ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS --Paul Wysard

When we discussed this team last Spring, a strength seemed to be the number of older players who appeared to be poised to contribute to another NLW flag. This time around we should be less impressed regarding experience overcoming age.

Az. finished 3rd, 12 games behind SF, and there were several aspects of that performance which were and will continue to be frustrating to fans and management. Among the most annoying was the inability to score enough to seal the deal for aces Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. Johnson won 19, a Cy Young and sported a 2.47 ERA with 347 strikeouts. He should have won 25. Schilling started 13 in a pennant push after coming west from Philly. He had a respectable 3.69 ERA but managed only 5 wins when it was supposed to be 9 or 10. There were stretches mid-summer when "no decision" was automatic.

Father Time is eroding the carers of half-a-dozen key D-backs. Add some crucial injuries and flameouts by two major hitting prospects, and you have a recipe for a so-so season. Manger Buck Showalter (too concerned with detail for it's own sake) got the pink slip.

Specific problems now on popular new manager Bob Brenly's plate:

--Matt Williams suffered on-going foot damage, which cut his total bases in half, his homers by 2/3 and his RBI by almost 100. He is 35, so we can't expect a whole lot more.

--Jay Bell, also 35, reflected his ability more accurately after a sensational 1999. He is not the 38/112 slugger of that year; his .270, 20, 70 is more realistic.

--Potential studs Erubiel Durazo and Travis Lee combined for .247, 16, 73 in 420 at bats. Lee was traded for Schilling and Durazo is slated to platoon with new arrival Mark Grace, 37. Veteran Greg Colbrunn hits .300+ and goes to post season everywhere he lands, but is forever typecast as a reserve. One scout says he doesn't "elevate" the ball but hits low line drives. Hmmm.

--A veteran bench was supposed to help but didn't. Lenny Harris, Andy Fox, Bernard Gikey, Turner Ward are all gone. Backup talent for 2001 is fluid and uncertain.

--Tony Womack is simply not a championship shortstop. Just average in the field, he shows declines in OBP, runs and steals.

--The bullpen must have an injury-free Matt Mantei, but submariner B-H Kin and promising Vicente could support. It would be nice to see old gladiators Mike Morgan and Todd Stottlemyre post some wins or holds, but retirements appear more likely. Catcher Damian Miller has improved in all ways, but is not a force.

--35-something outfielders Steve Finley and Luis Gonzalez will continue to carry the team. They have been surprisingly good, but we should not look for 30 homer/100 RBI and runs seasons anymore.

Arizona's record and placement will be pretty much like last year.

STATS A FACT: Life began at 30 for Gonzalez. Average numbers before--.268, 12, 68. After--.306, 27, 100.