Diamondbacks hope big spending can pay off—again

Sporting News, The, Feb 18, 2005

The Diamondbacks pulled this off once before, spending heavily after finishing 65-97 in 1998, their inaugural season, then winning the National League West by going 100-62 in 1999.

That was the year they signed several free agents, including Randy Johnson and Steve Finley. They made one-sided trades for Luis Gonzalez and Tony Womack. And they continued dealing throughout the season, acquiring Matt Mantel and lefthanded specialist Dan Plesac.

Fast-forward to 2005, and the idea is much the same. Yet, coming off a 51-111 season--the worst by an N.L. team since 1965--if the Diamondbacks make a similar improvement, they will win a mere 86 games. For them to be competitive in the West, everything must click.

New third baseman Troy Glaus, coming off shoulder surgery, must demonstrate that he can play the field. New starting pitchers Russ Ortiz and Javier Vazquez must re-establish themselves after disappointing finishes in '04.The D-backs also are counting on a journeyman, Jose Cruz, in center.

Gonzalez, the left fielder, is the only regular who is returning at the same position, and he is coming off elbow surgery. Chad Tracy is moving from third base to first, and two unproven youngsters, Koyie Hill and Chris Snyder, will battle for the catcher's job.

"As we looked at the team, we identified a lack of power, starting pitching issues and a need to improve our middle-infield defense," general manager Joe Garagiola says. "I think we've addressed all three of those areas pretty significantly."

Gonzalez, Glaus and right fielder Shawn Green will bolster the middle of the order. The sure-handedness of second baseman Craig Counsell and shortstop Royce Clayton will help a rotation that includes righthander Brandon Webb and lefthander Shawn Estes, two of the top 10 ground-ball pitchers in the N.L. last season. But overall, pitching remains a question. There's no Johnson, there's little experience in the bullpen, and there's no front-line veteran catcher to bring the staff along.

No longer must fans watch overmatched youngsters, but a disappointing season is possible, especially considering the Diamondbacks invested $78 million combined in Glaus and Ortiz. The team's increased spending has drawn industrywide criticism, and the economic condition of the franchise remains "dire," according to a source in the commissioner's office.

Regardless, the Diamondbacks are going for it. It worked once before.--K.R.