I'm starting my annual MLB team-by-team breakdowns for the 2015 season. We'll post a new team each day leading right up the start of the regular season.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
2014: 64-98
2015 OVER/UNDER WIN TOTAL: 71.5
MANAGER: Chip Hale (first season)
PITCHING
The starting rotation is a glaring weakness to start the season. I could wrap-up the “Snakes” pitching preview simply by stating that Josh Collmenter is likely to be their opening day starter. The right-hander has 141 career appearances under his belt, but only 63 have come as a starter. His ERA as a starter is nearly one run higher than it is when he comes out of the pen. By the late stages of the season, you may not even find Collmenter in the rotation. The 29-year old may get the nod opening day due to the fact the D-backs have a lot of question marks behind him to start the 2015 campaign. Jeremy Hellickson comes over from Tampa Bay, but fly-ball pitchers don't normally find success at Chase Field. There are at least seven other potential starters entering spring ball, including top prospect Archie Bradley whose 2014 season was hamstrung by injuries. Bradley looks to be 100 percent healthy entering spring ball, and has been clocked at a top speed of 96 mph, which was faster than he was throwing in the minors last year. We expect Bradley to spend the opening weeks in the minors, but should be called-up to Phoenix during the summer. He has the “goods” to eventually become the team's ace. As for now, the rotation looks shaky with Collmenter leading the way. Other likely members of the April rotation include: Chase Anderson, Rubby De La Rosa, and Allen Webster. That's a rotation of nothing by righties. Left-hander Patrick Corbin is expected back in June after recovering from Tommy John Surgery. Vidal Nuno came to Arizona via trade last summer. Nuno enjoyed success with a higher strikeout rate as one would expect coming to the NL from the AL. Nuno will battle for a rotation spot with at least three other pitchers and a young crop of arms.
BULLPEN
Addison Reed struggled in the desert as the closer in 2014, but did finish with a decent K/BB ratio. Brad Ziegler and Oliver Perez are the set-up men. I'll be interested in Ziegler's results early-on. The righty was strong in the first half of the season in 2014, but injuries dented his numbers over the second half of the season. Perez has been outstanding from the left-side of the mound over the last two seasons. Randall Delgado struggled in 2014, but will start the season in long-relief in all likelihood. Those who miss the rotation will battle with Daniel Hudson, Matt Reynolds, and Evan Marshall for time out of the pen.
LINEUP
The strength of this team is their middle-of-the-order power. 1B Paul Goldschmidt, RF Mark Trumbo, and likely 3B Yasmany Tomas should make this a fun team to watch at the plate. If Trumbo can stay away from injury and Tomas is even close to the hype, opposing hurlers may be in for long nights at Chase Field. There were only 11 30-HR hitters in MLB last season. Arizona has three potential 30-HR hitters heading into 2015. They ought to get their share of chances to drive in runs with CF A.J. Pollack leading things off.
OUTLOOK
Arizona will score runs, no doubt about it. The pitching rotation is shaky to start the season, but there's enough potential to make the Diamondbacks a NL West spoiler down the stretch this summer and let's not diminish my respect for new skipper Chip Hale, who helped put the small-payroll Oakland A's into the win column at an awfully high rate. I do believe this team will escape the dreaded 60's for a win total. I also believe the Diamondbacks have enough to climb over the 71.5 win total at the Westgate Super Book. However, I can't see this team topping 75 wins, so they won't likely be a play for me. Arizona's big jump may be just a season away.
WE'LL PREVIEW THE ATLANTA BRAVES ON WEDNESDAY