Arizona Diamondbacks supervisor Torey Lovullo, typically constructive by nature, sees the glass half full after a 74-88 season.
Greater than a handful of internally developed gamers from the time Lovullo and normal supervisor Mike Hazen took over the roster in late 2016 made greater than a mark this season.
It was a validating season trying backward. The D-backs recognized proficient prospects via the draft after which taught them. And 2022 at the very least seems reassuring after a 52-win marketing campaign in 2021.
Becoming a member of Arizona Sports activities’ Burns & Gambo for his last interview of the season Tuesday, Lovullo was requested how he would distill the themes of the season down.
“Most likely the expansion and improvement of eight home-grown gamers that had been drafted in our system and got here via and impacted us on a really excessive stage (stood out),” he stated. “The fellows that you simply talked about — (beginning pitchers Zac Gallen) and Merrill Kelly — only a nice job by our entrance workplace of figuring out guys to usher in from a distinct avenue. However I’m going consider these eight guys that after we set out on this journey six-plus years in the past as a gaggle that got here in. We wished to develop our personal gamers and we may incorporate our personal ideas and have them develop up understanding how sure issues had been to us. That makes me really feel superb.
“We left plenty of chips on the market on the desk and I watched plenty of different groups rake these chips away,” Lovullo added. “That’s nonetheless sitting in my stomach proper now.”
So whereas the youthful infusion seems promising, Lovullo will you’ll want to give these gamers in addition to the remaining veterans offseason homework.
Outfielders Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas, Jake McCarthy and Daulton Varsho fall into the bucket of in-house prospects who shined this yr. Stone Garrett and Pavin Smith additionally contributed to completely different levels.
Late within the season, beginning pitchers Drey Jameson and Ryne Nelson joined them. They mixed for seven begins, going 4-1 and every posting an ERA slightly below 1.50.
They certainly will compete for rotation roles behind Gallen and Kelly.
Maybe, too, will veteran Madison Bumgarner, who sputtered and completed 7-15 with a 4.88 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. Shut down for parts of the yr, he maybe has extra to determine in comparison with anybody else on the roster.
“I do know it’s been a really attempting yr for him,” Lovullo stated.
“I do know that (the rotation questions are) centered round, you’ve received Gallen, you’ve received Kelly: The place does Bum slot in? I don’t know. I don’t know that reply, however I would like Bum to slot in.”
Equally, though to a lesser diploma, there’s a lack of optimism heading into the offseason relating to infielder Ketel Marte. By cash earned and resume, he ought to be the group’s greatest offensive participant.
Marte slashed .240/.321/.407 this yr, showing in 137 video games.
Whereas the 28-year-old hit a career-high 42 doubles, his 52 RBIs and 12 house runs had been removed from his 2019 All-Star season of 92 RBIs and 32 house runs.
“I really feel like when he’s wholesome we all know what he can do,” Lovullo stated. “I don’t need us to maintain going backwards and saying — and I’m responsible of it — I’ve talked about ’19 lots. (It) was a particular yr for him.
“I believe there’s some agility, some lower-leg stuff that he can do to maintain his legs wholesome when he’s on the sector. He’s in all probability going to be among the finest gamers I ever managed, so far as expertise goes. That solely goes to this point.”
