Towers' Focus for D-backs

Newly hired GM for the Arizona Diamondbacks Kevin Towers said that next season he would like the D-backs to surprise people much like his former team, the San Diego Padres, have done this year.  In a conference call with reporters, Towers was quoted as saying that his primary focus in the offseason will be the bench and the bullpen.

Arizona, who has a record similar to the Orioles, Royals, Indians and Nationals, will also need to focus on their starting pitching and players in the field if they really want to surprise people next season.  Perhaps their biggest offseason move, however, would be redesigning their uniforms so they can wear these cool camo hats every day.

Nothing Better To Do in Arizona

Here's a great little video to show you what major league baseball players like to do to mess with their teammates.  Kelly Johnson is getting ready to bat for the Diamondbacks when his intro music is a little.... off....

Webb May Pitch in 2010

Brandon Webb of the Arizona Diamondbacks may try to pitch for the first time in nearly two seasons... out of the bullpen.

Let me get this straight.  A guy who dominated in 2006 to win the Cy Young... as the best pitcher in the National League... is thinking about coming back this season by pitching in the bullpen.  Did I miss something?  Do the Diamondbacks have such starting pitching depth that the can trade away Edwin Jackson, who threw a no-hitter this season, and Dan Haren, who was a legitimate Cy Young candidate last season, and then have Brandon Webb pitch out of the bullpen?

I'm sorry, I didn't realize that Kennedy, Saunders, Lopez, Enright & Hudson where such a formidable force on the mound.  The D'Backs might as well toss aside Glavine, Smoltz, Maddux and Avery for that rotation.

Does anybody wonder why the Diamondbacks have been so bad the last couple of years?  I think I've found your answer.

Most Pointless Deal Award

And the award for Most Pointless Deal at the trading deadline goes to....

The Pirates and Diamondback for their 5 player deal involving Chris Snyder, Pedro Ciriaco, D.J. Carrasco, Ryan Church and Bobby Crosby!

Why is this deal pointless, you ask?  Because the two teams have won a combined 75 games, which would put them 9 games ahead of the ML-leading Yankess in the win column.  Unfortunately, teams cannot simply join forces like the Wonder Twins Zan and Jayna.... and, yes, I had to look up that obscure reference.

This trade is so pointless, I'm not even going to put the players' names in the "labels" list below.

Jackson In Familiar Territory

Edwin Jackson, formerly of the Arizona Diamondbacks, was traded to the White Sox last week.  It is the fifth team that Jackson has been with in his 8 year career, and the fourth in the last 3 years.  There was some speculation that White Sox GM Kenny Williams would flip Jackson to the Nationals for Adam Dunn, but that deal never happened.

Jackson has decided to permanently reside in his 2006 Escalade, citing the spacious interior and over-the-seat DVD player as "significant ammenities."

D'Backs Want Some Fries

The Arizona Diamondbacks, tired of playing to their potential, fired their GM Josh Byrnes and their manager A.J. Hinch last week.  Byrnes signed an 8-year extension following the 2007 season, and Hinch took over for Bob Melvin in May, in spite of the fact that he had absolutely no managerial experience.

Now, typically, if you are hiring a guy with absolutely no managerial experience on any level, you aren't expecting to win right away.  It is a long-term commitment.  Apparently, the front office in Phoenix considers 13 months to be "long term."

Upton Brothers Reunite in Arizona

It's been a long time coming, but the Upton brothers (B.J. and Justin) were able to reunite in a moving moment in Tampa Bay.  The brothers, who have never played a competitive game against one another, reportedly held each other for 45 minutes, crying like babies.  There wasn't a dry eye in the stadium.  The start of the game was delayed 20 minutes as umpires tried to separate the brothers before the first pitch.