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When Will They Wake Up??

This is actually my first post, so here it goes...I have been a huge fan of the D-Backs since their inception, and have seen the many ups and downs this organization has experienced, and I must say there is something seriously lacking in these young players that is vital to success: INTENSITY! I have yet to see any sign of fire and hunger from these guys, aside from Eric Byrnes throwing his helmet in anger. The only hint of fire that I have seen has been from bench coach Kirk Gibson. Its pretty embarassing when your bench coach wants a win more than your players. That just comes from old school teachings and experience. I remember when guys would get pissed off at themselves, and more importantly, their teammates which ultimately lead to breaking out of a slump or a losing streak. I would love to see Reynolds or Jackson get a little pissed off at Brandon Lyon for blowing a save and costing them a game. I would love to see Hudson sit Upton down and chew him a new one when he misses the cut-off man and costs them a run. I would love to see Bob Melvin jump all over Eric Byrnes for cussing and throwing his bat and helmet when he strikes out, looking like an 8 year old little leauger. Now, I'm not wanting to see this to see teammates at odds, I want to see these guys show some heart and determination, not to mention some much needed leadership coming in some form which will result in a group of confident and ballsy players willing go all out every game and not just in a contract year. Every time we see a D-Back player go down on strikes, or blow a lead, or make an error, the camera zooms in on that particular player and there is no emotion in his face. None. If you don't believe me, pay close attention to the next D-Back game. Today, I saw Brandon Lyon give up 5 runs in the top of the 9th, and everytime a Dodger crossed home plate, he looked as if he could care less. What's worse is Bob Melvin had the exact same look with a hint of "Oooh crap...how am I going to explain this to the press??" thrown in there. Position players looked upset, but none had the testicular fortitude to say anything to Lyon when he got to the bench. Had the manager been Ozzie Guillen, he would have thrown a Gatorade jug at his head. If George Brett would have been a teammate, he would have tried to take his head off with a pine tar-encrusted bat. Ozzie Guillen went on a rampage when his team was slumping, even calling out the GM, and what was the result? A winning streak. Point is, we need a manager who gives a damn. Melvin closes the locker room door and has a "heated discussion" with his players, and we see how that turns out. These guys need to be on Sportscenter, and every other major network, getting their hides handed to them and getting held accountable by EVERYONE, not just the front office. The Diamondbacks have all the tools to win the Series, they just need to learn how to harness them and use them for their advatage, and not everyone elses.

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Make a move for a some kind of hitter.

The Pirates have 3 outfielders that can hit. What about Brain Giles and Raul Ibanez. We have prospects to trade. D’antona, who is blocked by Reynolds, Emilio, who could be blocked by Hudson, Romero, who is blocked by Young, Upton, and the guy we trade for, and Parra, who is blocked by the same people as Romero. This team has the starting pitching good enough to win a World Series this year and I don’t want to waste it. Don’t talk to me about the future players, when the future players are blocked by our guys, who won’t be going anywhere in the near future.
Even a move like this won’t help.
http://www.rotowire.com/roto_to_gnews.htm?ID=264384&sport=mlb

The dynasty that should be the Arizona Diamondbacks.

by srdmad on Jul 20, 2008 8:50 PM EDT   0 recs

How about Scherzer as the closer.

The dynasty that should be the Arizona Diamondbacks.

by srdmad on Jul 20, 2008 8:52 PM EDT   0 recs

First of all

wecome to the ‘Pit. Secondly, what they need is first defensive fundamentals, followed by another offensive player, preferably outfield, and then maybe a little bullpen help.

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 20, 2008 9:00 PM EDT   0 recs

+1

Both on the welcome and the general sentiment. :-) I don’t really think that it’s “heart and determination” that is lacking on the current roster, and I don’t think Brandon Lyon’s failure to hurl the water-cooler around the dugout means much either. He’s just a great deal less demonstratively flamboyant than Papa Grenade was [that was originally a typo, but I kinda like the way it looks!] – it’s his character, that’s all. Fake intensity, would seem to me to be just as much of a flaw as anything.

I think, perhaps, we realized quite how much impact a very young team would have; we all knew there would be teething troubles and ‘rookie mistakes’, but I do hold the coaching staff responsible for not correcting the fundamental flaws, which have led to the same mistakes being repeated [as well, of course, as interesting new ones…] Getting Cruz and Scherzer back will certainly help – I would not be surprised to see the latter go into the rotation, with Micah Owings going to the pen, because it doesn’t seem that Owings’ stuff is starter-like. Beyond that, we need Upton to start hitting again, and the signs of life from Chris Young of life to continue. When we start winning, I imagine intensity won’t be hard to find…

by Jim McLennan on Jul 21, 2008 7:53 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Build for 2009

nothing to see this year, that’s for sure.

The Arizona Diamondbacks - Performing in the "We're Screwed '08" tour!

Is it 2009 yet?

by unnamedDBacksfan on Jul 20, 2008 10:11 PM EDT   0 recs

I'm confused

“I would love to see Bob Melvin jump all over Eric Byrnes for cussing and throwing his bat and helmet when he strikes out, looking like an 8 year old little leauger”

So you want more of our players to act like 8 year old little leaguers and then you want Melvin to also act like an 8 year old little league coach whenever they show some emotion?

I’ll settle for simply “playing better”, thank you very much.

by dahlian on Jul 21, 2008 4:30 PM EDT   1 recs

+1

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 21, 2008 5:09 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

How about just DFA

the 30 million dollar mistalke and let’s move on?

The Arizona Diamondbacks - Performing in the "We're Screwed '08" tour!

Is it 2009 yet?

by unnamedDBacksfan on Jul 21, 2008 6:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

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