To Satisfy TRN's Man-Crush

If you hadn't noticed, TRN is a devoted groupie of Dback nobody Micah Owings. He must be busy this morning, but I am sure this news will get him all titillated...

Micah Owings' bat could get a little more play next season, and we're not just talking about pinch-hitting appearances. Owings, who last season made 27 starts out of the Diamondbacks' rotation and posted a 4.30 ERA, could find his way onto the field, perhaps at first base. "It's potentially, depending on how our roster looks, an option," manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday during a Q&A session with reporters.

Its not very becoming for a married fatherof two to drool all over another man, but what can you do? He is family. LINK THIS

D-backs season tickets just got cheaper

Something has definitely changed at the Arizona Diamondbacks head office. First after all negotiation had broken off, the D-backs contaced Eric Byrnes agent and signed a contract extension just prior to their playoff run. The deal really didnt have to happen. The D-backs said all year they were rebuilding and there is no need to have a high priced left fielder when you have so much minor league out-field talent. But the public started an outcry and D-backs gave them what they wanted.

Second, they started to ramp up post game amusement for ticket holders. Including, firework shows, movie night on the field (which they are going to spice up this next year with one of the biggest big sceen monitors in the MLB).

Third, now they just cut the cost of season tickets across the board (some by 50%). After the year they had in 07, you could make the argument that an increase in ticket prices would be justified but this is certainly a move into getting fans out to the games and posting some big numbers for Chase attendance.

As a bonus, Carlos Quentin (hard hitting right fielder) is going to be traded to the White Sox for minor league first baseman Chris Carter (who played for Tucson for a while, so they know what they are getting). Which means two things, the outfield issue has pretty much been figured out (Upton will be starting in right), and Connor Jackson's days are numbered. Trading a playing major leaguer for a minor league player straight up means the minor leaguer is going to see some playing time.

I am extremely impressed with the about face that the organization has seen. Now if I could only get them to listen to my Burrito Bandito idea.

Plus there is nothing like talking baseball in the middle of football season... it drives meatheads crazy.

Melvin wins NL Manager of the year.

...and deservedly so. After claiming the World Series in 2001, the Diamondbacks made a run at another record two years later for the worst MLB record ever. They came just shy but a depleted budget and huge debts still paying for their Championship left little future for the team and an almost certain bleak future for many years to come.

But the D-backs had one asset... the best minor league and scouting system in the majors. To the untrained or inexperienced eye, such an attribute would be a wealth that could have been exploited during these financially difficult times and tie you over to the day, Schilling and Johnson are no longer being paid. But such a tactic is risky. A rookie brought up too early and left in too long can destroy his self-esteem and render him useless in future years (I think of a dog my family owned once named Reggie).

Enter Melvin, in 2006 he took the helm of an entirely mediocre Diamondbacks team with some veteran players who were all approaching the downslide of their careers at the same time. Melvin began a systematic rotation of players from the minors to the majors, beautifully orchestrated to not run the team out of options on the player and still feel out their durability.

In 2007, the D-backs were expected to hold their own but not be able to pull ahead of 3rd place in the NL West. Melvin began his dance during spring training inviting up a very young Micah Owings and position swapping a number of minor league outfielders. As 2007 continued, the D-backs would end up feilding the youngest team in the majors with Chris Young playing full time at center, Carlos Quentin and Upton trading out at left and Reynolds coming in for an injured Tracy. The D-backs ended up winning the NL West and touting the best record in the National League.

Melvin fielded a team that had no major league experince and should have flinched everytime the pitcher they faced dropped the rosen bag. Instead, Young hit over 30 homeruns and 5 hole pitcher Micah Owings posting a slugging percentage of .683. In the end, Melvin has taken a financially ruined team and positioned them to take the NL West next year and make them contenders for many years to come.

D-backs have no one at first

Tony Clark, the veteran first baseman, filed for free agency yesterday. Besides being a clutch pinch hitter, he also served as Connor Jackson's role model of how to play the position.Unable to reach a deal to stay around, it looks like he is going to see what he can get out in the free market. Which means that D-backs are going to have to make some big moves to get someone to fill that spot. Let's be honest, Connor Jackson is as good as gone. He can hit well enough to be in the Majors but on a team that has no dominant position hitters, the D-backs rely on their fielding to get them out of jams, and CoJack is as bad as they come. There is no need to mention his 3rd out error against the Rockies which forced Micah Owings to leave early rather than getting his at-bat (but I mentioned it anyway). Rumor is Reynolds who has been on and off but still a very promising rookie will keep his position at 3rd and when (and if) Tracy gets better he moves over to 1st. That means that the lineup will stay pretty much the same as D-backs fans are used to seeing and fans will also get used to watching the shortest 1st baseman in the league play next year (my guess would be if Tracy heals to quickly, he moves to the trading block as well, we have gotten this far without him).

Regardless, D-backs have some serious trading ability that could go for some average pitching or if they so choose could acquire a quality Major League firstbase/ 4th hole hitter. Combining Quentin Carlos with Connor Jackson and above average setup Juan Cruz, the D-backs would get their pick. You can't question D-backs ability to spot talent so far and this off season could shape up to be very interesting.

No doubt this time last year, the front office was looking to rebuild for the 07 season. Those ideas are long gone and 08 will be a disappointment if they don't get into the post-season.