Productive? It was downright scary.
When the Diamondbacks went into the Winter Meetings most of baseball thought
their primary concern would be finding a new home their one marketable veteran
commodity. When they left they had been arguably the most active team in
the league. While most felt it would be addition by subtraction for the
D'Backs, it was multiplication by free agency.
Troy Glaus was a shock.
Russ Ortiz was full on electrocution.
The rest of the deals might have seemed minor, Royce Clayton, Craig Counsell
and Kelly Stinnett are not marquee names, but what they do is fill holes, big
holes, at least for the time being.
The Diamondbacks were going to be young, now they'll be a veteran team with
some young, developing players. It looked for awhile like Alex Cintron
would be the wise old sage on opening day. Now it looks like the Ken
Kendrick might win Executive of the Year, and Randy Johnson might be hanging
around Phoenix...in September.
What?
Yeah, I said it. The Diamondbacks might just make the playoffs this
year. Rumor has it the Tim Hudson to the Dodgers deal is dead. Yes,
the Padres and Dodgers will be good, but with Jeromy Burnitz and Shawn Estes
still scheduled to meet with the Diamondbacks, and much of Arizona finally
believing we might sign them, so will the D'Backs.
Friends and neighbors, children of all ages, the Diamondbacks are built to
compete. They might not be World Series contenders, but then again, they
might.
Seriously, if Burnitz and Estes signed, why not? Even if Luis Terrero
is your starting centerfielder. Even if your #5 starter went 0 for
everything last year. Even if your closer is in his first full
season. The Diamondbacks are built to compete.
There's precedent you know. Sure, it's in the NFL, but there's
precedent. Teams go from worst to first. :Teams get better.
Let's get something straight. This is not a prediction, this is not a
guarantee. But it is awfully fun to think about isn't it?
We all assumed the D'Backs were going to put their tail between their
legs. We all assumed there could be as many as six starters in their first
or second season of service. We all assumed, and we were wrong. So
let's go the other way.
What if they did it all? What if they got everybody?
Glaus, Ortiz, Counsell, Clayton, Burnitz and Estes. Oh yeah, and we're
going to keep Randy too. Hmmm.
A 3/4/5 that went Gonzo, Glaus, and Burnitz.
Craig Counsell at second base hitting leadoff.
Kelly Stinnett sitting on the bench, reminding
still-eligible-for-rookie-of-the-year catchers Koyie Hill and Chris Snyder that
Randy will throw what he wants but Brandon Webb needs to be told not to
overthrow.
Not a shred of pressure on Edgar Gonzalez.
Marland Williams entering the game in the seventh, and stealing the
sure-for-the-gap double that would have put the tying run in scoring position.
Watching NL West hitter's head's spin when one night they get Randy's ankle
breaking slider, and two nights later get Estes' sun dial racing curve.
Hmmm. This could be fun.