Diamondbacks: Evaluating The Tony La Russa Era

Aug 21, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Wade Miley (36) throws during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

WADE MILEY SENT TO BOSTON RED SOX FOR RHP RUBBY DE LA ROSA, RHP ALLEN WEBSTER & RAYMEL FLORES

Winner, winner, chicken dinner. La Russa and Stewart nailed this trade.

They turned a decent left starter Wade Miley for something they had desperately lacked in 2014: a dominating power throwing righty. De La Rosa filled that role and in the process the Diamondbacks got even younger.

De La Rosa competed for a starting rotation position in Spring Training and won it over some promising prospects. He’s been in the rotation since with some frustrating results.

6-3, 4.60 ERA, 16 starts, 101.2 IP, 94 K’s, 1.24 WHIP

De La Rosa’s biggest issue has been consistency and his inability to rack together several quality starts in a row. At times, he looks un-hittable. Just look at his nine quality starts and in those he has a complete game 2-run performance to go along with an eight-inning shutout and five games where he’s worked seven innings. Those starts are incredible.

The rest of them are the head-scratching ones. Right after giving you a complete game he won’t get past five innings allowing seven-plus runs. It’s nerve-wracking to watch. The potential is there, but can he fulfill it?

Miley hasn’t done anything to make you regret the trade and been very mediocre all year. Never showing signs of dominance, just very alright.

7-7, 4.38 ERA, 15 starts, 84.1 IP, 60 K’s, 1.36 WHIP.

Allen Webster has spent most of the season with Triple-A Reno, but recently came up to make a couple starts in the bigs. He had some success but couldn’t locate his slider well enough going 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA in four starts. Webster was just sent down to Reno.

Raymel Flores has played ten games in the minors with a .235 batting average.