Arizona Diamondbacks 2011 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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Diamondbacks hope to get themselves back on track behind fiery manager Kirk Gibson and a remade pitching staff that boasts plenty of Young talent.

Arizona Diamondbacks 2010 MLB Record: 65-97
Arizona Diamondbacks 2010 MLB Home Record: 40-41
Arizona Diamondbacks 2010 MLB Away Record: 25-56

Arizona Diamondbacks 2011 Betting

Arizona Diamondbacks Odds to Win the National League: +4000
Arizona Diamondbacks Odds to Win the World Series: +10000

Arizona Diamondbacks 2011 Preview & Prediction

Master renovator Kevin Towers wasted little time after being hired as general manager on Sept. 22 in remaking a D-backs’ franchise that finished last in the NL West for two straight years. Not surprisingly, Towers used the model that brought him four division titles in 14 years as the GM in San Diego – a strong bullpen and versatile, whatever-it-takes position players. Whether that makes for immediate contention in the NLWest remains to be seen, but standing pat was not an option.

Arizona Diamondbacks Manager: Kirk Gibson – Second year Record: 34-49

Gibson, who had the interim tag taken off his title at season’s end, takes his cues from the late Sparky Anderson, who had a soft heart but also knew how to keep players in line.

Arizona Diamondbacks 2011 Projected Batting Order: CF Chris Young (R), 2B Kelly Johnson (L), SS Stephen Drew (L), RF Justin Upton (R), C Miguel Montero (L), 3B Melvin Mora (R), LF Xavier Nady (R), 1B Juan Miranda (L).

Arizona Diamondbacks 2011 Projected Rotation: RH Daniel Hudson, LH Joe Saunders, RH Ian Kennedy, LH Zach Duke, RH Barry Enright.

Arizona Diamondbacks 2011 Projected Closer: RH J.J. Putz

2011 Arizona Diamondbacks Offense:

The D’Backs have acouple legitimate leadoff options, and SS Stephen Drew will bat somewhere in the top three. His on-base skills are good enough. 2010 was a best-case scenario for 2B Kelly Johnson, but he’s capable of another 25-HR season. He spent some time on the trading block this winter and there’s some lingering concern about his shoulder, but Justin Upton is still the best player on this team. OF Chris Young put it together last year and will be locked in as one of the top four in this lineup. C Miguel Montero is healthy again and should be ready to put up astrong season in the middle of the lineup. Arizona GM Kevin Towers says he wants to find 400-500 plate appearances for OF/1B Xavier Nady. Most of them will probably come at first base at the expense of both Brandon Allen and Juan Miranda, although it’s possible that Nady will instead take time away from GerardoParra in left. The new brass seems lukewarm on Parra … 3B Melvin Mora has a chance to play everyday, but he OPSed just .721 away from Colorado last year.

2011 Arizona Diamondbacks Rotation:

He proved he was healthy last year, and Ian Kennedy was solid in his first National League season. He’s a little homer-prone, but misses enough bats to make up for it. Daniel Hudson was outstanding after coming over from the White Sox and could be Arizona’s best pitcher this year. He’ll give up some big hits with his flyball tendencies, but he pounds the strike zone and should post asolid WHIP and ERA. Joe Saunders is settling in as a mediocre innings eater. He’s unlikely to overachieve like he did for the Angels. Zach Duke is a bit like a poor man’s Saunders: a soft-tossing lefty who will throw strikes but also gives up a ton of hits. He doesn’t have any more fantasy value than the zero he had in Pittsburgh. The NO.5 spot in the rotation could belong to Barry Enright again. He’s atypical low-upside fifth starter and could give way to top prospect Iarrod Parker for the last month or two of the season.

2011 Arizona Diamondbacks Bullpen:

J.J. Putz is ready to return to the closer’s role. He regained his health and his fastball last year, ripping through American league hitters as a set-up man for the White Sox. He could end up being a top 10 closer again, but we’d be surprised if he ends up being as domninant as he was with Seattle in 2006 and 2007. With Putz coming in, Juan Gutierrez is relegated to aset-up role. He came on strong late last season but doesn’t carry fantasy value as a set-up man. David Hernandez, acquired from Baltimore in the Mark Reynolds deal, could be their closer of the future.

2011 Arizona Diamondbacks Middle Infield:

Kelly Johnson and Stephen Drew provide the D-backs with one of the strongest up-the-middle combinations in the game. Johnson was such a strong offensive force in his D-backs’ debut that he hit third in the order late in 2010, and he also showed marked improvement defensively under the tutelage of infield instructor (and former four-time Gold Glove winner) Matt Williams. Drew is a solid two-way player who should be a bigger name on the national stage. He had 61 RBIs last season, a number that could increase if he drops into a more production-oriented spot in the batting order this year.

2011 Arizona Diamondbacks Corners:

Newcomer Melvin Mora will replace Mark Reynolds at third base after being signed only hours after Reynolds was traded to Baltimore at the winter meetings. Mora had a strong second half after taking over as the starter in Colorado last season, hitting .307 with 31 RBIs after the All-Star break. He does not have Reynolds’ power, but he will not strike out 211 times, either. First base is open after Adam LaRoche was allowed to test the free agent market. Juan Miranda will be given a strong shot to become the starter after his offseason acquisition from the Yankees, but holdover Brandon Allen and even free agent signee Xavier Nady could figure in the mix.

2011 Arizona Diamondbacks Outfield:

Chris Young rebounded from a career-worst 2009 with his first All-Star appearance in 2010, and he appears to have found a hitting approach that will ensure long-term success. A pull-hitter foremost, Young became more selective and also learned to drive the ball with power to right-center field, defeating pitchers who tried to get him out on the outer half. He had a career-high 10 assists and is a long-term fixture in center field. Towers listened to offers for right fielder Justin Upton, considered an “untouchable” by the previous regime — perhaps to determine a market value and perhaps to motivate Upton, who missed most of the final month of the 2010 season after tweaking a slight tear in his left labrum. Upton had 17 homers and 18 stolen bases in 133 games while continuing to improve his defense. His range in right field is among the best in the game. Nady is the favorite to start in left field, and his résumé includes consecutive 20-home run seasons in 2007-08 before Tommy John surgery set him back.

2011 Arizona Diamondbacks Catching:

A knee injury in the fifth game sidelined Miguel Montero for two months, delaying breakout expectations another year. Montero can drive the ball to all fields and enters spring training with a strong hold on the position. He had 31 extra-base hits and drove in 43 runs in 85 games last season, although at times his defense seemed to slip.

2011 Arizona Diamondbacks Bench:

Geoff Blum is the kind of player Towers wants to build with — a versatile, team-first guy with a strong clubhouse presence. Blum could start anywhere on the infield and also pinch-hit. Catcher Henry Blanco is a strong staff leader and is one of the best at controlling the running game. Gerardo Parra plays all three outfield positions and has a plus arm, and he could start in left field if Nady is needed at first base. Allen showed an aptitude for left field in a short trial there last season and fits in either spot as well as providing left-handed power as a pinch-hitter. Switch-hitting Tony Abreu can play three infield spots.

Arizona Diamondbacks 2011 Season Predictions

New GM Kevin Towers took on a monumental task in trying to rebuild the Diamondbacks, and he wasted little time in making major changes. Arizona should be more disciplined at the plate and have a vastly improved bullpen. There are also some exciting young starting pitchers, but this group isn’t ready to escape the division basement quite yet. – We predict that the Arizona Diamondbacks will finish 67-95 & 5th in the NL West Division.

Arizona Diamondbacks 5-Year Win Trend

2006: T-4th NL West 76
2007: 1st NL West 90
2008: 2nd NL West 82
2009: 5th NL West 70
2010: 5th NL West 65

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