There’s a certain comfort in running out a pair of aces to start in 40 percent of your big league ballgames.
With Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, it led the Diamondbacks to a World Series title in 2001.
Brandon Webb and Dan Haren kept the team in contention in the NL West last year, despite a lackluster offense.
But at this point, it isn’t enough. Even when Webb gets back, Arizona won’t challenge the Dodgers for the division crown.
The Los Angeles offense is talented from top to bottom, and even though the rotation isn’t perfect, the bats cover up the shortcomings. It must be reassuring for a pitcher to go out and know he can give up three or four runs, and still come up with a victory.
It’s safe to say no starter in the Arizona rotation feels that way.
This might sound like blasphemy to Diamondbacks fans, but it might be time to trade Webb. The club backed off giving him a contract extension last year, allegedly because of concerns with his arm.
Fast forward to early April of this year, and Webb was put on the shelf with right shoulder stiffness.
After a setback, he could return by June, enough time before the trading deadline to prove he’s healthy.
If Webb shows he’s back to form, contending teams will be lining up to bid for him. But this shouldn’t be a swap for prospects, like the Indians did last year when trading away C.C. Sabathia.
The Diamondbacks have enough young players, and what they really need is a proven cleanup hitter for the middle of the lineup.
Look what it did for the Dodgers. When Manny Ramirez was acquired, it let the young players slide into roles that were more comfortable, and they didn’t feel the pressure of carrying the offense.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Diamondbacks should seriously consider trading Webb for a masher like Josh Hamilton.
Hamilton would slide perfectly into the cleanup spot. Felipe Lopez, Stephen Drew and Mark Reynolds could hit in front of him, with Justin Upton and Conor Jackson behind him.
Hamilton would give stability to the lineup, and give the players around him better pitches to hit.
As it stands, the Diamondbacks are purely a home run hitting team. While Hamilton hits his share of long balls, he also batted .304 last season, and would help keep the pressure on the pitcher by getting on base.
Texas may not like the offer because Hamilton’s contract situation is more friendly, but the Rangers are in desperate need of pitching, and Cy Young-caliber arms aren’t available every day.
Meanwhile, the Arizona rotation would still be OK. Haren would be the unquestioned ace, with Max Scherzer ready to slide in behind him. In two years, Jarrod Parker could be added, giving Arizona enough high-end pitching to compete.
It’s always a risk to give up dominant big league pitching.
But the Diamondbacks are stuck in quick sand, and need a bat to help pull them out. If there aren’t dramatic results in the next month and a half, it’s time to consider a move.
I’d like to see what the Dbacks could do with a different manager/coaching staff before trading one of the few proven stars on this team. When one or two players don’t live up to potential, blame the players. When all but a few don’t you have to blame the higher-ups. In the last year Melvin is 14 games under .500. Fire him - now - and maybe we won’t be looking forward to next year as early as the All-Star break.
You smoketh crack. In two years, Parker may be ready, but Haren will be gone too. We are not the Minnesota Twins - get Webb signed ASAP!
Trade a future mega-Cy Young Award winner who is paired up with Dan “I’ll win Cy Young Awards, too” Haren? You’re crazy, Mr. Kyle. Package some young prospects for a solid veteran .300 hitter with some pop (low strikeouts, please) and make the trade early enough this season so it will pay off in the short run. Long term, get some sucker to take Byrnes’ contract for next year, say good bye to Mr. Clark and use the funds from those contracts to buy a slugger for next year.
Trade Webb? Really? This isn’t the Onion’s website. How bout just fire everyone involved with coaching and making personnel decisions. These players could rip off a few WS wins if they had some stability and actual coaching. Webb should be untouchable. He’s all class, top notch, and wants to stay. Why is the manager so sacred? Nice Guys Finish Last, Hence: Bob Melvin.
Always a wild card–check out all the NL teams—Sooner or later the hitting less Young will pick it up—it’s never over till its over….
The pitching with Webb, Mr. H, Scherzer, Davis, Garland, with Parker,Ambriz, Zavada, Urqudez, Roemer and Augenstein in the wings…Not too Bad…