Arizona Diamondbacks Game Preview, #98: A change is gonna come

Zack Godley RHP, 2-1, 5.31

Brandon Finnegan RHP, 5-7, 4.66

Jean Segura - SS	Billy Hamilton - CF
Phil Gosselin - 2B	Jose Peraza - SS
Paul Goldschmidt - 1B	Joey Votto - 1B
Rickie Weeks - LF	Jay Bruce - RF
Welington Castillo - C	Adam Duvall - LF
Chris Owings - CF	Brandon Phillips - 2B
Brandon Drury - 3B	Ivan De Jesus - 3B
Yasmany Tomas - RF	Ramon Cabrera - C
Zack Godley - RHP	Brandon Finnegan - LHP

Before the Diamondbacks were shut down for the second consecutive day by the majors’ worst pitching staff, losing 6-1 to the Cincinnati Reds, Hale suggested to reporters that his job is no longer in jeopardy – and maybe never really was. "With social media today, it’s going to be out there," Hale said. "You don’t want guys whispering and wondering if I know. Hey, we all know what’s going on. There’s no real foundation to it. So let’s talk about it and get rid of it." Does "no foundation" mean Hale has been told by team officials that there’s nothing to the reports? "Yes," he said -- Arizona Republic

If true - it could be the equivalent of the Titanic's captain issuing a press release denying the existence of icebergs - this is extremely disappointing. For this is a team which has lost 17 of its last 21 games, the worst streak of play by the Diamondbacks in over a decade, since the Hell Month which was June 2006.  We're on our fourth manager since then. Neither A.J. Hinch not Kirk Gibson ever had a run of results that bad - Hinch never went worse than 6-15 over any period, and he lasted less than one and a half seasons before getting the boot.

Now, you can certainly make the case that the disaster which has become this season is not Hale's fault, and so he should not be held responsible for it. But this then begs the question. If Hale's job isn't on the line - then who's is? Because someone needs to be accountable for this mess, and the complete tail-spin into which the team has unfolded over the past month. Yes, there have been injuries. But this team wasn't actually very good, from Opening Day on. Save less than a handful of players, no-one has performed at the level expected. If there are not significant changes in the front-office this winter, why should we expect significant changes in subsequent results?

If that means ending the cozy tenure of Tony La Russa as CBO, then so be it, because thus far, all it seems to have provided are cozy jobs for his mates like Dave Stewart and Dave Duncan. The plan executed by the front-office has destroyed a once-promising farm system and given us easily the worst team in baseball over the last month. Is nobody at all going to be held accountable for this? The apparent lack of any action, even the perhaps symbolic firing of Hale, sends a message tacitly accepting this increasingly unacceptable situation. Or worse, that nobody cares. And if ownership and the front-office don't care, why should we?