Arizona Diamondbacks

Before the start of last season, the Diamondbacks were a trendy pick to make some noise in the NL West.  Then Brandon Webb's shoulder suffered a set-back and the season went down the toilet.

The bullpen was atrocious, the third worst in Major League history.  The organization decided to part with strikeout king Mark Reynolds to acquire bullpen help from Baltimore.

Diamondbacks’ manager Kirk Gibson was interviewed today on the Gambo and Ash show on KTAR 620 AM.  Gibson gave a few updates on how spring is going and the progress he’s seeing in some of the players.  Below are some notable remarks that he made.

Ian Kennedy is the opening day starter.

The decision about who will comprise the back of the rotation just got a little easier for Kirk Gibson.  One of the three players vying for the fourth and fifth spots the rotation, Zach Duke, was injured on Saturday after taking a line drive off his pitching hand.  He suffered two broken bones in the hand and will be out six to eight weeks.

One of the more intriguing position battles this spring is the battle for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ first-base job.

If you have played fantasy baseball the last 2-3 years, you know who the top 20-40 picks will be in your draft. The smart owners are the ones who can predict who is due to "break out" or come back to form after a season or two of mediocrity. Here is my list off players flying under most mock draft radar screens.

And don't forget to buy The Fantasy Fix's 2011 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit.

Trouble at the Top?

Spring training is spring training.  A time for fans to slather on the sun screen, throw a towel down on the outfield lawn, and try to suck down a cold beverage before it becomes a lukewarm cup of swill.

If things had gone according to plan, Kirk Gibson might be preparing a college football team somewhere right now, getting ready for spring practices.

He might have just finished talking up his school in the living rooms of America’s heartland, looking enraptured parents in the eyes and giving them the lowdown of what it would be like for their kid to play football under Coach Kirk.

He might have a resume of 10, 12 years in the NFL behind him as one of the game’s best wide receivers, or even tight ends.

Arizona Diamondbacks (2010 record: 65-97)

Notable additions: 1B Russell Branyan, LHP Zach Duke, RHP Armando Gallaraga, RHP David Hernandez, 3B Melvin Mora, OF Xavier Nady, RHP J.J. Putz

Notable subtractions: 1B Adam LaRoche, 3B Mark Reynolds, RHP Brandon Webb

Once again, the Arizona Diamondbacks ended the season at the bottom of the NL West. The Diamondbacks went just 65-97 in 2010, their worst record since going 51-111 in 2004.

The Diamondbacks are turning to general manager Kevin Towers, who was signed in September of last year. Towers wasted little time renovating the Diamondbacks roster.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are not an expansion team. But this franchise certainly has the look of one starting from scratch. That is clearly not a good sign for the present, but there’s no question in my mind that things will soon improve for Diamondbacks' fans. Unfortunately, they’re going to have to suffer through at least one more very rocky campaign before things turn around.