Possible lineup and rotation this time next year

by C. Wesley Baier on Aug 10, 2011 4:43 PM EDT

Just random thoughts, since i've had writer's block the last few weeks, but thinking about how the team could look a year from now has got me really excited

We could have a lineup that looks like this:

AJ Pollock LF/CF

Chris Young CF/LF

Ryan Roberts 2B/3B

Whoever the hell they fill the hole with at 2b/3b

Pitcher

AND

We could have a rotation that looks like this:

Kennedy/Hudson/Saunders/Bauer/Parker

If you trade Saunders away, you could slot in Skaggs at the back end of the rotation

That's a terrific lineup, and a great young rotation. With us in contention this year, it's an exciting time to be a dbacks fan!

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Pollock

You think he’ll bump Parra? Wow. Parra’s been awesome this year. I dunno.

"Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic." Robert S. Wieder

by njjohn on Aug 10, 2011 6:56 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

i agree

our lineup is short on lefties anyway

i think we give Pollock a full year in AAA to figure out if we can use him to replace Chris Young.

by blue bulldog on Aug 10, 2011 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Might be a good idea

How good is Pollock’s speed?

"When I get sad, I stop getting sad and be AWESOME instead. TRUE STORY."

by txzona on Aug 10, 2011 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions

it's above average i believe

my impression is that he generally has above average tools across the board, but not one that really measures plus.

and his power tool is definitely average to below average.

but his hit, speed, fielding, arm should all be above average.

plate discipline isn’t really considered one of the traditional five tools, but it’s probably average for Pollock.

by blue bulldog on Aug 10, 2011 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd love to see Bauer and Parker in those last two spots

but I see Towers signing a journeyman to fill at least one of them.

I hope they offer KJ arbitration. If he doesn’t sign I’d like to see Jack Wilson in a Dbacks uniform.

"When I get sad, I stop getting sad and be AWESOME instead. TRUE STORY."

by txzona on Aug 10, 2011 8:35 PM EDT reply actions

Towers won't

get two expensive starters. just one at most. maybe Saunders, but I’m still hoping we trade him.

by blue bulldog on Aug 10, 2011 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think

Skaggs would fill that last slot w/o Saunders. More likely Miley\Corbin, I’d say.

"Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic." Robert S. Wieder

by njjohn on Aug 10, 2011 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions

With the progress of a number of arms

I really hope Saunders isn’t on the club. I certainly understand biting the bullet on the salary increasevand then trading him, though. That makes the most sense to me.

"Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic." Robert S. Wieder

by njjohn on Aug 10, 2011 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I keep Saunders one more year

There are LOTS of unknowns in that rotation – Bauer, Parker, Skaggs are all untested at the major league level. Collmenter could be this year’s Barry Enright.

If the kids show they can pitch in the first half, great, we can flip Saunders then.

by Craig from Az on Aug 13, 2011 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

So many differences there it isn’t funny. Enright was all BABIP and LOB smoke-and-mirrors, Collmenter actually has worthwhile peripherals. I get the concern, but unless Collmenter’s ability to miss bats and limit free passes utterly tanks, he’ll be fine.

Founder and Chairman of the Hire A Body Double For David Hernandez's Right Arm Commission. A non-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Aug 13, 2011 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions

i don't understand

why people say Bauer, Parker, Skaggs are unknowns, and Saunders is a known.

do you know 100% what Saunders is going to give us next year? do you know 0% what Bauer is going to give us next year?

it’s just a confidence range for both.

by blue bulldog on Aug 13, 2011 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Jack Wilson is pretty terrible........

Founder and Chairman of the Hire A Body Double For David Hernandez's Right Arm Commission. A non-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Aug 11, 2011 3:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Skaggs, Baurer and Parker?

Maybe in 2013. BTW, what about the “darling” of some of the board not that many months ago: Barry Enright? Yeah, “what have you done for me lately”? “Yesterday’s newspaper”? LOL.

by Rowdy Rawhide on Aug 11, 2011 2:15 AM EDT reply actions

poor guy

Just doesn’t look like he’s ever going to stick. He’s a great guy, but unfortunately that doesn’t get outs.

"Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic." Robert S. Wieder

by njjohn on Aug 11, 2011 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions

He could be a reliever

If his velo jumps a couple MPH in short stints, he could do one-or-two-inning middle work outings. Certainly not a worthless commodity by any stretch, and undoubtedly a good clubhouse guy.

Founder and Chairman of the Hire A Body Double For David Hernandez's Right Arm Commission. A non-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Aug 11, 2011 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope so.

"Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic." Robert S. Wieder

by njjohn on Aug 12, 2011 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions

The "darling"

of which of the board? The people like me who all like him for being a nice guy, but dislike his pitching?

Yeah.

Goldschmidt happens.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 17, 2011 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions

CF- Young
SS – Drew
RF – Upton
C – Montero
1B – Goldschmidt
2B – Johnson
3B – Roberts/Wheeler (hoping for Hanley, Wright or Aramis)
LF – Parra

Nice RLRLRLRL lineup

1 – Kennedy
2 – Hudson
3 – Bauer
4 – Collmenter
5 – Saunders/Parker/Miley/FA (I dunno why people think Corbin is ML ready)

by Husk on Aug 11, 2011 2:23 AM EDT reply actions

just because Young

has speed doesnt mean he is a leadoff hitter, I would flop him with Roberts

by Scottyyy on Aug 11, 2011 3:56 AM EDT up reply actions

LF- Ethier??

1. dbacks require left clutch hitter
2. he want arizona
3. Dodgers payroll..McCourt…

by greiz on Aug 12, 2011 5:10 AM EDT up reply actions

No thanks.

I got nothin'.

by Bcawz on Aug 12, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

I like Ethier

But considering what we’d have to pay and how strong our OF already is (and with Cowgill and Pollock as suitable replacements) I don’t have any interest.

"Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic." Robert S. Wieder

by njjohn on Aug 12, 2011 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd

probably rather have Ethier playing LF than Cowgill.

Goldschmidt happens.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 17, 2011 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Not as much of an upgrade over Parra as the Dodgers will try to make him out to be

Thus, the required package for a trade would be way too high.

Founder and Chairman of the Hire A Body Double For David Hernandez's Right Arm Commission. A non-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Aug 12, 2011 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Sooooo.... what I said? ;-)

"Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic." Robert S. Wieder

by njjohn on Aug 12, 2011 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep!

Founder and Chairman of the Hire A Body Double For David Hernandez's Right Arm Commission. A non-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Aug 13, 2011 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I like Parra, but

I don’t see how you can say Ethier is not much of an upgrade. Ethier’s OPS+ the last 4 years has been 130 or above every year. Parra’s OPS+ the last 3 years is 88, 79, 114, for a career OPS+ of 92. Yes his speed and defense (particularly throwing arm) are good. But Ethier is a MUCH better hitter than Parra. I expect Parra’s OPS would be even lower if he wasn’t batting directly in front of the pitcher nearly all the time.

All that said, I have no idea what kind of contract Ethier will command – too much for us, I would guess.

by Craig from Az on Aug 13, 2011 5:17 PM EDT reply actions

Because Ethier is an atrocious defender.

It’s quite simple. His bat will cause someone to overpay him like no other, but his glove constantly takes away a good portion of the value he provides offensively.

Founder and Chairman of the Hire A Body Double For David Hernandez's Right Arm Commission. A non-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Aug 13, 2011 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Ethier’s WAR 2009-2011: 3.5, 2.0, 1.6
Parra’s WAR 2009-2011: .1, .9, 2.0

Ethier is 29; Parra is 24.

Parra is already Ethier’s equal… and in the next few years it’s likely that he’ll surpass him.

"Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic." Robert S. Wieder

by njjohn on Aug 13, 2011 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Doubtful.

He’ll never have power, though he’ll probably have defense for awhile.

Goldschmidt happens.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 17, 2011 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

this changes EVERYTHING

Overbay signing forces a change in your thinking, Wes.

Here you are, I fixed it for you:

AJ Pollock LF/CF

Stephen Drew SS

Justin Upton RF

Miguel Montero C

~~Paul Goldschmidt~~ LYLE “THUNDERSTICK” OVERBAY 1B

Chris Young CF/LF

Ryan Roberts 2B/3B

Whoever the hell they fill the hole with at 2b/3b

"Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic." Robert S. Wieder

by njjohn on Aug 13, 2011 10:38 PM EDT reply actions