Fanpost Friday: 2017 Arizona Diamondbacks - reasons for pessimism

To see if we can generate some more interaction, we’ll be running Fanpost Fridays, at least through spring training - if the response is good, these will then continue once the regular season starts up. The aim is to pose a question, and have people answer it in the form of a Fanpost. Well-formed ones will then be promoted to the front page and featured on the site over the weekend, and you may even find yourself in Google News. Please also read and, as appropriate, recommend any submitted Fanposts.

The issue: What is the Diamondbacks’ downside?

What could possibly go wrong? Well, of course, the old meteor strike could take out Chase Field on Opening Day, of course. But outside of scripting a SyFy Original Movie, what areas of the team and/or players are of most concern? Is it our starting pitching? The bullpen? Arizona’s outfield? The loss of Jean Segura and Welington Castillo from the infield impacting the offense? A new manager?

Of course, there are the usual - or, unusual, in the case of Socrates Brito - injuries that should also be considered. We have players like Nick Ahmed, A.J. Pollock and Zack Greinke coming back: might that pose issues? Which of the other players seem most fragile? And other things might prove to be problematic, beyond health. Which are of most concern to you?

Writing a Fanpost

Note: comments will be locked on this post. So the only way to respond is to write a fanpost, in which you set out your position and explain it. Get started by clicking here! This will then take you into the editor. In many ways, it isn’t all that different from posting a comment - you get some more flexibility with regard to formatting, and it’s a spiffier editor, but you can simply write away if you want. You do need to come up with at least 150 words. And yes, repeating “Shelby Miller sux” 50 times will result in a firm, disapproving stare from the SnakePit authorities. Do not go there.

Protip: You may want to write it up in Notepad or whatever, then copy and paste it over. Or if you are writing directly into the editor, be careful with the backspace button. If your mouse is outside the body and you hit backspace, it will take you back a page and you may lose any work that has not been auto saved. Just trust me on this one.

Useful link: Extra Fanpost help guide