Arizona Diamondbacks Information
The Diamondbacks started the 2007 season with a uniform redesign, which has dropped the traditional Arizona colors, replacing them with a reddish color known as “sedona red” – causing mixed reviews among the fans. There are other changes for ’07 as well – most notably leftfielder Luis Gonzales leaving the team to play for rival team LA Dodgers. In spite of the changes, this is definitely a team not to miss, achieving unprecedented success, winning a World Championship in their fourth season - and as of early August, they hold the second best record in the National League.
For
Bob Brenly, 2001 might just be considered a perfect year. He inherited
a team in the Arizona Diamondbacks that was 8 games over .500 but
finished in 3rd place in the NL West. He knew this team was absolutely
loaded on talent, but after a third place finish, expectations
from the “experts” wouldn’t be too high. That
season, Luis Gonzalez really had a breakout year hitting 57 homers.
Of course, Barry Bonds broke the all-time record by hitting 73
long balls, and Sammy Sosa had 64 in Chicago, so Gonzalez’s
immense accomplishments went widely unheralded. The stats that
people couldn’t avoid came from the two aces, Curt Schilling
and Randy Johnson. Schilling and Johnson combined for 43 wins in
2001 (more than 47 percent of the team total of 91), and they were
ranked 1 and 2 in the majors in earned run average. The Diamondbacks
will look to improve back to that point from 2001, but things will
be quite different in 2004 since only one of the star pitchers
will be around from now on.
The Diamondbacks play their home games at “The Bob,” the name given
to Bank One Ballpark, located in the heart of Phoenix. The Bob is best known
for its huge scoreboard in straight away center field and the swimming pool located
in right center field. Yes, you read it right, there is a real swimming pool
located in right center field that is available to rent out for a night’s
game. The Bob can hold almost 50,000 people, and with no upper deck seating in
the outfield, every seat is a good one.
The offense will once again be led by left fielder Luis Gonzalez in 2004. Gonzalez
is 36 years old, but doesn’t show any signs of falling off in production
anytime soon. Danny Bautista and Steve Finley will also work in the outfield
along side Gonzalez. Richie Sexson moves from Milwaukee to Arizona and will fill
in the spot at first base vacated by Mark Grace’s retirement. Filling in
the remaining positions in the order will be youngsters coming up from the minors,
players like Matt Kata, Chad Tracy, and Alex Cintron.
Randy Johnson will still be situated in Arizona, ready to perform at 40 years
old, but Curt Schilling has moved on to the Boston Red Sox. Schilling was signed
by the Red Sox in hopes of keeping up with the “evil empire” located
in the Bronx, but Johnson might not finish the year in Arizona either. If Johnson
were to be shipped to a contender at the trading deadline, it wouldn’t
be the first time. In 1998, Johnson was traded from the Mariners to the Astros
as Houston made a last season surge in the NL. After the season, Houston couldn’t
afford to keep Johnson, and he’s been in Arizona ever since. Complimenting
Johnson in the rotation will be Brandon Webb, the young right handed sinkerballer.
Matt Mantei and Jose Valverde will split time as closers in 2004.