBI’s. It’s a given that the D-Backs’ MVP will come back fully healthy next year and continue to impress us all.