It's been a while since I have written anything here, but Wednesday night's Diamondbacks game against the Brewers gave me a little inspiration. For Diamondbacks fans, this will be right up your alley. The baseball trade deadline is just over a week away and the home team is in a playoff chase. General Manager Kevin Towers says he is looking for pitching, but doesn't want to give up high-level prospects for it. Smart move. However, last night's gruesome season-ending injury to shortstop Stephen Drew may have to alter the thinking a bit. Do I think Towers should take a piece of the future pie to get a rent-a-shortstop for the last couple months of the season. Honestly, I don't know. I don't think there is a wrong answer here. The D'backs are one Giants losing stretch away from being right there with them in the NL West. So I think you may have to make a move to get a shortstop, because if you are serious about a playoff race you can't rely on Willie Bloomquist or Cody Ransom. Not that they are bad players or anything, because they aren't, but they are definitely not Stephen Drew, especially defensively. Just don't raid the farm for one, because Drew will be back next season. You just need a rental. They still have to add pitching by the deadline as well. An arm or two in the pen, and or another starter is needed, some would say desperately.
The one thing you can't say about the bullpen is that it's awful. No, awful was the last two seasons. Towers has brought in arms that has taken the bullpen from the worst in baseball history, to average in the NL. An accomplishment that should be praised and not poo-poo'd. By the way, the Brewers' Nyjer Morgan told us last night that new pitcher Ryan Cook has quote "nasty shit" and he will be a very good pitcher. His words, not mine. Cook was put into a very tough situation last night and it's unfair to judge him after that. Kirk Gibson had to do it because of the pitching situation from the night before.
Let's be honest. The D'backs are a bit lucky they are where they are in the NL West. The future for this team is 2-3 years down the road, not today. But a playoff race can sometimes cloud that judgement. That's exactly why they can't trade a ton of guys from Triple-A Reno or Double-A Mobile, or lower, that may help the franchise as early as next season. Some would say, myself included, the D'backs are overachieving a bit. Just enjoy this season for what it is D'backs fans, just know the best is yet to come over the next couple of years.
One more thing. This is the most I have ever thought about baseball, which means we need football to start VERY QUICKLY. More on that in the future..
DZ
