Has Kirk Gibson Lost the Diamondbacks’ Players?
By Thomas Lynch
Have the D’back players stopped believing in Kirk Gibson? Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
With yet another defeat last night, making it seven in a row, the Arizona Diamondbacks desperately need a jolt to get them through the rest of this season. The team is 2-9 this month and an unsightly 59-88 on the season. They are next-to-last in attendance in the National League. General Manager Kevin Towers was relieved of his duties with a possibility he will remain in the organization. While the status of manager Kirk Gibson is up in the air, we may have an indication from Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal that things will not end well for him:
Sources: LaRussa not yet convinced that #DBacks should fire Gibson, but clubhouse support for manager all but gone.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) September 13, 2014
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You have to wonder where these sources are but I have the feeling players are tired of the constantly changing lineup and batting order. For instance, Aaron Hill was 7 for his last 21 yet he found himself on the bench last night with a left-handed pitcher on the mound. For much of the season, the only spot in the order that was a given was Paul Goldschmidt at #3. Many fans are equally disenchanted with Gibson, citing his supposed lack of knowledge of handling the bullpen. However, as Rosenthal points out, Tony LaRussa hasn’t made up his mind yet about what to do with the manager. If LaRussa is as old school as folks make him out to be, he may be inclined to tell the players who are supposedly “lost” that they are the ones who need to perform or they are the ones who will be out of a job. With all due respect, I find that scenario a little had to believe.
It will be an interesting couple of weeks as we trudge toward the finish line of the 2014 season.