Countdown to Opening Day: #16 Arizona Diamondbacks

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#17 Arizona Diamondbacks: Gibby gets aggressive

PROJECTED LINEUP
CF Adam Eaton
3B Martin Prado
1B Paul Goldschmidt
LF Jason Kubel
2B Aaron Hill
C Miguel Montero
RF Cody Ross
SS Cliff Pennington
P Ian Kennedy

PROJECTED ROTATION
Ian Kennedy
Trevor Cahill
Brandon McCarthy
Wade Miley
Tyler Skaggs

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: J.J. Putz

Set-up: David Hernandez

Top Prospect: Tyler Skaggs (SP)

If you refuse to go into the wall, Arizona is not for you. That may be the skewed message of what manager Kirk Gibson is saying, but underlying no joke. Gibson once hit a  pinch hit home run on leg for his team and he wants all 25 players on his roster with the desire to do the same.

Martin Prado

So bye-bye Justin Upton and Trevor Bauer. Your routine did not meet the manager's standards, even tough you are some of the most talented players under 25 in professional baseball. We will find out if hard work really does beat talent if talent does not work as hard.
But that suggest Upton and Bauer did not work hard. I believe they both worked their tails off, just worked to a beat of their own drum. In my world, that's okay with me as long as it produces results.
The Diamondbacks did not set the world on fire with their off season moves, but if guys like Martin Prado, Cody Ross, and Brandon McCarthy show the rest of the team the right way the play game maybe it will be for the better. Gibson's group may never give up, but they also may never get to the heights expected of them.

Adam Eaton

THEY CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - Just like a snake, they slide into the playoff picture when no one is watching and bite the head off their prey when they least expect it. This D'Backs ability to give 110 percent effort on every pitch in every inning, may be exhausting, but worth the World Series title. They know they can rest next winter. Sparked by Adam Eaton and Martin Prado at the top of the order with their insane on base percentage, the middle of the order does not have to be flashy to earn their RBIs and runs scored. The Diamondbacks prove good hitting can beat the good pitching in the N.L. West.



REAL TALK -It's a cute, non-realistic philosophy that Gibby is going for, but I'm sorry. Justin Upton has more tools than your 3-4-5 hitters now have combined. Chemistry can help and might allow the Diamondbacks to play above their individual potential, but in the end, stars win in the professional world of baseball. Unless Paul Goldschmidt becomes that MVP, all-star that the club is missing right now, they will not be able to compete with the top teams in the National League.

Breakout: Adam Eaton (OF)

Bust: Cody Ross (OF)

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Brandon McCarthy (SP)

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 81-81 (3rd in NL West)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 83-79 (3rd in NL West)

**Check back tomorrow for the Baltimore Orioles**