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2009 DIAMONDBACKS SEASON PREVIEW - PART II
* 2001: A BASEBALL ODYSSEY - If their first three years were an exercise in the improbable, then 2001 saw the Diamondbacks achieve the unthinkable. Bolstered by the additions of Mark Grace and Reggie Sanders, Arizona played a magical season, regularly winning games late and in dramatic fashion. The Snakes' stars dominated the batting and pitching leaderboards. Gonzalez -- now "Gonzo" to his adoring fans -- hit .325 / .429 / .688 with 57 HR and 142 RBI, marks that would have earned him an MVP but for the eye-popping performances of Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa. Co-aces Johnson and Schilling combined for 43 wins and 665 Ks in 506.1 IP, with the only sub-3.00 ERAs among NL starters.
The amazing season was epitomized by its final moments, which played out like a kid's backyard baseball fantasy. Against the three-time defending champion New York Yankees, Schilling (7.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 9 K) pitched deep into Game 7 of the 2001 World Series and entered the 7th inning with a 1-1...
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2009 DIAMONDBACKS SEASON PREVIEW - PART I
* BUILDING UP TO OPENING DAY - With Opening Day 2009 fast approaching, Diamondbacks Nation is very pleased to begin its first full season providing news and commentary by and for fans of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Today brings the first installment of our 2009 season preview.
We believe that to understand and evaluate the Diamondbacks of 2009, one must recognize where this club has been and how the current edition came to be. So before we take a look at the season to come, Diamondbacks Nation will try to put things into an historical context. Our preview of the 2009 season begins with a look way back to the early days of our favorite team.
We will then fast-forward to the club in the present day, focusing on the winter moves and the season schedule; the rotation and bullpen; the position players, bench and batting order. We'll dig deeper, with a review of the front office, field management, and minor league operations. And we will finish our run-up the 2009 campaign by...
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Snakes Stake NL West Hopes on Dunn's Mighty Bat
Well, damn. Just when you thought the Diamondbacks had opted against a move for one of the big bats available on the trade market, they land the major league leader in home runs -- a week and a half past the trade deadline!
Kudos to Josh Byrnes and the front office crew for making the move to acquire Adam Dunn.
Arizona's offense, which surged after the All-Star Break, sputtered once again beginning with the July 31-August 3 series in Los Angeles. In splitting a four game set with their closest division rivals, the Diamondbacks scored a grand total of nine runs. They managed to exceed that pace in subsequent series against the woeful Pirates and Braves, but Arizona bats could not put enough runs on the board to avoid a 3-4 home stand.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, have added a formidable hitter in Manny Ramirez, whose scorching hot bat may yet carry them past Arizona in the NL West. The trade for Dunn is a direct answer to the challenge laid down by LA.
The fit is not ideal for...
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Lost Dog: Hudson Gone for Season, Maybe for Good
With the news that Orlando Hudson underwent surgery late Saturday night on his dislocated wrist, the Diamondbacks again find themselves missing their star 2B for the stretch run of the season. His is a critical loss during what Arizona hopes will be a second straight NL West championship campaign.
The club will still benefit from his leadership in the clubhouse, but the ODog's presence on the field cannot be easily replaced. He is an absolute witch with the leather, invaluable for a team whose leading pitcher is a groundball specialist. And while his modest power makes him an unlikely No. 3 hitter, Hudson played that role for the Diamondbacks. That a guy who has never surpassed 15 HR or 67 RBI in a season batted third in the order 97 times says a lot about Arizona's 2008 offense.
The Diamondbacks will be hard pressed to replace Hudson's glove or his .305 / .367 / .450 line. As they have no choice but to try, let's consider some of the options on the table.
Reports...
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