AZ Snake Pit Jan 26, 2022
The All-Time MLB Team, Shortstop: nominations open
A balance between defense and offense takes the stage Outside of catcher, shortstop is generally regarded as being the most difficult defensive spot on the diamond. It requires a variety of different skills in order for a fielder to be effective: quick reactions; good range; a strong and accurate arm; nimble footwork when turning a double-play. It’s a rare combination, but when the come together in one player, it’s a joy to watch them. Witness the web gems we’ve appreciated from Nick Ahmed over the past few seasons: he frequently makes the difficult plays look easy, and...
AZ Snake Pit Jan 25, 2022
Snake Bytes, 1/25: Big Papi’s heading to Cooperstown
Photo by Jeff Gross/ A later than usual edition, to cover the Hall of Fame voting. Team news [FanGraphs] Luke Weaver, Again - Here I am again, writing about how Weaver can excel in 2022. Why do I keep doing it? Because I keep believing it! I can tell you truthfully that I think he has the tools to be a second or third starter, even though he’s been more like a fourth or fifth option so far in his career. You might wonder how that’s the case – after all, he’s basically a two-pitch pitcher, he doesn’t throw particularly hard, and his changeup, easily his best...
AZ Snake Pit Jan 25, 2022
Third Base Platoon of Ellis and Rojas
Drew Ellis. | Photo by Rich Schultz/ Deciding who will play third base is interesting and complex. The crowd wisdom was that a platoon of Drew Ellis and Josh Rojas is the best choice. The fans have voted. Now it’s up to the Diamondbacks to make their choice. Whatever they do, some fans will be thrilled and some fans will be aghast. Perhaps it was an understatement when Jack Sommers wrote, “It will be interesting to see what Hazen actually does.” Before talking about the vote, let’s be clear that deciding who will play at third base is both interesting and...
AZ Snake Pit Jan 23, 2022
SnakePit Round Table: Athletic Supporters
Photo by Norm Hall/ Trading Ketel Marte, judging Mike Hazen and culinary no-nos are among this week’s topics This week’s questions are (mostly) shamelessly borrowed from Zach Buchanan’s fan survey on The Athletic. Thought it might be interesting to fire some of them at our writers and get their opinions at greater length... How many games will the Diamondbacks win in 2022? [Presuming a 162-game season, which is looking less likely every day…] Makakilo: Diamondbacks will win more than 77 games per this AZ Snake Pit article. How will it be accomplished? Batting...
AZ Snake Pit Jan 22, 2022
Let the Kids Play
Josh Rojas and Pavin Smith celebrate | Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports Mike Hazen needs to speed up the youth movement The main reason I have often advocated for a youth movement and rebuilding process to hurry up and get started is because it takes so darn long. One of the main issues I’ve encountered when discussing the Diamondbacks minor league system and how long it will take to become competitive again is communicating clearly just how long it takes for players to develop into above average, every day major leaguers. We often see and use the phrase “ETA”...
AZ Snake Pit Jan 20, 2022
Snake Bytes, 1/20: No news is... uh, no news.
Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Newsmakers I, for one, welcome our new robot umpire overlords. Team news [The Athletic] Diamondbacks fan survey results: Little blame for Torey Lovullo, but ambivalence about the team - The fans have spoken. Three hundred and sixty-two of you filled out our 2022 Diamondbacks fan survey, and in one loud and clear voice you have said: “Meh.” You ache over past mistakes (for some, trading Paul Goldschmidt; for others, signing Madison Bumgarner), but you feel optimistic about the future. General manager Mike Hazen and his front office may have...
AZ Snake Pit Jan 18, 2022
Third Base: Three Nominations
Was Gavin Lux happy to be nominated? | Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Three very different choices were nominated. Your nominations included two players I had not considered, Nick Ahmed and Gavin Lux. The remaining nomination is a platoon of Drew Ellis/Josh Rojas (see comments to this AZ Snake Pit article.) Which of these 3 nominations will you pick to play third base for the Diamondbacks next season? Although you could jump down to the poll and vote, a short blurb on each nominee follows. Nick Ahmed The biggest reason to play Nick Ahmed at third base is that...
rssfeeds.azcentral.com Jan 14, 2022
Diamondbacks, Rockies to play 2 preseason games in Las Vegas
The Arizona Diamondbacks will play a pair of exhibition games in Las Vegas in March as the second part of Major League Baseball's Big League Weekend.
Nick Piecoro / rssfeeds.azcentral.com Jan 13, 2022 Baseball's labor dispute casts pall as Diamondbacks spring training tickets go on sale
Spring training tickets are about to go on sale, but baseball's lockout raises questions about when, or even if, the games will actually be played.
rssfeeds.azcentral.com Jan 13, 2022
Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte trade speculation back with Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Marlins
Several MLB writers have speculated about Ketel Marte's future with the Arizona Diamondbacks in recent stories.
rssfeeds.azcentral.com Jan 13, 2022
Profile: Ketel Marte
Photos of Arizona Diamondbacks baseball player Ketel Marte.
AZ Snake Pit Jan 12, 2022
2021 Arizona Diamondbacks Player Reviews #1: Ketel Marte
Photo by Norm Hall/ Despite not winning the MVP in the Pitties, Ketel Marte is your #1 player on the Diamondbacks Rating: 7.64 Age: Turned 28 hortly after the end of the season 2021 Stats: .318/.377/.532, 143 OPS+ 2021 Earnings: $6 Million 2022 Status: Under contract for three more seasons, one of the hottest commodities on the trade market (pending end of lockout) I still have access to the spreadsheets for these rankings going back to 2017. In those five years, the number one player has only been rated lower than 9 once, and that was David Peralta’s 8.98 back in...
AZ Snake Pit Jan 11, 2022
Candidates for Third Base: Another Look
Drew Ellis throws to first base. | Photo by Norm Hall/ Who should play third base? Nominations are open. Who should play third base for the Diamondbacks? In October, fans made their opinions known and voted in this AZ Snake Pit article. The following table shows player vote tallies and whether they are still available to play for the Diamondbacks. Josh Rojas received the most votes. He received more votes than Kris Bryant, perhaps because Bryant may not be affordable. Data from Baseball Reference and AZ Snake Pit. The comments to that article...
AZ Snake Pit Jan 11, 2022
2021 Arizona Diamondbacks Reviews, #2: Daulton Varsho
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports A tremendous athlete at just 25 years of age who can play both behind home plate and in the outfield takes the #2 spot in 2021 Arizona Diamondbacks player rankings. Rating: 7.36 Age: 25 2021 Stats: .246/.318/.437, 11 HR, 17 doubles, 2 triples, 6 stolen bases, 102 OPS+, 1.7 bWAR 2021 Earnings: league minimum 2022 Status: Likely starter in the outfield with spot starts at catcher, pre-arbitration until 2024 With nothing left to prove in the minor leagues, Daulton Varsho needed to make the transition to an everyday MLB player in 2021 or...
AZ Snake Pit Jan 10, 2022
2021 Diamondbacks Reviews # 3 : Josh Rojas
Josh Rojas nearly floats toward first base. | Photo by Norm Hall/ He often got on base and played 5 positions. This season’s unsung hero will be in peak condition next season. Rating: 7.11 Age: 27 2021 Offense Stats: 550 PA, .264/.341/.411 = .752 OPS, 11 HR, 44 RBI. 2021 More Stats: 139 games, 103 OPS+, 102 wRC+, 0.8 bWAR, 2.0 fWAR. 2021 Defense Stats: RF +2 DRS in 247.2 Inn, LF +0 DRS in 91.2 Inn, 3B -2 DRS in 66 Inn, 2B -4 DRS in 356 Inn, SS -13 DRS in 66 Inn. 2021 Earnings: $582,400 (via Spotrac). 2022 Status: Pre-Arb, 2 options...
