Arizona Diamondbacks 2003 Season Preview

by Paul Wysard

One of the few Junior players on the Snakes

This contributor has been reviewing Arizona for the past four years, and each time I have harped upon their age as being a Diamondback drawback.  A World Series triumph among Division Titles has been the result during that period, causing one to paraphrase the familiar golf adage: "It's not how (old), but how many."

The club is still long-of-tooth, but before we look at it, let's pay our respects to the "All-Antique Team of 2003."  Some of these guys have the remarkable momentum to keep going into 2004 and beyond, others have said this is the last year, and a few will run out of gas or not be hired again, but all will be well-remembered over time.

The Lineup  ---

Craig Biggio,      2b(Hou),  37.  I know he's outfield now, but just finished at second.

Steve Finley,       cf   (AZ),  38.  25 homers and 16 steals last year.

Barry Bonds,       lf    (SF),  39.  What else can be said?  If he needs a rest, we can use Roberto Kelly (SD), 39.

Ellis Burks,          rf   (Cle),  39.  518 AB in '02 the most in years; .301 with 32 homers.

Rafael Palmeiro, 1b (TX),  39.  He won't stop at 500 HR.  Brief fill-ins provided by Julio Franco (Atl), 45, a real rarity.

Edgar Martinez, dh (Sea), 40.  Under .300 last year, but still swings well.  Against a tough righthander we'd have Mark Grace (AZ), 39.

Matt Williams,    3b  (AZ),  37.  Can still play when he's not bruised or broken.

Barry Larkin,      ss  (Cin),  39. Wants to prove he could still be 20-20 in HR and SB.

Benito Santiago, c   (SF),  38 and Sandy  Alomar,   c  (CWS),37 You are "maturing" if you can recall these two as Rookies of the Year.

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Starting Pitchers - The Forties Five

Randy Johnson,   (AZ), 40.   Do I hear 42?  Contract extension says "Yes."

Roger Clemens,  (NYY),41.  He says this is it --- after 7 wins = 300.

Jamie Moyer, (Sea), 40.  Many forecasters see minimum of 15 wins. Chuck Finley,         (FA),40.  Doesn't have a job yet, but someone will pick him up.

David Cone,        (NYM),40. Nice comeback in Spring Training so far.

Relievers - We'll have "Closing by Committee"... one batter at a time.

Jesse Orosco,  (SD), 46.  Dan Plesac,  (Phl), 41,   Mike Jackson,  (AZ), 38.

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Utility -   Lenny Harris,  (ChC), 39.  Can still play several spots and get bat on ball.

  In case you didn't notice, 5 of the 21 "Antiques" are employed at BankOne Ballpark. A few pre-seasons ago, a Phoenix sports column said that fans should watch for a "sprinkling of younger starters into a veteran lineup."  That really hasn't happened. An older bench corps was moved out, Junior Spivey took over at second with quickness and a good bat,  two younger catchers will platoon after Damian Miller was sent to the Cubs, but the core of position players has remained.  Williams and Grace are slated for reserve duty, but could end up playing a lot at first base.  Lyle Overbay, another "sprinkle", had great numbers in the minors, but could struggle at that post as a full-time rookie.  Craig Counsell, 33, always has so-so stats, but is a winner and returns from injury to play most of the time at third.  Two years ago, I expressed doubts about the Diamondbacks overall chances because Tony Womack was not "a championship-caliber shortstop."  Hmmm.  Who hit that big double to help win Game 7 of the World Series?  He did, and, at 34, holds on at both short and in the leadoff spot.

  The outfield is solid, with Finley flanked by Luis Gonzalez in left and Danny Bautista in right.  Gonzalez, 36, saw his homeruns halved in '02, but  still continued his late-career power surge with 103 RBI.  He should be good for that amount in '03, along with at least .290 and 30 HR.  Expect Finley's numbers to dip somewhat, but he will again be important to the offense with speed, power, and an adequate average. Bautista gets this vote as last year's hard-luck performer.  After several years of bench duty in several places, he was injured on the way to what could be projected as a season of .315, with two dozen homers and 90 runs-batted-in and -scored.  Even with a few digits less in all those categories, he would be very helpful.  He's one of the younger bucks in the starting lineup at 31.  Quinton McCracken is a suitable fourth man.

  The pitching is as strong as it has been, with Curt Schilling, 36, a formidable number two behind Johnson.  Elmer Dessens brings consecutive low-ERA years from Cincinnati, and Byung-Hyun Kim seems to have made smooth transition from closer to fourth starter.  Rookie John Patterson could also start at some point, and he and Kim will be the only important hurlers under 30 after mid-season.  Matt Mantei returns from injury to close, but any problems with him could lead to a reluctant reappearance in the 'pen by Kim.

  Carlos Baerga joins the veterans already mentioned on a bench that shows little, if any, "sprinkling", but which will be generally sound.  The lineup will feature Womack and Spivey at the top, Finley and Gonzalez in the middle and catchers Moeller and Barajas at the bottom.

  Prediction:  Grizzled but gritty, this experienced club will fight to the end to hold off the Giants and the Dodgers in the NL West.  I have bet against them before; I won't this year.